When Harry Kane returned, Bundesliga leader Bayern Munich once again celebrated a goal celebration at the end of the year with their offensive power regained. The record champions celebrated top spot in the table with an unexpectedly clear 5:1 (3:1) against RB Leipzig in a top game that was one-sided after both teams got off to a lightning start. Coach Vincent Kompany’s star ensemble is heading into the new year with at least a four-point lead.

Jamal Musiala’s opening goal for Bayern after 29 seconds and Benjamin Sesko’s equalizer after 103 seconds marked a first in the Bundesliga in front of 75,000 spectators in the sold-out Munich Arena. For the first time, both teams scored in the first two minutes.

After the fastest 1:1 in league history, the hosts showed the winning reaction that Kompany had hoped for a week after their first defeat at 1:2 in Mainz. Ex-Leipzig player Konrad Laimer (25th minute), Joshua Kimmich (36th), Leroy Sané (75th) and Alphonso Davies (78th) quickly scored at will against surprisingly lax Leipzigers, who already seemed to be on the winter break.

A Kane goal wasn’t necessary at all. Three weeks after his torn muscle fiber, the Englishman underlined his great importance in the first few seconds without any warm-up time. The star striker forwarded the ball from Kimmich with a heel to Michael Olise, who served Musiala. The 21-year-old scored for the ninth time in the 13th league game of the season. Against Kiel, turbo starter Musiala scored even earlier in the 6-1 win in September – after 14 seconds.

Leipzig completely inferior

In contrast to FC Bayern, the guests, who dismantled the record champions 3-0 on Kane’s debut in the Supercup in Munich in the summer of 2023, acted timidly, shyly and in the end quickly without resistance. There was very little of the former Leipzig DNA to be seen, apart from the equalizer with Sesko’s sixth goal of the season after an assist from Loïs Openda.

All-rounder Laimer, who was happy about the birth of his first child the day before the game, set the stage for Bayern’s next home win at the end of the year after playing well with Olise.

Kimmich’s 3-1 win was symptomatic of Leipzig’s poor defensive work. Musiala played to the Munich midfield boss, who also once played for RB, who ensured the break from over 20 meters unchallenged. Bayern were able to get over the fact that Kane failed to score in various shot attempts after missing four competitive games (16th/39th). Kane left the pitch after 86 minutes to applause from the Munich audience.

RB coach Marco Rose, who had recently managed to turn the league season around with two wins in a row, reacted in the second half with a system change. He switched from a three-man to a four-man chain.

However, FC Bayern alone had the best chances, initially missing the early decision twice (50th) thanks to Minjae Kim, Musiala, Sané and Olise. Bayern made the stark difference in performance between the two teams clear in the result.