FC Bayern kick off the second half of the Bundesliga season on Saturday evening against RB Leipzig (live text and free Web Radio commentary from 18:30 CET on fcbayern.com and in the FC Bayern app). A win would see the record champions seamlessly continue their outstanding first half of the season in the league. The omens for the game are not bad: FC Bayern thrashed the Saxons 6-0 in the reverse fixture, but the Munich side are now expecting quite a different game. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the matchday's standout fixture in our preview.
Check out the best photos from Friday's final training session:
Latest news from FC Bayern
FC Bayern have made an impressive start to the new footballing year, with two wins that underline the fact that the Munich side lost none of their strong form from the first half of the season during the short Christmas break. Bayern demonstrated just how much they're enjoying playing in the 8-1 home win against VfL Wolfsburg. In the 3-1 win at Köln, head coach Vincent Kompany's team once again demonstrated their mentality and resilience when Luis Díaz and Co. turned round a 0-1 deficit. The best Hinrunde ever in the Bundesliga is the result of the Bavarians' outstanding development. FCB currently boast an 11-point lead over closest rivals Borussia Dortmund. A comfortable cushion of this magnitude has never been squandered in the history of the Bundesliga.
The facts on the clash with Leipzig:
However, RB Leipzig will be a real test for Bayern at the start of the second half of the season. "Many of their players have developed very well. They're a strong attacking team," said FCB head coach Kompany in Friday's press conference. "But it's also about our attack. It could be a great game. We're both capable of scoring goals. It'll be very interesting."
Read the key statements from the press conference here:
The opposition: RB Leipzig
The Leipzig team who will face Bayern on Saturday are no longer the same side who were thrashed 6-0 at the Allianz Arena in the season opener, as the Leipzig coach stressed: "We believe in ourselves. We want to show we've developed and are a step further on than we were six months ago. We'll be looking for our chances," explained Ole Werner. In fact, the look of the team has changed, with the burden of the departures of former key players Xavi Simons and Loïs Openda, who were still there for the clash on the first matchday, being spread across several shoulders. And the defence has gained stability again too. Just 13 goals have been added to the half-dozen conceded in that game – only Borussia Dortmund (12) conceded fewer during the same period (Bayern also conceded 13).
The Saxons are now looking to make amends, especially in their own stadium. "We're a completely different side than we were in our last match against Bayern," said captain David Raum: "We're playing at home and will approach the game with courage." The Red Bulls are second in the home table behind FCB, having won seven of their eight Bundesliga matches in front of their own fans this season. The comfortable 2-0 home win against SC Freiburg three days before the re-match with Vincent Kompany's team has also given them an additional boost: "The win against Freiburg gives us confidence. We're going into the next game feeling good," explained Werner.
The lowdown on Leipzig:
Team news
Bayern will be without Nicolas Jackson (Africa Cup of Nations), Josip Stanišić (capsular ligament injury in his right ankle), Konrad Laimer (muscle tear in his left calf) and Sacha Boey (ill). Joshua Kimmich could make a return to the squad. The same applies to Jamal Musiala. "If all goes well, the plan is for him to be there. That's a good thing," said Vincent Kompany. Alphonso Davies, who was recently sidelined due to illness, had "a good week" according to the FCB coach.
Leipzig will be without Assan Ouédraogo (knee problems), Lukas Klostermann (infection) and Johan Bakayoko (muscular problem). Benjamin Henrichs, on the other hand, returns to the squad for the first time since tearing his Achilles tendon.
What the coaches say
They were right behind us for a long time after the opener and won a lot of games. Many of their players have developed very well. They're a strong attacking team. It could be a great game
Vincent Kompany
We're going to have to suffer; those are the phases that don't feel good. But it will still be important for us to play football, to find space and put the opposition through moments that don't feel good for them either.
Ole Werner (RB Leipzig coach)
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