Roman Bürki cannot stop Joshua Kimmich’s chip sailing into the net to give Bayern Munich a crucial victory over Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga title race.
Photograph: Federico Gambarini/AP
Joshua Kimmich’s sublime chip gave Bayern Munich a 1-0 win at second-placed Borussia Dortmund in Der Klassiker as the Bundesliga leaders put one hand on the title. Kimmich’s perfectly weighted effort left Roman Bürki stranded in the 43rd minute as the champions landed a big win at an empty stadium that normally seats 80,000 fans.
Bayern are now unbeaten in 13 league matches in their quest for a record-extending eighth straight league crown and are seven points clear at the top with six games to play. RB Leipzig, who face Hertha Berlin on Wednesday, are third a further three points behind Dortmund.
The Bundesliga became the first major league to restart 10 days ago after a break of more than two months because of the Covid-19 pandemic, with games played without supporters to reduce the risk of infection.
It all started well for Dortmund, who were on a six-game winning streak in the league at the start, when Erling Braut Haaland almost scored for the hosts in the opening seconds. Jérôme Boateng had to clear the ball off the line.
The visitors gradually found their footing and had their own effort cleared off the line when Lukasz Piszczek denied Serge Gnabry from close range. In a fluid and entertaining first half 19-year-old Haaland should have done better when he was sent through in the 33rd minute, but Alphonso Davies stole the ball away.
It was Kimmich’s delightful effort that settled the game when he spotted Bürki off his line and chipped the ball from the edge of the penalty area over the keeper. Bayern stayed in control after the break and an injury meant Dortmund lost Haaland, who earlier had another effort deflected wide by Boateng’s elbow, with 18 minutes left.
Dortmund’s Mo Dahoud tried his luck from outside the boxpenalty area but Manuel Neuer, on his 400th league appearance, managed to preserve his clean sheet and Robert Lewandowski came close to giving Bayern a second goal, hitting a post in the 83rd minute.
