Bayern and Arsenal draw 2-2 in Munich after Declan Rice's 81st-minute equaliser

Late equaliser at the Allianz Arena

Bayern Munich and Arsenal drew 2-2 at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday, 21 October, in the third matchday of the Champions League league phase for 2026-27. Arsenal went ahead through Eberechi Eze, who had come on for Bukayo Saka after Saka was injured in the opening minutes. Bayern hit back before half-time, when Harry Kane played a pass that Alphonso Davies turned into the equaliser. Kane then scored a penalty after a handball by Jurrien Timber, and Declan Rice sealed the draw for Arsenal in the 81st minute. Bayern were without Michael Olise, who had been sent off in the previous matchday, and coach Vincent Kompany fielded a side with many absences. Kane's goal was his 10th consecutive Champions League match with a goal.

Klopp's half-time criticism

During the break, DAZN asked Germany's national team coach Jürgen Klopp about Bayern. Klopp said he had not fully worked out what Bayern do without the ball, describing a defence that is sometimes hybrid, sometimes man-marking and sometimes not. He was most puzzled by Kane's role, as the striker appears in unfamiliar positions and at times drops into the midfield press. Klopp then played down his own verdict, saying he was not the pope of football and that everyone could do as they wished.

Harry Kane is everywhere. I find that fine with the ball, but without it?

Bayern sporting director Max Eberl defended the approach, saying that a match against Arsenal is very flexible and rotating, with many changes of position.

We think about it, and the coach thinks about it a lot.

After the final whistle Vincent Kompany was asked about Klopp's remarks and declined to respond.

I won't say anything about that. Next question!

Kane in the spotlight

UEFA named Kane man of the match, and Thierry Henry praised him on CBS Sports for reading the game differently from a typical centre forward. Henry said Kane alone had thought about Kompany's plan and used Davies's pace with a pass of 70 to 80 metres. Kane told Bild that Arsenal's movement, especially in the second half, left Bayern unsure who should mark whom.

Ballon d'Or race

Kane is one of three favourites for the Ballon d'Or, alongside Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal, after winning the European Golden Boot last season with 36 Bundesliga goals for Bayern. The official award will be announced in London on Monday, 26 October. In an anonymous survey of 100 people from football conducted by The Athletic, Kane topped the vote with 1,103 points, ahead of Yamal on 991 and Mbappé on 728.

Kane also collected 39 first-place votes, compared with 23 for Yamal and nine for Lionel Messi, who finished fifth on total points. The survey is not the official vote, and its result may not carry over into the official ballot. Kane said he would have preferred to know the winner without waiting through the night, and that his wife and family felt the same way about the stress of the wait. Kane could become the fifth Englishman to win the award, after Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Michael Owen.