Magdeburg attack overshadows top game FC Bayern Munich against RB Leipzig

Eigentlich hatte der FC Bayern – wie immer zum Jahresende – eine kleine Weihnachtsfeier im Stadion geplant. Stattdessen bat der Vorstandsvorsitzende Jan-Christian Dreesen das Publikum in Gedenken an den verheerenden Anschlag um eine Schweigeminute. „Diese Zeremonie sollte eine fröhliche sein – und das passt in diesem Moment nicht“, sagte Dreesen: „Ich bitte Sie alle, aufzustehen und den Opfern und ihren Angehörigen zu gedenken.“ Der Tölzer Knabenchor sang als einziges Lied „Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht“.

Über Fußball wollte an diesem Abend keiner lange sprechen – und wenn es trotzdem jemand für den Moment tat, dann nicht ohne sein Beileid auszusprechen: „Meine Gedanken sind bei allen Menschen, die von diesem schrecklichen Ereignis betroffen sind“, sagte etwa Stürmer Harry Kane, um anschließend doch noch ein paar Sätze über das Spiel zu verlieren. Er sprach von einer „dominanten Vorstellung“ und bezeichnete die Leistung als Maßstab für alle weiteren Spiele: „Es war eine tolle Art, das Jahr zu beenden. Das müssen wir mitnehmen und nach der Winterpause genauso weitermachen wie bisher.“

Der FC Bayern wollte im letzten Spiel des Jahres keine Zweifel aufkommen lassen, dass die jüngste Niederlage in Mainz nur eine Ausnahme gewesen ist. Der oft überragende Jamal Musiala sollte Bayern nach nur 29 Sekunden in Führung bringen, ehe der Ausgleich von Benjamin Šeško nach 103 Sekunden für das früheste 1:1 der Bundesliga-Geschichte sorgte.

Nochmal wurde Leipzig – bis auf eine Chance durch Antonio Nusa – in diesem Spiel jedoch nicht mehr gefährlich: Die Mannschaft von Trainer Vincent Kompany dominierte fast nach Belieben und gewann durch Tore der früheren Leipziger Konrad Laimer (25. Minute) und Joshua Kimmich (36.), Leroy Sané (75.) sowie Alphonso Davies (78.) auch in der Höhe verdient.

Another player was to remain without a goal or an assist that evening: Kane, who has been sorely missed in recent weeks. Although he couldn't score a point, it was clear in the first game after his return what influence Kane has on the Munich offensive. He was committed and fulfilled the role of the target player, attracting the attention of several opponents and thereby creating space for his teammates. The center forward repeatedly dropped into midfield and was supposed to initiate attacks himself with good ideas.

These often went through Sané, who started at the top, but despite a courageous performance, he hardly succeeded in anything. He kept getting himself into good positions, but often made the wrong decision. Sané repeatedly appeared in and around the penalty area and tried to force a goal of his own. In the end, however, he lacked the final precision – and just when the spectators had already given up hope that Sané would be successful that evening, his efforts were rewarded.

Like Sané, Kimmich is also playing for a new contract in Munich. But while Sané has to prove himself in every game, Kimmich has long been seen as the future of FC Bayern. In the absence of Manuel Neuer, he once again underlined his ambitions against Leipzig to become the new captain in the coming years. It was also he who quickly switched after a bad pass from Willi Orban and made it 1-0. Kimmich was also always very successful in pressing and recorded the most ball conquests of all players (10).

With 70 percent winning duels and a passing accuracy of 93 percent, Kimmich was the best player on the pitch that evening. He knew how to make good use of the space that Leipzig gave him in midfield by controlling the game and setting the pace like Toni Kroos once did – and crowned his performance with a dream goal from 25 meters.

After the game, Dreesen spoke of a “wonderful end to a year that wasn’t always easy” for his club. Christoph Freund was also very satisfied with his team's reaction to the defeat in Mainz: “We know what is possible if we radiate strength and really push through. We brought that to the pitch today. That was a big exclamation mark because we deserved to win even bigger.” The Bayern bosses didn't want to add much more in view of the tragedy in Magdeburg.

“Tonight it is almost impossible to talk about football. At the moment our thoughts are with the people in Magdeburg,” Kompany said at the press conference. They were the only words he would say about the game that evening: “Hopefully there will be peace at some point, not just in Germany, but everywhere. We won today, but I hope there will be more victories for peace next year.”