Bayern Munich vs RB Leipzig: Can Leipzig Stop Bayern's Title Charge?
Bayern Munich face RB Leipzig in a crucial Bundesliga match, with the title on the line. Find out if Leipzig can stop Bayern's charge.
Bayern Munich are heavy favorites to beat RB Leipzig and potentially hand Harry Kane his first major title. However, Kane won't be part of the action due to a suspension after accumulating five yellow cards. Despite his absence, Bayern's strong form and Kane's record-breaking 24 league goals this season make them a formidable opponent.
📌 𝑵𝑬𝑿𝑻 𝑴𝑨𝑻𝑪𝑯
— FC Bayern (@FCBayernEN) April 27, 2025
Full focus on securing the title. 🔥#FCBayern #MiaSanMia | 🔜 #RBLFCB pic.twitter.com/B3iL0BVdwR
A win against Leipzig would likely secure the Bundesliga title for Bayern, making it mathematically impossible for second-place Bayer Leverkusen to catch up. Kane's teammates will look to continue their impressive form and bring home the title in his absence.
Bayern's form without Harry Kane in the starting lineup has been significantly weaker, with a points average of 1.5 in 2024/25 compared to 2.6 when he's on the pitch. This absence could give RB Leipzig an opportunity to capitalize, especially with their own prolific striker Benjamin Sesko in good form.
Sesko has been impressive at home, scoring eight goals and providing four assists, and he's also had success against Bayern in recent matches, scoring in each of his last two Bundesliga games against them. This could make the match more competitive than expected, despite Bayern being the favorites.
Michael Olise Shines in Debut Season
Michael Olise has had a sensational first season with Bayern Munich, setting a league-high 12 assists. This achievement is all the more impressive given that no new Bayern signing has ever created as many scoring opportunities in a single Bundesliga campaign since detailed data collection began in 2004/05.
🇫🇷 Michael Olise scoring goals that 🇳🇱 Arjen Robben would be proud of! 🔥#FCBayern #FCBM05 pic.twitter.com/D0rnwhQ85J
— FC Bayern (@FCBayernEN) April 30, 2025
In the second half of the season, Olise's impact has been particularly notable, with 11 goal involvements, a tally matched only by Serhou Guirassy. His form will be a valuable asset for Bayern as they face RB Leipzig.
This could be a concern for RB Leipzig, who have allowed 90 big chances this season, the third-most in the league behind VfL Bochum and Holstein Kiel. Meanwhile, Bayern have created 154 big chances, the most in the league, putting pressure on Leipzig's defense to limit scoring opportunities.
To stand a chance against Bayern, Leipzig will need to tighten up defensively and prevent the opposition from creating clear scoring chances. A strong defensive display will be crucial if they want to secure a Champions League spot at the end of the season.
Leipzig's Imperative Win
RB Leipzig's interim boss, Zsolt Low, knows the importance of securing all three points against Bayern Munich. With Borussia Dortmund, Mainz, and Werder Bremen just a few points behind, Leipzig's current 49 points from 31 games marks their second-worst Bundesliga season. Their only worse campaign was in 2017/18, when they finished sixth and missed out on European qualification.
A win against Bayern is crucial, but history isn't on Leipzig's side. They'll need to overcome the odds and deliver a strong performance to stay in contention for a Champions League spot.
Bayern Munich have a strong record against RB Leipzig, with only one loss in their last 10 competitive matches away (winning four and drawing five). Their most recent defeat at Leipzig was a 2-1 loss in March 2018. Leipzig's heaviest Bundesliga defeat this season was a 5-1 loss to Bayern in Munich.
Bayern have been in exceptional form this season, losing just two of their first 31 league games (winning 23 and drawing six). They've already surpassed last season's point tally with 75 points, a feat last achieved under Carlo Ancelotti in the 2016/17 season. Both Bayern and Leipzig have shown strong defensive performances, with Bayern keeping 14 clean sheets (the most in the league) and Leipzig close behind with 13.
Early Goals Likely
If goals are scored in Saturday's game, they're likely to come in the opening hour. Both Bayern and Leipzig have conceded just 12 goals each in the final 30 minutes of matches, the joint lowest in the league. Bayern have scored the most goals in the final 30 minutes this season with 35, while Leipzig have managed only 10.
Leipzig's form has dipped, winning just four of their last 14 games in the second half of the season (drawing seven and losing three). This marks their worst performance in the latter part of a top-flight season.
High-Stakes Match for Leipzig
Leipzig's recent form has been concerning, with only four wins in their last 14 games in the second half of the season, half the number of victories they secured in the first half of the campaign. This match is a must-win for Leipzig, and they'll look to capitalize on any complacency from Bayern. Players like Benjamin Sesko, Xavi Simons, and Lois Openda could make the difference.
While Bayern are expected to win, they'll need to bring their A-game and execute their training to secure the victory. Anything less could lead to an upset, proving once again that in football, anything can happen.
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