Just one day after the Eberl blast, Bayern Munich missed revenge at the Bundesliga summit and was once again unable to defeat challenger RB Leipzig.
In the midst of speculation about the Saxons’ sacked sports director, who is being traded to the German record champions, coach Thomas Tuchel’s team had to be content with a 2-2 (0-2) draw against the cup winners, but made up for a two-goal deficit. Bayern initially fell back to third place in the table.
Harry Kane (57th, hand penalty) and Leroy Sane (70th) at least saved a point for the Tuchel team, which recently suffered bitter defeats against RB in the Supercup (0:3) and in the championship race last season (1:3). had conceded. “The time has come to turn the tables,” the Bayern coach demanded – but Lois Openda (20th) and Castello Lukeba (26th) prevented that with their goals for the Leipzig team, who are in fifth place.
The top duel had become even more explosive a little more than 25 hours before kick-off due to the expulsion of Max Eberl from RB. Late on Friday afternoon, the Leipzig team surprisingly parted ways with their sports director after less than a year, accusing him of a “lack of commitment”. Eberl has been repeatedly linked to Bayern in the past and, according to Sky, is the top candidate for the vacant position of sports director after leaving RB.
FC Bayern without de Ligt and Gnabry
In the Munich squad, veteran Thomas Müller and the defensive duo Min-Jae Kim and Dayot Upamecano, who were in the starting line-up, reported fit in time for the top game. Tuchel had to do without Matthijs de Ligt and Serge Gnabry due to injuries. In addition to defense chief Willi Orban and Supercup three-goal scorer Dani Olmo, RB was also missing striker Timo Werner.
In the stands in the sold-out Red Bull Arena, new national coach Julian Nagelsmann saw Bayern’s first big chance in the duel between his former clubs. After a quickly taken free kick, the Leipzig team switched gears too slowly, but Jamal Musiala was denied by RB keeper Janis Blaswich (3′).
The hosts repeatedly tried to disrupt the Munich team, but they were unimpressed in the early stages and dominated the game. But a little later, Emil Forsberg missed Leipzig’s best opportunity to date: Bayern goalkeeper Sven Ulreich played the ball into the feet of the Swede, who tried from a distance towards the empty goal, but the ball went past the right (12th).
Leipzig now found its way into the game better and better. Shortly afterwards, Xaver Schlager sent Openda, and Kim unfortunately deflected the shot past Ulreich. Lukeba increased after a corner. RB then made things difficult for the guests and defended in a disciplined manner.
After the break, Leipzig initially had the game under control, but Kane shortened the score with a hand penalty according to video evidence. Benjamin Henrichs had his arm on the ball from a free kick. Bayern pushed for the next goal, which Sane scored on a counterattack from a Leipzig corner. In the wild final minutes both teams played for victory.