bundesliga

RB Leipzig stay top after Emil Forsberg's penalty cancels out Robert Lewandowski's opener for Bayern Munich

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RB Leipzig maintained their position atop the Bundesliga table after sharing the spoils in a thrilling 1-1 draw with the champions Bayern Munich in Matchday 4's Saturday evening blockbuster.

RB Leipzig 1-1 Bayern Munich
Goals: 0-1 Lewandowski (3'), 1-1 Forsberg (pen. 45')

The game was played at a furious intensity from the first whistle and both sides pressed relentlessly from the off. The first chance of the game presented itself inside three minutes, and that was all it took for goal machine Robert Lewandowski to latch onto Thomas Müller's through ball and roll a confident finish low into the net for his 199th Bayern goal. The away side took a stranglehold of proceedings from that point, impressively keeping their hosts at arm's length.  Lewandowski headed just over and forced Peter Gulacsi into a smart low stop, while Serge Gnabry miscued when meeting Kingsley Coman's cross. The visitors’ first-half display was tarnished by one mistake before the break, though, as a cheap loss of possession led to Lucas Hernandez fouling Yussuf Poulsen in the box and Emil Forsberg converted the penalty.

Into the second half, the home side looked fresh and energetic and were pinning Bayern back. Manuel Neuer saved brilliantly to stop fierce efforts from Nordi Mukiele and Marcel Sabitzer, while Timo Werner dragged a shot wide when clean through. At the other end, Ibrahima Konate produced two goalline clearances and Coman’s deflected-effort was diverted onto the post by Gulacsi. Blows continued to be traded but each goalkeeper excelled in the closing stages, Neuer thwarting Werner from a tight angle and Gulacsi sensationally palming Niklas Süle's header wide with the very last kick of the game.

Match stats

  • Lewandowski has now scored seven goals in nine appearances against Leipzig.
  • The Poland international also has seven goals in just four league appearances so far this term.
  • Werner is enjoying his best start to a Bundesliga season. The Germany striker's five goals in three games coming in at a rate of one every 47 minutes.
  • Forsberg has scored all six of his Bundesliga spot-kicks.
  • Bayern’s record against Leipzig since their first Bundesliga meeting in December 2016 reads: four wins, two draws and one loss, with 15 goals scored and six conceded.
  • Leipzig remain top of the table, one point ahead of Borussia Dortmund and two points ahead of Bayern.

Line-ups

Leipzig: Gulacsi - Mukiele, Konate, Orban (c) - Klostermann (Demme 46'), Laimer, Forsberg (Nkunku 69'), Halstenberg - Sabitzer - Poulsen (Cunha 81'), Werner
Unused subs: Mvogo, Haidara, Ilsanker, Lookman, Schick, Ampadu
Out: Adams (groin), Kampl (ankle), Wolf (ankle)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann

Bayern: Neuer (c) - Pavard, Süle, Boateng, Hernandez - Kimmich, Thiago (Coutinho 88') - Gnabry (Davies 62'), Müller (Tolisso 63'), Coman – Lewandowski
Unused subs: Ulreich, Martinez, Cuisance, Perisic, Arp, Boateng
Out: Alaba (knock), Goretzka (thigh)
Coach: Niko Kovac