Bundesliga

2022-02-06T08:00:00Z

Bayern edge Leipzig in five-goal thriller

Thomas Müller and Robert Lewandowski were on a target for a Bayern Munich side that ultimately profited from a Josko Gvardiol own goal as the defending Bundesliga champions recorded a narrow win against battling RB Leipzig.

Bayern Munich 3-2 RB Leipzig
Goals: 1-0 Müller (12'), 1-1 Silva (27'), 2-1 Lewandowski (assist: Coman) 44', 2-2 Nkunku (assist: Laimer) 53', 3-2 Gvardiol (o.g. 58')

Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann knew there was no time for sentiment as he welcomed his old side to the Allianz Arena. With Borussia Dortmund breathing down their necks, the champions needed to set the pace against a Leipzig side impressing under Domenico Tedesco. The hosts did indeed take a 12th minute lead, but not before the returning Dani Olmo gave them an almighty scare with a shot from the cut-back that whispered past Manuel Neuer's post. Relief for Bayern, then, when Müller tapped in after Leipzig 'keeper Peter Gulacsi could only get a palm on Lewandowski's shot. With four wins in their previous four games in all competitions, Leipzig were never going to lie down once behind, and so it proved. Olmo kept the visitors purring with a couple of chances before Andre Silva poked in an equaliser at the back post to unsettle the men in red. The leaders soon regrouped, however, and not long after a Kingsley Coman cross-shot found its way onto the bar, the winger hit the perfect centre for Lewandowski to power-header his team back into the lead.

Bayern enjoyed a 4-1 win when the sides met back in September and the home team almost opened up a similar advantage on the scoreboard when Lewandowski just failed to connect with Müller's pass in front of goal. The miss would prove momentarily costly. Eager to net a 10th Bundesliga goal for the campaign, Christopher Nkunku lapped up a delicious Konrad Laimer through ball before calmly netting to bring parity once more. This 12th Bundesliga meeting between the sides now emerging as classic, the pendulum soon swung back in favour of the men in red. Looking to whip up some danger with a cross from the right, Serge Gnabry was more than happy to see his centre clip Gvardiol before flying past the despairing Gulacsi. A couple of uncharacteristic misses from Lewandowski then preceded a Dominik Szoboszlai zinger that met the palms of Neuer. The goalkeeper would save his side again from Emil Forsberg as Bayern held out for three big points.

Watch: Sane: "We're hungry"

Match stats

Watch: Gulacsi says Bayern "punish" your mistakes

Line-ups

Bayern: Neuer – Pavard, Süle, Hernandez (Upamecano 73') – Gnabry, Kimmich, Tolisso (Musiala 63'), Coman (Nianzou 85') – Müller (Sabitzer 84'), Sane – Lewandowski
Unused subs: Ulreich, Richards, Wanner, Roca, Tillman
Out: Choupo-Moting (international duty), Davies (heart), Goretzka (knee), Sarr (international duty), Stanisic (thigh)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann

Leipzig: Gulacsi (c) - Mukiele (Henrichs 72'), Orban, Gvardiol - Klostermann, Laimer (Haidara 61'), Kampl (Szoboszlai 46'), Angelino - Nkunku, Olmo (Forsberg 61') – Silva (Poulsen 80')
Unused subs: Tschauner, Martinez, Bonnah, Novoa
Out: Adams (thigh), Halstenberg (back), Simakan (ankle)
Coach: Domenico Tedesco

Watch: Nagelsmann: "It was an emotional game"

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