Bayern held at RB Leipzig as Bundesliga returns

A second-half equaliser from RB Leipzig defender Marcel Halstenberg helped RB Leipzig hold 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, but Halstenberg levelled in the 52nd minute.

Veteran Bayern forward Thomas Mueller had a chance to win the match in injury time with a shot from point blank range, but dragged his effort just wide.

Bayern manager Julian Nagelsmann lamented his side’s concession of a “totally unnecessary goal” but said a point was “worth a little bit more” to his side than to Leipzig, considering the teams’ relative positions in the table.

“Leipzig played a strong game and both teams played a little bit wildly, but at the end of the day we can live with the draw.” A combination of rustiness after a ten-week break and sub-zero temperatures meant both sides struggled to find rhythm early on.

Central defender Josko Gvardiol, one of the breakout stars at the World Cup, almost scored an own goal after seven minutes, when his attempt at smothering a Serge Gnabry cross hit the post.

Bayern midfielder Leon Goretzka headed the ball in the back of the net after 31 minutes, but the goal was struck off due to a narrow offside against Munich centre-back Matthijs de Ligt in the build up.

Bayern will still finish the round as outright table leaders.