Bayern Munich seize chance to leapfrog Borussia Dortmund and go top of Bundesliga with tight home win over Hertha Berlin
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Updated 30/04/2023 at 20:05 GMT
Bayern knew that they only needed a win at home to bottom-placed Hertha Berlin but they took their time in closing the deal. The relegation battling Old Lady travelled to Munich perhaps expecting a thrashing and they got it everywhere except the scoreboard. The champions utterly dominated but couldn't find a breakthrough until Joshua Kimmich's excellent pass found Serge Gnabry with 20 minutes left
Highlights: Bayern Munich lose 3-1 at Mainz and top spot in the Bundesliga
Bayern Munich move to the top of the Bundesliga with a dominant 2-0 win over bottom-placed Hertha Berlin.
Borussia Dortmund opened the door on Friday evening with their frustrating draw away to Bochum, and on Sunday afternoon Bayern charged right through it.
Admittedly, the champions did not have it all their own way.
Despite complete domination in the first half, Thomas Tuchel cut a frustrated figure on the sidelines as his team failed to find a way past the desperate Hertha rearguard.
At the break, Tuchel switched his approach. On came Leroy Sane in place of Leon Goretzka.
The fluidity afforded Bayern by the presence of Sane helped run the visitors ragged and, in the 69th minute, the breakthrough finally came.
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Highlights: Bayern Munich lose 3-1 at Mainz and top spot in the Bundesliga
It was from a tired attempted clearance that the champions found the way.
Kingsley Coman's low, driven cross from the right was hacked clear but only as far as Joshua Kimmich who instantly spotted the opportunity and chipped a pass over the advancing defence and into the box.
That pass dropped perfectly for Serge Gnabry who put real power behind his header and fired Bayern into the lead.
It was the 20th attempt for Bayern - against just one for Hertha - and it broke the deadlock.
Ten minutes later, it was another sensational pass from Kimmich that secured the points for the champions.
The Germany midfielder took the ball on the turn and whipped his cross-field pass to Coman who had lost his marker in the box. The French winger took one touch before slipping his finish under Oliver Christensen before wheeling away to celebrate.
The victory takes Bayern to the top, two points ahead of Dortmund with just four games to play.
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