Proceedings got off to an incredibly intense start as the teams battled for supremacy in such an important fixture, and there was a coming together between the two sets of players after Piero Hincapie was booked for an overzealous challenge on Dayot Upamecano in the 11th minute.
Even with the level of attacking talent on the pitch, that commitment didn’t immediately translate into opportunities with Kim Min-jae blocking Nathan Tella’s attempt when an intelligent free-kick released the forward.
Die Werkself still looked the more creative, and Florian Wirtz saw his improvised shot saved before Jeremie Frimpong headed his follow-up onto the crossbar. Tella then latched onto a superb Hincapie cross but became the second Leverkusen in a matter of minutes to rattle the bar.
Wirtz spotted Manuel Neuer off his line and sent an audacious strike from the halfway line wide, and while Harry Kane headed off target moments before the break, he was offside so Bayern officially went the half without registering a shot for the first time since records began in the 1992/93 season.
Bayern’s struggles continued after the break, as epitomised when Neuer came out to meet Alex Grimaldo’s free-kick but punched the ball behind for a corner that resulted in Tella acrobatically shooting wide.
Another corner from the hosts caused problems with Hiroki Ito getting back onto the line to deny Tella’s header, and Vincent Kompany responded by making four substitutions at once.
Kane finally recorded Bayern’s first shot in the 73rd minute, which was blocked from point-blank range, and Tella’s attempt moments later suffered the same fate with Leverkusen swiftly getting back on the front foot.
In the end, neither side could find a winner with Wirtz and Leon Goretzka sending an effort at each end wide, before Neuer stopped Amine Adli’s shot from close range in the final moments and Wirtz directed the rebound past the post.
The draw takes both Leverkusen and Bayern to a sixth consecutive match unbeaten across all competitions, although the point suits the Bavarians much more, as they sit eight points above Die Werkself atop the Bundesliga table with 12 matches remaining.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich)