In-form Bayern out to 'boss' Leipzig in Bundesliga showdown

After getting a mid-week "wake-up call" in the German Cup, Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich are relishing the chance to prove their might in a top-of-the-table clash at home to RB Leipzig on Sunday.

Bayern's sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic insists the defending champions want to show nearest rivals Leipzig "who is the boss" at Munich's Allianz Area.

Salihamidzic said the hosts are embracing "the role of favourites", adding that Leipzig had been "weakened a bit" by poor results.

Bayern swept to the top of the table last weekend for the first time since October and have won their last eight games.

However, Hoffenheim found plenty of space to attack in Wednesday's German Cup third-round tie as Bayern conceded two goals in the final 10 minutes as a comfortable 4-1 lead became a nervy 4-3 victory.

"Perhaps it's quite good to realise before the Leipzig game, that things won't simply work of their own accord," admitted Bayern midfielder Joshua Kimmich.

Head coach Hansi Flick called the narrow win a "wake-up call".

Leipzig, who spent more than a month over Christmas top of the table, have had cold water poured on their title aspirations in recent weeks.

A shock 2-0 loss at Eintracht Frankfurt a fortnight ago cost them a four-point lead. Then Bayern went a point ahead at the top after Leipzig's 2-2 draw at home to Borussia Moenchengladbach last Saturday.

Another loss at Frankfurt in mid-week, when top-scoring striker Timo Werner and playmaker Emil Forsberg both started on the bench, saw Leipzig dumped them out of the German Cup.

"Leipzig will want to show a reaction," Kimmich said.

Sunday's clash will also see the league's leading scorer Robert Lewandowski, who has 22 goals in 20 games, go head-to-head with his nearest rival Werner, who is on 20. Before Bayern and Leipzig slug it out, third-placed Borussia Dortmund could go top on Saturday with a win at Bayer Leverkusen.

Erling Braut Haaland, 19, has a record eight goals in his first four games for Dortmund, who were knocked out of the German Cup in midweek when they went down 3-2 at Werder Bremen.

Sports director Michael Zorc slammed the team for playing "listlessly, comfortably and slowly".

Haaland has yet to play a full 90 minutes for Dortmund as he works his way back to full fitness after a knee injury in December.

One to watch: Thomas Mueller ============================
Key facts
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Fixtures (all times 1430 GMT unless stated)
Friday
Eintracht Frankfurt v Augsburg (1930)
Saturday
Wolfsburg v Fortuna Duesseldorf, Werder Bremen v Union Berlin, Hertha Berlin v Mainz, Freiburg v Hoffenheim, Schalke v Paderborn, Bayer Leverkusen v Borussia Dortmund (1730)
Sunday