Bayern round off 2024 in style with clear win over Leipzig
| Photo: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images |
After a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Mainz last week, Bayern Munich returned to winning ways with a comfortable 5-1 win over RB Leipzig at the Allianz Arena on Friday night.
Bayern welcomed both Alphonso Davies and Harry Kane back from injury, while Leon Goretzka started in central midfield at the expense of Aleksandar Pavlovic.
RB Leipzig coach Marco Rose, meanwhile, made two changes from the team that beat Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 last week, with Peter Gulacsi and Arthur Vermeeren replacing Maarten Vandevoordt and Kevin Kampl.
Things could hardly have started better for the Bavarians, who opened the scoring with their first attack. Nicolas Seiwald couldn't prevent Michael Olise's square pass from reaching Jamal Musiala, who slotted the ball into the back of the net.
Leipzig responded immediately, however, with Benjamin Sesko turning in Lois Openda's cross at the other end just a minute later.
Undeterred by the equaliser, Bayern took control of the game and regained the lead in the 25th minute when Olise set up Konrad Laimer.
And in the 36th minute, an unstoppable long-range strike from Joshua Kimmich ensured Bayern took a 3-1 lead into the break.
Bayern went into the second half in search of a fourth goal, and Peter Gulacsi was forced into a superb one-handed save to deny Jamal Musiala shortly after the break.
Leipzig rarely threatened at the other end, but they came close in the 63rd minute when Antonio Nusa shot wide after Lois Openda's initial effort had been blocked.
Harry Kane came close to getting on the scoresheet in the 67th minute, but the England international was denied by another fine save from Gulacsi.
Bayern continued to push for another goal and were rewarded for their efforts in the 75th minute when Leroy Sané latched onto Alphonso Davies' fine pass and slotted the ball past Gulacsi.
Davies soon got on the scoresheet himself, heading in Joshua Kimmich's cross to complete the scoring and make it 5-1 in the 78th minute.
The win takes Bayern to 36 points, seven more than Bayer Leverkusen, who host Freiburg on Saturday. RB Leipzig are fourth.
