Bayern Munich held off a late Red Bull Leipzig comeback to win 5-3 in the DFL German Supercup on July 31, thanks to an impressive first-half attacking display and new signing Sadio Mane scoring on his official debut.
Bayern, who are aiming for their 11th successive Bundesliga title this season, were eager to demonstrate that they remained a serious attacking threat despite the departure of top striker Robert Lewandowski to Barcelona. They took control of the game by scoring three times before halftime through Jamal Musiala, Mane, and Benjamin Pavard.
Musiala scored in the 14th minute before Serge Gnabry broke through the Leipzig defence and delivered a perfect assist for Mane, who joined from Liverpool for 32 million euros, to score his first goal for the club in the 31st.
When Musiala weaved his way into the opposition box and set up Pavard to drill the ball home in first-half stoppage time, Leipzig’s collapse appeared to be complete. Bayern’s defence was equally effective in the first half, with Leipzig only managing one shot on goal in 45 minutes.
After the pause, Leipzig hit the crossbar in the 56th minute with substitute Andre Silva’s powerful header, before Marcel Halstenberg went one better three minutes later with his own header to cut the deficit.
Gnabry briefly restored Bayern’s three-goal lead when he fired in on the rebound after Thomas Muller’s shot was palmed away by Peter Gulacsi in goal.
A penalty by Christopher Nkunku in the 77th minute made it 4-2 before Dani Olmo scored with a powerful shot to set up a tense finish to an entertaining game.
However, late substitute Leroy Sane ensured Bayern’s first title of the season, scoring on the break with the game’s final kick.
