Bayern Munich storm: from 0–1 to 5–1 in just 40 minutes

In one of this round’s Bundesliga derbies, the Munich side entered the clash with RB Leipzig as favorites. However, after the first 45 minutes, it didn’t look like they would justify that role so easily. It took only five minutes into the second half for the reigning champions’ machine to fire up, completely overwhelming their opponents for the rest of the match.

The action started almost immediately, with Leipzig pressing high. In the 3rd minute, Christoph Baumgartner met a cross in the box but directed his shot wide. A minute later, Bayern nearly conceded when Romulo broke through after a short pass from Yan Diomande, firing a low shot from a tight angle, only for Manuel Neuer to stretch and make a confident save.

RB Leipzig kept up the pressure, and in the 7th minute Diamonde weaved past Bayern’s defense down the right, taking advantage of Min-Jae Kim slipping. His cross found Antonio Nusa at the far post, but the striker fired just wide from close range.

Bayern responded in the 11th minute as Gnabry delivered a sharp cross from the left; Diaz controlled and struck a powerful shot from 20 meters, only for Gulacsi to make a solid save.

Leipzig finally broke the deadlock in the 20th minute. Raum found Nusa on the left, who, unmarked, quickly passed to the onrushing David Raum. His precise cross found Romulo, who was just ahead of Tah and slotted the ball past Neuer to give the Red Bulls a deserved 1–0 lead.

Leipzig continued to create opportunities, with Nusa missing another big chance in the 24th minute, firing over the bar, and Baumgartner squandering a sitter from five meters in the 36th minute.

The second half between RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich was a tense, back-and-forth affair, with Bayern ultimately turning the game around to take the lead. The equalizer came in the 50th minute when Bayern punished a small mistake in Leipzig’s buildup. David Raum, with space in the back four, played a short pass to Baumgartner, whose back was turned, allowing Upamecano to intercept and feed Serge Gnabry. Gnabry finished clinically from a tight angle to make it 1–1.

In the 58th minute, Luis Diaz beat his marker to the byline and crossed for Olise, who attempted a flicked finish from eight meters, but it went wide. A minute later, Diaz unleashed a long-range shot that forced Gulacsi into a crucial save; the ball’s deflection prevented it from crossing the line. Leipzig remained under constant pressure, with Olise’s through ball to Kane creating another chance in the 61st minute, but the Englishman’s shot was blocked after a scramble off Gulacsi.

Bayern regained the lead in the 67th minute, in what was far too easy a goal. Michael Olise exploited space on the right, feinted past Raum, and sent a cross to the far post. Baku, marking Harry Kane, slipped, allowing Kane to control the ball at the six-yard box and score his 21st goal of the season, putting Bayern ahead 2–1.

Leipzig nearly equalized in the 72nd minute when Yan Diomande fired under the crossbar from close range, but Manuel Neuer made a fantastic save, and the ball went out for a corner. Bayern also had chances to extend their lead, with Olise failing to convert a golden opportunity in the 80th minute, as Leipzig’s goalkeeper produced a world-class stop.

Jonathan Tah scored for Bayern after a corner in the last minutes of the match—he found a bit of space in the box and neatly headed the ball under the crossbar to make it 3–1.

Bayern soon struck again! Michael Olise played a clever ball into the box, where Aleksandar Pavlovic was perfectly positioned. The striker calmly slotted the ball into the net from close range, extending Bayern’s lead to 4–1.

Bayern continued to run riot! Luis Diaz surged down the left flank and fed the ball into the middle, where the recently substituted Musiala expertly flicked it on with one touch to Michael Olise. The forward took aim and curled a perfect shot into the top right corner, making it 5–1 and putting the game completely beyond Leipzig.

BUNDESLIGA - MATCHDAY 18

Friday

Werder - Eintracht Frankfurt 3-3 (1-1)

/Njinmah 29, Stage 78, Milosevic 81 - Kalimuendo 1, Collins 56, Knauff 90+5/

Saturday

Dortmund - St. Pauli 3-2 (1-0)

/Brandt 45+1, Adeyemi 54, Emre Can 90+5 pen - Sands 62, Jade Jones 72/

Hamburger - M'gladbach 0-0

Hoffenheim - Leverkusen 1-0 (1-0)

/Burger 9/

Koln - Mainz 2-1 (0-1)

/Ache 57, 85 - Bell 29/

Wolfsburg - Heidenheim 1-1 (0-1)

/Jenz 80 - Beck 45+1/

RB Leipzig - Bayern 1-5 (1-0)

/Romulo 20 - Gnabry 50, Kane 67, Tah 82, Pavlovic 85, Olise 88/

Sunday

17.30: (1.67) Stuttgart (3.90) Union Berlin (5.10)

19.30: (3.05) Augsburg (3.45) Freiburg (2.45)

***odds are subject to change***