Bayern Munich Crush Leipzig With Second-Half Blitz

The Bundesliga delivered another classic on January 17, 2026, as Bayern Munich stormed back from a halftime deficit to overwhelm RB Leipzig 5-1 at the Red Bull Arena. In a match that had everything—drama, tactical battles, and individual brilliance—Bayern showcased why they remain the team to beat in Germany, stretching their lead at the top of the table to a commanding 11 points over Borussia Dortmund with 50 points from 18 matches.

For much of the first half, though, it looked like Leipzig, sitting third in the table and hungry to make a statement, would be the ones celebrating. The home side pressed aggressively, causing all sorts of problems for Bayern’s makeshift back line. Without a recognized right-back in the starting XI, Bayern’s defense of Tom Bischof, Dayot Upamecano, Jonathan Tah, and Hiroki Ito was tested early and often. Manuel Neuer, the ever-reliable Bayern captain, had to be sharp to deny Rômulo and Yan Diomande in the opening stages.

Leipzig’s pressure paid off in the 20th minute. David Raum whipped in a low cross, and Rômulo was perfectly positioned to turn it home from close range, sending the Red Bull Arena into a frenzy. Leipzig continued to threaten, with Antonio Nusa and Diomande coming close to doubling their advantage. Bayern, meanwhile, looked uncharacteristically shaky—misplaced passes and turnovers summed up their first half, and they went into the break trailing for the first time this Bundesliga season.

"For the first time this season, Bayern has been thoroughly outplayed in a half of football. Misplaced passes, unnecessary turnovers, and an air of panic: that about sums up Bayern’s game tonight," observed one match reporter, capturing the mood among the traveling supporters.

But if Bayern’s first half was forgettable, their response after the interval was nothing short of spectacular. Manager Vincent Kompany wasted no time, bringing on Joshua Kimmich for Leon Goretzka at halftime to stabilize the midfield. The move paid immediate dividends. Kimmich, alongside Aleksandar Pavlović, helped Bayern wrest control in the middle of the park and launch wave after wave of attacks.

The equalizer arrived in the 50th minute. Dayot Upamecano dispossessed Christoph Baumgartner, and Serge Gnabry pounced on the loose ball, slotting calmly past Peter Gulácsi. Suddenly, the momentum shifted, and Bayern’s attack began to click. Michael Olise, introduced for Lennart Karl in the 56th minute, proved to be the game changer. His impact was immediate and devastating.

Olise’s first significant contribution came in the 68th minute. He found space on the right and delivered a precise pass to Harry Kane, who controlled, turned, and hammered home to give Bayern the lead. Gulácsi got a hand to it, but Kane’s effort was too powerful. It was a classic striker’s finish, and it broke Leipzig’s resistance.

Leipzig, to their credit, refused to fold. Diomande and Nusa continued to probe, and Neuer was called upon to make several crucial saves, keeping Bayern’s lead intact. But as the match wore on, the visitors’ quality began to tell. In the 83rd minute, Olise whipped in a corner, and Jonathan Tah rose highest to head home Bayern’s third. The former Leverkusen defender, once doubted by some, has become a linchpin in Kompany’s system, contributing at both ends of the pitch.

Just two minutes later, Bayern struck again. Kane, dropping deep, threaded an inch-perfect ball to Olise, who squared unselfishly for Pavlović to tap in. The move epitomized Bayern’s second-half swagger—quick, incisive, and ruthless in the final third.

The icing on the cake came in the 89th minute, and it was a moment to savor for Bayern fans. Jamal Musiala, returning from a six-month injury layoff, was introduced in the 87th minute to a rapturous reception. Within moments, he was involved, laying the ball off for Olise, who smashed a shot into the top right corner to complete the rout. "Seeing Musiala back on the field was truly something special. After such a major setback it is so great to see Bayern’s starboy back in action," wrote one analyst.

Olise finished with a goal and three assists off the bench—a masterclass in attacking play. "The game completely flipped once Olise stepped on the field. He is rarely mentioned in the conversation of the world’s best but Olise has shown time and time again that he is world class and a gamechanging player," noted another observer. The Frenchman’s transfer from Crystal Palace is already being hailed as one of the best business moves in recent Bayern history.

Leipzig’s Peter Gulácsi, despite conceding five, was lauded for keeping the scoreline respectable with a string of fine saves. Yan Diomande, meanwhile, continued to burnish his reputation as one of the Bundesliga’s brightest young talents. "It would be a failure to not mention Yan Diomande. What a player. He is putting in a case to be the best young star in the league at the moment," a pundit remarked.

Bayern’s defense, anchored by Tah and Upamecano, held firm after a rocky start. Neuer’s leadership and shot-stopping were crucial, especially in the first half when Leipzig threatened to run away with it. With Kimmich and Pavlović orchestrating in midfield, and the likes of Kane, Gnabry, Olise, and Musiala up front, Bayern’s depth and quality shone through.

The result leaves Bayern firmly in command of the title race and brimming with confidence ahead of their upcoming Champions League clash against Union Saint-Gilloise on Wednesday. Kompany’s side will hope to carry this momentum into Europe, buoyed by the return of Musiala and the scintillating form of Olise.

As the final whistle blew before 47,800 fans in Leipzig, there was no doubt: Bayern Munich had made a statement. Their second-half performance was a reminder of why they are perennial champions—and with their stars firing on all cylinders, the rest of Europe has been put on notice.