Bayern down Leipzig to win Supercup

FC Bayern beat RB Leipzig 5-3 on Saturday night to win the Supercup and get their season off to a good start. Bayern turned in an impressive first-half display, with Jamal Musiala, Sadio Mané and Benjamin Pavard handing them a three-goal lead. Leipzig's Marcel Halstenberg got one back after half-time before Serge Gnabry scored for Bayern, but goals by Christopher Nkunku and Dani Olmo meant Bayern were on tenterhooks until Leroy Sané wrapped things up once and for all in injury time.

The Bundesliga champions started with Manuel Neuer in goal and Pavard, Dayot Upamecano, Lucas Hernández and Alphonso Davies in a back four. Thomas Müller, Marcel Sabitzer, Joshua Kimmich and Musiala featured in midfield, with Gnabry and Mané up front. Kingsley Coman, Ryan Gravenberch, Noussair Mazraoui, Matthijs de Ligt and Sané came on for Musiala, Müller, Pavard, Upamecano and Gnabry in the second half.

Bayern dominance

After a minute's silence for Uwe Seeler, who had passed away last week, the champions went straight onto the front foot, with the DFB Cup holders looking to strike on the break. A Kimmich free-kick only just evaded Mané, Henrichs fired well wide at the other end. Bayern made the most of the first big chance of the game when Musiala capitalised on a mix-up in the box and found the far corner of the net. Leipzig had the ball in the net two minutes later, Nkunku slotting past Neuer, but the linesman's flag was raised for offside.

FCB increasingly asserted their authority and doubled the lead when Musiala found the charging Gnabry, whose square invited Sané to tap in from close range, the African Player of the Year crowning his competitive debut for Bayern. Sabitzer put a free-kick into the wall and saw an effort deflected behind, but Musiala soon shone with a one-two with Müller and a fine dribble before he cut back for Pavard to slot in, and the goal meant Bayern enjoyed what looked like a comfortable lead at half-time.

Revitalised RB put up a fight

The second half was a different affair, with Leipzig looking to attack. A potential counter was stifled by stray passing, and Davies got hold of the ball and teed up Gnabry, who fired just wide. Leipzig's Andre Silva's header hit the woodwork and an Olmo effort was deflected behind, but RB pulled one back when Halstenberg rose high to head home following a corner.

Bayern restored their three-goal lead when Gulacsi parried a Müller effort, but Gnabry was on hand to mop up. Mané soon shone with a fine chip over Gulacsi, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Silva miscued a curler before Pavard upended Olmo, Nkunku dispatching the ensuing penalty. Mané fired just wide and had another goal chalked off for offside. A grandstand finish was set up after Olmo found the net in the frantic closing stages, but Sané coolly beat Gulacsi on the break with the finak kick of the match.

Bayern will be back in action on Friday when they travel to face Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga reopener.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen