Bayern rest stars but ease past Leverkusen before PSG clash
Bayern Munich secured a comfortable 3-0 victory at home against Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday, even with Harry Kane and multiple other players on the bench, preparing for their Tuesday journey to face the European title holders Paris Saint-Germain.
Chelsea loanee Nicolas Jackson netted his debut Bundesliga strike, Serge Gnabry kicked off the scoring, and Bayern prompted an own goal, with everything occurring in a lively opening period.
"It was a superb gesture from the coach showing he has faith in us during such a match, and those entering from the substitutes bench delivered in that manner," Gnabry shared with Sky Germany.
Bayern manager Vincent Kompany left Kane out for the initial lineup in any tournament this term, along with attackers Michael Olise, Luis Diaz, and backline player Dayot Upamecano.
This did not hinder Bayern at all, as they have launched the campaign in remarkable shape. The success marked their 15th triumph in 15 outings, surpassing their previous mark for the strongest opening to a season across Europe's premier five divisions.
Gnabry broke the deadlock after 25 minutes, capitalising on a lapse by ex Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah during a quick break.
Soon afterwards, an unchallenged Jackson nodded in a delivery from out wide.
Right before the interval, French defender Loic Bade deflected the ball into his own goal attempting to tame a pass from Raphael Guerreiro.
The loss snapped Leverkusens streak without defeat on the road at 37 fixtures, a Bundesliga benchmark.
Leverkusen had avoided defeat to Bayern in the top flight since September 2022, a sequence that featured their flawless league and cup double in 2023-24.
The result reinstated Bayerns five point advantage at the summit of the standings.
In the Champions League, Bayern, with three victories from three, occupy second position in the standings on goal difference trailing PSG.
Leipzig go second
RB Leipzigs young forward Yan Diomande claimed a goal and compelled another as his team overcame Stuttgart 3-1 on home soil.
Leipzig reclaimed second place following Dortmunds jump ahead of the Red Bulls via a 1-0 success at Augsburg on Friday.
When questioned if Leipzig posed Bayerns primary rivals, skipper David Raum noted his team were "simply concentrating on our own efforts", yet he included: "We need not conceal the drive and the surge we possess right now."
Leipzig and Stuttgart created numerous opportunities in a thrilling first half prior to Diomande sparking the opener just prior to the break.
The 18 year old from Ivory Coast surged along the flank and supplied a driven centre that Stuttgart stopper Jeff Chabot bundled into his own net.
Merely eight minutes after the restart, Diomande weaved past three Stuttgart markers prior to rifling a placed effort into the far angle.
Tiago Tomas replied for Stuttgart, narrowing the margin, but Romulo sealed the points by capitalising on a blunder from away keeper Alexander Nuebel and slotting in.
Leipzig suffered a heavy 6-0 reversal to Bayern in their initial league fixture, but have since gathered 22 out of 24 available Bundesliga points.
Diomande formed part of several promising additions arriving during the off season, as the outfit prioritised emerging talent in Jurgen Klopps debut transfer period as football overseer for Leipzigs owning entity Red Bull.
Eintracht Frankfurts difficulties persisted with a 1-1 stalemate away to bottom dwelling Heidenheim, mere days after Dortmund eliminated them from the German Cup.
Frankfurts Danish rear guard Rasmus Kristensen levelled matters after the break to offset Budu Zivzivadzess early effort.
This point positions Frankfurt in sixth, after securing only one win across their previous seven outings in all tournaments.
Union Berlin and Freiburg concluded with no goals in the nations capital, both having strikes disallowed by VAR.
In other action, Borussia Moenchengladbach claimed their maiden Bundesliga win since March, thanks to Haris Tabakovic netting twice in a 4-0 rout of St Pauli.
Jens Stage levelled late with four minutes remaining as Werder Bremen grabbed a 1-1 tie away to struggling Mainz.