Kane inspires Bayern's 5-1 comeback at RB Leipzig, leaders extend gap

Bayern Munich produced one of the season’s most emphatic turnarounds, scoring five unanswered goals after the interval to beat RB Leipzig 5-1 at the Red Bull Arena and extend their Bundesliga lead to 11 points. Leipzig had led 1-0 at half after Rômulo slipped past Jonathan Tah to finish from close range following a low Antonio Nusa pass, but the visitors erupted after the break.

Vincent Kompany conceded the first half had been difficult for his side, saying, “They were twice as good as we were [in the first half]…but in the second-half - my god, the boys delivered.” Bayern answered immediately, with Dayot Upamecano winning possession and setting up Serge Gnabry to drill into the bottom corner in the 50th minute. That strike marked Gnabry’s 100th goal for the club across his spells with Bayern.

Harry Kane turned the game in Bayern’s favour with a far-post finish in the 67th minute after a Michael Olise cross found him, registering his 21st Bundesliga goal of the season in 18 appearances and lifting his total to 31 in 27 games in all competitions. Kane’s scoring run has carried historic weight: he became the first player since 1966 to score 20 or more goals in each of his first three Bundesliga seasons.

The rout was completed in a frenetic closing phase. Jonathan Tah nodded home from an Olise corner in the 82nd minute, Aleksandar Pavlović tapped in three minutes later, and substitute Michael Olise capped the victory in the 88th minute after Jamal Musiala, making his return from a broken leg and ankle, set him up. Manuel Neuer also produced a crucial save to deny a Yan Diomande chance as Leipzig briefly sought a response.

The result preserved Bayern’s unbeaten league run and moved them to 50 points from 18 games, a record-equalling total at that stage, while their 71 goals after 18 matches stand as a record tally at this point in a German season. The performance showcased the club’s depth and clinical finishing; three goals in roughly a six-minute spell late on underlined how quickly a match can swing when a deep squad finds momentum.

Beyond the scoreboard, the game highlighted wider trends shaping German football. Bayern’s dominance underscores a growing competitive imbalance that has commercial as well as sporting implications: an ever-widening gap at the top risks concentrating TV audiences, sponsorship value and global attention around a single club while challenging rivals to accelerate youth development and transfer-market strategies. Kane’s continued excellence further bolsters Bayern’s international brand and marketability, reinforcing the financial logic behind high-profile acquisitions.

For Leipzig, the evening was bittersweet. The club said farewell to long-serving midfielder Kevin Kampl before kick-off, and Rômulo’s early strike offered a glimpse of the team’s capability before concentration and fitness waned. Jamal Musiala’s late involvement provided a human counterpoint — a reminder of recovery, resilience and the role of medical investment in preserving player careers.

Bayern’s victory will be billed as a masterclass in second-half adaptation, but it also deepens debate about parity in the Bundesliga and how the league balances elite performance with competitive sustainability.