Leipzig fight back to keep Bundesliga title race wide open

Mueez Ajao

– Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich took the lead but had to settle for a 1-1 draw at RB Leipzig on Friday following a toothless second half, as the league resumed after a two-month break. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting put the visitors in front in the 38th minute following a strong first half but Leipzig levelled with Marcel Halstenberg 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, with Leipzig in third place on 29. Second-placed Freiburg, on 30, travel to VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday.

– Despite the absences Bayern, eyeing a record-extending 11th consecutive league title, still fielded a starting 11 consisting entirely of World Cup participants.

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– 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 seven minutes after the break with Halstenberg’s effort also at the far post.

– Bayern settled for a point after their lacklustre second half performance in which their first effort on goal was in the 87th minute.