Bayern Munich see off 10-man RB Leipzig to go top for the first time this season
Bayern Munich moved to the top of the Bundesliga for the first time this season after beating 10-man RB Leipzig for the second time in the space of four days on Saturday.
Bayern Munich 2-0 RB Leipzig
Goals: 1-0 James (19'), 2-0 Lewandowski (38')
Red card: Orban (13')
Javi Martinez had a couple of half-chances for Bayern in a lively opening, but the game's turning point arrived in the 13th minute, as Leipzig captain Willi Orban was sent off after barging into Arjen Robben on the edge of the area. Ralph Hasenhüttl sacrificed Timo Werner - the man whose missed penalty handed Bayern victory in the DFB Cup in midweek - for Ibrahima Konate, but that didn't prevent James giving Bayern the lead shortly afterwards with his first goal at the Allianz Arena. Lewandowski added a second from Martinez's killer through ball, although the Polish marksman was forced off with a suspected hamstring injury before half-time.
Leipzig made a bright start to the second period, pressing Bayern a little further up the pitch, but with 10 men their legs soon began to tire. The hosts were content to defend their two-goal advantage and had relatively few chances to add a third. David Alaba fired a free-kick just wide on the hour while James had a couple of efforts from distance, but the game had been put to bed long before the final whistle. Leipzig even went down to nine men late on, Naby Keita limping off with an ankle injury after Hasenhüttl had used all of his substitutes. While it has been a week to forget for the Saxony club, Bayern continue to go from strength to strength under Jupp Heynckes.
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Match stats
- Leipzig have now had a man sent off in three of their four competitive meetings with Bayern Munich. The Bavarians have won all four. James scored his first goal at the Allianz Arena, having opened his Bundesliga account at Schalke on Matchday 5. Bayern are off to a perfect start under Heynckes with five wins from a possible five: three in the Bundesliga, one in the UEFA Champions League and one in the DFB Cup, also against Leipzig. Lewandowski moved level with Borussia Dortmund's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at the top of the Bundesliga scoring charts after netting his 10th goal of the season. The Polish striker has now hit double digits for seven consecutive Bundesliga campaigns, and is up to 28 goals in 27 league outings in 2017. Bayern set a new club record of 27 Bundesliga games unbeaten at the Allianz Arena (21 wins, six draws).
Line-ups
Bayern: Ulreich – Kimmich (Rafinha 84'), Boateng, Hummels, Alaba – Rudy, Martinez – Robben (c) (Tolisso 86'), Thiago, James – Lewandowski (Vidal 45')
Coach: Jupp Heynckes
Leipzig: Gulacsi – Klostermann, Orban (c), Upamecano, Halstenberg – Sabitzer (Bruma 46'), Demme, Keita, Forsberg (Laimer 62') – Poulsen, Werner (Konate 22')
Coach: Ralph Hasenhüttl
Watch: Javi Martinez discusses Bayern's "tough schedule" after beating Leipzig