<p class="title">A brace for Robert Lewandowski was not enough to save Bayern Munich from making a spluttering start to the new Bundesliga season as the reigning German champions were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Hertha Berlin.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Lewandowski insisted that visitors Hertha had been "lucky" after he saved a point for Bayern with a second-half penalty on Friday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Hertha, who finished 11th last season, cancelled out Lewandowski's opener with two unusual goals to take a surprise lead in the first half and ultimately deal an early blow to Bayern's title defence.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We didn't play badly, and they barely had a shot. They were lucky," Lewandowski told ZDF.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It wasn't a false start to the season. We were the better team and should have won," said coach Niko Kovac.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Despite winning the domestic double last season, Bayern opened the season under pressure after a 2-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the German Supercup two weeks ago.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Questions over Kovac's tactics and relentless criticism of the club's transfer policy had also unsettled Bayern in the build-up, but they looked sharp early on as Joshua Kimmich and Serge Gnabry probed and prodded on the right wing.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The duo finally broke Hertha on 24 minutes, as Kimmich set up Gnabry to send a fizzing cross towards Lewandowski, who prodded home at full stretch from close range.</p>.<p class="bodytext">With Bayern completely in control, Hertha struck twice in quick succession to turn the game on its head.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The equaliser arrived with a dollop of good fortune on 36 minutes, as a hopeful long-range effort from Dodi Lukebakio deflected off Vedad Ibisevic and wrong-footed goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Three minutes later, Hertha took the lead in curious fashion after Marko Grujic clashed heads with new Bayern signing Benjamin Pavard.</p>.<p class="bodytext">While Pavard pulled up holding his head, Grujic managed to chase down the loose ball and round Neuer before himself collapsing to the turf.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Both players were quickly back on their feet, and Grujic was in the spotlight again when he pulled down Lewandowski off the ball on the hour mark.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The resulting penalty, given by VAR, was coolly converted by the Polish striker to bring Bayern back on level terms.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Lewandowski, Gnabry and Corentin Tolisso all came close as Bayern pushed for the winner late on, but Hertha held on to take a well-earned point back to the capital city.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Bayern fans will at least have one new face to cheer on after the club announced they had reached "agreement in principle" to sign Philippe Coutinho on loan from Barcelona. </p>
<p class="title">A brace for Robert Lewandowski was not enough to save Bayern Munich from making a spluttering start to the new Bundesliga season as the reigning German champions were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Hertha Berlin.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Lewandowski insisted that visitors Hertha had been "lucky" after he saved a point for Bayern with a second-half penalty on Friday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Hertha, who finished 11th last season, cancelled out Lewandowski's opener with two unusual goals to take a surprise lead in the first half and ultimately deal an early blow to Bayern's title defence.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We didn't play badly, and they barely had a shot. They were lucky," Lewandowski told ZDF.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It wasn't a false start to the season. We were the better team and should have won," said coach Niko Kovac.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Despite winning the domestic double last season, Bayern opened the season under pressure after a 2-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the German Supercup two weeks ago.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Questions over Kovac's tactics and relentless criticism of the club's transfer policy had also unsettled Bayern in the build-up, but they looked sharp early on as Joshua Kimmich and Serge Gnabry probed and prodded on the right wing.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The duo finally broke Hertha on 24 minutes, as Kimmich set up Gnabry to send a fizzing cross towards Lewandowski, who prodded home at full stretch from close range.</p>.<p class="bodytext">With Bayern completely in control, Hertha struck twice in quick succession to turn the game on its head.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The equaliser arrived with a dollop of good fortune on 36 minutes, as a hopeful long-range effort from Dodi Lukebakio deflected off Vedad Ibisevic and wrong-footed goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Three minutes later, Hertha took the lead in curious fashion after Marko Grujic clashed heads with new Bayern signing Benjamin Pavard.</p>.<p class="bodytext">While Pavard pulled up holding his head, Grujic managed to chase down the loose ball and round Neuer before himself collapsing to the turf.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Both players were quickly back on their feet, and Grujic was in the spotlight again when he pulled down Lewandowski off the ball on the hour mark.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The resulting penalty, given by VAR, was coolly converted by the Polish striker to bring Bayern back on level terms.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Lewandowski, Gnabry and Corentin Tolisso all came close as Bayern pushed for the winner late on, but Hertha held on to take a well-earned point back to the capital city.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Bayern fans will at least have one new face to cheer on after the club announced they had reached "agreement in principle" to sign Philippe Coutinho on loan from Barcelona. </p>