Bundesliga
FC Bayern humiliates BVB
Harry Kane (r.) contributed three goals to Bayern’s 4-0 victory over BVB
© Bernd Thissen / DPA
After just a few minutes, FC Bayern was leading 2-0 in the top game at Borussia Dortmund. BVB improved in the second half, but in the end it was still clear.
Thomas Tuchel hugged his grinning Bayern professionals, record striker Harry Kane immediately grabbed the match ball: With another demonstration of power in the German classic, FC Bayern got rid of their frustration at Borussia Dortmund. Three days after the embarrassing cup exit, the record champions won 4-0 (2-0) on Saturday evening. Despite all the assurances, BVB once again did not present itself on an equal footing – and, seven points behind league leaders Bayer Leverkusen, has lost touch with the top for the time being.
“I think that was our best game this season,” said three-goal scorer Kane on ESPN. “It’s getting better and better from game to game. It was good that we didn’t have much time to think and had to focus on this game straight away.” Captain Manuel Neuer said on Sky: “We showed ourselves from the right side.”
Naturally, there was a different atmosphere at BVB. “I had the feeling that Bayern were simply more aggressive in the duels,” said BVB goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. “They were more dangerous. Why? Hard to say.” Dortmund should have “held up more against it,” he added. “The better team won, clearly.”
Kane scored three goals (9th minute/72nd/90th+3) for Bayern, who were scolded after the 1-2 defeat at third division club 1. FC Saarbrücken, and Dayot Upamecano (4th) took the lead – it was Bayern’s tenth victory in the last eleven competitive duels with Westphalia. Kane became the first Bundesliga player to score 15 goals in his first ten games. BVB’s last win against FCB was almost exactly five years ago.
FC Bayern Munich reacts
Just like seven months ago, when the Munich team showed a strong reaction with a 4-2 win against Dortmund after parting ways with Julian Nagelsmann, this time it was once again an immensely important victory. Tuchel’s team remains on Leverkusen’s heels in second place, two points behind.
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As is so often the case when Bayern were under pressure, they revealed their entire class. All the explosiveness of this duel, all the pressure that was on the guests, seemed to be gone early in the game. After just 183 seconds, Bayern’s central defender Upamecano easily headed a corner taken by Leroy Sané into the goal. National defender Nico Schlotterbeck and the strong goalkeeper Kobel later in the game, who stayed on the line, refused to defend themselves.
Sané runs away from Hummels
Upamecano only returned to Munich training this week. Just six minutes later, Bayern’s new goalgetter Kane also experienced his special sense of achievement in this special duel. The 100 million euro man pushed a Sané preparatory work over the line for his first goal. In the running duel, Sané (27) sprinted away from Mats Hummels, who was seven years older than him, in front of Nagelsmann, who has now been appointed national coach.
The criticism of Tuchel, who was placed on leave as cup winning coach in Dortmund in 2017, suddenly seemed forgotten for the fact that he apparently did not take Bayern any further than Nagelsmann. The discussions about Bayern’s personnel problems, which started the season with a very small squad, also seemed to be forgotten. Upamecano and Leon Goretzka (with a splint on his arm) were fit again in time and were able to replace the suspended Joshua Kimmich and Matthijs de Ligt, who had a knee injury.
Borussia Dortmund is fighting back
Given the excellent Bayern bench in Dortmund, including Serge Gnabry, Thomas Müller and Mathys Tel, the discussions of the past few days and weeks resembled a sham debate anyway. Dortmund fought their way back into the game after the 2-0 defeat, but clear qualitative differences in favor of the Bayern players were unmistakable. It wasn’t until stoppage time in the first half that BVB had their first chance to score through Donyell Malen.
Anyone who had hoped for a reaction from Westphalia after the break was bitterly disappointed. Even with ex-Bayern professional Niklas Süle coming on as a substitute, the BVB defense invited Bayern to great opportunities. At least coach Edin Terzic’s team tried everything they could until the end. Once again it wasn’t enough in the duel with Bayern.
In the 72nd minute, English international striker Kane finally decided the game with his 14th goal of the season and caused unbridled celebration by the entire Munich squad on the pitch, an indication of the huge pressure Bayern were under. The star striker’s next goal made the evening even more bitter for BVB.