bundesliga

Harry Kane strikes again as Bayern Munich stay hot on Leverkusen's heels with Gladbach win

04.02.2024

Bayern Munich remain just two points off the pace ahead of their upcoming trip to leaders Bayer Leverkusen, after Harry Kane's 24th Bundesliga goal helped secure a come-from-behind win over Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Bayern Munich 3-1 Borussia Mönchengladbach
Goals: 0-1 Elvedi 35' (assist: Jordan), 1-1 Pavlović 45' (assist: Müller), 2-1 Kane 71', 3-1 De Ligt 86' (assist: Sané)

Two points behind Leverkusen at kick-off, Bayern made an electric start. Leroy Sané thundered an effort against the crossbar, before putting a distinctly more presentable chance wide of the far post with only Moritz Nicolas to beat. Kane then drew a flying save from Nicolas with a well-struck free-kick, but the tide turned the way of Gladbach on the half-hour mark. Shortly after Eric Dier had been forced into a goal-line clearance from Jordan, the Foals took a shock lead. Nico Elvedi was the unlikely scorer, the Swiss defender picking off Manuel Neuer's misplaced pass before exchanging passes with Jordan and finding the bottom corner with a precise finish from just inside the area. Bayern hit back on the stroke of half-time, though, with Aleksandar Pavlović applying an emphatic finish to a flowing team move.

The Bayern fans were on their feet again after the restart, albeit deceived by Jamal Musiala's low strike into the side netting folllowing a trademark jinking run. Leon Goretzka swiped a speculative long-range effort wide and Kane stung the palms of Nicolas as Bayern continued to ask the questions whilst being largely kept at arm's length. With frustrations building in the Bayern camp, a defensive error gifted them the advantage. Nicolas fumbled Goretzka's cross under pressure from Thomas Müller, with Kane in the right place at the right time to head in a classic poacher's goal, which was allowed to stand following a VAR review. The record champions made the points safe with four minutes of normal time remaining, when Matthijs de Ligt headed in Sané's clipped free-kick to set up a mouth-watering showdown with Leverkusen - 2-0 winners in Darmstadt - on Matchday 21.

Match stats

Kane is averaging a goal every 73.8 minutes in the Bundesliga. His 24 goals in 20 games is a club record for a Bayern player in their debut Bundesliga season.
Sané produced his 11th assist of the campaign - a league-leading figure.
Pavlović has won all nine of his Bundesliga appearances to date, producing two goals and two assists.
Müller recorded his 500th win as a Bayern player - a club record.
Bayern have recorded single-season home and away wins over Gladbach for the first time since 2018/19.
De Ligt scored his second goal of the season.

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Watch: Matthijs de Ligt on 'amazing' Harry Kane

Teams

Bayern: Neuer (c) - Mazraoui (Boey 62'), Dier, De Ligt, Davies (Guerreiro 85') - Pavlović, Goretzka, - Müller (Tel 71'), Musiala, Sané - Kane
Unused subs: Ulreich, Choupo-Moting, Zaragoza, Zvonarek, Krätzig, Aznou
Out: Buchmann (thigh), Coman (knee), Gnabry (thigh), Kim (international duty), Kimmich (shoulder), Laimer (calf), Peretz (knee), Sarr (knee), Upamecano (hamstring)
Coach: Thomas Tuchel

Gladbach: Nicolas - Scally, Friedrich, Elvedi - Honorat (Ranos 89'), Reitz (Fukuda 85'), Weigl (c), Neuhaus (Koné 62'), Netz (Lainer 62') - Jordan, Ngoumou (Hack 62')
Unused subs: Olschowsky, Chiarodia, Jantschke, Kramer
Out: Čvančara (ankle), Herrmann (knee), Itakura (international duty), Omlin (shoulder), Pléa (ankle), Wöber (ill)
Coach: Gerardo Seoane