Harry Kane scored as Bayern Munich secured a 2-1 win at Freiburg on Saturday, extending their lead at the top of the Bundesliga to six points over second-placed Bayer Leverkusen, who squandered a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw at RB Leipzig.
Kane and English teammate Eric Dier combined to open the scoring in the 15th minute. Dier laid the ball off to Kane, who calmly drilled a low shot past Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu. The goal was Kane’s first from open play since mid-November and his 17th in 17 league appearances this season.
Bayern doubled their advantage in the 54th minute when Kim Min-jae outmuscled Atubolu to power home a Joshua Kimmich corner. Freiburg responded 22 minutes later when Matthias Ginter headed in a corner, making it 2-1, but Bayern held firm to secure the three points, bouncing back from their unexpected 3-0 Champions League defeat to Feyenoord on Wednesday.
With the win, Bayern extended their lead over defending champions Leverkusen, who are now six points adrift. Leverkusen were unable to hold onto a two-goal lead at Leipzig, ending their unbeaten league run since early November.
Florian Wirtz was the standout performer for Leverkusen, playing a key role in both of their goals. The Germany midfielder shrugged off two defenders before striking the post with a shot, allowing Patrik Schick to tap in the rebound and give Leverkusen the lead in the 18th minute.
Wirtz was also involved in the controversial second, winning the ball from Leipzig’s David Raum near the sideline, though replays suggested he had stepped on the defender’s leg in the process. Raum remained on the ground as Wirtz dribbled forward and cut back for Aleix Garcia, who calmly slotted home.
Leipzig responded five minutes later when Raum redeemed himself, scoring a stunning free kick that deflected off the crossbar to halve the deficit. With five minutes remaining, Leipzig equalized from another set piece: Xavi Simons sent in a curling free kick that Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba inadvertently turned into his own net.
In their first match since sacking coach Nuri Sahin, Borussia Dortmund also threw away a two-goal lead, drawing 2-2 at home against Werder Bremen, despite playing with 10 men for much of the match. Dortmund’s hopes took a blow when Nico Schlotterbeck was sent off in the 21st minute for a last-man foul.
Despite the setback, Dortmund struck first when Julian Brandt teed up Serhou Guirassy to head in his eighth league goal of the season in the 28th minute. Dortmund looked set to take control when Guirassy’s 51st-minute cross deflected off Bremen’s Marco Friedl into his own net, but Bremen responded with two quick goals to level the score. Leonardo Bittencourt hammered in a powerful strike from outside the box, and Marvin Ducksch capitalized on a lapse in concentration to score the equalizer.
Meanwhile, Mainz continued their impressive season with a 2-0 home win over Stuttgart, thanks to goals from Nelson Weiper and Anthony Caci. After fighting relegation last season, Mainz’s win lifted them to sixth place, just one point behind Stuttgart and Leipzig, keeping their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League alive.
A stoppage-time goal from Keven Schlotterbeck sealed a 2-1 victory for Augsburg over Heidenheim. In Saturday’s late game, Borussia Mönchengladbach will host bottom-placed Bochum.
