Thomas Müller and Robert Lewandowski were on a target for a Bayern Munich side that ultimately profited from a Josko Gvardiol own goal as the defending Bundesliga champions recorded a narrow win against battling RB Leipzig.

Bayern Munich 3-2 RB Leipzig
Goals: 1-0 Müller (12'), 1-1 Silva (27'), 2-1 Lewandowski (assist: Coman) 44', 2-2 Nkunku (assist: Laimer) 53', 3-2 Gvardiol (o.g. 58')

Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann knew there was no time for sentiment as he welcomed his old side to the Allianz Arena. With Borussia Dortmund breathing down their necks, the champions needed to set the pace against a Leipzig side impressing under Domenico Tedesco. The hosts did indeed take a 12th minute lead, but not before the returning Dani Olmo gave them an almighty scare with a shot from the cut-back that whispered past Manuel Neuer's post. Relief for Bayern, then, when Müller tapped in after Leipzig 'keeper Peter Gulacsi could only get a palm on Lewandowski's shot. With four wins in their previous four games in all competitions, Leipzig were never going to lie down once behind, and so it proved. Olmo kept the visitors purring with a couple of chances before Andre Silva poked in an equaliser at the back post to unsettle the men in red. The leaders soon regrouped, however, and not long after a Kingsley Coman cross-shot found its way onto the bar, the winger hit the perfect centre for Lewandowski to power-header his team back into the lead.

Bayern enjoyed a 4-1 win when the sides met back in September and the home team almost opened up a similar advantage on the scoreboard when Lewandowski just failed to connect with Müller's pass in front of goal. The miss would prove momentarily costly. Eager to net a 10th Bundesliga goal for the campaign, Christopher Nkunku lapped up a delicious Konrad Laimer through ball before calmly netting to bring parity once more. This 12th Bundesliga meeting between the sides now emerging as classic, the pendulum soon swung back in favour of the men in red. Looking to whip up some danger with a cross from the right, Serge Gnabry was more than happy to see his centre clip Gvardiol before flying past the despairing Gulacsi. A couple of uncharacteristic misses from Lewandowski then preceded a Dominik Szoboszlai zinger that met the palms of Neuer. The goalkeeper would save his side again from Emil Forsberg as Bayern held out for three big points.

Watch: Sane: "We're hungry"

Match stats

• Neuer brought up a 310th win in what was his 458th Bundesliga game, equalling Oliver Kahn's record.
• Müller scored his 136th Bundesliga goal, which draws him level with Horst Hrubesch in 21st place on the all-time Bundesliga top-scorer list.
• Bayern scored for a record-extending 68th Bundesliga game in a row. The defending champions last failed to score in Germany's top division almost exactly two years ago, in a scoreless draw against Leipzig.
• Lewandowski now has 24 goals after 21 matchdays, just one shy of his 25 goals at the same stage last season.
• The champions have lost just one of 14 competitive fixtures against Leipzig.
• Gvardiol's own goal was only the third in Leipzig's 191 game Bundesliga history. Marcel Sabitzer and Rani Khedira were the team's two prior culprits .

Watch: Gulacsi says Bayern "punish" your mistakes

Want more Bundesliga Action?

GET THE UPDATES!

Line-ups

Bayern: Neuer – Pavard, Süle, Hernandez (Upamecano 73') – Gnabry, Kimmich, Tolisso (Musiala 63'), Coman (Nianzou 85') – Müller (Sabitzer 84'), Sane – Lewandowski
Unused subs: Ulreich, Richards, Wanner, Roca, Tillman
Out: Choupo-Moting (international duty), Davies (heart), Goretzka (knee), Sarr (international duty), Stanisic (thigh)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann

Leipzig: Gulacsi (c) - Mukiele (Henrichs 72'), Orban, Gvardiol - Klostermann, Laimer (Haidara 61'), Kampl (Szoboszlai 46'), Angelino - Nkunku, Olmo (Forsberg 61') – Silva (Poulsen 80')
Unused subs: Tschauner, Martinez, Bonnah, Novoa
Out: Adams (thigh), Halstenberg (back), Simakan (ankle)
Coach: Domenico Tedesco

Watch: Nagelsmann: "It was an emotional game"

About the clubs

FC Bayern München

Allianz Arena

RB Leipzig

Red Bull Arena