FanSided World Football
·21 December 2024
In partnership with
Yahoo sportsFanSided World Football
·21 December 2024
On Friday night, to kick off the final Bundesliga weekend of 2024, Bayern Munich hosted Marco Rose's RB Leipzig, for the final game before the international break.
For the final game of 2024, Vincent Kompany opted for a line up of; Peretz - Laimer, Upacemano, Kim, Davies - Kimmich, Goretzka - Olise, Musiala, Sané, Kane.
After just thirty seconds, Bayern had the lead. Musiala tapped home from close range after good work from Kane and Olise. However, the lead was short-lived, and Leipzig made it 1-1 on the break after just two minutes.
Ten minutes in, Musiala nearly had his and Bayern’s second of the game. Soon after, Upamecano nearly made it two goals in as many games, but headed off target from a presentable opportunity.
Twenty-five minutes in, Bayern were back in front, as Laimer scored against his former employers. The Austrian international played a ball to Olise, who cut the ball back for the 27-year-old, who fired the ball into the back of the net.
With around ten minutes to go, Bayern had three, as another former Leipzig player scored— Kimmich. Receiving the ball from Musiala in space, the 29-year-old unleashed a shot past Peter Gulasci and into the back of the net.
In the final stages of the half, Kane and Sané had opportunities to make it 4-1, but were unable to do so - as Kompany's side went into the break with a 3-1 lead.
Early on in the second period, Openda managed to get away from Upamecano, but the defender made a superb sliding challenge. Merely a minute later, Sané should have made it 4-1 from a superb Laimer cross.
Ten minutes into the second period, Olise was in the book for a late challenge. From the resulting free-kick, Bayern sprung a break, leading to the Frenchman firing over the bar.
Just before the hour mark, Benjamin Henrichs was booked for a foul on Kimmich. Due to his protestations at the challenge, Kane also found himself in the referee's notebook.
Around 65 minutes in, a superb quarterback pass from Kane found Sané in behind, but the winger dragged his shot wide of the goal. Very soon after, the England captain missed a chance of his own, firing at Gulacsi, having been found by Musiala.
Midway through the half, Laimer, who had picked up a yellow card shortly before, was replaced by Pavlović— with Kimmich moving to right-back.
With just under twenty minutes remaining, Bayern somehow did not make it four. Sané squared the ball across to Olise, who simply couldn’t miss, it felt, but the ball seemed to just hit the forward, and go backwards.
There was a quarter of an hour remaining when Bayern finally found their well-deserved fourth goal. Superb work from Davies to carry the ball forward, before playing an even better through ball to Sané, who converted from a one-on-one situation with great effect.
Just minutes later, Bayern had a five-star performance. Kimmich’s sublime cross was headed in by Davies at the far post, who more than deserved his goal.
Around 82 minutes in, Kompany introduced Tel, Dier, and Guerreiro for Olise, Kim and Davies.
Soon after, Müller replaced Kane. No goal from the England skipper, but a superb all-round performance. One goal vs Mainz without him, five goals vs Leipzig with him. He is a superb difference-maker, with or without goals.
That would be that, and Bayern would win the game 5-1. This sort of win and performance cannot be understated. Kompany's side had nine big chances, to their opponent's one - and that doesn't include Olise not connecting from a yard out. All against a side that has beaten Bayer Leverkusen and Frankfurt this season.
No matter what happens for the rest of the weekend, Bayern will return to action next month at least four points clear of any other side. Great start to the season. Merry Christmas, Bayern fans.