A brace for Robert Lewandowski was not enough to save&nbsp;Bayern&nbsp;Munich from making a spluttering start to the new Bundesliga season as the reigning German champions were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Hertha Berlin on Friday.&nbsp;

Lewandowski insisted that visitors Hertha had been "lucky" after he saved a point for&nbsp;Bayern&nbsp;with a second-half penalty.

Hertha, who finished 11th last season, cancelled out Lewandowski's opener with two unusual goals to take a surprise lead in the first half and ultimately deal an early blow to&nbsp;Bayern's title defence.

"We didn't play badly, and they barely had a shot. They were lucky," Lewandowski told ZDF.

"It wasn't a false start to the season. We were the better team and should have won," said coach Niko Kovac.

Despite winning the domestic double last season,&nbsp;Bayern&nbsp;opened the season under pressure after a 2-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the German Supercup two weeks ago.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Questions over Kovac's tactics and relentless criticism of the club's transfer policy had also unsettled&nbsp;Bayern&nbsp;in the build-up, but they looked sharp early on as Joshua Kimmich and Serge Gnabry probed and prodded on the right wing.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The duo finally broke Hertha on 24 minutes, as Kimmich set up Gnabry to send a fizzing cross towards Lewandowski, who prodded home at full stretch from close range.&nbsp;&nbsp;

With&nbsp;Bayern&nbsp;completely in control, Hertha struck twice in quick succession to turn the game on its head.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The equaliser arrived with a dollop of good fortune on 36 minutes, as a hopeful long-range effort from Dodi Lukebakio deflected off Vedad Ibisevic and wrong-footed goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Three minutes later, Hertha took the lead in curious fashion after Marko Grujic clashed heads with new&nbsp;Bayern&nbsp;signing Benjamin Pavard.&nbsp;

While Pavard pulled up holding his head, Grujic managed to chase down the loose ball and round Neuer before himself collapsing to the turf.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Both players were quickly back on their feet,&nbsp;and Grujic was in the spotlight again when he pulled down Lewandowski off the ball on the hour mark.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The resulting penalty, given by VAR, was coolly converted by the Polish striker to bring&nbsp;Bayern&nbsp;back on level terms.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Lewandowski, Gnabry and Corentin Tolisso all came close as&nbsp;Bayern&nbsp;pushed for the winner late on, but Hertha held on to take a well-earned point back to the capital city.

Bayern&nbsp;fans will at least have one new face to cheer on after the club announced they had reached "agreement in principle" to sign Philippe Coutinho on loan from Barcelona.

A brace for Robert Lewandowski was not enough to save Bayern Munich from making a spluttering start to the new Bundesliga season as the reigning German champions were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Hertha Berlin on Friday.

A brace for Robert Lewandowski was not enough to save Bayern Munich from making a spluttering start to the new Bundesliga season as the reigning German champions were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Hertha Berlin on Friday. Lewandowski insisted that visitors Hertha had been "lucky" after he saved a point for Bayern with a second-half penalty. Hertha, who finished 11th last season, cancelled out Lewandowski's opener with two unusual goals to take a surprise lead in the first half and ultimately deal an early blow to Bayern's title defence. "We didn't play badly, and they barely had a shot. They were lucky," Lewandowski told ZDF. "It wasn't a false start to the season. We were the better team and should have won," said coach Niko Kovac. Despite winning the domestic double last season, Bayern opened the season under pressure after a 2-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the German Supercup two weeks ago. Questions over Kovac's tactics and relentless criticism of the club's transfer policy had also unsettled Bayern in the build-up, but they looked sharp early on as Joshua Kimmich and Serge Gnabry probed and prodded on the right wing. The duo finally broke Hertha on 24 minutes, as Kimmich set up Gnabry to send a fizzing cross towards Lewandowski, who prodded home at full stretch from close range. With Bayern completely in control, Hertha struck twice in quick succession to turn the game on its head. The equaliser arrived with a dollop of good fortune on 36 minutes, as a hopeful long-range effort from Dodi Lukebakio deflected off Vedad Ibisevic and wrong-footed goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. Three minutes later, Hertha took the lead in curious fashion after Marko Grujic clashed heads with new Bayern signing Benjamin Pavard. While Pavard pulled up holding his head, Grujic managed to chase down the loose ball and round Neuer before himself collapsing to the turf. Both players were quickly back on their feet, and Grujic was in the spotlight again when he pulled down Lewandowski off the ball on the hour mark. The resulting penalty, given by VAR, was coolly converted by the Polish striker to bring Bayern back on level terms. Lewandowski, Gnabry and Corentin Tolisso all came close as Bayern pushed for the winner late on, but Hertha held on to take a well-earned point back to the capital city. Bayern fans will at least have one new face to cheer on after the club announced they had reached "agreement in principle" to sign Philippe Coutinho on loan from Barcelona.

Robert Lewandowski to the rescue as 'lucky' Hertha hold Bayern in season opener

Hertha Berlin stunned leaders Bayern Munich 2-0 on Friday for their first win over them in nine years that snapped the champions' unbeaten run this season and moved the Berliners joint top in the Bundesliga.

Hertha captain Vedad Ibisevic sent Manuel Neuer the wrong way to score with a 23rd-minute penalty after Jerome Boateng had brought down Salomon Kalou.

Slovak forward Ondrej Duda continued his sensational form with his fifth goal of the season, firing in on the stroke of halftime to confirm Hertha's fine start that has left them in second place on 13 points, level on points with Bayern.

The champions, with injured Leon Goretzka joining a growing list of absentees that already includes Kingsley Coman and Corentin Tolisso among others, had their share of chances as they dominated after the break.

With 65 percent possession, 14 corners compared to Hertha's one and 24-6 shots on goal, Bayern will be asking themselves how they failed to get at least a point from the game.

"Our conversion rate is one reason but we also let in two goals," said Bayern coach Niko Kovac. "Both could have been avoided."

"We still played a decent game. We have no problem with the defeat and will not start seeing everything in a negative light. Everyone who knows this club knows we will bounce back and we will be successful again."

James Rodriguez came close for the visitors in the second half but even the introduction of a third striker with Sandro Wagner in the 72nd minute could not prevent their first defeat of the season, three days after stumbling to a 1-1 draw against Augsburg.

Borussia Dortmund, third on 11 points, are in action against Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday, while Schalke 04, last season's runners-up who have lost all five league games so far, host Mainz 05.

Hertha Berlin stunned leaders Bayern Munich 2-0 on Friday for their first win over them in nine years that snapped the champions' unbeaten run this season and moved the Berliners joint top in the Bundesliga.

Hertha Berlin stunned leaders Bayern Munich 2-0 on Friday for their first win over them in nine years that snapped the champions' unbeaten run this season and moved the Berliners joint top in the Bundesliga. Hertha captain Vedad Ibisevic sent Manuel Neuer the wrong way to score with a 23rd-minute penalty after Jerome Boateng had brought down Salomon Kalou. Slovak forward Ondrej Duda continued his sensational form with his fifth goal of the season, firing in on the stroke of halftime to confirm Hertha's fine start that has left them in second place on 13 points, level on points with Bayern. The champions, with injured Leon Goretzka joining a growing list of absentees that already includes Kingsley Coman and Corentin Tolisso among others, had their share of chances as they dominated after the break. With 65 percent possession, 14 corners compared to Hertha's one and 24-6 shots on goal, Bayern will be asking themselves how they failed to get at least a point from the game. "Our conversion rate is one reason but we also let in two goals," said Bayern coach Niko Kovac. "Both could have been avoided." "We still played a decent game. We have no problem with the defeat and will not start seeing everything in a negative light. Everyone who knows this club knows we will bounce back and we will be successful again." James Rodriguez came close for the visitors in the second half but even the introduction of a third striker with Sandro Wagner in the 72nd minute could not prevent their first defeat of the season, three days after stumbling to a 1-1 draw against Augsburg. Borussia Dortmund, third on 11 points, are in action against Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday, while Schalke 04, last season's runners-up who have lost all five league games so far, host Mainz 05.

Hertha stun Bayern for first win in nine years

Hertha Berlin stunned leaders Bayern Munich 2-0 on Friday for their first win over them in nine years that snapped the champions' unbeaten run this season and moved the Berliners joint top in the Bundesliga.

Hertha captain Vedad Ibisevic sent Manuel Neuer the wrong way to score with a 23rd-minute penalty after Jerome Boateng had brought down Salomon Kalou.

Slovak forward Ondrej Duda continued his sensational form with his fifth goal of the season, firing in on the stroke of halftime to confirm Hertha's fine start that has left them in second place on 13 points, level on points with Bayern.

The champions, with injured Leon Goretzka joining a growing list of absentees that already includes Kingsley Coman and Corentin Tolisso among others, had their share of chances as they dominated after the break.

With 65 per cent possession, 14 corners compared to Hertha's one and 24-6 shots on goal, Bayern will be asking themselves how they failed to get at least a point from the game.

"Our conversion rate is one reason but we also let in two goals," said Bayern coach Niko Kovac. "Both could have been avoided."

"We still played a decent game. We have no problem with the defeat and will not start seeing everything in a negative light. Everyone who knows this club knows we will bounce back and we will be successful again."

James Rodriguez came close for the visitors in the second half but even the introduction of a third striker with Sandro Wagner in the 72nd minute could not prevent their first defeat of the season, three days after stumbling to a 1-1 draw against Augsburg.

Borussia Dortmund, third on 11 points, are in action against Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday, while Schalke 04, last season's runners-up who have lost all five league games so far, host Mainz 05.

Hertha Berlin stunned leaders Bayern Munich 2-0 on Friday for their first win over them in nine years that snapped the champions' unbeaten run this season and moved the Berliners joint top in the Bundesliga. Hertha captain Vedad Ibisevic sent Manuel Neuer the wrong way to score with a 23rd-minute penalty after Jerome Boateng had brought down Salomon Kalou. Slovak forward Ondrej Duda continued his sensational form with his fifth goal of the season, firing in on the stroke of halftime to confirm Hertha's fine start that has left them in second place on 13 points, level on points with Bayern. The champions, with injured Leon Goretzka joining a growing list of absentees that already includes Kingsley Coman and Corentin Tolisso among others, had their share of chances as they dominated after the break. With 65 per cent possession, 14 corners compared to Hertha's one and 24-6 shots on goal, Bayern will be asking themselves how they failed to get at least a point from the game. "Our conversion rate is one reason but we also let in two goals," said Bayern coach Niko Kovac. "Both could have been avoided." "We still played a decent game. We have no problem with the defeat and will not start seeing everything in a negative light. Everyone who knows this club knows we will bounce back and we will be successful again." James Rodriguez came close for the visitors in the second half but even the introduction of a third striker with Sandro Wagner in the 72nd minute could not prevent their first defeat of the season, three days after stumbling to a 1-1 draw against Augsburg. Borussia Dortmund, third on 11 points, are in action against Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday, while Schalke 04, last season's runners-up who have lost all five league games so far, host Mainz 05.

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Robert Lewandowski to the rescue as 'lucky' Hertha hold Bayern in season opener

Hertha stun Bayern for first win in nine years

Hertha stun Bayern for first win in nine years