TITLE RACE OVER? BAYERN MUNICH OPEN 11-POINT LEAD AFTER 3-2 DER KLASSIKER WIN
Harry Kane’s double and a late Joshua Kimmich volley secured a 3-2 win for Bayern Munich over Dortmund in a wild Der Klassiker.
Bayern Munich kept their foot on the gas in the Bundesliga title race with a wild 3–2 win over Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park on Saturday. That’s now an 11-point gap at the top; it's hard to see anyone catching them at this point.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing. Bayern had to come from behind, but Harry Kane did what he does best, scoring twice. Joshua Kimmich chipped in with a beauty, too. That’s five straight wins for Bayern, and honestly, the title looks all but theirs unless they completely implode.
Here’s how it all went down:
First half
The match kicked off at a frantic pace, but it took about 15 minutes before anyone threatened. Michael Olise was the first to test Dortmund, cutting in from the right and whipping a shot toward the bottom corner. Gregor Kobel got down well to keep it out.
Nico Schlotterbeck had a nervous moment after a reckless studs-up challenge on Josip Stanisic, earning himself a yellow card. Not long after, though, he made up for it. Schlotterbeck flicked a header from a free-kick into the bottom corner, putting Dortmund ahead and reminding everyone why so many top clubs are after him, Liverpool included.
Karim Adeyemi looked sharp, setting up Maxi Beier for a dangerous chance, but Jonas Urbig was quick off his line and shut it down.
Second half
Right after halftime, Serge Gnabry tried his luck from a distance but blasted over.
Adeyemi kept causing problems, slipping a clever ball to Felix Nmecha. Nmecha sliced Bayern open with a pass to Daniel Svensson, who looked certain to score, but Jonathan Tah threw himself in the way and blocked it.
Then came Harry Kane. Gnabry worked some magic in the box and squared it to Kane, who finished from close range; he doesn’t miss those.
Dortmund nearly answered right back, but Beier couldn’t quite poke the ball home in a scramble.
At 68 minutes, Schlotterbeck caught Stanišić in the box. It looked soft, but there was enough contact for the ref to point to the spot. Kane stepped up and buried it for his 30th Bundesliga goal and 45th in all comps for Bayern this season. Just ridiculous numbers.
The game kept swinging end to end. Bayern wanted to kill it off. Luis Díaz made space and let fly, but his shot missed the target.
Dortmund’s manager, Niko Kovac, went for broke with some attacking subs. It paid off; Daniel Svensson volleyed in the equaliser in the 82nd minute.
That should’ve rattled Bayern, and Dortmund had chances to take the lead, but Serhou Guirassy dragged his shot wide after a nice cross from Julian Brandt.
Then, just as the game looked set for a draw, Joshua Kimmich stepped up and smashed in a left-footed volley. The away end erupted. Bayern, once again, found a way.
MATTHAUS WARNS KOMPANY: DO NOT CHANGE ATTACKING STYLE DESPITE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE EXIT
Bayern have secured the Bundesliga! Read why Matthaus wants more "spectacular football" despite the 6-5 aggregate loss to PSG.
Lothar Matthaus has called on Vincent Kompany to continue with his attacking style, despite Bayern Munich's exit from the Champions League at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain. The German legend feels Bayern’s entertaining approach shouldn’t be altered even though their defence showed vulnerabilities during the 6-5 aggregate loss in the semi-finals.
After conceding six goals over two legs, Bayern’s Champions League run came to an end. While the defeat exposed defensive issues, it also highlighted the offensive strategy Kompany has brought to the team. These defensive struggles aren’t limited to Europe either; high-scoring Bundesliga matches, like the 4-3 win over Mainz and the 3-3 draw with Heidenheim, have revealed a back line that’s still trying to find the right balance between taking risks and maintaining solidity.
Matthaus, who once captained Bayern, stresses that the club should stick with Kompany’s attacking mindset, even if it leaves them open at the back. He pointed out, “With such an attacking style of play, you can't defend everything, of course. Yes, they've conceded quite a few goals, but they’re still having a successful season and are close to winning the double. They’ve even made it to the Champions League semi-finals.”
The return of excitement at the Allianz Arena was clear, especially during the second leg when Ousmane Dembele’s early goal stunned the crowd. Although Harry Kane’s late equaliser wasn’t enough to turn the tie around, Matthaus sees positives in the bigger picture. He believes Bayern has brought back the thrill and flair fans expect.
“While Bayern didn’t play their best in the semi-final second leg against PSG, they have entertained throughout the year. I look forward to their matches because they’re usually packed with goals. Bayern stands for spectacular football, and this season has been no different. I wouldn’t move away from that style,” Matthaus shared.
With the focus shifting back to domestic competitions, Bayern have already secured the Bundesliga championship. They still have two league games left against Wolfsburg and Koln before preparing for the DFB-Pokal final against Stuttgart on May 23.
BAYERN MUNICH RULE OUT MARCUS RASHFORD MOVE REGARDLESS OF ANTHONY GORDON OUTCOME
Marcus Rashford is not a target for Bayern Munich this summer, as the club focuses entirely on signing Gordon from Newcastle.
Bayern Munich aren’t considering a move for Marcus Rashford this summer, no matter what happens with Anthony Gordon. That’s according to a German reporter who’s close to the story.
Right now, Rashford is wrapping up his loan at Barcelona. He’s set to return to Manchester United at the end of the season. Barcelona have an option to make the deal permanent for €30 million (£26 million) in the summer. Both Rashford and Barcelona want him to stay, but here’s the catch: the club doesn’t want to pay the full €30 million.
Barcelona would rather keep Rashford on loan for another year or get him for a lower fee. Manchester United’s not having it. They want the full price, so Barcelona are starting to look at other players.
Rashford hasn’t made a secret of where he wants to be. Earlier in the season, he told Sport, one of the local Barcelona papers, about how much he wants to stay, saying, “Of course, what I want is to stay at Barca. It’s the ultimate goal.” He talked about the pressure and expectations at the club, saying they keep him motivated and that he feels like he’s in the perfect environment to grow and win trophies. For now, though, it’s all up in the air until next summer.
Last year, Bayern Munich actually showed some interest in Rashford before he went to Barcelona. But now, they’re focused on signing Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United for the left wing. The problem is, Gordon’s interested, but Newcastle’s price is ridiculous, reportedly around £80 million (€92.6 million). That’s much higher than what Bayern’s willing to pay. They’re thinking closer to £60 million (€69.4 million), and maybe with add-ons or an instalment plan. If Newcastle won’t budge, it probably isn’t happening.
Christian Falk, a trusted journalist from Bild, says Bayern aren’t considering Rashford as a backup if they can’t land Gordon. Bayern’s got a short list of players for the left wing, and Rashford isn’t on it. Gordon’s their main focus, but even if that deal falls through, Rashford’s not the next in line.
So at this stage, Bayern and Rashford won’t be coming together this summer, even if Gordon stays at Newcastle. That’s just not in the plans.
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