Bayern Munich Dominate Leipzig 5-1 to Extend Bundesliga Lead
After a turbulent beginning, Bayern Munich seized control to thrash RB Leipzig 5-1 in the Bundesliga, convincingly extending a third successive H2H unbeaten against a team who had previously proven to be tricky rivals.
It took less than 30 seconds for Bayern to break the deadlock, as Willi Orbán’s errant pass was swiftly punished by a rapid sequence of play that concluded in Jamal Musiala converting Michael Olise’s assist. Equality was restored with astonishing speed, as Benjamin Šeško delivered a precise first-time strike to Loïs Openda’s cross, making this the first instance in Bundesliga history where both teams scored within the opening two minutes of a game. While the torrent of goals slowed down, the fervor didn’t with Musiala’s header being thwarted by Péter Gulácsi before Arthur Vermeeren deflected Leon Goretzka’s attempt painfully over the bar within the initial 15 minutes.
Harry Kane then saw an effort deflected wide by Orbán as Bayern sought to regain composure after the early frenzy. Konrad Laimer ensured they achieved just that, passing the ball to Olise and executing the sort of clinical finish to the lofted return that belied his previous record of 41 matches without a goal. The hosts kept pressing Die Roten Bullen further back, and Joshua Kimmich capitalized on the opening that appeared for him, hammering an exquisite strike beyond Gulácsi from distance in the 36th minute.
Kim Min-jae nodded narrowly past the upright, and Musiala’s reflexive shot was parried by Gulácsi soon after the interval, as Bayern resumed with similar dominance. Leroy Sané then directed his shot off-target while stretching, before spearheading a lightning counterattack that ended with Olise blazing over. Leipzig’s aggravation was epitomized by Benjamin Henrichs’ foul on Kimmich, further compounded when Goretzka blocked Openda’s strike and Antonio Nusa missed the rebound. Kane then unleashed a fierce attempt that was saved, and Olise couldn’t convert Musiala’s drilled cross before Alphonso Davies surged forward and set up Sané to score and secure the game beyond Leipzig’s reach.
Davies subsequently connected with a pinpoint Kimmich cross to nod in a goal of his own, as Bayern emphatically rebounded from their shock loss against Mainz by registering a ninth consecutive home game without defeat and moving seven points clear at the top of the Bundesliga standings for now. The Bavarians also handed Leipzig their first loss in their last three league outings, heaping additional strain on coach Marco Rose, whose woes were exacerbated by Henrichs sustaining an injury in added time.