FRANKFURT — Leader Bayern Munich’s express start to the season finally ran out of steam Friday with a goalless draw at Eintracht Frankfurt, following 10 wins out of its 10 previous Bundesliga games.
The champion lacked its usual punch and despite dominating the encounter, did not manage to break past a disciplined backline too often, failing to equal a European major league record for the best start to a season, held by Tottenham Hotspur with 11 straight wins in 1960.
The Bavarians, on 31 points, extended their lead to eight above second-placed Borussia Dortmund. Eintracht moved up to 11th on 13 points.
Di Maria scores
Angel Di Maria struck the winner as French league leader Paris Saint-Germain won 1-0 at Rennes Friday to maintain its unbeaten start to the season.
The Argentina winger scored in the 75th minute after being set up by Brazilian winger Lucas, giving him the perfect confidence-booster before PSG’s trip to play Real Madrid in the Champions League Tuesday.
Di Maria played for four seasons for Madrid before joining Manchester United last season, but it was an unhappy spell in northern England and he joined PSG in the offseason.
PSG coach Laurent Blanc rested star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic ahead of the game in Madrid and PSG lacked sharpness in a dour first half.
Tempers frayed at the end as PSG midfielder Thiago Motta squared up to Rennes’ Abdoulaye Doucoure after Doucoure had shoved him.
PSG leads second-place Angers by 10 points ahead of this weekend’s matches.
Deportivo draws with Atletico
Atletico Madrid squandered a chance to provisionally go top of the Spanish league when poor defending allowed Deportivo La Coruna to draw 1-1 Friday in the 10th round.
Atletico pounced on its chance when Brazilian Sidnei’s clearance bounced off fellow Deportivo defender Alberto Lopo’s face and landed perfectly for Thiago to score in the 34th minute.
Atletico coach Diego Simeone started the match with the same lineup that defeated Valencia 2-1 in the last round, with Antoine Griezmann and Colombia forward Jackson Martinez in attack.
“We were eager to go to bed as league leaders tonight,” said Jorge “Koke” Resurrecion.
“We now have to focus on our next Champions League match.” Atletico plays at Astana in the group stage of the European competition Tuesday.
Lucas Perez equalized in the 76th with his sixth goal this season after stealing the ball off Jose Gimenez as Atletico’s Uruguay defender casually shadowed the ball toward the goal line.
“We went after them in the second half and my teammates made a splendid job of it,” Perez said.
Fernando Torres — looking for his 100th Atletico goal — came on for Thiago in the 82nd.
Atletico is third in the standings on 20 points — one point behind leaders Real Madrid and second-place Barcelona — while Deportivo is sixth on 14. — Agencies
