Even without the suspended Harry Kane, Bayern would have been confident of lifting the Meisterschale today following a rare year off, but the hosts penned them in and had the better of the early chances.
Jonas Urbig made a brilliant reflex save to keep out Amadou Haidara from close range, before Benjamin Sesko scooped over after being played through by Xavi Simons’ dinked ball. Bayern then began to control possession, but that proved to be their downfall against a devastating Leipzig counter-attack inside 11 minutes.
Xavi dispossessed Michael Olise and inventively used the outside of his boot to play in Sesko and catch Urbig well out of his goal. Not to be outdone, the Slovenian also struck a trivela shot to elude the stranded goalkeeper and find the net from distance.
The rest of the half played out similarly, with Bayern’s dominance of the ball yielding few clear chances, and Leipzig going on to make it two. David Raum bent in a free-kick delivery from deep, and Lukas Klostermann lost his marker to get his head – or more specifically his ear – on the ball, sending it nestling into the corner.
The visitors took a little while to get going in the second half, but they suddenly exploded into action just after the hour and pulled back on level terms.
Eric Dier leapt to meet Olise’s corner and thumped inside the near post, before the Frenchman netted himself just 46 seconds later. Leipzig gave the ball away almost directly from kick-off, allowing Serge Gnabry to nudge in Olise, who fired in on the volley.
With parity restored, there were chances at both ends, but Bayern looked to have the last laugh when Joshua Kimmich flicked it on for Leroy Sane, who took a touch and curled it in the far corner.
But there was to be one cruel twist in the very final seconds, when Xavi shuffled it through to Yussuf Poulsen, who chipped over Urbig to prevent Bayern from winning the title today.
While Kane has to wait a little longer for that elusive first major career trophy to be confirmed, Bayern’s advantage means that any further points will send them to a 12th title in the last 13 seasons.
Any result other than a win for Leverkusen on Sunday would also seal the deal – a match that Zsolt Low’s side will also have a keen eye on, with Freiburg their main rivals for UEFA Champions League qualification.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Leroy Sane (Bayern Munich)
