Bayern Munich survived a late scare to beat Holstein Kiel 4-3 and go four points clear at the top of the Bundesliga. Harry Kane’s first-half brace and goals from Jamal Musiala and Serge Gnabry looked to have put Bayern in control, but a late fightback from Kiel saw them pull two goals back in stoppage time. It was a nervy ending for Bayern, but they held on for a vital three points.
The game started perfectly for the home side as Musiala opened the scoring with a well-taken finish after a swift team move. Bayern dominated possession and doubled their lead just before half-time through Kane, who headed home from close range.
The second half started in a similar fashion, with Kane again finding the net with a header. Gnabry added a fourth with a superb volley, and at that point, it looked like Bayern would cruise to victory. However, Kiel had other ideas and pulled one back through Finn Porath, a fine strike that gave Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer no chance.
The game seemed to be petering out, but a dramatic finale was in store. Steven Skrzybski scored twice in quick succession, and suddenly Bayern were hanging on. The final whistle came as a relief to the home fans, and the players breathed a sigh of disappointment after a game that had been largely comfortable until the closing stages.
Bayern’s coach, Vincent Kompany, acknowledged the team’s performance dip towards the end but praised the overall display: “It was a pretty complete game until the 80th minute. We played well and created chances, but we also have to credit Kiel for their fighting spirit. We’ll review how we finished the game, but I’m happy with the three points.”
With closest rivals Bayer Leverkusen playing on Sunday, Bayern have created a healthy gap at the summit. Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund ended a four-game winless streak in the league with a narrow 2-1 victory over struggling Heidenheim. A first-half goal from Serhou Guirassy and a second-half strike from Max Beier proved enough for Dortmund, despite a late scare when Mathias Honsak pulled one back for the hosts.
Elsewhere, Borussia Moenchengladbach left it late to beat Stuttgart 2-1, with Tim Kleindienst scoring the winner in the closing stages. Freiburg also picked up a valuable three points with a 1-0 win over bottom-side Bochum, while St Pauli was denied a victory by Augsburg teenager Mert Komur, who struck late to earn a 1-1 draw.
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