Robben comes close to a fourth for Bayern, but Leno makes a smart leg save to deny him from close range. The defending champions will end tonight atop the table, where they belong.
FULL-TIME: BAYERN 3-1 LEVERKUSEN.
90'
There will be two minutes added on at the end of this match.
89'
NOT QUITE! Pinball in the Bayern area as a shot comes in from distance. The last touch sends the ball straight into the path of Kampl, but he can't sort his footing with an empty net in front of him!
87'
STAT: Bayern have won their last five games on matchday one. They last opened a campaign against Leverkusen 27 years ago (1-1 H).
85'
WIDE! Real chance for Ribery to put the game to bed for Bayern as he's sprung through behind the defence, but drags his shot wide of the far post! That would have sealed it, though it doesn't seem like he will come to rue that miss barring an unprecedented last five minutes from Leverkusen.
83'
Bayern a bit fortunate there as Alaba's clearance smacks off Kimmich and back towards goal, but Ulreich is able to collect. That would have seen the tension increase ten-fold in Munich!
81'
Leverkusen continue to push, but Bayern have tightened things up in defence. While the visitors are still enjoying plenty of possession, chances are proving hard to come by. They need a goal in the next five minutes to set up a grandstand finish.
79'
STAT: Leverkusen picked up just 17 points in the second half of last season (same as in 2008/09 and 1981/82). They only managed fewer once: 13 in 1995/96.
77'
K. Coman enters the game and replaces F. Ribéry.
Bayern's final change sees Kingsley Coman replace Ribery.
75'
That's where Leverkusen have to be careful! As they continue to push forward, Bayern are enjoying plenty of space on the break. Robben spearheads a counter here and tries to thread a ball through for Ribery, but it runs into the path of Leno.
Minute
Description
73'
JUST WIDE! That could have been two! Kohr beats his marker to latch onto the end of a free-kick. It's a free header from 10 yards, but he flashes it beyond the far post! That should have been two, in fact!
71'
The visitors refuse to go down without a fight. The introductions of Brandt and Kampl have really provided them with a spark in attack. Maybe only just, but Bayern's lead is looking a bit shaky right now.
69'
Time winding down on this match and, if the last few minutes are any indication, Bayern do appear to have a goal in them still. Leverkusen have looked much better over the last 15 minutes, but as they open up to try and mount a comeback, they're leaving themselves dangerously exposed.
67'
STAT: Last season, Carlo Ancelotti’s side suffered the fewest league defeats (2) of all teams in Europe’s top five leagues.
65'
A. Mehmedi has scored a goal for Bayer Leverkusen! Assist by J. Brandt.
Brandt picks up the assist, but that was all in the shot from Mehmedi.
STUNNING STRIKE! Mehmedi with a bullet off the underside of the bar and in to give Leverkusen a lifeline! Stunning strike from the Switzerland international to open his account on the season.
63'
A. Vidal gets yellow.
Vidal picks up Bayern's first yellow of the match.
62'
Rafinha enters the game and replaces M. Hummels.
Hummels nearly makes it three for Bayern as he sprints forward to get on the end of a cross, but Leno produces a terrific save! And that will be his last involvement of the match it looks like.
A second Bayern switch sees Rafinha replace Hummels.
61'
A. Robben enters the game and replaces T. Müller.
K. Kampl enters the game and replaces C. Aránguiz.
Leverkusen's final change sees Kampl replace Aranguiz.
Arjen Robben enters the fray for Bayern, replacing Muller.
60'
Upon closer review, it was actually Kimmich who cleared Kohr's rebound off the line, but Ulreich did manage to get himself across and looked like he would have made the save had Kimmich not been there.
58'
STUNNING DOUBLE SAVE! A piece of brilliance from Ulreich! Leverkusen finally carve apart the Bayern back line, but the keeper stops Brandt's back-heel from in close before remarkably scrambling across to deny Kohr on the rebound as well!
56'
Bayern have taken their foot off the gas a bit and Leverkusen are trying to capitalise, but they're lacking the clinical edge in attack. The openings are there for the taking, they just haven't been able to pounce on them.
54'
STAT: Bayern celebrated their fifth consecutive league title in 2017 – a record. Their total of 82 points was the fourth-best in Bundesliga history – they recorded more in three of the previous four years.
53'
GAME OVER? Surely there's no way back for Leverkusen now! Lewandowski places his penalty smartly into the bottom corner, with Leno rooted to his spot. Cool as you'd like from the Poland international.
52'
C. Aránguiz gets yellow.
Penalty goal scored by R. Lewandowski for Bayern Munich!
PENALTY TO BAYERN! The referee initially waved away claims for the penalty, but after consulting with video review, it is deemed to be a foul! Aranguiz is the culprit, and he sees yellow, dragging Lewandowski down from behind to prevent him from latching onto a cross.
50'
CLOSE! Volland strips Hummels of possession high up the pitch and quickly breaks into the area. Rudy does very well to track back and bail out his team-mate, however, applying pressure on the striker and forcing the ball behind for a goal kick.
48'
It's Leverkusen who start the second half on the front foot, eager to cut the deficit in half. They have struggled to stop the Bayern train thus far, but if they can channel this momentum into a goal, we could have a game on our hands in the second half.
46'
J. Brandt enters the game and replaces L. Bailey.
A. Dragović enters the game and replaces S. Bender.
Leverkusen make two changes at the break. The first sees Aleksandar Dragovic replaces Bender.
Bayern get the second half underway, in much more cooperative weather.
Substitution Leon Bailey Butler Julian Brandt
45' +1
HALF-TIME: BAYERN 2-0 LEVERKUSEN. The referee blows after just 30 seconds of stoppage-time, due to the incliment weather. It's something to keep an eye on as it could effect whether or not this match is finished tonight should it keeping coming down at this rate.
45'
There will be just one minute added on at the end of this first half. The rain is really hammering down here, with a nasty summer storm suddenly creeping in.
43'
Leverkusen are finding their legs a bit as we approach the interval. Bailey has been lively in possession, and he comes close to carving out a great chance here for Mehmedi, but Hummels is across to snuff it out.
41'
The rain is pouring down now in Munich as storm clouds drift in. It's a heavy downpour here - heavy enough that it has fans running for cover with half-time approaching. The winds aren't helping much either, as it's making for some nasty playing conditions.
39'
STAT: This is Bayern’s 300th home game at the Allianz Arena (excluding the ‘neutral’ 2012 Champions League final). The Munich club have won 77 per cent of their 299 competitive outings at the stadium to date (W231, D41, L27).
37'
Poor! Plenty of deliberation and anticipation in the build-up to the free-kick, but it's much ado about nothing in the end as Bellarabi fires his effort straight into the wall. That had to be better. Pressure stays on, however, as Ulreich concedes possession cheaply, but Bailey just misses the top corner!
35'
Chance here for Leverkusen to halve the deficit, as undeserving as it would be, as they win a free-kick just outside the penalty area, slightly off to the right of goal. They can ill-afford to squander yet another chance.
33'
Bayern are nearly gifted a third as some very loose passing from Leverkusen at the back is pounced upon by Ribery, who charges forward. He has plenty of open space in front of him but opts to try and pass across for Lewandowski. His pass is too far behind the striker, however, halting the momentum of the attack and disappointingly conceding possession.
31'
After a stint on the touchline Bender rejoins the fray, but not before Leverkusen were nearly punished in his absence, saved by the offside flag. It's proving to be desperate times for the visitors, who need something to hang their hat on before the interval.
29'
More cause for concern for Leverkusen as Henrichs and Bender both go down hard following collisions with Muller and Lewandowski, within seconds of each other. It's Bender who is the worst off here it would seem, as the training staff is out to attend to him.
27'
STAT: Leverkusen finished 12th last term (41 points) – their worst performance in the Bundesliga for 14 years (15th with 40 points in 2002/03). They will be absent from the European stage for the first time since 2009.
25'
It's all Bayern here as they remain firmly in control of the match. The flow has been the same since the start. Bayern press until they score, and Leverkusen respond with a quick chance before the hosts assert themselves again. Rinse, repeat.
23'
OFF THE WOODWORK! Bayern are running riot in Munich, having their way with Leverkusen on this opening match of the new Bundesliga season! A terrific bit of interplay sees Tolisso played through on the right, and he's able to thread a shot through the legs of Leno, but the keeper gets the slightest of deflections to turn it off the post!
21'
Leverkusen respond well again to Bayern scoring, but same story this time as they are unable to capitalise on their chances. It's Volland who finds his way into the area via the right channel, aided by a poor giveaway from Vidal, but Ulreich is out to thwart him from a tight angle.
19'
Vidal provides the assist, with his shot-turned-cross.
MAKE THAT TWO! Cause for celebration in the Allianz Arena as Bayern double their lead through Tolisso! It was a simple header from the midfielder after a little dink over the top from Vidal, with Leno caught out of position. Goals for Sule and Tolisso now on their league debuts!
18'
C. Tolisso has scored a goal for Bayern Munich! Assist by A. Vidal.
17'
STAT: Bayern are unbeaten in 22 home Bundesliga games (W17, D5). Their last league defeat on home soil came vs. Mainz in March 2016 (2-1; under Pep Guardiola).
15'
Bayern back on the front foot, asserting themselves once again in the final third. A sharp passage of play has Leverkusen scrambling a bit, but the visitors are let off the hook as Vidal fires over from 25 yards.
13'
Strong spell in possession here for Leverkusen as they continue to climb back into the match after spending the majority of the opening 10 minutes on the back foot. They're growing in confidence, no doubt about that, but need to be a bit sharper once they cross the halfway line.
11'
Leverkusen show a bit of resolve as they respond nicely to falling behind, working their way up the pitch smartly, but Aranguiz is unable to finish the move as he flashes an effort wide of the far post from 12 yards. Nonetheless, good intent shown by the visitors.
9'
N. Süle has scored a goal for Bayern Munich! Assist by S. Rudy.
Delightful delivery from Rudy, another newcomer, as the debutants link-up for the first goal of the Bundesliga season!
AND THERE'S YOUR OPENER! Sule towers over everyone to power home Rudy's cross from the ensuing free-kick! It's a debut goal for the centre-half, and you can see how much it means to him as his eyes well up as he's swarmed by team-mates!
8'
D. Kohr gets yellow.
Kohr picks up the first booking of the Bundesliga season, a yellow card, eight minutes into his Leverkusen league debut as he trips up Ribery cynically from behind - his second foul of the night.
7'
STAT: Leverkusen have won just one of their last 29 competitive games against Bayern in Munich (2-1 in October 2012, otherwise D5, L23).
5'
BEATEN AWAY! Smart save from Leno to deny Tolisso a goal on his Bundesliga debut! The French midfielder ran onto Lewandowski's set-up and smacked a strong first-time effort at goal, but Leno was able to get across to parry.
3'
Electrifying tempo to the match in the early stages, with both teams keen to push on in search of the season's first goal. With plenty of attacking star-power in both sides, there should be no shortage of goals tonight.
1'
THE 2017/18 BUNDESLIGA SEASON IS UNDERWAY! Leverkusen in light-blue as they get the match started, attacking left to right, with Bayern in red.
Hello and welcome to live coverage from the Allianz Arena as the Bundesliga season kicks off under the lights in Munich, as defending champions Bayern play host to Bayer Leverkusen!
Bayern endured a horrible start to pre-season, losing five of their six matches in the International Champions Cup and Audi Cup, held scoreless in four of those, but have since rebounded by winning their first two competitive matches of the season.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side ran riot over Chemnitzer in the DFB-Pokal last weekend, to follow up a victory over Borussia Dortmund on penalties a fortnight ago in the German Super Cup, taking them into tonight’s Bundesliga opener with a bit of momentum as they begin their quest for a sixth successive league title.
Summer has been far less kind to Bayer Leverkusen. They needed extra-time to get by Karlsruher in the DFB-Pokal last weekend, and their only two victories in pre-season, from seven matches, came against sides in the third and fifth divisions of German football.
That’s not the start Heiko Herrlich had hoped for with the club coming off an abysmal 12th-place finish in the Bundesliga last season, their world since 2003. It could be a sign of things to come for a club who sold Hakan Calhanoglu, Javier Hernandez, Omer Toprak and Kyriakos Papadopoulos, while failing to adequately replace them.
Carlo Ancelotti hands Bayern Bundesliga debuts to defender Niklas Sule and midfielders Sebastian Rudy and Corentin Tolisso. Robert Lewandowski, who missed out on the golden boot by one goal last season, leads the line for Bayern, flanked by Thomas Muller and Franck Ribery. Arturo Vidal rounds out the midfield, while Joshua Kimmich, Mats Hummels and David Alaba join Sule in defence.
There's a new look to this Leverkusen side, with Heiko Herrlich handing league debuts to Sven Bender, Dominik Kohr and Leon Bailey. Kevin Volland leads the line, with Admir Mehmedi and Karim Bellarabi providing support along with Bailey. Charles Aranguiz partners Kohr in midfield, while Benjamin Henrichs, Jonathan Tah and Wendell fill out the back line.
Plenty of festivities on the pitch in Munich. Bundesliga banners and balloons adorning the logo of all 18 pitch highlight the ceremony, which will see kick-off delayed tonight. The players have yet to make their way out and festivities are still ongoing, so there should be a bit of a lenghty delay here.
Namika has sung the anthem and the pre-game fireworks have concluded - but the real fireworks are only just beginning! Kick-off is next...
Headers from Niklas Sule and Corentin Tolisso provide the duo with goals in their league debuts for Bayern, and have the defending champions comfortably ahead through 45 minutes at a wet Allianz Arena.
The match has been delayed 10 minutes due to weather conditions.
The players have appeared in the tunnel! Second half should be getting underway shortly.
Debut goals for Niklas Sule and Corentin Tolisso were followed by a Robert Lewandowski penalty as Bayern open the Bundesliga campaign in clinical fashion. Leverkusen pulled one back through Admir Mehmedi, but there was no way back into the contest for them as the defending champions stand firm to claim the points.
That's all for our live coverage, thanks for following along. Goodbye!
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