Bayern Munich vs RB Leipzig
A top of the table Bundesliga clash on Saturday teatime – what’s not to like for the neutrals?
Indeed, what’s not to like for football fans full stop (that is, of course, unless your team loses).
The champions of Germany and Europe hosting the young upstarts whose meteoric rise from the fifth tier to the Champions League semi-finals last season caught the attention of the footballing world.
Those who keep a close eye on RB Leipzig, of course, include German juggernauts Bayern Munich, who have seen a new rival quickly establishing themselves in the Bundesliga and beyond.
That means Bundesliga highlights are a cert this weekend, right?
Talking Points
Not only is this a meeting between the top two – Bayern have a two point cushion at the summit – but it is a meeting between the best attack and best defence in the division.
Bayern have already scored 10 goals more than the next best attacking teams in Borussia Dortmund and Union Berlin, while Leipzig have the best defence in the league.
They both also warmed up for this with good results, although contrasting tales, in the Champions League in midweek.
With the group already won and their place in the last 16 of the Champions League assured, Bayern rested a number of key players but still earned an impressive point at Atletico Madrid – a match in which coach Hans Flick was afforded the luxury of making nine changes to leave his players, in theory, fresh for the weekend.
His opposite number, Julian Nagelsmann, had no such opportunity and it took a 90th minute winner from Alexander Sorloth to seal a dramatic 4-3 win in Istanbul against Turkish champions Basaksehir.
RB Leipzig players celebrate after beating Istanbul Basaksehir F.K. in Champions League
That means if they defeat Manchester United in their final group game next week, they will progress to the knockout stages for a second successive season.
That is unlikely to be in their minds on Saturday though as they take on a team which acts as the barometer for success.
Bayern may seem a big gap to bridge but there are signs Leipzig are heading in an upward direction.
Although they finished a whopping 16 points behind the Bavarians in the Bundesliga table last season, they finished just three points behind Dortmund who were runners-up.
Nagelsmann will be without long-term absentees Konrad Laimer (ankle), Fabrice Hartmann and Lukas Klostermann (both knee) this weekend, with Hwang Hee-chan (coronavirus) and Benjamin Henrichs (also knee) likely to be absent too.
For Bayern, their main missing men will be Joshua Kimmich – who made his professional debut for Leipzig in the German third division – and Alphonso Davies.
As 2021 approaches, Bayern fans received welcome news this week with the sight of both players training – suggesting they could make New Year returns.
Certainly, the pictures again showed why Bayern’s ruthless efficiency makes them favourites for most encounters in which they participate.
They will surely have too much for Leipzig again.
History
The most recent three meetings between these sides have ended all square.
Last season’s corresponding fixture ended goalless as Leipzig showed their mettle, even if they faded away later on, and showed they can take on and live with the very best in head-to-head encounters.
They had drawn one apiece earlier in the campaign when top scorer Robert Lewandowski gave Bayern an early lead before a Emil Forsberg penalty earned Leipzig a point.
In the last 10 meetings in league and cup, Leipzig have only tasted victory once.
That was on home turf in March 2018 when goals from Naby Keita and Timo Werner – both who now ply their trade in the Premier League – overturned an opener from Sandro Wagner.
Overall, they have met on 10 occasions with Bayern triumphing five times and the other four meetings ending level.
Betting Tip
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Bayern Munich vs RB Leipzig | Bayern Munich Asian Handicap -1.50 @ 2.20 |
| December 6, 01:30 (GMT+8) |
SBOTOP Bundesliga betting odds rarely make the top team in Europe second favourites in any contest and this weekend is no exception.
Bayern can be backed 1X2 @ 1.49 or Asian Handicap -1.50 @ 2.31.
Leipzig are obviously a good side themselves and have very generous odds 1X2 @ 5.40 and Asian Handicap + 1.00 @ 2.19.
Another goalless draw will pay out with odds of @ 32.00, a draw generally @ 4.70 and goals galore – total goal 2-3 – @ 2.43.
I cannot bet against Bayern, while Leipzig had the added task of playing a day later than their hosts and had to travel back from Turkey in the early hours of Thursday morning.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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| = €20 (Highly confident) |
 = €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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The post Top of the Table Bundesliga Clash is Mouth-Watering – but Bayern will Win Again! appeared first on SBOTOP.
