Harry Kane scored
the go-ahead goal to help Bayern Munich to a 3-1 comeback home win over
Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday, keeping hot on the heels of leaders
Bayern Leverkusen, who won 2-0 at Darmstadt.
Bayern stay just two points behind
Xabi Alonso's unbeaten side, with the two facing off next Saturday
in Leverkusen. "The big game is coming. We wanted to show our fans
something," Leverkusen midfielder Granit
Xhaka said after the match.
But
while Leverkusen secured a comfortable win at
last-placed Darmstadt thanks to a brace from Nigeria winger Nathan
Tella, Bayern were once again bailed out by Kane,
who now has 24 goals in 20 league games this season.
Gladbach travelled to Munich boasting
a brilliant recent record against the perennial German champions,
with Bayern winning just one of their past six matches. Bayern
conceded early after a horror pass from Manuel Neuer allowed Gladbach to
waltz through the penalty box, with Nico Elvedi tapping in
from close range.
Bayern youth
product Aleksandar Pavlovic drew the home side level just
before half-time when he slid through the Gladbach defence and
drilled in the equaliser. Gladbach were courageous against an
injury-hit Munich side who have lacked confidence and
fluency since the winter break.
Kane however stepped up with
20 minutes remaining, heading in after a mistake from
Gladbach 'keeper Moritz Nicolas. Kane's 24th league goal of the season
keeps him on track for the all-time record of 41 goals in a
Bundesliga season, set by his Bayern predecessor Robert Lewandowski.
Bayern
coach Thomas Tuchel set his sights on next week's
top-of-the-table clash. "Leverkusen are playing an outstanding season,
but we've got just two points fewer. We'll travel to Leverkusen with a
clear goal to inflict a first defeat of the season on them and to
overtake them into top spot."
Bayern
veteran Thomas Mueller was presented with a
special shirt after winning his 500th match with the German champions, but told
reporters: "I'm not such a fan of these commemorations. Next week
we play Leverkusen. The feeling of winning is a beautiful thing. We
want to experience that in Leverkusen as well."
Leverkusen's
win ensured
they would stay top of the table ahead of Bayern's
visit. Making his first league start since moving to
Leverkusen from Southampton at the start of the season, Tella put
Leverkusen ahead after half an hour, shedding his marker to head in a
looping chip from Alex Grimaldo.
Tella doubled up early in the second half,
blasting in from close range past the helpless Darmstadt 'keeper.
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