Mighty Munich along with sparkling Luis Díaz serve up a clear signal to German league's chasing pack.

During the weekend fixtures turned into evening, Bayern Munich demonstrated their present dominance as Big Bad Bayern, practically invincible and stimulated into peak form by proper competition, as demonstrated in the subsequent game at emerging Eintracht Frankfurt.

Top German League Clash

Even if Borussia Dortmund's match with Leipzig had the stature of a pivotal game in the early part of the German league campaign, with top contenders clashing, anticipations were relatively conservative in the German state.

Whether it was Dortmund's manager referencing his one-time Bayern manager the Italian legend ("if victory isn't possible, you can't lose," he reflected at the final whistle) or his opposite number the visiting manager talking of his "still developing" side, it appeared as though a 1-1 draw was fair, leaving both parties partially sated, moderately annoyed.

Traditional Rivalry

Here we have a game that matters, and has always mattered since their Bundesliga entry. These opposing sides are polar opposites in outlook and what they believe they stand for.

While the German league is now accustomed to Leipzig – as opposed to having totally welcomed the club ideologically – there is a special level of animosity that meets RB when they visit their home ground.

Advertising Wars

The day before large displays in the city center showed two portions of fries, one plain and one with tomato and mayonnaise (for the traditional hues of RB), accompanied by the message "Yellow alone doesn't make you happy," with the pun of gelb rather than money joking about the perception of Leipzig as a corporate creation.

The advertisements were signed "competitive salutations, The Red Bulls." Despite the passage of time RB know they will never be viewed as authentic by large sections of league followers, so have opted to knowingly embrace the villain arc; a comparable marketing effort was employed in Munich ahead of their opening day visit there, playfully mentioning "at last a straightforward club colors" being in town after certain supporters' criticisms about the champions' latest kit.

Matchday Key Moments

These two teams are competing for the same sort of level only adds to the tension, despite it is not the motivation behind it. The champion's strong start has only accentuated this perception, and seeing the Colombian winger surpass even their top scorer this weekend, with his comeback displays overcoming the continued absence of their creative midfielder, this weekend has been a demonstration of the reality of the current hierarchy.

Leipzig started brightly and caught BVB cold with a practiced set-piece, finished by the Austrian midfielder but created by specialist trainer the set-piece specialist, released from his role with Dortmund's youth team in the previous season.

Looking a bit leggy from their European commitments the Dortmund drew level through an aesthetically pleasing goal of their own, with Yan Couto completing the move and though "victory was possible for either" in the scorer's opinion, the draw felt about right.

After the Game Analysis

Was there a statement waiting to be made here, there was nobody with a loud enough voice to completely achieve it. Their defender commented on his squad's improvement under the manager, stating that his side had dug in and "played like real men, an area needing improvement to some extent last year," but it all seemed like modest progress in the right direction instead of issuing any challenge.

"We rank among the top sides in the league," the player stated and there is hard to argue with that at present, but there is also the impression that it may not suffice this year in terms of mounting a serious challenge at the top.

Managerial Questions

This encounter possibly demonstrated exactly why BVB are so improved under the tutelage of their manager, but also why there may be definite boundaries to what they can attain with him at the wheel. They overcame their weariness and the visitors' dominant periods and, in the latter stages of the game, indicated that they could be ready to step forth and win the game, especially thanks to the timely introductions of their new signing and Jobe Bellingham.

Yet, was the conviction to turn increased tempo into a win, or merely optimism that it would? Kovac's Dortmund can be formidable, but there is a question over whether they possess championship quality. As the Swiss international commented, the away game against the champions after the fixture hiatus will provide many answers.

Wider Context

Whether they or the visitors are title material is a distinct matter. After several years of internal and external instability, perhaps Dortmund need a campaign of consistent results, of managing development of gradual improvement; the latter aim also being that of Leipzig.

Concerning these organizations that view themselves as polar opposites, they spent this weekend providing an excellent demonstration of being in the same boat.

Standings