LEIPZIG: A second-half equaliser from RB Leipzig defender Marcel Halstenberg helped RB Leipzig hold leaders Bayern Munich to a 1-1 home draw on Friday in the first Bundesliga match since the winter break.

Bayern looked on course for their seventh straight Bundesliga win after striker Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting scored in the 37th minute following a strong first half, but Halstenberg levelled seven minutes after the restart.

Bayern, missing several players through injury, including keeper Manuel Neuer, Sadio Mane and Lucas Hernandez, are top on 35 points and will still finish the round as outright leaders, regardless of other results. Leipzig have 29 points.

With Swiss international Yann Som­mer in goal, after the keeper was signed on Thursday from Borussia Moen­chengladbach to replace the injured Neuer, they got off to a strong start with Serge Gnabry hitting the post in the eighth minute.

Leon Goretzka then put the ball into the net in the 31st but with his effort being ruled out for being offside, Bayern upped the pressure.

It paid off in the 38th when Gnabry floated a perfect cross into the box and Cameroon forward Choupo-Moting beat his markers to tap in at the far post.

Leipzig, who had not lost a league game since September, struggled in the first half but struck with Halstenberg’s effort also at the far post.

On Saturday, Freiburg were hoping to cut the gap to Bayern to two points but were crushed 6-0 by VfL Wolfsburg with three goals in each half.

Jonas Wind struck twice following Patrick Wimmer’s second-minute opener, with Yannick Gerhardt adding another early in the second half to seal their fifth straight league victory.

Baku Ridle rattled in another in the 80th minute before a stoppage time Luca Waldschmidt penalty completed the demolition job.

The win lifted them to sixth place on 26 points while Freiburg, who had won four of their previous five Bundesliga matches, dropped to fourth on 30, alongside third-placed Union Berlin, who fought back to win 3-1 at home against Hoffenheim.

Eintracht Frankfurt, 3-0 winners over Schalke 04, moved into second place on goal difference, also on 30 points.

Published in Dawn, January 22th, 2023

Opinion

Editorial

Islamabad march
Updated 27 Nov, 2024

Islamabad march

WITH emotions running high, chaos closes in. As these words were being written, rumours and speculation were all...
Policing the internet
27 Nov, 2024

Policing the internet

IT is chilling to witness how Pakistan — a nation that embraced the freedoms of modern democracy, and the tech ...
Correcting sports priorities
27 Nov, 2024

Correcting sports priorities

IT has been a lingering battle that has cast a shadow over sports in Pakistan: who are the national sports...
Kurram ceasefire
Updated 26 Nov, 2024

Kurram ceasefire

DESPITE efforts by the KP government to bring about a ceasefire in Kurram tribal district, the bloodletting has...
Hollow victory
26 Nov, 2024

Hollow victory

THE conclusion of COP29 in Baku has left developing nations — struggling with the mounting costs of climate...
Infrastructure schemes
26 Nov, 2024

Infrastructure schemes

THE government’s decision to finance priority PSDP schemes on a three-year rolling basis is a significant step...