Bayern Munich extended their lead at the top of the Bundesliga to nine points on Saturday with a dramatic 4-3 win over Holstein Kiel.
Bayern seemed to have the game under control, leading 4-0 with Harry Kane scoring twice. However, Kiel mounted a late comeback, with Finn Porath pulling one back before Steven Skrzybski’s stoppage-time brace threatened to secure an unlikely point for the visitors. The full-time whistle brought a collective sigh of relief at the Allianz Arena.
“We’re not happy about winning 4-3,” said Jamal Musiala, who opened the scoring for Bayern. “We need to maintain the mentality to work for 90 minutes and avoid conceding goals.”
Bayern head coach Vincent Kompany shared his frustration with how the game ended. “It was a pretty complete performance until the 80th minute,” Kompany said. “But we were up against a team fighting for every moment. We started the second half well, but how we finished is something we need to review with the players.”
With Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern’s closest title rivals, set to play Hoffenheim on Sunday, Kompany’s side seized the opportunity to create some distance between themselves and the defending champions.
The Bavarians took the lead in the 19th minute with a brilliant team goal. A quick series of passes between Joshua Kimmich, Michael Olise, and Musiala ended with Musiala slotting home his 10th league goal of the season.
Kiel came close to going into halftime just one goal behind, but in the dying moments of stoppage time, Bayern struck again. Kingsley Coman beat his man on the left wing and crossed perfectly for Kane, who made no mistake from close range. Kane added another early in the second half, heading in a pinpoint cross from Raphael Guerreiro for his 55th Bundesliga goal in just 50 appearances, setting yet another league record.
Serge Gnabry, who replaced Olise at halftime, also got on the scoresheet, controlling a high ball with his right foot and volleying in with his left.
Kiel’s Porath responded with a stunning strike, which looked like a mere consolation, even after five minutes of added time. But then Skrzybski’s late brace created nervous moments for Bayern, who just about held on to secure the win.
Dortmund narrow win before Kovac’s arrival
Borussia Dortmund picked up a hard-fought 2-1 victory at struggling Heidenheim in their final game before Niko Kovac takes charge, following the sacking of coach Nuri Sahin.
Dortmund took the lead when Heidenheim failed to clear a corner, allowing Serhou Guirassy to score from close range. The Guinean striker, who netted a brace in the Champions League against Shakhtar Donetsk earlier in the week, added his fifth goal in his last four games.
Heidenheim, without a win in their last 14 league matches and sitting in the relegation play-off spot, kept the game tight until the 63rd minute. A low cross from Ramy Bensebaini found substitute Max Beier, who calmly finished to double Dortmund’s lead.
Dortmund made things difficult for themselves, conceding just 18 seconds after the restart when Frans Kraetzig’s cross was converted by Mathias Honsak to halve the deficit. Despite late pressure from Heidenheim, Dortmund held on for their first league win since December 22, ending a four-game winless streak in the Bundesliga.
Elsewhere in the Bundesliga
Borussia Mönchengladbach came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory at Stuttgart. Gladbach took the lead through Nathan N’Goumou’s powerful strike, but a Nico Elvedi own goal leveled the score. However, a slick counter-attack in the final minutes saw Lukas Ullrich set up Tim Kleindienst for the winner.
Freiburg earned a 1-0 win at bottom-placed Bochum, with Kiliann Sildillia scoring his first Bundesliga goal by nodding in a corner.
In a late drama, St. Pauli were denied a win when Augsburg’s Mert Komur struck late to salvage a 1-1 draw.
AFP
