BEVERLY HILLS, November 07, (THEWILL) – Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich landed the first significant blow in this season’s Bundesliga title race as they rallied to beat Borussia Dortmund 3-2 away in Der Klassiker.
Last season’s champions were tied for points with opponents Dortmund heading into the weekend but forged a three-point gap – two clear of Saturday’s early second-placed winners RB Leipzig – despite initially trailing to an effort from midfielder Marco Reus.
Central defensive midfielder Joshua Kimmich succumbed to injury with the game still goalless yet Bayern took the game away from BVB in clinical fashion either side of half-time at the Signal Iduna Park.
Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski nearly opened the scoring within 41 seconds of the start. Instead, his powerful shot lashed into the side-netting. Not so long after, Roman Burki, in goal for Dortmund, made an excellent two-handed save from Bayern’s midfielder Leon Goretzka’s close-range header.
Dortmund’s impressive Norwegian forward Erling Haaland ran onto winger Giovanni Reyna’s pass but his attempt at a delicate finish flashed across the face of goal. That profligacy appeared to have been punished with Lewandowski’s second attempt, only for a VAR review to highlight a marginal offside.
After Kimmich hobbled off, hurt in a lunge on Haaland, Reus hit Dortmund’s 45th-minute opener. The German turned a smart effort past Manuel Neuer at the near post from Raphael Guerreiro’s cutback.
However, there was still time for Bayern to restore parity before the break. A set-piece routine allowed defender David Alaba to shoot from 20 yards and earn a decisive deflection off Thomas Meunier.
In less than three minutes of the second half, Bayern took the lead. Lewandowski stooped to meet Lucas Hernandez’s cross and angled his header inside the right-hand post. That same section of the goal frame denied French left winger Kingsley Coman a quick third soon after.
Ex-Schalke winger Sane arrowed in a fine low strike into the net on the counter to seemingly settle matters in the 80th minute, but Haaland kept Hansi Flick’s side on their toes as he stayed onside to round Neuer and lash into the net, a feat Reus could not repeat when he thundered his volley over.
That would prove Dortmund’s last big chance, though another VAR review robbed Lewandowski of a stoppage-time second.
This was the sides’ third meeting in 2020 and the third that has gone to the wire. Kimmich struck the winning goals in the league in May and the DFL-Supercup in September, but Bayern got the job done in his absence in Saturday, claiming a seventh win in eight against BVB in the Bundesliga.
Lewandowski did not get his goal until the second period, but that was his 13th in his past eight Bundesliga games against BVB. An assist for Sane’s third was just as crucial.
Although Haaland made the scoresheet with a lone goal, he had the opportunities for more than one. Indeed, while a Lewandowski goal appeared inevitable, Dortmund’s main man repeatedly made the wrong call in promising positions.
The international break provides some respite after this breathless affair. Dortmund are then at Hertha Berlin in a fortnight, while Bayern host Werder Bremen.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
