Both sides could be forgiven for a cagey start after the longest mid-season break in almost 30 years, and that’s exactly what fans at the Red Bull Arena were given.
Aside from Serge Gnabry’s deflected effort striking the post, chances came at a premium early on, with Bayern’s frustrated talisman Jamal Musiala forced into wide areas due to a lack of space.
The match finally sparked into life after half an hour, as Leon Goretzka nodded in at the back post, before a contentious offside decision eventually saw Leipzig reprieved.
But Gnabry’s pinpoint delivery was turned in at close range soon after by Choupo-Moting, who gladly accepted his 12th goal of the campaign in all competitions for a new personal record.
A rejuvenated Leipzig emerged after the break, and Halstenberg struck soon afterwards when Andre Silva’s cross was headed back across goal by Dominik Szoboszlai and poked home by Halstenberg.
Bayern’s appeals for a foul in the build-up fell on deaf ears, but the hosts asked serious questions of the officials minutes later, when Szoboszlai was cynically taken down by Dayot Upamecano, only for referee Daniel Siebert to brandish a yellow card.
Shared spoils means both teams retained their pre-match positions, with Nagelsmann’s side now five points clear at the Bundesliga summit, and still in good shape to clinch their 11th consecutive league title.
Intriguingly, that streak started when Leipzig were down in the German fourth division, and their own status as heavyweights continues to look safe, with second-placed Freiburg still within grasping distance of Marco Rose’s men.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Serge Gnabry (Bayern Munich)
