Bayern Munich trounce RB Leipzig 3-0 as they grab first place by the horns

Bayern Munich won a big victory for traditional club corporate structure as they defeated RB Leipzig in a convincing 3-0 victory on Friday. The new kids on the block failed to take the game to the bullies of the Bundesliga, and they left Allianz Arena with their second loss in three games.

The defending Bundesliga champions scored all of their goals in the first half, converting every big opportunity they had in front of goal. As Bayern showed it’s muscles, Leipzig began to crawl back into its shell.

The win put Bayern three points ahead of Leipzig going into the winter break, but the new gap the Bavarians opened up appears a little more cavernous after Wednesday’s game.

Leipzig have been the team this season to run at their opponents and move up and down the field quickly, but Bayern beat them at their own game. Bayern had seven shots in the first 25 minutes and held 75 percent of the possession throughout the game.

It didn’t hurt either that the ball was bouncing Bayern’s way. Thiago scored Bayern’s first goal only after Robert Lewandowski’s shot clanged off the post and right to the midfielder’s feet.

But Bayern were also making their own luck with the way they were pressing Leipzig off the ball. Arturo Vidal did just that not long after Thiago's goal, forcing Naby Keita into a bad pass that went straight to Lewandowski. The ball then quickly made its way from Thiago to Xabi Alonso, and the veteran midfielder slotted in the 2-0 lead.

Keita could only look at the scoreboard in display as he watched the replay, wondering the Vidal didn’t get called for a foul. But his depressed body language was shared with all of his Leipzig teammates as they realized they had to try and chase down the Bundesliga’s most successful team.

Leipzig’s composure disappeared as fast as their chances to win did. Leipzig captain Emil Forsberg made the most egregious error, getting sent off for making a studs-up challenge into the left calf of Philipp Lahm as Bayern’s captain was trying to break with the ball.

Their handle of the game slipped even further when Peter Gulasci unwisely came off his line and fouled Douglas Costa just enough for referee Felix Zwayer to point to the penalty spot. Robert Lewandowski hammered in the penalty to give Bayern a 3-0 halftime lead, one they could easily hold in the second half.

Leipzig seemed to recompose themselves in the dressing room as they made fewer noticeable mistakes. Ralph Hasenhüttl even brought on Leipzig veteran Dominik Kaiser for Keita to try to take the nerve out of his team. But the newly promoted club could not muster much of a response to Bayern’s outburst, registering only two shots in the second half.

The manor of Bayern’s triumph may seem surprising to sum, but four of the five occasions in which they have dropped points have come away from home. They could very well take on Bayern in stronger fashion when the two meet again in May, but if the newbies are not careful, the title race could be over by then.

Match Details

Bayern Munich (3-0) RB Leipzig

FCB: Thiago (17’), Xabi Alonso (25’), Robert Lewandowski (P 45’)

Bayern XI: Neuer – Lahm, Martinez, Hummels, Alaba (Bernat 67’) – Alonso, Vidal (Kimmich 75’) – Douglas, Thiago, Robben (Ribery 46’) – Lewandowski

Leipzig XI: Gulasci – Bernardo, Ilsanker, Orban, Halstenburg – Sabitzer (Burke 83’), Keita (Kaiser 46’), Demme, Forsberg – Werner (Selke 59’), Poulsen