BERLIN — Bayern Munich swept aside RB Leipzig 5-1 on Friday to extend their lead at the top of the Bundesliga on a dark night in Germany following a deadly car attack at a Christmas market in the city of Magdeburg, in the east of the country.

Bayern Munich’s English striker Harry Kane (09) and Leipzig’s Austrian midfielder Christoph Baumgartner (14) compete for the ball during the German Bundesliga first division football match between FC Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig in Munich, southern Germany, December 20, 2024. PHOTO BY ALEXANDRA BEIER/AFP

Bayern are now seven points ahead of second-placed Bayer Leverkusen, who have the chance to reduce the gap to four points when they host Freiburg late on Saturday.

However, the mood was not celebratory after at least two people were killed and more than 60 injured when a vehicle plowed at high speed into a crowd of revelers in Magdeburg, leaving a trail of bloody carnage .

“It’s almost impossible to talk about football. The people of Magdeburg are in our thoughts tonight,” Bayern coach Vincent Kompany said in a press conference reduced to a brief statement.

“We won tonight, but I wish victories for peace next year.” The small ceremony that the Munich club traditionally offers its supporters before Christmas was cut short, reduced to a rendition of “Stille Nacht” (“Silent Night”), due to the events in Magdeburg.

A minute of silence was also observed at the Allianz Arena.

On the pitch, Jamal Musiala scored after just 30 seconds for Bayern. Musiala headed the ball from close range to Michael Olise’s cross after a sublime strike from Harry Kane, returning from injury, opened the door for Olise.

But Bayern’s lead only lasted a minute. Lois Openda’s pass left Kim Min-jae in his wake, and the Belgian sent a perfect low cross to Benjamin Sesko who scored for the first time.

Both teams took a break after an intense opening, but it didn’t take long for Bayern to regain the lead.

Konrad Laimer exchanged passes with the dangerous Olise, and the Austrian skillfully beat Peter Gulacsi in the Leipzig goal.