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In their third meeting of the current 2025/26 cycle, RB Leipzig have once again found themselves FC Bayern Munich. Ole Werner’s RB have been dumped out of the DFB Pokal by the mighty German giants after suffering two heavily lopsided Bundesliga defeats. The fact that the scoreline wasn’t as brutal as the 0-6 and 1-5 losses suffered in the league will serve as little consolation for the eliminated side.
Bayern, meanwhile, are through to the DFB Pokal semi-finals for the first time since 2020; which also happens to be the last time they won the competition. Vincent Kompany’s FCB continue to steer a course back to German footballing dominance. One would surely place safe money on Bayern collecting multiple meaningful trophies for the first time since Hansi Flick’s team captured Bayern’s last Pokal.
Leipzig lose out on two close refereeing decisions
The German Red Bulls thought they had snatched the opener in the 4th-minute, but RB’s streaking Austrian attacker Christoph Baumgartner saw his goal disallowed due to a marginal offside decision. The Saxon guests had right to feel themselves hard done by in the 29th-minute as well. Werner’s team could have received a free-kick in a dangerous area when Josip Stanisic fouled Antonio Nusa just outside the box. Match official Daniel Siebert nevertheless allowed play to continue. The play was not VAR reviewable as the foul took place outside the penalty area.
Bayern play the marginally better first half
Both teams seemed reticent to take too many risks during a cagey opening 45. Bayern, though somewhat sloppy in their play out-of-the-back, were still able to create some legitimate scoring chances. Kane (11th, 18th, 45+6) had some near misses. Bayern’s Aleksandar Pavlovic (45+5) and Leipzig skipper David Raum (36th) stung the palms of goalkeepers Maarten Vandevoort and Manuel Neuer. Apart from these chances, there wasn’t much going on. The Bavarian hosts retained an edge in possession, but Leipzig defended strongly.
A bitter moment for Maarten Vandevoort
Most unfortunately for Leipzig’s “keeper of the future”, an otherwise strong match came crashing to a halt in the 62nd-minute. A scant four minutes after making a fabulous save on Serge Gnabry, Vandevoort ran into an onrushing Stanisic in the box. Vandevoort merely attempted to spread himself and ended up slipping into Stanisic unintentionally. The contact still felled Stanisic and merited a penalty. Kane easily converted the 64th-minute. Leipzig had struck the crossbar a few moments before the incident, but it mattered not as RB striker Romulu was offside anyway.
Diaz slams the door shut, again
Just as he did in Sunday’s league win, Bayern’s on-fire Colombian winger proceeded to put the game to bed quickly. Kane nearly set up the 2-0 two minutes after converting his penalty. Michael Olise failed to finish off Kane’s through-ball, but did successfully set up Diaz’s 2-0 in the 67th. The German record champions effectively tap-danced their way to the finish following the back-breaking second goal. The deflated guests laid off their challenges. Bayern players executed plenty of flicks and tricks in the acres of space they were accorded, but another goal would not come.
FC Bayern Munich Player Ratings
Manuel Neuer (5) – Alphonso Davies (4), Jonathan Tah (5), Dayot Upemecano (6), Josip Stanisic (6) – Aleksandar Pavlovic (6), Joshua Kimmich (6) – Luis Diaz (8), Serge Gnabry (6), Michael Olise (8) – Harry Kane (8)
Substitutes: Konrad Laimer (-), Jamal Musiala (-), Leon Goretzka (-), Hiroki Ito (-)
RB Leipzig Player Ratings
Maarten Vandevoort (7) – David Raum (6), Castello Lukeba (7), Willi Orban (6), Ridle Baku (4) – Christoph Baumgartner (6), Nicolas Seiwald (5), Xaver Schlager (6) – Antonio Nusa (6), Romulu (4), Yan Diomande (4)
Substitutes: Nicolas Seiwald (-), Conrad Harder (-), Brajan Gruda (-), Ezechiel Banzuzi (-), Tidiam Gomis (-), El Chadaille Bitshiabu (-)
GGFN Player of the Match: Michael Olise (8)
With the same player ratings (8), either Kane or Diaz could easily receive the MOTM honor. Olise squeezes past the two nearest competitors courtesy of the slick manner in which he played Diaz in on the decisive goal. Overall, the Frenchman was also Bayern’s most active and eye-catching attacker. The 24-year-old produced three shots and assisted on three more.
Olise racked up 81 touches during this top-notch performance and gave one the impression that something exciting could happen on at least half of them. Whilst sometimes trying to get far too fancy with his positioning and footwork, the London-native leant some much-needed flair to a contest that featured a lot of otherwise dull lulls.
