On a somber evening in Germany after a fatal automobile assault at a Christmas market in the eastern city of Magdeburg, Bayern Munich brushed RB Leipzig away 5-1 on Friday to increase their lead at the top of the Bundesliga. When Bayern hosts Freiburg in Saturday’s late game, they have the opportunity to cut the deficit back to four points. Currently, Bayern leads second-place Bayer Leverkusen by seven points. But there was little reason to celebrate as a car crashed into a throng of Magdeburg revelers at great speed, leaving a trail of gory carnage in its wake, killing at least two people and injuring over sixty more.
During a news conference, Bayern coach Vincent Kompany remarked, “It’s almost impossible to talk about football, the people of Magdeburg are in our thoughts tonight.”
“We won tonight, but I wish victories for peace next year.”
Because of the events in Magdeburg, the Munich club’s customary pre-Christmas modest ceremony was shortened to a performance of “Stille Nacht” (“Silent Night”).
There was also a minute of silence at the Allianz Arena.
After barely 30 seconds, Bayern’s Jamal Musiala scored on the field.
Harry Kane, back from injury layoff, had opened the way for Michael Olise with a brilliant flick, and Musiala had driven the ball in from close range from Olise’s cross.
However, Bayern’s advantage was short-lived. The Belgian provided a superb low cross for Benjamin Sesko to score with a first-time finish after Lois Openda’s stepover left Kim Min-jae in his wake.
After an exciting beginning, both sides had a break, but Bayern quickly regained the lead.
The Austrian volleyed past Peter Gulacsi in the Leipzig goal after Konrad Laimer and the dangerous Olise swapped passes.
Joshua Kimmich’s piledriver in the 36th minute gave Bayern a third goal. The midfielder, who was captaining the team while Manuel Neuer was ill, spotted a gap 25 yards away and launched an unstoppable drive.
After the interval, Leipzig, who had won two of their previous three trips to the Allianz Arena, somewhat calmed things down, but Bayern was unwilling to give up and kept playing some of their finest football of the year.
They increased their advantage in the 75th minute when Leroy Sane received a through pass from Alphonso Davies and rolled the ball into the bottom corner, just staying on side.
However, Bayern was eager for more. Finding space on the right, Kimmich—a constant thorn in Leipzig’s side—whipped a cross in for Davies, who connected to score a rare headed goal and set up Bayern’s fifth goal of the evening.
Kompany and Kane both expressed their condolences to the victims of the assault in Magdeburg.
Football isn’t always the only thing that matters. The England player expressed the sympathies of the entire squad and FC Bayern to all those impacted by tragedy.
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