With an energetic performance, FC Bayern Munich prevented their third competitive defeat in a row against RB Leipzig. On Saturday (September 30th, 2023), the Munich team won 2-2 in the Bundesliga after being 2-0 down.
At least Leipzig’s Yussuf Poulsen wasn’t entirely dissatisfied. “A draw against Bayern is fine,” said the person at the Sportschau microphone. At first it looked like more for his team: In an intense game, Lois Openda (20th minute) and Castello Lukeba (26th) put Leipzig in the lead. But more energetic and determined Bayern managed to equalize in the second half through Harry Kane with a penalty (57th) and Leroy Sané (70th) after a counterattack. However, with the draw, Bayern Munich lost its lead in the table and is now only in third place with 14 points behind Bayer 04 Leverkusen (16) and VfB Stutttgart (15). Leipzig is fifth with 13 points.
After rotations during their cup victories during the week, both opponents once again fielded their best possible starting eleven in the Bundesliga top game, and the Munich team showed at the beginning that they wanted to make a statement: With a lot of speed and depth in the game, the guests owned the initial phase and after Three minutes later, Jamal Musiala appeared free in front of the Leipzig goal, but was denied by goalkeeper Janis Blaswich.
Leipzig’s Openda and Lukeba mercilessly exploit Bayern’s mistakes
The Saxons weren’t quite as aggressive against the ball as usual, but they were getting better and better at closing down the space. And then coach Marco Rose’s team was more alert than the Munich team, especially in standard situations. With a simple throw-in sequence at the halfway line, RB eliminated the entire Bayern defense before making it 1-0. Xaver Schlager sent Openda into the depths. Under pressure from Min-jae Kim, he headed towards the goal and then shot at the Korean in the penalty area so that FCB goalkeeper Sven Ulreich had no chance.
When it was 2-0, Ulreich helped actively when he took a corner. Openda headed the ball into the center, where Lukeba shot in from an unmarked position. Annoying for Munich: Instead of a corner, there should have been a goal kick. Bayern were two goals behind after less than half an hour and had a difficult time recovering. The record champions could no longer get up to speed against compact Leipzig players. The recently strong Leroy Sané and Harry Kane initially had no effect.
Kane penalty brings Bayern back into the game
Even after the break, the Munich team initially had no access to the game against the toxic Leipzig team. However, a hand penalty brought the guests back into the game because Benjamin Henrichs turned his back into the ball during a free kick and blocked the shot by raising his elbow. Kane didn’t miss the chance and reduced the score to 1-2 with his eighth goal of the season.
The Bayern game then became more grippy and Leipzig was pushed deeper and deeper towards their own penalty area. Substitute Raphael Guerrreiro narrowly missed the equalizer with a 20-meter shot (60′). Leipzig hardly managed to relieve the pressure and then ran into a counterattack. After a corner, Musiala moved through the center and played to Sané, who made it 2-2 alone in front of the goal.
As a result, Bavaria had the upper hand. However, Leipzig stabilized again in the final phase and brought the draw home.
English week for Leipzig and Bavaria
RB Leipzig will initially host in the Champions League on Wednesday (October 4, 2023, 9 p.m.). Manchester City and will play again at home against VfL Bochum on matchday 7 (Saturday, 3:30 p.m.). After the Champions League game on Tuesday at FC Copenhagen (9 p.m.), Bayern will host SC Freiburg in the Bundesliga on Sunday (5:30 p.m.).