What a game.
The start of this one was a blur. Emil Forsberg and Leipzig stormed up the field in the second minute. His cross was powered into the back of the net by a header from Marcel Sabitzer to give Leipzig the early win.
Bayern would equalize from the spot in the 17th minute. Bernardo was whistled for a handball on a Philipp Lahm cross, and Robert Lewandowski stepped up to take the penalty. .
Leipzig would take the lead from the spot just before the half hour mark. Let me break down this play for you. Five Bayern players were around the top of the penalty area, and Timo Werner just dribbled past them. Literally, he just walked between several players. So, to prevent the one-on-one with Starke, Xabi Alonso just tripped him. Werner would convert the penalty.
Bayern must’ve been snoozing to start the second half, too. Forsberg found Yussuf Poulsen all alone at the top of the box. His shot beat Tom Starke — with the help of a big deflection — to put Leipzig up 3-1.
At the hour mark, Bayern struck back. Lahm’s deep cross found Alonso in the box, and he smartly headed the ball back across the face of the goal. Thiago was in position and headed it into the back of the net to pull Bayern back within one.
BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE!
Five minutes later Werner put Leipzig back up by two. He intercepted a terrible pass from Lahm, beat Jerome Boateng and Lahm, and then nutmegged Starke to make it 4-2.
Breathe!
The match would cool down a bit, and Bayern would finally pull another one back twenty minutes later. Arjen Robben’s shot from distance pounded the crossbar before falling to the center of the goal. Lewandowski was ready to pounce and headed home his 30th Bundesliga goal of the season.
Bayern, of course, weren’t done. Lewandowski won a free kick on top of the penalty area leaving room for David Alaba to do his thing. With the wall in front of him, Alaba perfectly lifted the ball up and over the wall, placing the ball in the top right corner. Bayern had equalized, but that wasn’t good enough for the Bavarians.
Who do you turn to? Why not Robben? After 92 minutes of running, Robben still went around the defender and slotted it past Péter Gulácsi to give Bayern the 5-4 victory.
Throw your Red Bull away.