Also because of a mistake that is not to be expected in a top Bundesliga game, Dortmund loses to FC Bayern – and their record holder Harry Kane.
FC Bayern Munich kept in touch with Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen with a confident 4-0 (2-0) win at Borussia Dortmund. Two early goals from Dayot Upamecano (4th) and Harry Kane (9th) were enough to keep BVB at bay.
Kane (72′, 90’+3) added two more goals and scored his 15th goal in just his tenth Bundesliga game – that’s a record. He also overtook previous leader Serhou Guirassy from VfB Stuttgart in the top scorer list.
Bayern with Goretzka and Upamecano
Leverkusen increased the pressure on Saturday afternoon with a 3-2 win at TSG Hoffenheim. Bayern’s gap to the league leaders would have increased to five points if they had lost in Dortmund, and BVB would have overtaken them.
It was all the more important for Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel that he was able to use the recently injured Leon Goretzka and Dayot Upamecano again. They came into play for the suspended Joshua Kimmich and the injured Matthijs de Ligt. The central defender injured his knee during Bayern’s cup disgrace in Saarbrücken.
Upamecano punishes Dortmund’s passivity
Dortmund started the game with a defensive error that was hardly to be expected in a Bundesliga top game. After a corner from Leroy Sané, Nico Schlotterbeck allowed his opponent Upamecano to head the ball centrally in the six-yard box. Goalkeeper Kobel stayed on the line despite being so close to the action, and Upamecano scored easily.
When they conceded their second goal just five minutes later, Dortmund were able to counterattack: Goretzka sent Sané, who easily ran past Mats Hummels on his left side and laid it across the goal. Kane scored at the second post.
If there had been a certain amount of uncertainty among the Bayern players after the cup defeat, this was now a thing of the past. Although Dortmund got into the game better after the big false start, Bayern remained stable and more dangerous. It wasn’t until stoppage time in the first half that BVB had their first big chance, Donyell Malen shooting just over the left corner of the goal.
Lots of chances in the second half
The second half began like the first with Dortmund mistakes and Munich great chances. The difference: This time Jamal Musiala and Noussair Mazraoui missed the big opportunities.
After almost an hour, Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer had to intervene for the first time: Dortmund’s Marco Reus finished on the turn in the 16′, Neuer made a strong save. BVB goalkeeper Kobel also reacted strongly several times in the second half.
Kane raises after a pass from Coman
Last season, Dortmund turned a 2-0 deficit against Bayern into a 2-2 draw in the final stages, but this time they failed to catch up. On the contrary: a simple one-two passed the Dortmund defense, Kingsley Coman passed across to Kane, who was free to choose the corner in front of the goal.
In stoppage time, substitute Niklas Süle Kane scored the fourth goal. Musiala intercepted Süle’s bad pass and passed it through to the Englishman, who ran freely towards Kobel and hit the ball precisely into the left corner.
Bayern against Heidenheim, BVB in Stuttgart
Both teams will be in the Champions League in just a few days. Dortmund welcomes Newcastle United on Tuesday at 6:45 p.m. and Bayern welcomes Galatasaray on Wednesday at 9:00 p.m.
In the Bundesliga, BVB plays VfB Stuttgart on Saturday at 3:30 p.m., while FC Bayern welcomes 1. FC Heidenheim at the same time.