Bayern thrash Leipzig 5-1; minute of silence for Magdeburg victims

Leaders Bayern Munich rebounded in style from their first Bundesliga season defeat with a 5-1 demolition of RB Leipzig on Friday, but celebrations and a Christmas ceremony were cut short in light of the suspected attack on a Magdeburg Christmas market.

Jamal Musiala's opener for Bayern some 30 seconds into the game was cancelled out by Benjamin Sesko a minute later, making it the first match in which both teams scored inside two minutes, according to the Bundesliga website.

Konrad Laimer restored Bayern's lead against his former club in the 25th, Joshua Kimmich fired the third in the 35th, before Leroy Sane in the 75th and Alphonso Davies three minutes later completed the rout.

Davies returned from injury along with Harry Kane but the England captain was unable to improve on his league leading tally of 14.

Bayern moved seven points clear at the top a week after a surprise 2-1 defeat at Mainz and now head into a three-week winter break.

Champions Bayer Leverkusen can cut the gap to four points again with victory against Freiburg on Saturday. Leipzig in fourth are nine points behind Bayern.

"It was a very important victory against a good team. The victory was more or less never endangered. We will enjoy the coming days even more now," Laimer told broadcasters Sat.1.

Minute of silence instead of Christmas ceremony

The planned festive post-match programme was changed after the alleged Magdeburg attack in which at least two people died earlier in the evening.

A minute's silence observed, and a choir then only performed Silent Night.

"We had completely different ideas about me standing here," Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen told the players and fans, speaking of a “horrific” attack.

"This ceremony should have been joyful but that doesn't work now," he said.

Leipzig coach Marco Rose told streaming portal DAZN: "We lost a football match but other things have happened as well. The result appears in a very different light."

Furious start

Bayern showed their determination to make up for the Mainz defeat when the unmarked Musiala converted off Michael Olise 30 seconds into the match for his ninth Bundesliga season goal.

But Leipzig were level instantly a minute later when Lois Openda outran Kim Minjae and Sesko beat Dayot Upamecano for the cross from the right to slot into the far corner.

Bayern regain control

Bayern regained control quickly, and Laimer volleyed into the roof of the net for 2-1 in the 25th after a one-two with Olise. It was his first Bundesliga goal for Bayern, the previous one coming in his last Leipzig league game in May 2023.

Kimmich smashed the third into the right corner in the 35th from a distance after being given too much space in midfield.

Bayern were in full command but became wasteful in the second half before Sane had enough of it and converted Davies' pass into the far corner with 15 minutes left.

Davies then headed the fifth himself in the 78th off Kimmich as Bayern won their final match of a year for the 12th straight time.

Leipzig's Henrichs injured late on

Leipzig appeared to suffer another injury shock late on when Benjamin Henrichs went down away from the ball in visible pain and received treatment there for a long time after the final whistle before being taken off on a stretcher.

Rose said he feared that Henrichs suffered a severe ankle injury while his assistant coach Alexander Zickler spoke of a suspected Achilles tendon tear a little later.