Minute's silence instead of festive mood as Bayern sign off with 5-1 win over Leipzig

FC Bayern wanted to go into the short break and the new year in a cheerful, reflective and festive mood after a successful final match of the year just four days before Christmas Eve. Although they more than succeeded with the sporting part, thrashing RB Leipzig 5-1, there was no party atmosphere, no unbridled joy. The reason for that was the awful events in Magdeburg, where the horrific attack at the Christmas market in the city in Saxony-Anhalt made football what it actually is: a minor matter.

'Christmas is a symbol of peace'

"We learned about the events in Magdeburg during the match," explained CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen after the final whistle. "That's why we decided to abandon the Christmas ceremony."

Volunteers had set up Christmas trees around the centre circle, with the Tölz Boys' Choir lining up in between wearing red Bayern scarves around their becks. But instead of a relaxed atmosphere there was deep shock. "This ceremony was supposed to be a happy one - and that isn't appropriate in this moment," said a moved Dreesen over the loudspeaker into the silent crowd of 75,000. "Instead, and this is very important to me, I would like to ask you all to stand up. Because it is important to remember the families and victims - to pause together with the team for a minute of silence and remembrance." Christmas is a symbol of peace and love, Dreesen continued after the minute's silence: "That's why we want to sing a song together. Even on this occasion, there is no more devotional song than 'Silent Night, Holy Night'."

Football of secondary importance

The coaches also didn't want to say much about football after the match, which could certainly be regarded as a wonderful end to the year for FC Bayern from a sporting point of view, particularly after the defeat at Mainz last weekend. Not just as a victory over Leipzig, but also as an important, powerful statement as league leaders thanks to goals from Jamal Musiala (1'), Konrad Laimer (25'), Joshua Kimmich (36'), Leroy Sané (75') and Alphonso Davies (78'). Benjamin Sesko scored the earliest equaliser in Bundesliga history for the visitors (2').

Thoughts with Magdeburg

But thoughts were elsewhere on this night in Fröttmaning. "It's actually impossible to talk about football," said head coach Vincent Kompany. "At this moment in time, the people in Magdeburg are in our thoughts. The priority is hopefully to have peace one day. We're ending this year and I wish for wins for peace next year." His Leipzig counterpart Marco Rose took a similar view: "I don't want to talk about football much tonight. We all eventually learned what happened in Magdeburg. We're very disappointed with the result and the performance, but we feel immediately that there are far more important things in life. Our thoughts are prayers are with the people in Magdeburg."

And Bayern striker Harry Kane, who can score beautiful goals on so many days, summarised: "Sometimes there are more important things than football."