Bayern slip again in title race as Dortmund end long winless run against rivals
Borussia Dortmund ended an 11-game winless streak against Bayern Munich by beating their fierce rivals 2-1 at the Allianz Arena. The defeat leaves Bayern 13 points behind Bayer Leverkusen in the title race.
| Photo: Sandro Halank, Wikimedia Commons, CC-BY-SA 4.0 |
Bayern started the game on the front foot, but it was Dortmund who took the early lead when Karim Adeyemi scored out of nothing after 10 minutes. On the counter, Julian Brandt played a through ball to the Munich-born striker, who unleashed a shot that Sven Ulreich couldn't keep out despite getting a hand to it.
Harry Kane should have equalised midway through the first half when Joshua Kimmich's cross found him unmarked in a promising position in front of goal, but the striker uncharacteristically headed wide.
Later in the first half, Eric Dier missed a glorious chance with a close-range header, leaving Dortmund in the lead at the break.
Dortmund came close to making it 2-0 early in the second half, but Ulreich made a fine save to deny Felix Nmecha on 53 minutes. Five minutes later, Ulreich was needed again to stop Mats Hummels from doubling BVB's lead.
At the other end, Bayern tried to pile on the pressure and came close when Alexander Meyer made a fine save to keep out a shot from second-half substitute Kingsley Coman in the 75th minute.
But it wasn't to be for Thomas Tuchel's side, who conceded a second goal in the 83rd minute when Sebastien Haller found Julian Ryerson, who blasted the ball into the net, leaving Sven Ulreich with no chance.
Bayern thought they had pulled one back when Harry Kane headed home in the 89th minute, but on an evening when nothing seemed to go the Bavarians' way, the goal was ruled out for offside.
The result means that Bayern are now 13 points behind Bayer Leverkusen at the top of the table with just seven games left to play this season. Dortmund are fourth, three points ahead of RB Leipzig.