The German record champions prevent the next setback in the title race in the top game. For a long time, things were going well for the people of Munich – until a key moment. In the end it gets dramatic.
A very important victory for FC Bayern – the Munich team does not lose sight of leaders Bayer Leverkusen. In the eagerly awaited top game of matchday 23, coach Thomas Tuchel’s team won 2-1 (0-0) against RB Leipzig and remains close to the Werkself.
Harry Kane had put Bayern in the lead (56′), Benjamin Šeško equalized for the guests, who appeared increasingly stronger in the second half. With his second goal shortly before the end (90th + 2), Kane set the final point for a deserved victory in a hard-fought top duel.
This is how the game went:
Was it the tension? Was it nervousness? Was it just full focus on the game? For long stretches of this top Bundesliga duel, Thomas Tuchel sat leaning far forward in the middle of his coaching zone in the Allianz Arena – on a metal medical kit that he had temporarily repurposed from the stash on the bench of the German record champions.
Tuchel wasn’t yet sitting on his chosen chair, and it almost gave the Munich team a rude awakening. In focus: Manuel Neuer – because the Bayern goalkeeper made a serious mistake in the first minute of the game, a pass slipped completely and landed directly into the feet of Leipzig’s Dani Olmo. He moved into the penalty area on the right, but the Spaniard’s shot was immediately blocked, as was Amadou Haidara’s follow-up shot from a good 20 meters.
Once the initial shock was over, the hosts had their first chance – and what a chance it was: Kane played to Raphael Guerreiro on the left during a counterattack, the Portuguese crossed into the middle of Leipzig’s box, where the Englishman was already waiting again powerfully headed towards the Saxons’ goal. RB goalkeeper Janis Blaswich was forced to make a brilliant save and, with the last of his strength, directed the ball to the left post. That was very close.
Sané very unhappy
As a result, both clubs neutralized each other at a high level – also because Bayern ultimately lacked the final emphasis going forward, despite a significantly improved performance compared to their last three competitive defeats in a row. Again and again, bad passes and ball losses on both sides thwarted the attacking efforts. So Leipzig stayed in the game, despite all the offensive harmlessness.
Then suddenly Leroy Sané had Bayern’s lead in his hands: Aleksandar Pavlovic brought on Jamal Musiala, who played a dream through ball to Sané in the Leipzig penalty area – but alone in front of Blaswich, the national player made a mistake, allowed himself to be pushed too far out, and came didn’t even get a shot (34′). Shortly before the break, Kane could have scored a goal for the history books with an overhead kick – Müller had headed to the Englishman – but only managed a touchdown from six meters. The first round remained goalless – and Bayern always feared a successful Leipzig pinprick.
The second half began similarly to the first: with a top-class chance for Leipzig. Haidara simply shot from 20 meters unchallenged – and forced Neuer to make his first save of the game. Only a short time later, Mohamed Simakan suddenly found himself completely free in Bayern’s penalty area, took a cross from David Raum from seven meters with a remarkable volley – and pulled the ball just past the left post; Neuer would have been beaten (53′). Then Xavi Simons tried from 18 meters, but shot into the arms of the Munich goalkeeper (55th).
Leipzig not shocked
And right in the middle of the guests’ strongest phase, Kane scored to give Bayern the lead. The home team came forward from the left, Müller found Musiala in the middle, and the ball then ended up in a detour to the 100 million purchase, who hit the right corner from 14 meters. The spectators in the Allianz Arena breathed a sigh of relief.