After scoring against RB Leipzig in the Supercup last year, Jamal Musiala will be out for more of the same for Bayern Munich on Friday. - © DFL (Photo: DFL/Getty Images/Reinaldo Coddou H.)

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RB Leipzig against Bayern Munich: AWS Match Facts compares attacks

20.01.2023

All eyes will be on RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich when they return to Bundesliga action in the Matchday 16 opener on Friday, not least given the attacking prowess of Jamal Musiala, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Timo Werner and Dominik Szoboszlai taking to the field.

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All of those players will have their sights set on scoring the first Bundesliga goal of 2023 and, with the help of Bundesliga Match Facts powered by AWS, we take a closer look at where the teams stand in terms of their goal threat.

Goals galore

Bayern not only lead the Bundesliga table currently, they are also top of the expected goals (xG) standings. With 49 goals so far in 2022/23, not only do they have the second-best attack in league history at this stage of a season, they are also well above their expected goals value of +38.3.

Watch: AWS analysis of Bayern

Leipzig, by way of contrast, have improved after a sticky start to the campaign and are third in the table, as well as being the third-highest scorers with 30 goals. That is 1.3 goals fewer than their xG value of 31.3, but that particular number is at least second league-wide behind Bayern.

Furthermore, the two teams contribute three players to the top 10 most efficient finishers in the Bundesliga. Christopher Nkunku, who will miss Friday's game through injury, is the sharpest shooter in the division with 12 goals so far, 2.3 goals higher than his xG value. Choupo-Moting (six goals, +2.7) and Musiala (nine goals, +3.8) are fourth and third respectively in this metric, behind Union Berlin forward Sheraldo Becker (seven goals, +4.9).

Bundesliga Match Facts, which have been implemented in Germany's top flight since the 2019/20 season, also measure a wide variety of other skills, such as highlighting the best 'ball winners', 'sprinters', and 'initiators'.

Leipzig are without their most clinical player, Christopher Nkunku, while Bayern boast two sharpshooters in their ranks. - DFL (Photo: DFL/Getty Images/Reinaldo Coddou H.)

Only five players in the league are currently among the best in two of those categories, three of whom are likely to be on the pitch at the Red Bull Arena on Friday: Musiala (finisher and initiator), Alphonso Davies (sprinter and initiator) and Szoboszlai (sprinter and initiator).

In addition to the latter duo, who are among the Bundesliga's quickest players this term, come Leroy Sane and Timo Werner, who are both in the top 10 in that regard. Sane has been clocked at 35.9 km/h (22.30 mph), with Werner not far behind at 35.46 km/h (22.03 mph).

Furthermore, Joshua Kimmich, Benjamin Pavard and Dayot Upamecano make up the top three when it comes to pass efficiency (as a team, Bayern collectively come out top, with Leipzig in fourth). Szoboszlai is Leipzig's star in this regard, placing in seventh.

Watch: AWS analysis of Leipzig

That all no doubt contributes to the teams' defensive prowess. Bayern have the lowest number in terms of expected goals conceded (14.8), with Leipzig in third at 19.

Goals, jet-heeled players, elite passers and defensive specialists - both teams are masters of all trades, setting up a mouthwatering start to the 2023 calendar year. Stay tuned on Friday!