Dhe targeted attack on the toughest adversary started back in February. Dayot Upamecano, 22 years old and one of the best defenders in the Bundesliga, accepted the industry leader’s offer and moved to Bayern Munich for a contractually stipulated release clause of 42.5 million euros. It was part one of a small process of attrition, because it was not just the French who made the way from Leipzig to Munich.
In April, coach Julian Nagelsmann also announced that he would follow the call, the 25 million euros paid promptly made him the most expensive trainer in the world. And on the penultimate day of the transfer period, which ended at the end of August, the new RB troika at the record champions was perfect: of all people, captain Marcel Sabitzer also joined FC Bayern. Cost: 15 million euros.
What many outside of the Munich fan camp interpreted as a deliberate weakening of the strongest competitor, they dismissed at Bayern as normal business practice. As so often. After all, the game plan wanted the rivals’ athletic test of strength to take place on the fourth day of the match.
Whistles against Julian Nagelsmann
And in the end the duel held, which many had feared: The bloodletting of the Leipzig was so great that the team was largely without a chance. It was 1: 4 (0: 1) in the end. Robert Lewandowski (12th, hand penalty), Jamal Musiala (47th), Leroy Sané (54th) and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (90th + 1) scored the success they deserved, Konrad Laimer (58th) achieved it Goal for the home side. “It’s not the right time to talk about the championship now,” said Thomas Müller: “But to win here 4-1 naturally feels great. After an international break, you never know what you’re going to get. “
Bayern plays, Robert Lewandowski scores – this time to 1-0 from a penalty
Source: AP / Michael Sohn
Nagelsmann, in particular, felt how much the departure of the three Leipzigers had burdened the fan soul. When he stepped inside the stadium around 6 p.m. half an hour before the final whistle, he was mercilessly booed by local supporters. He took the whole thing quite athletically. “That’s a bit normal in football, that’s part of it: emotions. So everything’s okay. ”
Leipzig’s managing director Oliver Mintzlaff had previously caused corresponding taunts with the statement that he had not missed Nagelsmann for a day since leaving this summer. The renegade responded shortly before the game: “I already miss my old employers because I had a good time in both Hoffenheim and Leipzig,” said Nagelsmann Sky. “Oliver knows himself that he can express it a little differently. But I am also aware that he has hired a very good coach in Jesse Marsch. If he said he missed me every day, Jesse would be less popular. That’s why he prefers to protect his own trainer, which is absolutely right. “
Kampl takes his arm to help
The fact that the pressure on march had already grown high despite the relatively young season was due to the people of Leipzig. Three points from three games was not necessarily the result that Mintzlaff and Co. had hoped for. Now there are three out of four, which means the Leipzig team has the weakest start to the season in their Bundesliga history. And maybe Marsch should see the whole thing a little more critically than in his statement after the game. “We didn’t play badly, we invested a lot and gave a lot,” said the American: “We played bravely and with a little more calm or quality in the last third it can be different.”
Jesse Marsch is responsible for the worst RB start in the Bundesliga
Quelle: Getty Images/Matthias Hangst
An astonishing analysis after such a definite defeat that was quickly looming. After all, the home side were committed to the duel. There were good opportunities through Christopher Nkunku, Angelino and André Silva, but it was not really dangerous in front of national goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
In contrast to the other penalty area: In the duel with Leon Goretzka, Leipzig’s Kevin Kampl briefly took his left arm to help and visibly touched the ball. But initially the game continued before referee Deniz Aytekin (Oberasbach) received the signal from the video room in Cologne to look at the controversial scene again on the sidelines. It didn’t take Aytekin long to see an active movement of Kampl’s arm towards the ball. He rightly decided on a penalty.
Lewandowski did not miss the chance and resolutely hit the lower right corner (12.) Contrary to his habit, the Pole did not stop at the run-up, but RB goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi skilfully loaded it. Lewandowski scored in his 14th Bundesliga game in a row. Only once has there been an even longer series: In 1969 and 1970, Gerd Müller scored at least one goal in 16 Bundesliga games in a row. He converted 49 of 52 penalties for Bayern across all competitions – that is also an incredible rate.
Gnabry has “something in the back”
Bayern then managed the lead, and so it went 1-0 into the break. But what they are capable of, they proved after the change. Within a very short time they decided the game for themselves. The young national player Jamal Musiala, who replaced the injured Serge Gnabry, skilfully took a cross from Alphonso Davies and made a technically strong execution into the goal (47th). Gulacsi was again without a chance to defend himself. How long Gnabry will be absent is unclear. “There is something in the back, maybe lumbago,” said Nagelsmann.
In any case, the hosts were visibly shocked after the 2-0 draw, swam again and again on the defensive – and finally had to accept the preliminary decision early on. Lewandowski passed on to Musiala, who saw the completely free standing Sané in the middle, who in turn had no trouble finishing in the empty goal (54th). A dream combination. And salvation for Sané, who at the beginning of the season at the home game against Cologne (3: 2) was booed by his own supporters, then showed strong performances with the national team and now finally seems to take off in his club.
Nagelsmann was therefore able to be happy – also about his lucky hand with the substitution: Musiala scored a goal and an assist with his first five ball contacts in the game. “He was the magician of the game,” said Müller.
With such a comfortable leadership, the coach could easily cope with the fact that four minutes after the 3-0 RB came back to the old place of work when he returned to the consolation goal. Midfielder Konrad Laimer took a heart from a good 25 meters and carved the ball into the top right corner. The game might have been exciting again if Silva had come close to a cross from Nkunku shortly afterwards, but he just missed (64th).
So in the end there was a sovereign victory for Bayern, which the substitute Choupo-Moting even refined with 4-1 in stoppage time.
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