After his team’s 2-0 home loss to Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel said that the Bundesliga title battle was ended with seven games remaining. Julian Ryerson and Karim Adeyemi’s goals handed Dortmund their first Der Klassiker triumph since 2019. Bayern now trails leaders Bayer Leverkusen, who defeated Hoffenheim earlier on Saturday, by 13 points as a result of the loss. When asked if Bayern will not be competing for the title, outgoing manager Tuchel replied, “Obviously, yes.” “There’s no need to count points anymore after today’s game,” he continued. At this point, how many? Best wishes to Leverkusen.” Manager of Leverkusen Xabi Alonso has put an end to rumours that he would replace Tuchel at Bayern or sign with Liverpool by announcing he will remain with the team for the upcoming campaign. Leverkusen needs three victories from their next seven games to prevent Bayern from winning the Bundesliga for a record 12 times. The Spaniard appears to be leading the team to its first league title. Dortmund is now three points ahead of fifth-placed RB Leipzig after their victory—their first at Bayern in ten years—has increased their hopes of finishing in the top four.
Kane is unable to recall an injury. There were great expectations for Harry Kane in the 135th edition of Der Klassiker after he scored three goals in November’s 4-1 victory against Dortmund. With 31 goals this season, the England captain, who joined Bayern from Tottenham in the summer, leads the Bundesliga in scoring. He was judged fit to start after missing the Three Lions’ last two friendlies due to an ankle ailment. He should have scored twice in the first half, but two headers from close range went wide. Instead, it was Adeyemi of Dortmund who opened the scoring, outpacing Matthijs de Ligt and blasting past Sven Ulreich after Julian Brandt set him up on goal. Before the half, Eric Dier almost pulled Bayern back to even, but Mats Hummels, who had a fantastic game against his old team, stretched out his leg to deny him. Edin Terzic’s team had space to counterattack into a Norwegian full-back as Bayern pushed hard for an equaliser. When Ryerson wiped a cool finish across Ulreich, he suddenly found himself in acres of space. Although Kane had a quiet second half, a Video Assistant Referee review in the 89th minute determined he was just barely offside. Kane had thought he had headed home Noussair Mazraoui’s cross.