Berlin: Leaders Bayern Munich dropped their first Bundesliga points for more than a month after being held to a goalless draw at second-placed Borussia Moenchengladbach in Sunday’s high-tempo clash.

Gladbach threatened to inflict a first defeat of the season on Pep Guardiola’s Bavarians despite less than 30 per cent possession.

The hosts’ tactics were to soak up Bayern’s pressure and hit the league leaders on the counter in an intense game and it nearly paid off.

“We defended intelligently and had Bayern under a lot of pressure, I am happy with the point,” enthused Gladbach’s coach Lucien Favre.

Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer had a busy night to deny Gladbach forwards Raffael, Max Kruse and Patrick Herrmann, while at the other end Munich’s David Alaba hit the post in the first half.

“If Bayern hadn’t had Neuer in goal, they would have had to swallow one or two goals,” said Gladbach’s Germany midfielder Christoph Kramer.

“We made it really difficult for a really strong team.”

Poland striker Robert Lewandowski also fired wide for Bayern, while replacement Claudio Pizarro squandered a chance in the dying stages.

Bayern drew for only the third time this season after six consecutive wins — including Tuesday’s stunning 7-1 thrashing of Roma in the Champions League.

“We controlled the game well in the first half, but we were tired after the break, lost some of our order and allowed them to counter too much,” said Guardiola.

“Overall, I am pleased with the performance and the point.”

Things remain tight in the pack chasing Bayern, with second-placed Gladbach, Wolfsburg and Hoffenheim all four points back.

Earlier, VfL Wolfsburg moved up to third after inflicting Mainz’s first defeat of the season on their guests with a 3-0 win.

Goals by Naldo, Ivan Perisic and Daniel Caliguri gave the hosts the three points.

Wolfsburg, for whom Belgian playmaker Kevin de Bruyne was outstanding, took the lead when Brazilian defender Naldo headed home from a corner after only 15 minutes.

Mainz’s goalkeeper Loris Karius denied De Bruyne when he pushed the former Chelsea midfielder’s fierce strike over the bar on 58 minutes, but Wolves’ second goal came from the resulting corner.

Naldo was again left unmarked in the area and he headed on for Croatian international Perisic to guide his header past Karius from close range.

Caliguri made sure of the win on 87 minutes, when he tapped home a cross by Belgium Under-21 international Junior Malanda.

“You could see that we were really on top of things. Mainz started strongly, but we showed our potential,” said Wolves’ coach Dieter Hecking.

“The way we played, Mainz couldn’t take anything off us and they were really a class below us.”