The clash between the sides lying first and second in the table: you couldn't wish for a more thrilling encounter on the last Bundesliga matchday before the winter break. On Wednesday evening FC Bayern and RB Leipzig face off for the very first time in a competitive fixture. fcbayern.com has collected interesting facts and figures in the build-up to the cracker.
Home strength versus away power
The best home team and the best away side cross swords on Wednesday evening. FC Bayern are unbeaten in 21 competitive fixtures on their home field, boasting 18 victories and three draws, and top the home table with a one-point lead over Leipzig. The Bundesliga newcomers on the other hand lie first in the away table, one point clear of Bayern.
Balanced top match record
FC Bayern have won three and lost three of the last ten matches when they encountered the side lying second in the table, with four games ending in a draw. However, the Munich men won the last two of these matches, downing Borussia Dortmund 5-1 and Hertha Berlin 3-0.
Clash of extremes
Bayern and Leipzig are equal on points at the top of the Bundesliga table, but the historic differences between the German record champions and the Bundesliga new boys could not be greater. FC Bayern as a club boast 26 German championship titles, 1,753 Bundesliga matches and 3,799 goals scored, whereas Leipzig are on 15 fixtures and 31 goals. Overall, the current Bayern stars have scored 488 goals in 3,339 Bundesliga matches, whereas the Leipzig players have scored 62 goals in 617 matches in all competitions.
Good omen before the winter break
The last time FC Bayern lost the last Bundesliga fixture of a year was 32 years ago, a 3-2 reverse away to Borussia Mönchengladbach on 11 December 1984. The Bavarians have won 17 and drawn 14 of the final matches of a year since then. Bayern have won no less than six of the last seven matches.
Zwayer in charge
Felix Zwayer will be the man with the whistle for Wednesday evening's cracker at the Allianz Arena. The 35-year-old match official from Berlin takes charge of his second game involving the Reds this term. He previously oversaw the 1-0 victory away to Hamburger SV. Zwayer will be assisted by Thorsten Schiffner and Stefan Lupp, with Martin Petersen acting as fourth official.
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