Bayern’s eight-in-a-row quest takes a step closer
Borussia Dortmund Bayern Munich 0 1
BAYERN Munich took a giant stride towards an eighth consecutive Bundesliga crown as Joshua Kimmich’s inspired chip settled a thrilling top-two tussle with Borussia Dortmund.
‘Der Klassiker’ was not only the biggest match since football resumed amid the coronavirus pandemic but the most important given the fight for supremacy in Germany.
Dortmund had the chance to move within a point of leaders Bayern last night, but Kimmich would open up an eye-watering seven-point gap over second as his magnificent chipped effort sealed a 1-0 win.
Defeat at an empty Signal Iduna Park was always going to be bigger for the hosts than it would have been for Hansi Flick’s visitors, who it would take a brave person to back against lifting the title at this stage of the season.
Erling Braut Haaland and
Serge Gnabry had efforts cleared off the line at either end during a first half as intense as it was entertaining, with Kimmich’s moment of magic just before the break ultimately proving the difference.
The Bayern midfielder’s outrageous chip caught out Roman Burki and Lucien Favre’s impressive side failed to respond on an evening when the video assistant referee somehow failed to intervene when Haaland’s strike hit Jerome Boateng’s arm.
The teenager would limp off injured to compound matters during a second half that would see Robert Lewandowski rattle the woodwork against his former club late on.
Dortmund had flown out of the blocks and Boateng had to thwart Haaland on the line less than a minute in after Manuel Neuer darted off his line, while Raphael Guerreiro saw an early goal ruled out for offside.
Lewandowski saw a shot hit the post via a slight Mats Hummels deflection as Bayern looked to rub salt into the wounds in the closing stages before the points were secured..