Bundesliga:
It is now four wins in four against Borussia Dortmund in Germany’s biggest rivalry for Bayern Munich. Manuel Neuer was tested numerous times in the Bayern goal, but ultimately they were more ruthless than their hosts, taking a 3-2 win back to Bavaria. This means Hansi Flick’s incredible win rate as Bayern manager continues, as he now has an unbelievable 46 wins after half a century of games at the helm.
Marco Reus re-joined Erling Haaland and Jadon Sancho in the Dortmund attack this week, with Lucien Farve choosing to leave Julien Brandt and Thorgan Hazard on the bench after a 3-0 win in the Champions League against Brugge.
Meanwhile, Bayern were fresh from a 6-2 demolition of RB Salzburg, in which they scored 4 goals in the last 11 minutes. Straight away, BVB looked to get in behind Bayern right-back Bouna Sarr, with Gio Reyna finding himself in lots of space on numerous occasions. But it was Bayern who created the first clear cut chances, and powerful midfielder Leon Goretzka called Roman Burki into action with a point-blank header, which the Swiss keeper was equal to.
Robert Lewandowski turned in a Serge Gnabry cross midway through the first half, but the Pole was adjudged to be just offside by VAR. Dortmund legend Reus scored the first goal of the game at the stroke of half-time, finishing a slick move down the left, converting Rafa Guerreiro’s cutback. But the lead lasted just 4 minutes, as David Alaba scored from a set-piece routine deep into first-half added time, after a painful injury suffered by Joshua Kimmich.
With the sides level at the break, the game was waiting for either of the two world-class number nines to make their mark, and Erling Haaland came ever so close just after the battle continued. But who other than Robert Lewandowski? The lethal striker got ahead of the Dortmund defence to guide home a teasing Lucas Hernandez cross with a skilful header – Burki had no chance to keep it out. Kingsley Coman hit the post from the edge of the box moments later, though pressure was mounting on the Bayern goal.
With ten minutes to play, Leroy Sane had entered the fray and on the end of a dangerous looking Bayern counter. He cut inside on his left foot to hit a stinging shot into the far corner. 3-1 to Flick’s side and with a two-goal lead, the game looked dead and buried, but Dortmund were not done yet. Haaland had not enjoyed his best day in front of goal, but he latched onto another clever Guerreiro ball before rounding a resolute Manuel Neuer.
He calmly finished before the retreating Alaba could clear, and suddenly a draw looked possible. Ever the creator, Guerreiro had one more great cross in his locker, but Marco Rues could not turn home an equaliser in the 87th minute. In the dying embers of the game, Lewandowski thought he had another goal, but was a couple of yards offside when converting the rebound from Gnabry’s shot. Bayern now sit two points clear atop the Bundesliga going into the international break.
Elsewhere:
There was plenty of reason to celebrate in the German capital today, as both Berlin sides recorded incredibly impressive wins. Hertha had endured a tough start to the season, but there were clear signs this weekend that their bumpy start has come to an end. They were 3-0 victors away at Augsburg who were barely adrift of the top 4 before the start of the game-week.
Their East Berlin rivals Union put the sword to newly-promoted Arminia, winning 5-0 in a ruthless display. Arminia have now gone 5 games without picking up a point and sit just above the relegation zone.
RB Leipzig saw an upturn in fortunes this week, with success in both the Champions League and Europe. They capitalised on a lacklustre PSG display to beat the French Champions 2-1, before beating Freiburg 3-0 on Saturday.
However, a winner could not be picked in the other three games, as Mainz and Schalke drew 2-2 in a bottom of the table clash. Frankfurt came back from a two-goal deficit to rescue a point away at Stuttgart, and a late Leonardo Bittencourt penalty meant Werder grabbed a 1-1 draw against Köln.