Bayern Munich 1-3 RB Leipzig: Nkunku and Szoboszlai penalties hand Dortmund title initiative

Bayern Munich relinquished control of the Bundesliga title race as they collapsed to a 3-1 defeat to RB Leipzig at the Allianz Arena.

The reigning champions had their destiny in their own hands when Serge Gnabry fired them ahead on Saturday, but a terrific counter-attack saw Konrad Laimer level things up in the second half.

A pair of late penalties then stunned Bayern, Christopher Nkunku converting after being tripped by Benjamin Pavard and Dominik Szoboszlai doing likewise following Noussair Mazraoui’s handball.

Bayern now need Borussia Dortmund to slip up in one of their remaining games – at Augsburg on Sunday and against Mainz next Saturday – to have any chance of claiming an 11th consecutive title.

Christo x Domi #FCBRBL 1-3 pic.twitter.com/ZFsfienNXB

— RB Leipzig English (@RBLeipzig_EN) May 20, 2023

Bayern started brightly and created the first chance 17 minutes in, with Thomas Muller seeing his effort smothered by Janis Blaswich.

The hosts’ dominance paid off when Gnabry put them ahead eight minutes later, darting into the area before seeing his powerful shot spin off the foot of the left-hand post and in.

Yann Sommer then made crucial saves to deny Szoboszlai and Nkunku, but Bayern should have gone 2-0 up before half-time, only for the unmarked Kingsley Coman to head wide.

A lightning break from Leipzig changed the game after 64 minutes, with Laimer – who is expected to join Bayern next season – racing clear to trade passes with Nkunku and hammer home.

Matters got much worse for Bayern 11 minutes later, as Pavard’s trip on Nkunku allowed Leipzig’s star forward to convert from the spot.

But their punishment was not done there, Szoboszlai finding the bottom-left corner from 12 yards after Mazraoui handled from a corner, sparking wild celebrations in the away end – and in Dortmund.