Marcel Halstenberg scored an equalizer for Leipzig after Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored in the first half, keeping Leipzig in third position in the Bundesliga while remaining six points behind league leader Bayern.
After an extraordinary two-month layoff for the winter season, the Bundesliga returned on Friday with Bayern Munich and Leipzig playing to an error-filled 1-1 draw. The match was played in Leipzig.
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Marcel Halstenberg scored an equalizer for Leipzig after Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored in the first half, keeping Leipzig in third position in the Bundesliga while remaining six points behind league leader Bayern.
“After a two-month vacation, there were things we did well and other things we might have done better,” said Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann. “There were things we did well and other things we could have done better.” In the latter third of the game, we played with a little bit too much chaos.
Yann Sommer, a goalkeeper who had previously played for Borussia Monchengladbach, made his debut for Bayern Munich on Thursday as the replacement for Manuel Neuer, who was sidelined with an injury. However, the Swiss goalkeeper did not get many chances to shine in the match because of the lackluster play.
“I was looking forward to it so much,” Sommer recalled. “I was very excited.” “Of course, we’re a new squad, and I’m learning the ropes as a goalie, so things weren’t always smooth sailing, but we had a good time. It would have been nice for us to come out on top.”
The winter break for the German league was lengthened in order to accommodate the World Cup, which had been relocated to the middle of the season in order to avoid Qatar’s searingly hot summer temperatures.
Bayern, who also held its winter training camp in the region of the Persian Gulf, got off to a stronger start than their opponent, with a shot by Serge Gnabry that was deflected off of the post and a goal by Leon Goretzka that was disallowed for being scored offside.
In the 37th minute, Gnabry made the crucial pass that allowed Choupo-Moting to score the game-winning goal.
The game was tied early in the second half thanks to a goal by Halstenberg, but the Bayern players were upset because they believed André Silva had fouled Joshua Kimmich in the buildup to the goal.
Goretzka was arrested for engaging in excessive demonstrations. The clearance that Kimmich performed before the game carelessly was more to blame.
Following the draw, Bayern maintains a five-point lead over second-place Freiburg, who will travel to take on Wolfsburg the following day. Bayern is aiming to break the record for most consecutive German championships won by winning a record-extending 11th consecutive title.