Leipzig and Bayern share spoils as Bundesliga returns
RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich drew 1-1 in the first Bundesliga game of 2023.
Leon Goretzka had a goal ruled out following a VAR review around the half-hour mark before Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting broke the deadlock with 37 minutes on the clock. The veteran forward was on a roll before the winter break, and he picked up where he left off, prodding in at the back post after a pass from Serge Gnabry to make it 1-0 with the first Bundesliga goal of 2023.
Yann Sommer, who made his Bayern debut following his move from Gladbach yesterday, had little to do in the first half and could do nothing about Leipzig's equaliser, which was scored after 52 minutes. Dominik Szoboszlai's diving header found the feet of Marcel Halstenberg, who directed the ball in at the back post.
There were calls for Dayot Upamecano to be sent off midway through the second half after the French centre-back brought down Szoboszlai, who had nutmegged him and was racing towards goal, but the Bayern defender was only shown a yellow card.
The result means league leaders Bayern are five points clear of second-placed Freiburg, who lock horns with Wolfsburg away from home on Saturday afternoon. Leipzig sit third, one point behind Freiburg and two points ahead of Eintracht Frankfurt and Union Berlin, who face Schalke 04 and Hoffenheim, respectively, tomorrow.