Football news - Bayern Munich fortunate to draw with wasteful Ajax

Wasteful Ajax had to settle for a point away to Bayern Munich having missed a hatful of golden opportunities to win this enthralling Group E encounter.

The German champions came into the contest having dropped points in their last two league games but they made a blistering start and broke the deadlock after four minutes when Mats Hummels headed in Arjen Robben's floated cross.

Having looked overawed in the opening stages the young Ajax side grew slowly into the match and found an equaliser through 20-year-old Noussair Mazraoui who charged forward from full-back, exchanged passes with Dusan Tadic before rifling a low drive past the helpless Manuel Neuer.

Ajax grew in confidence from here and finished the first-half on top. Sensing blood, the visitors stepped up the intensity after the restart and spurned two glorious chances to take the lead with Tadic and Nicolas Tagliafico failing to test Neuer from close-range.

But the most gilt-edged opportunity fell to Donny Van de Beek who volleyed wide from point-blank range, while Lasse Schone's free-kick struck the woodwork in injury-time as Ajax were made left to rue their wastefulness in attack.

The draw - and poor performance - increases pressure on Bayern manager Niko Kovac who watched his side stumble and stutter for the third straight game.

Resurgent Ajax prove they can be a force once more. Erik Ten Hag's side started nervously but instead of buckling under the pressure the young Ajax players - inspired by their heroes of years gone by - fought back in admirable fashion. They came out of their shells, standing up to and matching their illustrious, experienced opponents, man-to-man, refusing to be intimidated by the expectant home crowd. This was a performance the Ajax legends of the 1970s would have been proud of - the only disappointment is the Dutch side weren't rewarded with an unforgettable away win.

Matthijs de Ligt (Ajax): At only 19 years old, the young Dutchman already looks like an accomplished defender. On his Champions League group stage debut, he never allowed Robert Lewandowski, one of the great strikers in world football, an inch. So calm, composed and confident, this kid has the world at his feet.

Bayern Munich: Neuer 7, Hummels 7, Thiago 6, Ribery, 7 Martinez 6, Lewandowski 5, Robben 6, Boateng 5, Muller 5, Alaba 5, Kimmich 6. Subs: Sule 5, James 5, Gnabry 5.

Ajax: Onana 8, De Ligt 8, Wober 7, Van de Beek, Neres 8, Tadic 8, Mazraoui 7, Blind 7, Schone 7, Ziyech 8, Tagliafico 7. Subs: Dolberg 5, de Wit 5.

4' - GOAL! Bayern Munich 1-0 Ajax: Bayern are in front with less than five minutes on the clock! Dreadful defending from Ajax. Robben is allowed too much space as he shifts onto his left-foot to float a cross towards the back post where Hummels is unmarked to head home. The visitors' game-plan is undone already.

22' - GOAL! Bayern Munich 1-1 Ajax: The Allianz Arena is stunned - Ajax are level! And it's the 20-year-old Mazraoui who scores on his first start in Champions League football! The right-back drives forward, exchanges a lovely one-two with Tadic, before controlling and rifling a low shot past the helpless Neuer.

47' - WHAT A CHANCE! Neres kills a diagonal pass on the flank, spots Tadic unmarked in the penalty area and finds his team mate with an inch-perfect cross. It's set up on a plate for the Ajax forward but inexplicably he scuffs his shot, making it an easy save for Neuer.

49' - AJAX SPURN ANOTHER CHANCE! The visitors have the Bayern feathers ruffled, but they must put one of these golden opportunities away sooner rather than later. Tadic is involved again, pulling a clever ball back to Tagliafico who has space and time to pick his spot. But he doesn't generate enough power in his strike and it's another easy stop for Neuer. Will Ajax be left to rue these missed chances?

72' - ANOTHER AJAX MISS! Well, this could be the biggest chance of the lot. It falls to Van de Beek who latches onto Tadic's clever flick-on but he volleys wide from point-blank range! How didn't he score?!

90'+2 - OFF THE WOODWORK! What a hit! Schone rifles a dipping free-kick from all of 30 yards and Neuer does extremely well to tip it onto the crossbar!

Ajax are only the fifth team this decade to record seven or more shots on target in a Champions League away game at FC Bayern, after Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid (2017). Juventus (2016) and Internazionale (2010).

Thomas Muller made his 450th appearance for Bayern Munich - he is the 11th player to achieve this goal.