Bayern may have beaten PSV Eindhoven in their final UEFA Champions League league phase game, but they still returned to league action with a point to prove after their unbeaten Bundesliga record was spoiled by a surprise defeat to Augsburg last weekend.
With that in mind, the highly-motivated visitors started with a spring in their step, with Michael Olise and Lennart Karl forcing Daniel Heuer Fernandes into two strong stops in quick succession.
Joshua Kimmich then took it upon himself to try his luck from distance, rifling a fierce shot against the crossbar.
Moments later, Kimmich presented Hamburg with the opportunity to take a shock lead when he caught Nicolai Remberg in an attempt to regather his own heavy touch in the box. Fabio Vieira shouldered the responsibility to slot a precise spot-kick out of Manuel Neuer’s reach, giving the home supporters the chance to dream of claiming their first H2H win since 2009.
However, Harry Kane soon dampened those hopes, turning home his 22nd league goal of the season after Kimmich had poked a low cross into the striker’s path.
Underwhelmed by the 1-1 scoreline, Bayern boss Vincent Kompany introduced Luis Diaz at the interval in a move that was quickly vindicated.
The former Liverpool forward required less than a minute to put the visitors in front, collecting Olise’s measured through ball before sliding a composed strike past Heuer Fernandes.
Kompany’s joy was short-lived, though, as the defiant hosts hit back through Luka Vuskovic, who produced an emphatic header from William Mikelbrencis’s inviting delivery.
Vieira then threatened to snatch all three points when he drilled a low strike towards a goal vacated by Neuer, only to be denied by Alphonso Davies’s last-ditch clearance.
Still, Merlin Polzin’s side could be proud of a point that moves them up to 13th, while Borussia Dortmund now have the chance to reduce Bayern’s nine-point lead at the summit.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Fabio Vieira (Hamburg)
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