Harry Kane scores twice as Bayern Munich beat Eintracht Frankfurt 3-2, surviving a late scare to move nine points clear at the Bundesliga summit.
Bayern Munich moved nine points clear at the top of the Bundesliga after edging Eintracht Frankfurt 3-2 in a dramatic contest at the Allianz Arena. The hosts looked comfortable for long spells before a nervy finale tested their resolve. Harry Kane scored twice to make the difference. Bayern’s control was strong early, but concentration wavered late on.
Bayern set the tempo from the opening minutes, pressing high and pinning Frankfurt back. Their pressure paid off in the 16th minute when Aleksandar Pavlovic volleyed home from outside the area. The strike slipped under the goalkeeper and gave Bayern a deserved lead. Frankfurt struggled to settle and failed to register a first half effort on target.
The advantage doubled four minutes later through Kane. A corner was flicked on at the near post and Kane reacted quickest in a crowded box. His close-range header made it 2-0 and served as a sign of Bayern’s authority. The hosts continued to probe, though the pace dipped slightly as rain slowed the surface.
Frankfurt showed more ambition after the restart and began to find space on the counter. Jonathan Burkardt clipped the post shortly after coming on, a warning sign for Bayern. The home side responded with renewed focus and restored control through Kane in the 68th minute. Given space outside the area, he bent a low shot into the corner for his second.
That goal appeared to settle the contest and extended Kane’s remarkable scoring run. It was his 28th league goal of the season, keeping him clear in the scoring charts. Bayern had created chances in volume, but their failure to kill the game proved costly later.
The tone shifted in the final quarter. Kane conceded a penalty after catching Oscar Hojlund in the box, a decision confirmed after VAR review. Burkardt converted calmly in the 77th minute to reduce the deficit. Frankfurt sensed vulnerability and pushed numbers forward.
With four minutes remaining, Arnaud Kalimuendo capitalised on a defensive lapse to make it 3-2. A hurried clearance ricocheted kindly and left Bayern scrambling. The hosts held on through stoppage time, but the closing stages exposed defensive concerns despite the win.
Bayern finished with 24 shots and an expected goals figure of 2.79. Frankfurt generated fewer efforts, yet remained clinical late on. The attendance of 75,000 reflected the occasion and Bayern’s grip on the title race. Kane had been honoured before kickoff for reaching 500 career goals in the last game against Werder Bremen, adding extra significance to his brace.
The result stretches Bayern’s lead over second placed Borussia Dortmund, who still have a game in hand against RB Leipzig. Bayern now turn attention to a crucial Klassiker meeting with Dortmund next weekend. Frankfurt remain seventh and will look to build on the fight they showed late on. For Bayern, the points matter most, even if the ending raised questions.
