Bayern Munich suffered a major blow to their hopes of retaining the Bundesliga after suffering a defeat against RB Leipzig on Saturday. Three goals in the last 30 minutes of the game saw RB Leipzig come from behind to win 3-1 against Bayern at Allianz Arena.
Thomas Tuchel made one change to the team that delivered a convincing win against Schalke on matchday 32. Leon Goretzka replaced Leroy Sane in the starting lineup, while Thomas Muller started in the number nine role. The rest of the team picked itself as Bayern had mustered a good run of form in the last three weeks.
The game started on a good note for Bayern as they sustained a spell of possession and caused problems for RB Leipzig. The first big chance fell for Thomas Muller in the 18th minute. The German forward had his shot saved from close range by Janis Blaswich after some tidy bit of play from Joao Cancelo to deliver a dangerous cross in the box.
Bayern’s perseverance eventually paid off in the 25th minute as a ferocious strike from Serge Gnabry opened the scoring. The German forward unleashed the shot from the edge of the box after a clever bit of play from Muller to set up the goal. It was a thoroughly deserved goal for Die Roten, as they had been all over Leipzig in the first 30 minutes.
RB Leipzig grew into the game after conceding the first goal. Dominik Szoboszlai had a great attempt saved by Yann Sommer in the final few minutes of the first half. Die Roten took the foot off the gas after scoring first, which eventually led to the capitulation in the second half.
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The first 15 minutes of the second half were cagey for Bayern as they were unnecessarily losing the ball. The home side also struggled to muster good efforts on the goal during this period. Leipzig was not spectacular in the final third, but they made sure Bayern didn’t have any room to get the second goal.
Leipzig eventually got the equalizer just after the hour mark. Konrad Laimer nicked the ball off Jamal Musiala to initiate a dangerous counter-attack. The Austrian midfielder finished this move with an emphatic finish to reward Leipzig for their hard work out of possession in the second half.
Bayern never recovered after conceding the equalizer as they conceded two dreadful penalties to surrender the three points on matchday 33. Benjamin Pavard brought Christopher Nkunku down in the box during the 73rd minute, while Noussair Mazraoui handled the ball in the 85th minute to concede penalties. Leipzig ruthlessly converted both spots to get the three points and book a place in the group stages of next season’s Champions League.
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The defending Bundesliga champions struggled throughout the second half, lacking cohesion in their attacking moves and making poor defensive errors. The fate of the title race is not in Bayern’s hands now, as Dortmund can win their first title in ten years by winning both of their remaining games.