Ajax Does an Abfahrt from Munich with Point in Hand

FC Bayern seems to be making a habit outta slow starts to the season.

The Bundesliga's mortal sides thought the Stern des Südens -- Stars of the South -- had finally fallen to Earth last season.

But no.

Casual observers might be noticing it's happening again. Die Roten are now three matches without a victory after Ajax Amsterdam secured a 1-1 draw at the Allianz.

 

This Champions League match opened in promising fashion for the home side, as in the 4th minute.

That's when Arjen Robben’s cross found Mats Hummels, who headed it home:

Cameroon's international 'keeper André Onana complained about the German defender being offside, but it was in vain. Matthijs de Ligt was clearly ahead of him.

Bayern was still breathing fire after manager Niko Kovač had challenged the players to snap outta their funk.

 

In the 15th minute, though, Ajax started to get dangerous. By the 22nd, the Dutch team found their equalizer.

Noussair Mazraoui got possession, passed it to Dušan Tadić, and kept going. Dude dutifully got it back inside the box and zipped it into the bottom-left corner. Manuel Neuer gave it the old college try, but couldn't get there:

 

There was an abundance of back and forth in the second half, but de Godenzonen -- Sons of the Gods -- would not be shaken.

In fact, it was Ajax who had the best chance at nailing down the win, in the 95th via Lasse Schöne, but Neuer got enough of his fingertips on the set-piece scud to save a point:

 

No one's under the illusion that Bayern won't advance outta Group E. The drama's gonna be who joins them.

In that respect, this was a huge away point for Ajax:

So, it's no wonder dudes came away happy on the evening.