Preview, form, team news and live broadcast details for Saturday’s big Bundesliga clash between Leipzig and Bayern
Saturday’s Bundesliga headline fixture pits RB Leipzig against reigning champions Bayern Munich at the Red Bull Arena.
Bayern arrive in blistering form, having set a record-breaking first half of the season and extended their league lead at the top, while Leipzig are challenging for Champions League qualification and eager to avenge a heavy defeat earlier this campaign.
The stakes are high on Matchday 18 as both sides seek momentum in the fight for honours.
How the teams go into the game: form
RB Leipzig enter the match sitting third in the Bundesliga, boasting a solid home record and a compact attack that has yielded multiple goals this season.
The hosts opened 2026 with a 2-0 win over Freiburg, getting back to winning ways following two straight 3-1 losses at the hands of Bayer Leverkusen and Union Berlin before the winter break.
Bayern Munich, by contrast, have been virtually unstoppable. They lead the Bundesliga by a wide margin, sitting 11 points ahead of second-placed Borussia Dortmund.
Vincent Kompany’s side remain unbeaten in the league with 15 victories in 17 games so far this season. They also boast both Bundesliga’s best attack with as many as 66 goals scored, as well as the league’s best defence with 13 goals conceded.
A comprehensive 8-1 victory over Wolfsburg on January 11 extended their momentum as they chase further silverware, emphasising both depth and firepower across the squad.
Meanwhile, their 3-1 win at Köln on Wednesday saw the Bavarians reach a historic milestone, as they matched the highest points total ever recorded at the halfway stage of a Bundesliga campaign.
The result was made even more remarkable by Bayern’s attacking output, with the league leaders having scored more goals after 17 matches than any team in German top-flight history at the same point of a season.
RB Leipzig vs Bayern Munich: Head-to-head
Historically, Bayern have enjoyed the upper hand in this fixture. In fact, Bayern Munich have lost just one of their last 15 league games against RB Leipzig, whose only victory over the Bavarian side since 2018 came back in 2023, when they won 3-1 on the road.
RB Leipzig vs Bayern Munich: Team news
RB Leipzig head into the weekend with one notable injury concern, as winger Johan Bakayoko continues to recover from a calf issue and is expected to miss out.
Bayern Munich, by contrast, are dealing with several notable absences. Jamal Musiala remains sidelined with a leg injury, while defensive options are limited due to injuries to Alphonso Davies and Josip Stanisic.
Midfield depth has also been affected, with Joshua Kimmich ruled out, leaving Bayern to adjust across several areas of the pitch.
RB Leipzig vs Bayern Munich: When and where to watch in US & UK
The Bundesliga clash between RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich kicks off on Saturday, January 17, at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig.
In the UK, the match starts at 16:30 GMT and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with streaming available via Sky Go and NOW.
In the United States, kick-off is scheduled at 11:30 ET / 8:30 PT, with coverage on ESPN and streaming through ESPN+, which holds the rights to Bundesliga matches.