Good evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's huge Bundesliga clash between title rivals Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig at the Allianz Arena! Pick your own Christmas-related cliche for this game because it fulfils them all - a Christmas cracker and a battle for Christmas number one between the top two teams in the division. It promises to be a very intriguing affair as the godfathers of German football take on the young upstarts, but before we get into all that let's first have a look at the team news...

BAYERN MUNICH STARTING XI: Neuer; Lahm, Martinez, Hummels, Alaba; Vidal, Alonso, Thiago; Robben, Lewandowski, Costa

BAYERN MUNICH SUBS: Ulreich, Ribery, Rafinha, Bernat, Muller, Kimmich, Sanches

RB LEIPZIG STARTING XI: Gulacsi; Bernardo, Ilsanker, Orban, Halstenberg; Demme, Keita, Sabitzer, Forsberg; Poulsen, Werner

What can we make of those two sides, then? Well, let's first have a look at that Bayern side, which is as star-studded as ever tonight. There are a couple of notable changes to the starting XI from Carlo Ancelotti as Philipp Lahm and Arjen Robben both return having missed the weekend win over Darmstadt, which means that Rafinha and Muller must make do with a place on the bench. It is a hugely impressive bench, though, with the likes of Ribery, Kimmich and Sanches all among the subs too.

The strength of that bench should give some idea of how strong Bayern's starting XI is too, and that comes right from the back with Manuel Neuer, as ever, in between the sticks for the champions. The German has been widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in world football for years now and is a big reason why Bayern boast such an impressive defensive record this season.

In front of him, it is a very experienced back four with the likes of Lahm, Martinez, Hummels and Alaba protecting Neuer, and Martinez in particular is looking to maintain a personal run tonight having not been on the losing side in a Bundesliga game in 2016 so far. Hummels has quickly established himself as a regular starter following his return to the club from Borussia Dortmund, while Alaba is one of a number Bayern players who can lay claim to be amongst the best in the world in their position.

Further forward, it is an unchanged midfield trio for Bayern as Arturo Vidal, who hasn't also made the starting XI this season, retains his place alongside Xabi Alonso and the in-form Thiago Alcantara. It is a midfield which has creativity in abundance as well as the bite that Vidal provides, although the Chilean has recently been linked with a move to Chelsea at the end of the season. Even so, with Kimmich and Sanches coming through, there is no shortage of quality in the middle of the park.

Robert Lewandowski leads the line again tonight having scored 11 goals in 14 Bundesliga games so far this season, and if he finds the back of the net again this evening then he would become the only active player to have scored against all 18 of the current Bundesliga teams. He should get plenty of chances with Robben and Costa on either flank too, while the wingers are more than capable of weighing in with goals themselves - just as Costa did to hand Bayern a 1-0 win over Darmstadt at the weekend.

As for Leipzig, they are able to name an unchanged side for this evening's match from the one that earned a 2-0 win over Hertha Berlin on Saturday. There had been doubts over Keita and Halstenberg in the build-up to the game, but both have been passed fit to play and manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has resisted the temptation to make any changes despite the quick turnaround for his side.

That means that Poulsen and Werner continue up front for the visitors, with the latter being able to boast that he is the top-scoring German striker in the division this season with nine goals. He was on the scoresheet during the weekend victory over Hertha, as was captain Orban who once again starts at the heart of the defence this evening.

Fans of English football may recognise a couple of names from this Leipzig side, although they won't be used to seeing them in a title-chasing scenario. Goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi was once on the books at Liverpool, but never managed to break into the first team at Anfield and spent most of his time in England out on loan. Oliver Burke, meanwhile, made headlines in the summer when he switched to Leipzig from Nottingham Forest for big money, but he has been on the bench more often than not this season and is once again among the subs tonight.

In terms of household names, then, this one doesn't look like a contest on paper. The league table tells a different story, though, and that is what makes this contest such an intriguing affair. Bayern have been the undisputed kings of German football down the years - and particular so in recent seasons - but this is perhaps the first chance we will really get to see whether Leipzig are the real deal as challengers. It could be an historic occasion for the Bundesliga.

Bayern Munich are still heavy favourites to lift the title once again this season, and sure enough they lead the way heading into tonight's match, but it isn't that often in recent years that they have been run so close over the first half of the campaign. Bayern themselves have not been quite as dominant so far under Carlo Ancelotti as they were under Pep Guardiola, but they have still only lost one league game all season and simply need to avoid defeat tonight to occupy top spot on Christmas Day.

Saying Bayern haven't been quite as dominant also requires an asterisk next to it as they are still top of pretty much every statistic that matters in the Bundesliga. In addition to having the joint most points, they also boast the best goal difference, which is what currently separates them from RB Leipzig. No team has scored more than them this season, with their tally of 35 being the same as Dortmund but coming in one game fewer, while they have conceded just nine goals in their 15 outings - the best defensive record in Europe's top five leagues.

As you might expect, they come into tonight's match in fine form too having won their last five games in all competitions - already the third separate occasion that they have gone on a five-game winning run this season. This latest run did come off the back of consecutive defeats, though, something which hadn't happened to Bayern since May 2015 before this season. In the Bundesliga they have lost just one of their last 25 outings - a run which stretches back to March 2.

Since the start of March they have won 19 of those 25 league games, with their only defeat coming at the hands of Dortmund in November. Indeed, Dortmund are the only team against whom Bayern have failed to score in the league since February, so at the very least you'd expect them to find the back of the net tonight. Considering they have also kept clean sheets in their last three games, going almost six hours without conceding, that is likely to be a recipe for victory too.

At home, Bayern are unbeaten in their last 21 games across all competitions stretching back to the start of March, when they were beaten 2-1 by Mainz. That is their only loss at the Allianz Arena in 2016 though, and have have to go back 39 home games before you find their next defeat prior to that. They have won 18 and drawn three since that loss in March, including 10 victories from 12 home outings so far this season.

Unsurprisingly, tonight's hosts boast the best home record in the Bundesliga this season, amassing 20 points from a possible 24 from their eight games. They are one of only six remaining unbeaten teams at home in the league and have scored the most goals (23) and conceded the joint-fewest (4) in front of their own fans this term. This is their final match of 2016, with the winter break meaning that their next outing will not be until January 20, so they will want to sign off on a high.

They may not have anticipated their final match of the year being such an important one, though, with RB Leipzig having taken German football - and indeed world football - by surprise with their meteoric rise. They know that they arrive at the Allianz Arena in the dangerous position of being underdogs with nothing to lose, but also with the confidence that they might be able to get something out of the game. A victory would be the greatest result in the club's history without a doubt.

Having said that, RB Leipzig's history does not exactly go back very far. This is just their eighth year in existence, with Red Bull having purchased an unknown amatuer club called SSV Markranstadt in 2009 with the objective of getting to the Bundesliga from the fifth tier in the space of eight years. They needed just seven to get the job done, flying through the divisions and continuing their remarkable ascent this term.

Leipzig's rise has come to the chagrin of a lot of German football fans, with the club often cited as the most hated in the country due to their lack of history. Even so, it is impossible to overlook what they have achieved so far. The rise up the lower leagues may have been expected with such an injection of money, but very few were expecting them to adapt to the Bundesliga so quickly. They have the best record of any promoted side at this stage of a season ever and are just one more victory away from being top until at least January 20.

The rise of Leipzig is not over yet, though, and the Champions League is suddenly a very realistic ambition for the club to reach within eight years of being founded. Overall, 15 clubs in Bundesliga history have amassed 36 points after 15 games of a season before, and 12 of those have gone on to win the title. Two of them have finished second, which would by no means be a poor outcome for Leipzig, while one has finished fourth. Even if Leipzig match that worst ever display from this position, they will be in the Champions League next season.

Leipzig have actually been more impressive in the Bundesliga this season than they were in the second tier last term. They only finished second in the 2. Bundesliga to win promotion to the top flight, coming five points behind champions Freiburg. That makes their form over the first half of this season even more remarkable, and they have not fluked their way to this position either. Only Bayern have conceded fewer than tonight's visitors, while only Bayern and Dortmund have scored more.

They come into the game in superb form too having won nine of their last 10 league outings. Leipzig only fell to their first defeat of the campaign 11 days ago when Ingolstadt got one over on their former manager with a 1-0 victory, before which they actually led Bayern at the top of the table. They began the campaign with a 13-game unbeaten run, and importantly bounced straight back to winning ways following that Ingolstadt loss with victory over Champions League-chasing Hertha Berlin last time out.

That defeat to Ingolstadt was their most recent away game, and tonight they are looking to avoid back-to-back defeats on the road for the first time since March, but they will be confident of doing so having registered the best away record in the division this season. No team has scored more goals away from home, while they have picked up one more point than Bayern on their travels too. Indeed, they have won four of their last five away games, which is the same number as they had managed in their previous 12 before that. To put that improvement in context, they have won as many away games in the last two months as they had in the previous 10 months, and at a higher level too.

PREDICTION: Right, we're 10 minutes away from kickoff at the Allianz Arena, which means that it is time for a prediction! This is such an interesting clash and I can't wait to see how Leipzig cope with this ultimate test of their credentials. There is no bigger challenge in German football than playing Bayern Munich away and, although Leipzig have that good away form, I just can't look past the difference in quality on either teamsheet. I'm going for a 2-0 home victory.

Unsurprisingly, considering the youth of RB Leipzig as a club, this will be the first ever meeting between these two sides, which adds another layer of intrigue. It really is the old masters up against the new pretenders tonight, and Leipzig will be desperate to show that they are the real deal and here to stay.

That old masters vs. young pretenders aspect goes further than just the history of these two clubs, though, with Leipzig having made their run to the upper echelons of the table with the youngest average age in the division. Bayern, in contrast, have the oldest average age from their teams, so it is very much experience against youthful exuberance tonight.

Bayern have a sensational record against promoted sides, winning each of their last 25 outings against teams who have come up the previous season. That run stretches back to August 2010, when they were beaten 2-0 by Kaiserslautern, but it is fair to say that they have never come up against a promoted side like Leipzig. They have broken all sorts of records for a promoted team, and if they were to also end that Bayern run then it would be the perfect end to a dream year for the club.

Right, we're almost ready to go here! The players are on their way out for this enticing clash between Germany's top two. Incidentally, Leipzig manager Ralph Hasenhuttl will be overseeing his 50th Bundesliga match as a manager tonight having previously helped Ingolstadt stay in the division last season.

Before we get started tonight we will have a minute of silence in tribute those who lost their lives in the Berlin terrorist attack.

KICKOFF: Here we go then! Leipzig get us underway for this historic clash at the top of the Bundesliga!

Robben is already unhappy with the referee having been brought down on the right wing, only for the officials not to award a free kick. He can go down easily at times, but that had to be a free kick.

CHANCE! A chance within four minutes for Leipzig to take the lead! There is a slight luck of the bounce as the ball breaks down the right channel, and Werner is immediately on to it. He reaches the ball and plays it right across the face of goal, but Poulsen is just short of turning it in. An early let-off for Bayern!

This has been a good start from the visitors, and they break into the Bayern box again here. This time the hosts are just about able to shepherd the ball to safety, but it is Leipzig who are the brighter team in these opening stages.

Bayern haven't been able to conjure anything of note up in this one so far, with Leipzig holding firm. Lewandowski comes down the right flank here, but his attempted cross is blocked.

Bayern are just beginning to take a bit more control of the possession now, but that won't necessarily worry Leipzig too much as they have the pace of Werner on the counter-attack.

Thiago gets his head to a corner at the front post, but his flick on drops to no-one at the back stick and Leipzig are eventually able to clear it away.

Robben tries a trademark cut inside onto his left foot, but instead of going for goal this time he tries to float a cross to the back post. No red shirts are coming in, though, and the ball goes out for a goal kick.

CLOSE! Brilliant from Costa as he suddenly sparks into life and weaves between two defenders before reaching the byline and drilling a low ball into the middle. Gulacsi can't hold on and the loose ball almost drops at the feet of Robben and Lewandowski, but Halstenberg is there to make a vital clearance.

The pressure is really beginning to grow from Bayern now, and Leipzig need some scramble defence to deal with the latest break forward. Robben races down the right but is forced to turn back on himself before laying the ball off to Lahm. His cross eventually falls to Vidal, but his shot is well blocked by Keita.

First blood goes to Bayern! Lahm and Robben combine down the right flank to get in behind the defence before the former's low cross is met by Lewandowski. The Pole's strike crashes off the post, but the ball rebounds straight at Thiago, who is able to bundle it home.

OFF THE POST! Almost two goals in as many minutes for Bayern! They play their way through Leipzig again and this time the ball arrives to Costa in space on the left side of the area, but his powerful strike cannons off the outside of the near post.

SAVE! Leipzig try to fight back from this recent spell of Bayern pressure as Demme goes for goal, but his low drive is easy for Neuer to gather.

At 1-0, Leipzig are certainly not out of this game, but after a slow start Bayern are beginning to flex their muscles a bit now. They look dangerous every time they come forward with the likes of Robben and Costa.

This is too easy for Bayern as they are gifted a goal from Leipzig to double their lead! Orban takes his time over a pass out from the back, and when he eventually gives it to Keita Vidal is immediately on the Leipzig midfielder. That forces a mistake and Lewandowski pounces on a loose pass, with Leipzig's defence out of position. The striker finds Thiago, who in turn rolls it through to Alonso on the right side of the area, and the midfielder places his finish into the bottom corner.

It is already getting hard to see a way back for Leipzig in this one. They started the match so brightly and you thought they may just catch Bayern by surprise, but the hosts have dominated for the last 20 minutes or so.

CHANCE! The visitors haven't given up just yet, though! Orban is left completely unmarked at the neat post from a corner and he plants a firm header towards goal that forces Neuer into a smart save to his left.

Things are going from bad to worse for Leipzig here! Bayern are breaking forward on another counter-attack through Lahm, but the skipper is halted in his tracks by a shocking challenge from behind by Forsberg. His studs go right into his Achilles, and he is immediately up strutting away and looking proud of the tackle. The Bayern players are incense and a scuffle ensues before the ref has a word with his assistant and opts for the red card having previously been poised to show yellow. Forsberg is still smiling as he walks off, but he has surely cost his side any chance of getting back into this one now.

Leipzig are losing their heads a bit at the moment. They have been so impressive all season, but when it has come to the biggest test of all they have been found badly lacking in the opening half an hour.

Keita is fortunate not to go in the book here for another poor challenge as he collides with Hummels in mid-air having not really gone for the ball at all.

I said after the second goal that it was hard to see a way back into this for Leipzig, but surely it is impossible now. To come from two behind against Bayern is a huge ask at any time, yet alone with 10 men for an hour.

In fairness to the visitors, they are still looking to get forward whenever possible when they do have the ball, and they have at least seemed to calm down and settle themselves now. It has surely come too late, though.

Leipzig come forward through Werner down the right flank and he flashes a cross into the box that is just too far behind Sabitzer for the midfielder to do anything with.

We have less than five minutes left of the first half now, and it will be interesting what both managers say at half time. For Leipzig it may be damage limitation, while Bayern could send out a statement here.

SHOT! Lewandowski has been fairly quiet tonight but he goes for goal here with a low strike from just outside the box that skims wide of the target.

Bayern get their third before half time as a thoroughly miserable opening 45 minutes gets even worse for Leipzig. Hummels pings a ball over the top which Costa races on to, and Gulacsi's hesitation allows the Brazilian to get there first. There is slight contact between the keeper and Costa, and the referee points to the spot but shows leniency in not sending Gulacsi off as it was a genuine attempt for the ball. Lewandowski steps up to the spot kick and sends the keeper the wrong way to make it 3-0.

Well, the big question was just how Leipzig would cope with the biggest test in German football after a dream first half of the season. The answer, it seems, it not very well at all. The visitors started well enough but they have been second best for the vast majority of the game so far and are now in damage limitation mode, trailing the champions by three goals and with a man disadvantage.

The opening goal arrived from Bayern after just 17 minutes when Robben and Lahm combined down the right before the latter played a low ball into the middle for Lewandowski. The striker got in front of the defender and sent his effort against the post, but the ball bounced to Thiagi, who bundled it home on the rebound. It was almost two in two minutes when Douglas Costa also hit the upright moments later, but Bayern would not have to wait too much longer for a second goal.

Indeed, Bayern's second arrived just eight minutes later when a Orban's pass left Keita under big pressure and Bayern immediately pounced on the loose ball. Lewandowski and Thiago combined to find Alonso on the overlap down the right channel, and the midfielder placed his finish into the bottom far corner - his first ever Bayern Munich goal for inside the area.

Any hopes of Leipzig pulling off a memorable comeback were well and truly put to bed when the visitors were reduced to 10 men on the half-hour mark, with Emil Forsberg being shown a straight red card for a horror challenge from behind on Lahm. The referee initially looked set to book the midfielder, but after a word with his assistant the colour changed to red, and Forsberg could have no complaints.

Bayern's third goal arrived right on the stroke of half time when Costa raced clean through on goal after a ball over the top from Hummels. Gulacsi hesitated due to Costa's pace and eventually caught the winger when going for the ball inside the box, and the referee had no option but to point to the spot. Lewandowski stepped up and coolly sent the keeper the wrong way to surely wrap up all three points before half time.

KICKOFF: Bayern Munich get us back underway for the second half here, and the first thing to tell you is that the visitors have made a change at the break. Dominik Kaiser replaces Keita, who is presumably rested with this game beyond Leipzig having been a doubt in the build-up to this match. Bayern have also made a change, with Franck Ribery replacing Robben.

Almost an early chance for the hosts as Thiago lifts a cross into the box which Lewandowski rises to meet, but he can't get a good connection on it and his header bounces off a defender and behind for a corner.

This promises to be a long half for these Leipzig players. It is tiring enough chasing the ball when Bayern have possession with a full complement of players, but with 10 it must be exhausting. Those legs will be tiring as the match goes on.

CHANCE! It should be 4-0! Bayern suddenly up the tempo and a reverse pass from Costa sends Lewandowski clean through on goal. He has only the keeper to beat, but Gulacsi stands up big and makes the save. Ribery is not happy as a square pass would have left him with a tap-in, but you can't blame Lewandowski for going for goal.

SHOT! Ambitious effort from Costa as he hangs back around 25 yards from goal as everyone waits for Thiago to deliver a cross into the box. Instead he floats it straight to the winger, who doesn't catch his volley particularly well as it bounces wide.

YELLOW CARD! Vidal goes into the book for Bayern after leading with his arm when going up for a header with Poulsen.

CLOSE! Almost a goal back for the visitors as a free kick is only cleared as far as Sabitzer, who does well to take it down and get a shot away just outside the area. His effort takes a deflection off Martinez on the way through, but the ball bounces a couple of yards wide.

YELLOW CARD! Sabitzer is the latest player in the book for a pull on Thiago.

LEIPZIG SUB: A second change for the visitors as Davie Selke replaces Werner.

Bayern are just in complete control of this game at the moment. They have had almost 70% of the possession and are just patiently probing for a way through. There is no pressure on them with the game already won.

Bayern are just knocking the ball about at their own pace here. Both sets of players know that the hosts will be going three points clear at the top of the table, and the intensity of the game as suffered a little as a result.

CHANCE! Another big chance for Lewandowski, but once again he gets just a bit too close to the keeper! It is a lovely one-two with Ribery that sends the striker into the box, but he hesitates with his shot before looking to chip it over the keeper, who gets a crucial touch with his head to send it over the bar.

BAYERN MUNICH SUB: Bayern make their second change of the evening as Juan Bernat replaces Alaba.

Just over 20 minutes of this match left for Leipzig to endure here. In fairness they have done pretty well to keep the score down since being reduced to 10 men.

SAVE! Thiago looks for his second of the evening, this time from range, but Gulacsi is across to hold on to the ball.

Bayern come flooding forward with some lovely passing again, but still Leipzig hold firm in this second half. Despite Bayern's dominance, they are yet to find a breakthrough since the interval - although Lewandowski has missed a couple of very good chances.

BAYERN MUNICH SUB: A third and final change from the hosts sees a smiling Vidal depart to be replaced by Joshua Kimmich.

This second half has been a bit of a non-event in truth, but I'm sure Bayern will not mind at all. This was expected to be a real test for the hosts as well as the visitors, but Bayern have passed it with flying colours.

CHANCE! Decent chance for Bayern to get that elusive fourth goal, and again it is Costa who creates it. Now on the right, he reaches the byline before firing a low cross into the box that eventually reaches Bernat. He takes a touch before drilling his effort towards goal, but Poulsen makes an important block before Gulacsi gathers.

CHANCE! Another half-chance for the hosts as Lewandowski slides a pass into the area for Ribery, but he can't get any power on his finish and Gulacsi is down to collect it.

RB LEIPZIG SUB: The visitors make their final change of the match and it is former Nottingham Forest man Oliver Burke who comes on in place of Sabitzer.

Free kick to Bayern Munich is a very promising position...

SAVE! Costa goes for it and sends a powerful curling right towards the top corner, but it is on the goalkeeper's side and Gulacsi makes the save.

OFF THE BAR! Bayern won't get any closer than this to getting a fourth! Ribery skips past his man on the left side of the area and drills and powerful strike that beats Gulacsi, but it crashes against the underside of the bar before bouncing down on the line and out!

SAVE! Moments later the ball is lifted into the box and Kimmich glances his header into the arms of the keeper.

CHANCE! Brilliant defending from Leipzig as they somehow continue to keep the score down! Lewandowski is released in through the left channel and bides his time before laying the ball back to Bernat. However, Ilsanker throws himself in the way of the ball when it looked like a certain goal and it deflects over the top.

Hummels is the latest to go for goal during this late siege, but this time it is easy for Gulacsi.

Another half-chance for the hosts as Lewandowski rises highest at the back post to win a header, but it is easy for the keeper once again.

The referee opts to put Leipzig out of their misery with no stoppage time as Bayern go three points clear at the top of the table. The game was over as a contest by half time between the top two here, with goals from Thiago, Xabi Alonso and Robert Lewandowski seeing the kings of German football past the young pretenders. Leipzig were forced to play an hour with just 10 men and, in truth, never looked like troubling their hosts after the first goal went in.

Right, that is all we have time for this evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's match as Bayern Munich go into the winter break with a three-point lead over RB Leipzig courtesy of this 3-0 win. I will leave you with our match report, and wishes for a very Merry Christmas! From me, though, it is goodbye for now!