Leader Bayern trashes Leipzig to extend lead in Bundesliga

BERLIN, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Bayern Munich extended its lead at the top of the Bundesliga to seven points after a commanding 5-1 victory over fourth-placed RB Leipzig in the opening match of the 15th round on Friday.

The game exploded into life almost immediately, with Jamal Musiala firing Bayern into the lead after just 30 seconds. A neat interchange between Harry Kane and Michael Olise set up Musiala for a clinical finish from inside the area.

The early opener stunned Leipzig, but they responded with equal intensity. Moments later, Lois Openda's precise square pass found Benjamin Sesko, who unleashed a low shot into the bottom left-hand corner to level the scores in the second minute. Never before had the score been 1-1 in the first two minutes of a Bundesliga match.

Unfazed by Leipzig's equalizer, Bayern quickly regained control of the game. In the 10th minute, Musiala forced a save from Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi with a powerful header, setting the tone for Bayern's relentless pressure.

The breakthrough came in the 25th minute when Konrad Laimer capitalized on Michael Olise's build-up play to restore Bayern's lead.

Joshua Kimmich then doubled the advantage in the 35th minute with a stunning long-range strike, leaving Gulacsi with no chance as Bayern raced into a 3-1 lead.

Bayern continued to dictate play after the break, with Leroy Sane and Olise both coming close to doubling the lead.

Leipzig, meanwhile, struggled to find their rhythm. A brief glimmer of hope came in the 60th minute when Openda had a shot blocked, and Antonio Nusa's follow-up shot from a tight angle went wide.

As Bayern's attack continued to probe, Sane was finally rewarded in the 75th minute. Alphonso Davies provided the assist, slipping a pass into Sane's path for a clinical finish inside the far post.

Just three minutes later, Davies turned scorer, heading home Kimmich's perfect cross to make it 5-1 and seal the result.

The emphatic win further cement Bayern's position at the top of the table, with a seven-point cushion over their closest rivals Bayer Leverkusen. Leipzig, meanwhile, remains in fourth place.

"We started perfectly and, despite conceding the quick equalizer, stayed confident and focused. It was a strong team performance, and we got the win we wanted," said Bayern captain Joshua Kimmich.

"We suffered a heavy and deserved defeat today," said RB Leipzig coach Marco Rose. ■