Top of the table against the team lying just behind them, the best attack up against the best defence: The hotly-anticipated top-of-the-table clash between FC Bayern and RB Leipzig on Bundesliga Matchday 10 is soon upon us - fcbayern.com has compiled the most important facts, figures and stats for you before the meeting on Saturday evening.
1. Bayern must fend off next direct opponents
Winners in a match of first vs. second? The Bavarians know all about that, with the league leaders previously winning 3-2 at then second-placed Dortmund on Matchday 7.
The Bavarians have already demonstrated impressively this season how to fend off direct rivals, the league leaders beating a then second-placed Borussia Dortmund 3-2 at the beginning of November. With that, the record champions remained unbeaten in their last nine matches when leading the league and playing against the team directly below them (seven wins, two draws). The last time the Munich team lost to the team in second was in January 2015 (a 4-1 reverse against Wolfsburg).
2. Record attack against the best defence in the Bundesliga
FC Bayern have scored an incredible 31 goals in their first nine league matches, equalling Eintracht Frankfurt's Bundesliga record from the 1974/75 season. Now the record attack must prove themselves against currently the best defence in the German top flight, with RB conceding just six goals so far. This was the same scenario on Matchday 7 when FCB played BVB - and the Bavarian's attacking prowess clearly prevailed against the best defence at that time, scoring three against a side who'd only conceded two in their first six games.
3. Nothing between the two of late
Bayern and Leipzig will meet in the Bundesliga for the ninth time. The record champions won the first three matches, but since then the balance has been even. In each of the last five matches, there has been one win for each side and, most recently, three consecutive draws. As well as this, FC Bayern comprehensively beat the Leipzig men 3-0 in the DFB Cup final at the end of May in 2019.
4. Leipzig still goalless at the Allianz Arena
So far, RB have played 360 minutes of Bundesliga football at the Allianz Arena - and they have not yet scored a goal. They've played out 3-0, 2-0 and 1-0 losses, as well as drawing 0-0 at the home of FC Bayern, in chronological order. Leipzig's results have shown a consistent upward trend though, perhaps a positive sign for Saturday's guests.
5. Flick ahead of his personal "season finale"
Hansi Flick will be in the dugout on Saturday for the 34th time in the Bundesliga and will therefore complete the equivalent of his first full season in charge of Bayern in the top flight. So far, the 55-year-old has amassed 86 points, a tally no coach has ever managed before in their first 33 Bundesliga matches. Historically too, that points total would pretty much guarantee a title win. That number of points has only been bettered in 2013/14 (90 points after 34 matches) and in 2015/16 (88), both totals accrued by Bayern themselves on their way to becoming champions.
Hansi Flick has overseen a whopping 28 Bundesliga wins in his first 33 games in charge.
6. Leipzig still with a lot of catching up to do away from home
Leipzig's away form is comparatively low for a top team in this Bundesliga season. Julian Nagelsmann's team have only picked up five points from four matches on the road and have scored just four goals. In the 'away table', RB are in 11th, a vast disparity from the 'home table', where they lead with five wins from five.
7. Leipzig fear of Lewandowski
Robert Lewandowski has scored seven times in 10 matches against Leipzig, more often than any other player in German professional football.
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