Mon Jan 06 16:50:00 UTC 2025: ## Bayern Munich Begin 2025 with 5-1 Win Over Leipzig, Set for Salzburg Test

**Salzburg, Austria** – FC Bayern Munich ended 2024 with a resounding 5-1 victory over RB Leipzig and kicked off 2025 with a pre-season friendly against RB Salzburg on Monday evening. The match, played at the Red Bull Arena, saw Eric Dier score the opening goal for Bayern.

The match served as a key test for Bayern ahead of their Bundesliga opener against Borussia Mönchengladbach this Saturday. Several key players were missing for Bayern due to injury or illness, including Jamal Musiala, Sven Ulreich, Joao Palhinha, Hiroki Ito, Sacha Boey, Manuel Neuer, Serge Gnabry, Josip Stanisic, and Tarek Buchmann. Thomas Müller started in Musiala’s place, while Daniel Peretz filled in for Neuer in goal.

RB Salzburg, currently fifth in the Austrian league, are under new management following the departure of Pep Lijnders before Christmas. New coach Thomas Letsch expressed excitement about the match, stating that while it’s a friendly, they aim to learn valuable lessons for the spring season. He also noted that his last win as a coach was against Bayern.

The game saw a strong performance from Bayern despite the absences, setting a positive tone for their return to Bundesliga action. The match is likely to offer an opportunity for players recovering from injury, such as Manuel Neuer and Kingsley Coman, to build match fitness before their crucial league opener.

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