Bayern beat Leipzig as Saibari makes debut

FC Bayern beat RB Leipzig 3-1 in the Telekom Cup on Saturday. Luis Díaz handed Bayern an early lead, with Brajan Gruda levelling the scores after half-time, but new signing Nathaniel Brown restored Munich’s lead almost immediately. Jamal Musiala put the game to bed with ten minutes to go. Ismael Saibari made his debut for Bayern, with Musiala and Alphonso Davies making their first appearance in pre-season.

Díaz opens

The sides felt each other out for ten minutes before Bayern asserted their authority and took the lead when a Tim Binder pass was intercepted but fell to Díaz, who fired home. Clear-cut chances were at a premium now, with Bayern seeing a number of shots blocked.

Leipzig upped the pressure towards the end of the first half, but an Ezechiel Banzuzi header sailed just wide before Manuel Neuer denied Ridle Baku, and Bayern were one up at half-time.

Maiden goal for Brown

RB kept pushing for a leveller after the restart, with Neuer tipping a Johan Bakayoko effort over the bar before Banzuzi miscued a header. Bakayoko saw another saw another shot saved and soon hit the post, but Max Finkgräfe’s cross found Gruda, whose volleyed home.

Bayern replied minutes later when Aleksandar Pavlović’s forensic pass released Brown, who slotted in. Musiala aimed too high and Maycon Cardozo saw an effort saved, but Saibari sidestepped two defenders and laid off for Musiala, whose curler made it three with the help of a deflection. The game petered out now and Munich won their fourth pre-season friendly in a row.

The Bavarians will be back in action on Tuesday when they take on FC Heidenheim in their final pre-season friendly before crossing swords with Borussia Dortmund in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup next Saturday.