Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig would love to finish the year with a bang, but it feels more like both teams will limp across the finish line.
Injuries have ravaged both squads and the three week winter break cannot come soon enough. Bayern won the last matchup 2-1 at the Allianz Arena but failed to defeat Leipzig in the previous four attempts.
In the end, however, it was Bayern who registered a fifth and took the Cup after Leroy Sané rounded off a swift counter-attack.
Bayern Munich can take another step towards the Bundesliga title on Friday if Vincent Kompany’s men can beat RB Leipzig at Allianz Arena in the final game of 2024.
The Bavarians lost their unbeaten status by losing to Mainz 05 so now the German giants must get back to winning ways. Before that, Bayern had last lost in the Bundesliga back in May thanks to a strong start to this season under the Belgian tactician.
The hosts have not kept a clean sheet in five games despite seven consecutive shutouts before that but two wins, two losses and a draw in their past five games makes for mixed form.
That said, Bayern have won six of their last eight Bundesliga outings and are still extremely strong at home with 12 wins from 15 at Allianz Arena with two more draws and just one loss in that number.
Leipzig come into this one with Marco Rose unsure if he will still be head coach come early 2025 thanks to a premature UEFA Champions League exit.
The Red Bulls are in the top four and within reach of second position here but Rose’s future could have already been decided by an extremely underwhelming European outing as the first club eliminated from the new league phase.
On top of that, RBL are not the best travelers and lost four consecutive games before a recovery with victory at Holstein Kiel.
