Bayern Munich reached a historic low in their crucial Bundesliga clash with Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday, failing to register a single shot in the first half - a statistic unprecedented since record-keeping began in the 1990s.
The toothless display at the BayArena saw star striker Harry Kane particularly ineffective, with the England captain remaining anonymous through the opening 45 minutes. Kane's only notable moment came from an offside position when he took a blow to the face while attempting a header shortly before the interval, requiring several minutes of treatment.
The German giants' offensive struggles continued well into the second half, with Kane finally managing their first attempt of the match in the 74th minute, though it was comfortably blocked. This tepid performance came in a crucial fixture against second-placed Leverkusen, who entered the match trailing Bayern by eight points in the title race.
The importance of this fixture extends beyond the Bundesliga, as Vincent Kompany's side must quickly regroup for Tuesday's Champions League playoff second leg against Celtic. Bayern hold a slim 2-1 advantage following their victory at Celtic Park, but will need to show significantly more attacking prowess if they hope to advance in Europe's premier competition.
The performance marks a concerning development for the Bavarian club, whose attacking prowess has long been a hallmark of their dominance in German football. With both domestic and European challenges ahead, Bayern's uncharacteristic offensive struggles couldn't have come at a more critical time in their season.
