Bundesliga : RB Leipzig vs FC Bayern 1-1

When the Bundesliga resumed on Friday night, FC Bayern drew 1-1 with RB Leipzig. 

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting gave Bayern the lead at half-time, but Marcel Halstenberg’s equalizing goal after half-time brought the heavyweights’ game level.

Bayern started new signing Yann Sommer in goal and Benjamin Pavard, Dayot Upamecano, Matthijs de Ligt and Alphonso Davies in the back four. Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich form the mainstays in midfield with Leroy Sané, Jamal Musiala and Serge Gnabry facing Choupo-Moting. In the closing stages Musiala, Gnabry and Choupo-Moting were replaced by Kingsley Coman, Thomas Müller and Mathys Tel.

After a minute’s silence in memory of Pelé, Leipzig enjoyed an entertaining first half in front of 47,000 spectators. Aside from Gnabry’s deflected shot that hit the post, the chances were high in the first 30 minutes despite aggressive pressure from both sides. Bayern dominates the ball more, but the hosts defend solidly.

Dani Olmo shot wide before Bayern put the ball into the net when Goretzka finished off Pavard’s cross, blocked by Choupo-Moting, but the goal was disallowed for offside. However, Monaco took the lead when Gnabry’s foreboding cross found Choupo-Moting, who saved from close range just before half-time.

Leipzig took the lead after the restart and equalized when Dominik Szoboszlai headed in Andre Silva’s cross and invited Halstenberg to clear. The battle was long with aggression but again few chances and Sommer saved a deflected shot from Olmo before Davies fired wide.

Bayern pushed forward in search of a late winner, but were unable to find their way through Leipzig’s strong backline. Coman’s cross eluded friend and foe alike, and De Ligt saw a header saved by Müller.

The result means Bayern have 35 points from 16 games, five more than Freiburg, who face Wolfsburg on Saturday. Bayern return to action on Tuesday when they host Cologne in the Bundesliga.

Lineups:

RB Leipzig (4-4-2) :

Blaswich – Simakan (Klostermann 83′), Orban, Gvardiol, Halstenberg (Raum 90′) – Laimer, Schlager – Szoboszlai, Forsberg (Werner 67′), Olmo (Haidara 83′) – Silva

Subs not used:  Nyland, Poulsen, Diallo, Henrichs, Kampl

FC Bayern (4-2-3-1) :

Sommer – Pavard, Upamecano, de Ligt, Davies – Goretzka, Kimmich – Sané, Musiala (Coman 68′), Gnabry (Müller 83′) – Choupo-Moting (Tel 85′)

Subs not used: Ulreich ,Wanner, Sabitzer, Blind, Gravenberch, Stanišić

Scorers:

Yellow Cards:

Match Stats: