Alaba and Arjen Robben saw Bayern Munich come
from behind to beat RB Leipzig 5-4 in a pulsating
match at the Red Bull Arena.
Leipzig looked to have the match sewn up as they
led 4-2 in the 84th minute, but Robert
Lewandowski pulled one back to set up a
grandstand finish before Alaba and
Robben produced moments of real quality to seal a
remarkable turnaround.
Alaba's 91st-minute free-kick was added to by a
sublime individual effort from Robben in the last
minute of added time, completing an astounding
comeback and a display worthy of champions.
Despite their late collapse, Leipzig clinched second
position as Borussia Dortmund were held to a 1-1
draw at Augsburg and can set a Bundesliga record
points tally for a promoted club with victory at
Eintracht Frankfurt next weekend.
Marcel Sabitzer opened the scoring after just 65
seconds but Lewandowski levelled from the
penalty spot with his 150th goal in Germany's top
flight.
A spot-kick from Timo Werner and a deflected
Yussuf Poulsen effort put Leipzig two goals clear
shortly after half-time, but Thiago Alcantara's
header reduced the deficit.
Werner capitalised on shoddy defending from
Philipp Lahm and Jerome Boateng to seemingly put
the result beyond doubt, but Lewandowski headed
home his 30th Bundesliga goal of the season with
six minutes of normal time remaining.
Alaba and Robben then stunned the home crowd to
spark scenes of jubilation among the Bayern
players, who were whistled as they rightly
celebrated long past the game's conclusion.
The match was explosive from the start and
Leipzig took just over a minute to open the scoring,
Emil Forsberg surging down the left and picking
out Sabitzer to powerfully head beyond Tom Starke.
Werner rattled the base of the post but Ralph
Hasenhuttl's side by no means had it all their own
way and a handball decision when Lahm's cross
struck Bernardo resulted in a penalty that
Lewandowski sent beyond Peter Gulacsi.
The match continued in an end-to-end fashion
with Starke denying Sabitzer and Bernardo before
Alonso's trip on the quick-footed Forsberg
conceded a spot-kick that Werner drilled into the
bottom-left corner.
Franck Ribery took a blow to the ribs and had to be
replaced by Douglas Costa before half-time and
Bayern found themselves further behind within two
minutes of the restart, Forsberg teeing up Poulsen
whose scuffed shot was deflected past Starke by a
touch off Alonso.
Lewandowski spurned a great chance to reduce the
deficit but Thiago did not fail in the 60th minute,
heading home unmarked at the back post after
Alonso nodded Lahm's delivery across goal.
Werner punished Lahm's loss of possession and
Boateng's weak challenge by slotting between the
legs of Starke from a tight angle, but Leipzig would
again surrender their advantage - this time in
decisive fashion.
Lewandowski turned a square pass from Lahm
onto the outside of the post before getting his
second by heading into a vacant net after Robben's
deflected strike crashed down off the bar.
Naby Keita's foul on Lewandowski was capitalised
upon by Alaba with a sweet free-kick from 25
yards to level, and there was more drama at the
death.
Released by substitute Thomas Muller, Robben
raced away down the right before beating Stefan
Ilsanker and Marvin Compper to get into the box
and finish past Gulacsi in the 95th minute to cap a
breathless finale.
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