The Bavarians had to claw back twice from behind to salvage a 2-2 draw against a fearless Union Berlin at the Alten Forsterei Stadium.

The host started brightly and took the game to Bayern, but Ilyas Ansah's 11th minute header from a Loepold Quefeld cross was ruled out by VAR.

Berlin's persistence paid off in the 27th minute with Danilho Doekhi breaking the deadlock after another Janik Harerer corner kick.

Bayern restored parity ten minutes later following a good strike from Colombian star Luiz Diaz to take the match to half time at 1-1.

The second half resembled the opening stanza with Berlin applying the pressure early on but failing to score until Doekhi put them ahead again in the 83rd minute.

However, the Bavarians rallied back with Harry Kane levelling the score at 2-2 with a powerful header.

Bayern piled on late pressure but could not find the winner.

Elsewhere in the Bundesliga, Bayer Leverkusen thrashed Heidenheim 6-0 with Patrick Schick and Ibrahim Maza each scoring a brace at the BayArena.

The host roared to a 4-0 lead by the 27th minute of the match, before Algeria's Maza added a goal on either side of half-time to complete the rout.

At Borussia-Park, Borussia Monchengladbach defeated FC Koln 3-1 in a match that had several crucial VAR reviews throughout the encounter. Three penalties were awarded during the match, with the home side missing the first one shortly before Philip Sander (45+3') scored the opener.

Kevin Diks converted from the spot in the 61st minute to double the lead before Haris Tabakovic (64') made up for his earlier penalty miss. The visitors got a consolation goal through Luka Waldschmidt's late penalty (90+2).

Third placed Borussia Dortmund were held to a late 1-1 draw by Hamburger SV at the Volksparkstadion as they looked to make it three consecutive wins since Der Klassiker loss.

Charney Chukwuemeka broke the deadlock in the 64th minute from a Nico Schlotterbeck assist before the home side made substitutions as the looked for the leveller, which arrived late in additional time through Ransford-Yeboah Konigsdorffer.

In an earlier result on Saturday, Hoffenheim came back from behind to emerge 3-1 winners against high-flying RB Leipzig the PreZero Arena.

The visitors took the lead through Ivorian defender Yan Diomande after a good assist from Assan Quedraogo in the 9th minute before Albian Hajdari levelled the score (20') and Tim Lemperle put Hoffenheim ahead (38').

Grischa Promel added a third in the 79th minute shortly after the home side had been denied a goal by VAR just a minute earlier.

Bayern Munich's dominance sparks referee controversy in Mainz defeat