Bayern Munich 0-0 RB Leipzig: Initial reactions and observations

Initial reactions:

• A game of missed opportunities. Both Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig had great opportunities to score today and respective team’s finishing let them down today. RB Leipzig and Julian Nagelsmann will especially feel that they could of left the Allianz Arena with three points, as both Marcel Sabitzer and Timo Werner had excellent opportunities to score.
• The Bundesliga race remains as close as ever. Both teams can feel relatively happy with today’s result, especially Leipzig as they remain only one point behind Bayern after arguably their hardest game in the league this year. If Mönchengladbach wins against Köln, Leipzig and Gladbach will only be one point behind Bayern.
• Dayot Upamecano, David Alaba and Alphonso Davies were all brilliant today.
• Jerome Boateng deserves a shoot-out as well. Not many people gave him a chance after Bayern failed to sell him this summer but he has done well this season. He is not world-class anymore but he is a reliable centre-back.

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85’— Kingsley Coman comes on for Leon Goretzka

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82’— Lookman comes on for Nkunku.

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69’— Schick comes on for Dani Olmo.

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67’— Lucas Hernandez returns from injury! He replaces Jerome Boateng!

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60’— Serge Coutinho comes on for Serge Gnabry

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45’: Second half kicks off!

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Halftime observations:

• A fast-paced game with two teams that intends to play direct football. A typical Bundesliga game where the game goes back and forward very often.
• Two great sets of defenses. Bayern-linked Upamecano has been brilliant for RB Leipzig as have the two Bayern players who have made the left-back and center-back position their own: Alphonso Davies and David Alaba.
• Lacking edge in the final third. Both teams have lacked the last pass in the final third, Bayern more so than Leipzig. Bayern has dominated the possession and looks like the better team, although Leipzig has had some dangerous counter-attacking opportunities. Nagelsmann’s defensive 4-4-2, with defensive midfielders Adams and Laimer acting as the link between the back four and the attacking midfieldrs, has not managed to keep hold off the ball very well but has done their defensive duties in the first 45 minutes.

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30’— A goalless first 30 minutes. Quick tempo and direct play from both sides but so far no goals. One can notice the great quality in both teams.

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Kickoff: We are underway in Munich!

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One hour until kickoff: We have lineups!

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It’s amazing how quickly things can change in the Bundesliga. Just a couple of weeks ago, it looked like Bayern Munich had a long and arduous fight on their hands to reclaim top-spot from RB Leipzig. But somehow, the Lawnballers ended up losing to Frankfurt and drawing to Gladbach, allowing Hansi Flick and his team to leapfrog them in the table.

Now, it’s up to Bayern to maintain and extend that lead. Julian Nagelsmann is known for being able to pull his team out of a slump, and Leipzig always raise their game when they face Bayern. Hansi meanwhile has several in-form players to call upon — Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Muller, and Thiago Alcantara chief among them. The game against Hoffenheim was termed a “wake-up call” by the coach, so the Bavarians will be looking to be extra sharp against their premier title rivals.

It’s Bayern time.

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Match Info

Location: Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany

Time: 6 pm local time, 12 pm EST

TV/streaming: Fubo.tv, Find Your Country

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