European football: Bayern beat Leipzig 5-1 as Reijnders delivers Christmas win

Bayern Munich stamped their authority on the Bundesliga by hammering fourth-placed RB Leipzig 5-1 in a game that featured two goals in the opening two minutes for the first time in the league’s history.

Having lost their first league match of the season to Mainz last week, Bayern delivered a commanding performance against a Leipzig side who struggled to build any attacking momentum.

Bayern top the standings on 36 points, seven clear of Bayer Leverkusen, who play Freiburg on Saturday. Eintracht Frankfurt are third on 27, ahead of Leipzig on goal difference. It is the 26th time Bayern have topped the table at Christmas, having won the title in 23 of the 25 previous occasions they did so.

The game had a remarkable start when Harry Kane’s neat back-heel sent Michael Olise clear and he crossed for red-hot Jamal Musiala to tuck in after 28 seconds. Leipzig hit back almost immediately as Loïs Openda escaped down the right and his cross was swept home by Benjamin Sesko.

Bayern dominated the rest of the game and got their second in the 25th minute as former Leipzig man Konrad Laimer scored his first Bayern goal, side-footing in a volley from a clever Olise cross. Joshua Kimmich smashed home a trademark long-range shot after 36 minutes to give the hosts a deserved 3-1 half-time lead, as Leipzig failed to muster another effort on goal.

The visitors showed a bit more attacking intent in the second half without looking dangerous as Bayern continued to create chances. Olise curled just wide, Kane hit a powerful shot too close to goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi and Leroy Sané shot wide, before Sané latched on to a through ball by Alphonso Davies to slot in the fourth after 75 minutes. Two minutes later Davies headed home the fifth from a perfect Kimmich cross.

A miserable night for Leipzig was completed when Benjamin Henrichs sustained a serious-looking injury in the final minute, collapsing to the turf away from play, and looked in real distress as he was carried off the pitch on a stretcher. Kane looked rusty after missing two games with a hamstring injury but played 87 minutes to help Bayern get back on track after a rocky run.

Milan won 1-0 at Hellas Verona as Tijjani Reijnders’ second-half strike proved decisive in a keenly contested Serie A clash.

The visitors scored in the 56th minute as Reijnders made a well-timed run to evade the defence before expertly guiding a first-time shot into the top corner.

Milan suffered another injury blow when forward Rafael Leão was forced off in the first half due to what looked like a thigh problem.

Goals from David López, Abel Ruiz and Arnaut Danjuma secured Girona a 3-0 La Liga home win over relegation-threatened Real Valladolid, ending their six-game winless run across all competitions.

The hosts dominated proceedings and took the lead just past the half-hour mark when Miguel Gutiérrez’s free-kick deflected off López and into the top corner of the net. Ruíz doubled the advantage with a close-range header from a Gutiérrez cross in the 39th minute before the substitute Danjuma netted a first-time effort nine minutes from time.

Girona moved up to eighth place with 25 points. Valladolid remained second-bottom on 12 points, four adrift of the safety zone.