So near yet so far for Dortmund as Munich march on with victory

By Heinz Buese, dpa
A wonderful match between Germany’s two top teams on Saturday ended in familiar fashion – the best side won and the second-best side lost.

Dortmund (dpa) – Borussia Dortmund came within a whisker of matching the best team in the world on Saturday – but once more Bayern Munich proved a fraction too strong and took control of the Bundesliga title race.

Dortmund’s contribution to a magnificent five-goal thriller, settled 3-2 in favour of visiting Bayern, cannot be underestimated.

But being nearly as good as the best side on the planet is perhaps little consolation if that side plays in your league and looks set to win the title. Again.

“It was a well-deserved victory, especially because of the second half,” Bayern captain Manuel Neuer said. “We were the better team then. We had the game more and more under control.”

Neuer picked the ball out of his net twice, first to Marco Reus in the 45th minute and again from Erling Haaland late on.

But in between Bayern responded immediately through David Alaba’s free kick before Robert Lewandowski and substitute Leroy Sane sealed victory.

“David Alaba’s goal just before half-time was important,” said Neuer. “We were able to go into the interval calm. The second half was very strong.”

Bayern lead the table by two points from RB Leipzig with Dortmund one further back in third.

“The game was unbelievably good,” said Bayern coach Hansi Flick. “There was great quality all over the pitch, both sides had great chances.

“We were a bit more determined and efficient in front of goal. The victory was more than deserved.”

The one black spot for Bayern was the injury to Joshua Kimmich, who left the first half in tears having hurt his knee tackling Haaland.

A diagnosis is expected Sunday but substantial time on the sidelines seems certain for the 25-year-old Germany midfielder who Flick admitted was a “key player” in his position.

“Josh is a footballer, a great guy – and I hope that he comes out of it okay,” said Dortmund defender Mats Hummels.

Hummels was beaten by Lewandowski to the header which made it 2-1 early in the second half and, unable to recover, Dortmund slumped to a fourth successive defeat to Flick’s Bayern – three in the league plus the German Super Cup.

“Good and bad luck often prove decisive, especially in top games, that’s just the way it is,” said Hummels, who also admitted “we were lacking ruthlessness in front of goal.”

Haaland spurned several chances, missing the target or being denied by Neuer. Lewandowski did not convert every opportunity either but with two further goals disallowed by narrow offsides, was clearly sharper than his younger rival.

Lewandowski now has 19 goals in 22 competitive games against former club Dortmund and 11 in the league season. Having hit 34 last term, Gerd Mueller’s record of 40 from 1971/72 remains an elusive possibility.

“At the end of the day it was a deserved victory because we were a step quicker and more ruthless when it counted,” said Bayern midfielder Leon Goretzka, continuing the theme.

Dortmund coach Lucien Favre lamented his side’s missed chances but insisted we “turned in a good performance.”

Flick also dismissed the idea a decisive blow had been struck in Bayern’s bid for a ninth consecutive title after just seven games.

“We need to learn from our mistakes,” said Dortmund defender Manuel Akanji. “We had enough chances that we simply should’ve converted.

“It’s only the seventh match. We’ll keep trying to win games and we’ll see where that takes us.”

Bayern host Leipzig on December 5 while Dortmund’s next ‘six-pointer’ against a fellow top three side is their January 9 visit to Leipzig.

Dortmund have not lost to Leipzig since 2017 – but unless they can find a way to defeat Bayern, ending the Munich dominance of the Bundesliga continues to look difficult.