Kimmich’s audacious chip gave Bayern a 1-0 victory over league rivals Borussia Dortmund in the German Der Klassiker, edging Munich closer to their eighth consecutive league title.

Bundesliga Matchday 28: Signal Iduna Park. Borussia Dortmund 0 vs Bayern Munich 1 (Kimmich 42’)

In the biggest game for both sides this current season both sides walked out into an eerie Klassiker atmosphere. Dortmund’s stadium normally playing host to a lively ambient atmosphere.

Lucien Favre’s side in need of the three points and fast start if they had any real opportunity to take the Bavarian giants title from them. Within the first thirty second of the game Julian Brandt release Thorgan Hazard and denied by Manuel Neur. The ball fell to Erling Haaland, who threaded the ball underneath the sprawled keeper, but it was cleared off the line by the veteran Jerome Boateng.

The yellows looked spritely in the opening exchanges as they went close once more through Brandt. Bayern looked as though to be backing off Dortmund allowing them to maintain possession exploited the space along the width.

However, as Dortmund missed chances to break the deadlock, Hansi Flick’s side who had won their last seven Bundesliga games looked to start exchanging passing combinations which grew them into the German el classico.

Lukasz Piszczek rolled back the years after a goal line clearance to deny Serge Gnabry and Bayern the opening goal after some clean interchanges around the Dortmund box.

The game began to open, with the Bavarian giants looking to test the Austrian international Roman Burki through Kingsley Coman and former yellows player Robert Lewandowski.

As the half drew to a close, Dortmund begun to sit back which allowed Joshua Kimmich the space and time to execute brilliance, as he caught Burki off his line and chipped over the keeper who should of done better after he gained a strong hand to the shot.

Flicks’ men held a slender advantage as the second half began but Dortmund who had made personnel change with Jaden Sancho and Emre Can coming on in ore to rescue any title challenge.

Chances fell to both sides, Mahmoud Dahoud stung the hands of Manuel Neur and Roman Burki, who had conceded his first goal in seven games for Dortmund commanded their tight defence.

With six games to spare, Bayern Munich now lead the Bundesliga with 7-point advantage over their fierce rivals. Who looked to have fallen short once again in the league.

TALKING POINT:

The Bavarian reign of the Bundesliga. As the German giants now close in on what would be there eight league title in a row, what do other German teams need to do in order to achieve this status? Borussia Dortmund last won the title in 2011-12 season and 2010-11 under now Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.

They have only looked to challenge for the league on a couple of occasions since, since the arrival of Lucien Favre who has been backed by Dortmund’s board with the signings of Sancho, Haaland, Hazard and Hummels and a huge departure list as well. Favre has started to build a young, exciting free flowing team with his transfers. But when will we see a change in the champion?

MAN OF THE MATCH:

Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich). The German who scored the only goal of the game, his third of the season from outside the area; which is more than any other Bayern player. He also controlled the Bavarians’ midfield expertly with all key moves flowing through him, also contributing profusely going forward as well as fulfilling his defensive duties. 

PLAYER RATINGS:

Dortmund: Burki (5), Piszczek (9), Hummels (8), Akanji (6), Hakimi (7), Delaney (6), Dahoud (6), Guerreiro (5), Hazard (6), Brandt (7), Haaland (6). SUBS: Gotze (4), Can (5), Witsel (3), Sancho (6), Reyna (4).

Bayern: Neur (8), Pavard (7), Boateng (8), Alaba (8), Davies (8), Kimmich (9), Goretzka (7), Coman (6), Muller (8), Gnabry (7), Lewandowski (7). SUBS: Hernandez (5), Perisic (5), Martinez (4).

KEY MOMENTS:

1’- GREAT CHANCE- DORTMUND (0) BAYERN (0)- A threaded ball from Julian Brandt to Thorgan Hazard cuts they Bayern defence in half, but are rescued by Neur who came out and cleared only as far as Haaland who takes the shot but is blocked by Boateng on the line.

18’- GREAT CHANCE- DORTMUND (0) BAYERN (0)- This time its Lukasz Piszczek who cleared off the line from Serge Gnabry who had latched onto a Kingsley Coman cross after some great link up play.

42’- GOAL- DORTMUND (0) BAYERN (1)- Dortmund failed to clear their lines leaving Kimmich outside the box who caught Burki off his line with an exceptional lofted ball.

80’- GREAT CHANCE- DORTMUND (0) BAYERN (1)- Substitute Mahmoud Dahoud stung the gloves of Neur from a long-range effort.