The Asian Age

Boss Bayern dump Dortmund

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Berlin, May 27: Joshua Kimmich described his winning goal as “brutally important” after Bayern Munich took a huge step towards an eighth straight Bundesliga title with a 1-0 win at Borussia Dortmund to leave them seven points clear at the top with just six games left.

Kimmich’s brilliant effort came just before half-time behind closed doors at Signal Iduna Park as hosts Dortmund missed the chance to turn up the heat on the Bavarians without the backing of their huge support.

“It was brutally important: I looked around to see if everyone understood how important it was,” Kimmich said of his deft chip.

Kimmich’s captain Manuel Neuer echoed the defensive midfielder’s thoughts.

“That was a very important sign,” said Neuer.

Bayern won 4-0 when the teams met in Munich in November and they kept up their excellent recent record against secondplac­ed Dortmund.

“Now only Bayern can decide what happens,” said frustrated Dortmund captain Mats Hummels.

“Sometimes, games are decided by brilliant

moments and that was the case today,” Mats added.

Dortmund’s star teenage striker, Erling Braut Haaland, who had scored ten goals in as many

It was brutally important: I looked around to see if everyone understood how important it was. league games, failed to make an impact against Bayern’s watertight defence before going off injured in the second half.

Jerome Boateng and David Alaba gave him no room, while Kimmich and Leon Goretzka in midfield made sure passes intended for him rarely met their mark.

Things might have been different, with Haaland coming close inside the first minute with an attempt that went through the legs of Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer but was kicked off the line by Boateng.

 ?? — AFP ?? Serge Gnabry (left) of Bayern Munich and Dortmund’s Achraf Hakimi vie for the ball during their German first division Bundesliga football match in Dortmund, Western Germany, on Tuesday. Bayern won 1-0.
— AFP Serge Gnabry (left) of Bayern Munich and Dortmund’s Achraf Hakimi vie for the ball during their German first division Bundesliga football match in Dortmund, Western Germany, on Tuesday. Bayern won 1-0.

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