As defending Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich prepare to take on the pretenders to their throne, RB Leipzig, we take a look back at all nine top-flight encounters between the two teams so far.

And a clear trend is visible: while Bayern had the upper hand in the early meetings, recent results have been far closer.

21 December 2016: Bayern 3-0 Leipzig

The rivalry started in Leipzig's debut top-flight season in 2016/17 and the teams were level on 36 points going into their Matchday 16 clash.

However, first-half goals from Thiago, Xabi Alonso and Robert Lewandowski - plus Emil Forsberg's sending off - made for a comfortable victory for the Reds.

13 May 2017: Leipzig 4-5 Bayern

Bayern had already been crowned champions by the time the second clash came around but, despite going 3-1 and 4-2 down, staged an incredible fightback to remind the newcomers who was boss with two late goals in an epic 5-4 victory.

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28 October 2017: Bayern 2-0 Leipzig

Leipzig again had high hopes going into this clash on Matchday 10, sitting just one point behind their hosts prior to kick-off, but an early red card for Willi Orban and two goals before the interval from James Rodriguez and Lewandowski meant Bayern were victorious once again.

18 March 2018: Leipzig 2-1 Bayern

It looked like a case of déjà-vu for Leipzig on Matchday 27 in 2017/18 when Bayern took an early lead through Sandro Wagner. However, Leipzig fought back through efforts from Naby Keita and Timo Werner to secure their long sought-after maiden win over the record champions.

19 December 2018: Bayern 1-0 Leipzig

Once again, Leipzig were within touching distance of the champions prior to kick-off on Matchday 16, just two points behind their hosts. However, a late goal from Franck Ribery ensured it was Bayern who took the points again.

11 May 2019: Leipzig 0-0 Bayern

Leipzig had the chance to throw a spanner in the works of the title race on Matchday 33 in 2018/19, but were unable to do Borussia Dortmund many favours with a 0-0 draw.

14 September 2019: Leipzig 1-1 Bayern

Julian Nagelsmann's first big test as Leipzig coach arrived as early as Matchday 4 this season and he could have been forgiven for fearing the worst after Lewandowski opened the scoring in the third minute as Bayern sought to send out a statement of their intent.

The home side rallied, though, and equalised shortly before the break through Forsberg.

9 February 2020: Bayern 0-0 Leipzig

Yet again it was first against second at the Allianz Arena with only a point separating the sides on Matchday 21. Although it ended all square, that in itself turned out to be an achievement for Leipzig. Not only did it show the closing gap after 3-0, 2-0 and 1-0 defeats in their three prior trips to Munich, but Nagelsmann's side became the only team in any competition to stop Hansi Flick's Bayern scoring in a game.

5 December 2020: Bayern 3-3 Leipzig

After the relative 'bore draw' in February, the opening encounter of 2020/21 on Matchday 10 was a real spectacle. Again only separated by two points, the lead changed hands several times over an action-packed 90 minutes.

After Christopher Nkunku rounded Manuel Neuer for the opener, a mad six minutes saw Jamal Musiala equaliser and Thomas Müller then put Bayern ahead, before Justin Kluivert levelled things up one again. Forsberg made it 3-2 to Leipzig at the start of the second half before Müller's header 15 minutes from time rounded off a true thriller.

About the clubs

FC Bayern München

Allianz Arena

RB Leipzig

Red Bull Arena