In an intense, fast-paced, sometimes spectacular Bundesliga top game, Borussia Dortmund stands up to FC Bayern. But a Kane double and a Kimmich goal mean the preliminary decision in the championship fight.
A strong direct pass from Joshua Kimmich sealed Munich’s 3-2 (0-1) win in Dortmund on Saturday. Previously, Harry Kane (54th, 70th penalty) had turned BVB’s lead through Nico Schlotterbeck (26th) and Daniel Svensson (83rd) once again gave Dortmund hope for a happy ending.
So it became a preliminary decision in the championship fight. Munich’s lead is eleven points with ten game days to go. After the exit from the DFB Cup and in the Champions League Dortmund’s last goal of the season has vanished into thin air. On the other hand, Vincent Kompany’s team still has a chance of winning the treble.
“Of course we are happy with this victory. If you win this game, it’s a mini title”said Kompany. Dortmund coach Niko Kovac explained: “The team delivered a really good performance over 90 minutes today. We were very evenly matched, but we lost against a world-class team today.”
Dortmund is giving Bayern a headache
Dortmund had obviously learned the lessons from the recent winless games in Leipzig and Bergamo, where the black and yellow were repeatedly overrun on the wings. With a five-man chain and with Karim Adeyemi and Maximilian Beier withdrawn to the outside in defense, the hosts initially closed things down at the back.
BVB brought a high level of intensity and robustness to the game. In the second minute, Emre Can made a deep pass towards Serge Gnabry with full effort out of the danger zone. After 18 minutes, Schlotterbeck hit Josip Stanisic hard on the wing. Because the ball was somehow still in play, the Dortmund player avoided being sent off.
Schlotterbeck Gate inspires BVB
Bayern failed to develop and only managed – if at all – in the first half with long-range shots, which were no problem for Gregor Kobel in the Dortmund goal. And then the Kovac team also scored: Schlotterbeck jumped into a Svensson free kick from the left with perfect timing and headed in to make it 1-0.
Dortmund bliss after a tough week. The leadership fired up the ranks, fired up the team. Dortmund kept their energy levels and concentration high until half-time. The start to the second 45 minutes was also promising. Shortly after the restart, Adeyemi (48th) and Beier (50th) appeared dangerously in the Bayern penalty area.
Another double from Kane
However, because BVB no longer defended quite as deeply and consistently, Munich also got into the game better. Dayot Upamecano (52′) slipped narrowly past a Gnabry cross. Shortly afterwards, Bayern finally played Dortmund’s defense apart: Joshua Kimmich lofted the ball over the BVB defense on the left side of the penalty area to Gnabry. He headed the ball across and Kane finished freely and confidently from close range to make it 1-1.
Despite conceding a goal, Dortmund remained active. But the front runner now found more and more confidence and also used the greater strength reserves after a week’s break. However, BVB came to the rescue with the opening goal – as has often been the case recently. Schlotterbeck defended clumsily against Stanisic in the penalty area. The Bayern defender fell. Penalty. Kane confidently converted to make it 2-1. For the Englishman it was goal number 30 of the season and his fourth brace in a row.
Dortmund wants more – and concedes the goal
That seemed to be the end of the matter. Munich now looked very confident, but Dortmund pulled themselves together and got back into the game. Svensson delivered a cross from Sabitzer from the half-field beautifully from the half-left as a direct pass to make it 2-2. There was no celebration on the field, but the team immediately ran back into their own half.
No question: BVB wanted more, wanted to maintain their championship dream. But the guests scored the goal – and how: Kimmich sank a rebound from the defense with a direct shot to make it 3-2. Dortmund continued to fight. But Bayern also celebrated every tackle, every tackle – until the final whistle brought the certainty that everything was up for grabs for Munich this season and nothing more for BVB.
BVB captain Can is threatened with a long absence
Bitter for Dortmund: Captain Emre Can is threatened with a long absence. The doctor did after the first examination “not a good feeling” had, said coach Kovac. When asked whether it was a cruciate ligament injury, Kovac replied: “It looks a bit like it. It is, and he heard something too.” If the cruciate ligament injury and the long absence are confirmed, “Then it’s a really hard blow for us again”said Kovac. Can injured his left knee towards the end of the first half.
Dortmund in Cologne, Bavaria against Gladbach
Borussia Dortmund continues next Saturday evening (March 7, 2026, 6:30 p.m.) at 1. FC Köln. Bayern already host Borussia Mönchengladbach on Friday evening (8:30 p.m.).
