Bayern fall to defeat to Leipzig

FC Bayern were beaten 3-1 at home by RB Leipzig on Saturday. The Bavarians were dominant in the first half and took the lead through Serge Gnabry, but Konrad Laimer levelled the scores for Leipzig midway through the second half before Christopher Nkunku and Dominik Szoboszlai both converted penalties.

The German record champions started with Yann Sommer in goal and Noussair Mazraoui, Benjamin Pavard, Matthijs de Ligt and João Cancelo in a back four. Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka anchored a midfield featuring Serge Gnabry, Jamal Musiala and Kingsley Coman, with Thomas Müller up front. Ryan Gravenberch, Leroy Sané, Mathys Tel, Sadio Mané and Dayot Upamecano took over from Goretzka, Gnabry, Coman, Mazraoui and Cancelo in the second half.

Gnabry opens

The 75,000 crowd at the Allianz Arena saw Bayern in control but chances were at a premium in the first quarter-hour. Munich soon upped the ante, with Goretzka seeing an effort blocked and Leipzig keeper Janis Blaswich denying Müller. Their pressure paid off when Müller teed up Gnabry, who found the net via the inside of the near post.

Musiala hit the side netting but Leipzig started to find their way into the game, Sommer denying Szoboszlai, Nkunku and Olmo. Coman headed wide and Musiala tested Blaswich before Szoboszlai fired over, and the sides went into the break with Bayern a goal to the good.

Leipzig turn it around

Leipzig were bolder after the restart, but clear-cut chances were again few and far between at first. The away side levelled the scores after the hour, when Laimer blasted into the roof of the net to round off a counter. Nkunku was then upended in the box and converted the ensuing penalty.

Bayern went looking for a reply and Gravenberch hit a shot over before Blaswich denied Tel, with Musiala firing the rebound into the side netting. Leipzig were soon awarded another penalty for handball. This time Szoboszlai stepped up and beat Sommer. Musiala saw a shot blocked and Blaswich denied Pavard as another goal refused to come in an attempt to level things again.

The result means Bayern have 68 points from 33 matches, one clear of Borussia Dortmund, who take on Augsburg on Sunday. Munich will be back in action next Saturday, when they travel to face Köln in the last match of the campaign, and it will all come down to the final day.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen