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.
LUIS DIAZ DECLARES BAYERN MOVE "RIGHT DECISION" AFTER SLAYING REAL MADRID
Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher react as Luis Diaz haunts Madrid. Is the €75m star the world's best winger?
Luis Diaz says he has no regrets about leaving Liverpool and feels he made the right call by signing with Bayern Munich last summer.
He landed in Bavaria for €75 million (about $87 million/£66 million), and honestly, he hit the ground running, scoring 23 goals and 18 assists already. He’s even chasing some European silverware after scoring the opener in Bayern’s Champions League quarterfinal first-leg win over Real Madrid on Tuesday.
The Bundesliga title looks just about wrapped up, too; Bayern’s nine points clear at the top, so Diaz will probably add a winners’ medal to his collection.
Everyone’s talking about Vincent Kompany’s team as one of Europe’s best, and with Liverpool struggling this season, it’s easy to see why Diaz feels moving to Germany was the right move.
“Coming to Bayern was absolutely the right decision for me. I’m really happy, and I enjoy every game,” Diaz told ESPN after Bayern’s 2-1 win at the Bernabeu. “I feel strong, and that’s helped me stay available to help the team.”
Diaz’s red-hot form even got Steven Gerrard talking about wanting him back at Anfield, and Jamie Carragher agrees Liverpool misses him.
He might actually play at Anfield again later this month, if both Bayern and Liverpool get through their Champions League quarterfinals. If Real and PSG go out, Bayern and Liverpool face off in the semis.
When asked about Bayern’s showing in Madrid, Diaz said, “We’re happy, but we feel like we could’ve scored another goal or two. We played a great match against a really tough opponent.
“We won the ball, moved it quickly, and executed our game plan. We’d already studied Real Madrid, and everything worked the way we expected.
“We felt comfortable, recovered the ball more, and controlled the match better. That’s exactly how we like to play.”
Diaz and Harry Kane both scored for Bayern, while Kylian Mbappe grabbed a late goal for Real to keep things interesting heading into the second leg.
Back at Liverpool, Diaz scored 41 goals in 148 games and picked up a Premier League title, the FA Cup, and two Carabao Cups. He made 36 appearances in the Reds’ 2024/25 title-winning season, and a lot of people feel Liverpool’s struggles this year are down to losing him.
WHY BAYERN MUNICH AND RAPHAEL GUERREIRO ARE PARTING WAYS THIS SUMMER
Bayern Munich and Raphael Guerreiro agree to part ways this June, ending a versatile three-year stint at Allianz Arena.
Bayern Munich announced on Monday that it and Raphael Guerreiro have agreed not to extend his contract. The 32-year-old will leave the Allianz Arena this coming June, ending a three-year stint that began with a free transfer from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2023.
The decision to part ways seems to be mutual, with both club and player aiming to finish the current season strong. During his time in Munich, the Portuguese international has been a dependable figure, contributing to Bayern’s Bundesliga title and the DFL-Supercup win. Now, attention turns to securing more silverware before Guerreiro’s departure.
Max Eberl, Bayern’s sporting director, praised Guerreiro’s role beyond the field, highlighting the defender’s professionalism and influence in the locker room, especially during times of change for the club. Eberl remarked, “We want to thank Rapha for the time we shared: he could always be counted on on the pitch, and people with his character enrich any dressing room. The conversations with him were good, based on trust and understanding. Now we are focusing together on our goals until the summer; together we want to achieve much more.”
Throughout his time at Bayern, Guerreiro has been valued for his versatility. Described as a ‘Swiss Army knife’ by the coaching staff, he has made 89 appearances, scored 12 goals, and provided eight assists. His flexibility has allowed him to perform as a traditional left-back, wing-back, and even in midfield. This season alone, he has featured in 23 matches across all competitions, starting nine times and scoring four goals.
On the international stage, Guerreiro remains an experienced and decorated professional. With 65 caps and four goals for Portugal, he played a significant part in their Euro 2016 victory and the first UEFA Nations League triumph in 2019. He also represented Portugal in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, underscoring his enduring presence at the highest level of the game.
Must Read
