Bayern Munich extend Bundesliga lead with victory in Der Klassiker

Der Klassiker was held behind closed doors for the first-time ever but it did not fail to impress, with Joshua Kimmich’s goal being the only difference between the two sides.

Borussia Dortmund had the first chance of the game in the opening minute, Julian Brandt trying to find Thorgan Hazard and forcing Manuel Neuer rushed out and clear. The ball fell to Erling Haaland with the Norwegians shot cleared off the line by Jerome Boateng.

Dortmund stayed on the front foot and a curled shot by Brandt was caught by Neuer in the Bayern goal.

Bayern had their first dangerous chance in the 19th minute. Kingsley Coman would find his way into the box and squared the ball through to Serge Gnabry, the former Arsenal players shot cleared off the line by Lukasz Piszczek.

Coman would then have a chance of his own but only managed to sting the gloves of Roman Burki.

With six minutes to go in the first-half of Der Klassiker, Achraf Hakimi headed the ball away only as far as Leon Goretzka and the player volleyed the ball goalwards but Burki punched the ball away.

In the 43rd minute, Bayern broke the deadlock. With Dortmund unable to clear the ball away, Joshua Kimmich saw Burki off his line and chipped the Dortmund goalkeeper to put Bayern ahead.

The first chance of the second half came for the Yellow and Blacks. Mahmoud Dahoud would skip beyond Kimmich and rifle a shot goalwards but, it was a simple save for the ever-assured Neuer in the end.

Bayern Munich looked to pile on the pressure with Goretzka’s shot forcing a good save from Burki.

Haaland had a chance to score when Jerome Boateng’s slipped in the area. A lovely ball from Emre Can switched possession of the ball to Hazard, who in turn would slip in Haaland, the strikers shot going out for a corner off a mixture of Boateng’s arm and back.

Dortmund looked to have a great chance of scoring as the game entered it’s final ten minute. Can would find some space and cross the ball into Hazard with the winger’s shot going wide with the goal gaping, replays showing the attacker was offside anyway.

Dahoud found a chance for himself when on the edge of the box and fired the ball towards Neuer with the goalkeeper doing well to palm it away.

Robert Lewandowski found some space on the edge of the area in the 83rd minute the shot from the Polishmen rattled back off the post.

It wasn’t to be for Dortmund as Bayern extended their lead at the top of the Bundesliga to seven points.

Team Lineups

Borussia Dortmund XI- Burki, Akanji, Hummels, Piszczek (Gotze 80′), Guerreiro, Dahoud (Witsel 85′), Delaney (Can 46′), Hakimi, Brandt (Sancho 46′), Hazard, Haaland (Reyna 72′).

Bayern Munich XI- Neuer, Davies, Alaba, Boateng (Hernandez 85′), Pavard, Goretzka, Kimmich, Gnabry (Martinez 87′), Muller, Coman (Perisic 73′) Lewandowski.