Five things about Bayern-Leipzig showdown

Leaders Bayern Munich host RB Leipzig in a crunch Bundesliga clash on Wednesday with both teams on 36 points. Here are five things ahead of the German league showdown at Munich’s Allianz Arena:
Germany’s ‘prestige’ duel
It’s rare for Bayern to go into their last league game of the year with a rival breathing down their necks with Leipzig second only on goal difference. Bayern’s stars know that anything less than three points will draw criticism from the German media. Should the unthinkable happen and they lose, awkward questions are bound to be asked by pundits over the next four weeks of the winter break. “This isn’t just about three points — there is a lot of prestige at stake,” said Bayern forward Thomas Mueller. “It is wonderful as an end of year game for the whole of football in Germany. “It’ll be wonderful for us too – if we win.” For Bayern’s goalkeeper Manuel Neuer it’s a “duel of two teams on the same level”.
Established giants v new boys
This is a David v Goliath mismatch with Bayern, Germany’s most successful team in the last four decades, facing the newcomers from Leipzig, who have only been around for seven years. Bayern, founded in 1900, are 26-time German champions, including the last four seasons, and have won the European title five times. In contrast, Leipzig were only founded in 2009 when Austrian drinks giant Red Bull took over a German Football League (DFL) licence. They have won just two pieces of minor silverware — the regional Saxony Cup in 2011 and 2013.
Star-studded Bayern, no-names Leipzig
Bayern’s squad is stacked with international stars while Leipzig punch above their weight with many of their players unheard of before this season. Bayern’s squad has a market value of 582.25 million euros ($608m) compared to Leipzig’s 81.78m euros (source: transfermarkt.de). The Bavarian giants boast seven World Cup winners in Manuel Neuer, Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels, Javi Martinez, Philipp Lahm, Thomas Mueller and Xabi Alonso. Their most expensive player is Martinez, for whom Bayern paid 40 million euros in 2012. In contrast, Leipzig’s most expensive signing is Scotland winger Oliver Burke, 19, who reportedly cost a modest 15 million euros from Nottingham Forest in August. Captain Dominik Kaiser, 28, has played for Leipzig since 2012 when they were in the fourth division. Their 20-year-old striker Timo Werner, who joined when his ex-club Stuttgart were relegated last season, is their top scorer with nine goals.
Leipzig have nothing to lose
Leipzig travel south for the first ever Bundesliga meeting between the teams embracing the role of the underdogs who broke into Germany’s top flight after four promotions in seven years. “It’s a bonus game for us, in which we are the clear outsiders,” said director of sport Ralf Rangnick. “The role of the hunter fits us much better. “It has a lot to do with the way we play.” The Allianz Arena is a fortress for Bayern in the Champions League after 15 straight home wins. Their last home Bundesliga defeat was in March, when they went down 2-1 to Mainz. Since then, they are unbeaten in their last 13 Bundesliga games. Bayern are under pressure to perform after labouring to a 1-0 win at bottom side Darmstadt on Sunday while any points RB take will be seen as a bonus in Leipzig.
Leipzig’s lucky omen
Red Bull’s co-founder, billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz, 72, has never seen RB Leipzig lose a match live. He made a rare appearance for Saturday’s 2-0 win at home to Hertha Berlin and will also be at the Allianz Arena. The Leipzig team hope to make it five wins from five with Mateschitz watching in Munich. “We like seeing him in the stadium — he’s a good omen for us,” said Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi.

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