RB Leipzig stun Bayern to give Dortmund edge in Bundesliga title race

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Christopher Nkunku slots home his penalty to stun the Allianz ArenaAFP

Christopher Nkunku shone for RB Leipzig, as they secured a first-ever league victory at the Allianz Arena by blitzing Bayern Munich to set up a grandstand finish to the Bundesliga title race. It leaves the Meisterschale in Borussia Dortmund’s hands, who now need just four points to end the Rekordmeister’s run of 10-straight championships.

Donning their new home kit, Bayern knew they’d need three points to keep the title race in their own hands. It didn’t take long for the hosts to edge their noses out in front, with Serge Gnabry curling home a delightful right-footed effort from inside the penalty area after just 25 minutes.

While most inside the Allianz Arena would’ve expected Bayern to push on and add to their advantage, it was actually the visitors who came closest to the game’s second goal. Nkunku saw a close-range strike denied by Yann Sommer, whereas Dominik Szoboszlai’s left-footed curler sailed just wide of the far post.

Perhaps unlucky not to have equalised before the break, it had looked as if Leipzig lost their rhythm after the interval, with Bayern resuming their ball-dominant approach.

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It’s exactly why the leveller came as such a surprise, as a comfortable-looking Bayern were caught out by a four-on-one Leipzig counter-attack and while Joao Cancelo’s original block stunted the move, Konrad Laimer was on hand to sweep home the rebound.

It would prove to be the momentum shifter, not only in the game, but maybe in the title race, as with 15 minutes left on the clock, Nkunku was hacked down by Benjamin Pavard inside the penalty area, leaving referee Deniz Aytekin no choice but to point to the spot.

In what could prove to be one of his final outings for Die Roten Bullen, Nkunku stepped up to convert from 12 yards, while silencing the majority of those inside the Allianz Arena.

And it would take just 10 minutes for that silence to turn to despair for the home crowd, as Szoboszlai made it three for Leipzig, with a well-taken right-footed penalty.

Noussair Mazraoui was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the area, with Nkunku passing up the opportunity to add to his tally, instead leaving it for the Hungarian to seal a famous victory in Bavaria.

It’s a result that is being celebrated by Bayern’s title challengers Dortmund, who are now just two wins away from a first Bundesliga title since 2012.