Bayern Munich welcome RB Leipzig to the Allianz Arena desperate for a victory to keep their slim title hopes alive.
Date: 24/02/24
Kick-off time: 17:30
Venue: Allianz Arena
Thomas Tuchel’s Bayern Munich side are at risk of allowing Bayer Leverkusen to run away with the Bundesliga title. They currently sit second, eight points behind the league leaders following their 3-2 defeat away at Bochum at the weekend. Bayern are in the midst of a terrible run of form, which has seen them lose three straight in all competitions. This includes a 3-0 loss at Leverkusen, which allowed their opponents to extend their advantage at the top. They also face a 1-0 deficit in the Champions League, after falling to Italian side Lazio in the first leg.
The Bochum result is just the latest in a run of performances which has left Tuchel under increasing pressure. The club are facing the prospect of missing out on the league title for the first time in 11 seasons. Harry Kane was the big summer acquisition, but whilst his individual stats have been excellent, the side have been unable keep up with the quality of Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen team.
Leipzig, in comparison, are in fifth place, one point behind Dortmund in fourth, and six behind third-place Stuttgart. They have the luxury of being able to look forward to those above them, rather than those below, with them holding a comfortable seven-point lead over Eintracht Frankfurt.
Both teams are amongst the best in the league offensively, so goals should be expected. Bayern have found the net 60 times, which is the best in the division. Led by Kane’s 24 strikes, they should be confident of creating chances. They will also have to be alert at the other end of the pitch, and Leipzig will be hopeful of testing a defence which has not kept a clean sheet in five games. Luis Openda should be the go-to man, as his 16 goals leads the way for his team.
There have been plenty of goals in recent meetings between the two sides. They have faced off in the last two editions of the German Super Cup with each team coming out on top once. The latest one this season saw Leipzig win 3-0 as Dani Olmo scored a hat-trick. Last campaign was Bayern’s turn, winning 5-3. They were up 3-0 by half time, but Leipzig got one back shortly into the second half to make the game interesting. Serge Gnabry grabbed a fourth to almost put the game to bed before Christopher Nkunku got another. It was game back on when Dominik Szoboszlai scored a third to make it 4-3 on 89 minutes. Leroy Sane netted in the eighth minute of stoppage time to secure the win.
The reverse fixture this season concluded with the points shared. It was an end-to-end match, with the final score 2-2. Leipzig, however, would have been disappointed to have gone home with just a point, given they had gone into half time 2-0 up. Kane got one back for the visitors from the spot, before Sane equalised with 20 minutes left.
Bundesliga 
