Classy Kimmich chips in to extend Bayern’s lead at top to seven points
Bayern Munich took a giant stride towards an eighth consecutive Bundesliga crown as Joshua Kimmich’s inspired chip settled a thrilling toptwo 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, but Kimmich would open up an eye-watering seven-point gap as his magnificent clipped 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, and it would take a brave person to back against Bayern now going on to lift the title.
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 in which Robert Lewandowski rattled the woodwork of 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’s early goal was ruled out for offside.
Lucien Favre’s side were looking as sharp as ever on the break and capable of punishing Bayern down the flanks, but the visitors kept their cool and began to exert pressure.
Lewandowski saw a hopeful effort denied and Thomas Muller just failed to connect with a clipped Kimmich pass, with Lukasz Piszczek producing an excellent goalline clearance when thwarting Gnabry.
Haaland was proving a handful but outstanding Alphonso Davies got back superbly to deny the teenager in a pulsating encounter.
But just as half-time approached, Dortmund goalkeeper Burki was left clawing helplessly when Kimmich showed impressive composure,
P Bayern 28 Dortmund 28
W D L 20 4 4 17 6 5
F A Pts 81 28 64 74 34 57
Results: Borussia Dortmund 0 Bayern Munich 1, Bayer Leverkusen L VFL Wolfsburg L, Eintracht Frankfurt L SC Freiburg L, Werder Bremen L Borussia Mönchengladbach L.
Today: RB Leipzig v Hertha Berlin (5.30), Augsburg v SC Paderborn, Fortuna Dusseldorf v Schalke, Hoffenheim v Cologne, Union Berlin v Mainz (all 7.30).
vision and skill in sending a glorious 20-yard chip into the top left-hand corner.
Frustration at failing to break down the visitors would turn to exasperation for Dortmund when the VAR did not 2 Dortmund’s goalkeeper Roman Burki fails to save a chipped shot by Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich (out of picture) during the clash between the Bundesliga’s top two. It was the only goal of the game. intervene after Boateng, lying on the deck, turned Haaland’s shot away from goal with his arm.
There was more irritation as theirprecociousteenagestriker limped off moments later when failing to connect with a dangerous cross from substitute Jadon Sancho.
Guerreiro fizzed a free-kick at Neuer and an offside Thorgan Hazard somehow turned, with Mahmoud Dahoud forcing a great save as the match edged towards a now inevitable conclusion.
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.