BERLIN: Harry Kane scored the go-ahead goal to help Bayern Munich to a 3-1 comeback home win over Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday, keeping hot on the heels of leaders Bayer Leverkusen, who won 2-0 at Darmstadt.
Bayern stay just two points behind Xabi Alonso’s unbeaten side, with the two facing off next Saturday in Leverkusen.
“The big game is coming. We wanted to show our fans something,” Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka said after the match.
But while Leverkusen secured a comfortable win at last-placed Darmstadt thanks to a brace from Nigeria winger Nathan Tella, Bayern were once again bailed out by Kane, who now has 24 goals in 20 league games this season.
Gladbach traveled to Munich boasting a brilliant recent record against the perennial German champions, with Bayern winning just one of their past six matches.
Bayern conceded early after a horror pass from Manuel Neuer allowed Gladbach to waltz through the penalty box, with Nico Elvedi tapping in from close range.
Bayern youth product Aleksandar Pavlovic drew the home side level just before half-time when he slid through the Gladbach defense and drilled in the equalizer.
Gladbach were courageous against an injury-hit Munich side who have lacked confidence and fluency since the winter break.
Kane however stepped up with 20 minutes remaining, heading in after a mistake from Gladbach ‘keeper Moritz Nicolas.
Kane’s 24th league goal of the season keeps him on track for the all-time record of 41 goals in a Bundesliga season, set by his Bayern predecessor Robert Lewandowski.
Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel set his sights on next week’s top-of-the-table clash.
“Leverkusen are playing an outstanding season, but we’ve got just two points fewer.
“We’ll travel to Leverkusen with a clear goal — to inflict a first defeat of the season on them and to overtake them into top spot.”
Bayern veteran Thomas Mueller was presented with a special shirt after winning his 500th match with the German champions, but told reporters: “I’m not such a fan of these commemorations.”
“Next week we play Leverkusen. The feeling of winning is a beautiful thing. We want to experience that in Leverkusen as well.”
Leverkusen’s win ensured they would stay top of the table ahead of Bayern’s visit.
Making his first league start since moving to Leverkusen from Southampton at the start of the season, Tella put Leverkusen ahead after half an hour, shedding his marker to head in a looping chip from Alex Grimaldo.
Tella doubled up early in the second half, blasting in from close range past the helpless Darmstadt ‘keeper.
Stuttgart took advantage of Borussia Dortmund’s 0-0 draw at Heidenheim on Friday, winning 3-1 away against a 10-man Freiburg to go three points clear in third place.
Brighton loanee Deniz Undav gave Stuttgart the lead after just three minutes, with Germany winger Chris Fuehrich added another just four minutes later.
Freiburg lost Merlin Roehl to a straight red card for an ugly studs-up tackle after just 18 minutes, but they pulled a goal back through Lucas Kuebler late in the first half.
Maximilian Mittelstaedt scored for Stuttgart with 15 minutes remaining to seal victory.
In Saturday’s late game, Cologne won just their third match of the season, triumphing 2-0 at home over Eintracht Frankfurt, who finished with nine men.
Frankfurt defender Niels Nkounkou picked up a second yellow for a foolish tug on the leg of Faride Alidou, with the midfielder scoring from the ensuing free kick.
Jan Thielmann scored Cologne’s second on the counter with ten minutes remaining to seal the victory, moments before Tuta was sent from the pitch for picking up his second yellow.
Still in the play-off spot, Cologne’s win allowed them to widen the gap on the automatic relegation places to four points.
Elsewhere, Augsburg scored a penalty in injury time to snatch a point in a 1-1 draw at Bochum.
Werder Bremen scored after just two minutes through Marvin Ducksch to win 1-0 at lowly Mainz.
Kane scores to help Bayern keep pace with leaders Leverkusen
https://arab.news/r9ftj
Kane scores to help Bayern keep pace with leaders Leverkusen
- Bayern stay just two points behind Xabi Alonso’s unbeaten side, with the two facing off next Saturday in Leverkusen
- “The big game is coming. We wanted to show our fans something,” Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka said after the match
With Mbappe injured, Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Garcia impresses with a hat trick
- The win kept second-placed Madrid within four points of Barcelona after the league leaders won 2-0 at Espanyol on Saturday
- Levante upset Sevilla 3-0 on the road in the debut of new Portuguese coach Luis Castro
- Real Sociedad made a promising start under new American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo after holding fourth-placed Atletico Madrid to a 1-1 draw
BARCELONA, Spain: Gonzalo Garcia scored his first, second and third goals in La Liga for Real Madrid on Sunday with his hat trick dominating a 5-1 rout of Real Betis.
The 21-year-old forward was making a rare start in place of the injured Kylian Mbappe, the league’s top scorer, who is sidelined with a left knee sprain.
Garcia came up through Madrid’s youth sides before debuting with its first team in November 2023. He has had steady minutes under Xabi Alonso this campaign.
“It was a dream game for him,” Alonso said about García. “Playing at the (Santiago) Bernabeu (stadium), first season with the first team, and to hit a hat trick. He wanted to score here, and I’m happy for him and with how he works every day whether or not he gets the chance to play. He has an unbelievable attitude and he’s a fantastic example of what it means to be a Real Madrid academy graduate.”
Garcia got going in the 20th minute when he headed in a free kick from Rodrygo after getting free of his marker at the far post.
He deftly controlled a pass with his chest before volleying a strike home from the edge of the area to make it 2-0 in the 50th.
After defender Raul Asencio headed in Rodrygo’s corner for a third Madrid goal shortly after, Betis striker Cucho Hernandez pulled one back for the visitors in the 66th.
Garcia got his hat trick in the 82nd with a flick of his heel to turn in a pass by Arda Guler before he was substituted to loud applause.
His replacement, Fran García, rounded off the victory in stoppage time.
“I’ve been a Madrid fan ever since I was a kid, and I’ve spent many years in the academy, so to come off to a standing ovation from these fans is a very special moment that will stay with me forever,” Gonzalo Garcia said. “I hope there are loads more goals, loads more wins to come, and a special year for all of us.”
The win kept second-placed Madrid within four points of Barcelona after the league leaders won 2-0 at Espanyol on Saturday. Third-placed Villarreal trail Madrid by seven points but has played two fewer games than Madrid and Barcelona.
The win came after a two-week winter break for Spanish clubs. Prior to that break, Madrid had been struggling and pressure was building for Alonso to oversee a convincing win like the one his team delivered against Betis.
Madrid’s most convincing victory in a month comes before Alonso’s side heads to Saudi Arabia where it will participate in the Spanish Super Cup. It will have to beat crosstown rival Atletico Madrid in Jeddah on Thursday to face either Barcelona or Athletic Bilbao in the final on Jan. 11.
“It was an important and well-deserved win to start the year at home,” Alonso said. “Getting underway like this is crucial, calmly and with positive feelings around the place ahead of the Super Cup.”
Promising starts
Levante upset Sevilla 3-0 on the road in the debut of new Portuguese coach Luis Castro.
With his team leading 2-0, Levante goalkeeper Mathew Ryan saved a penalty by Isaac Romero and his attempt to head in the rebound in the 90th minute before Levante scored its final goal.
Levante broke a run of eight rounds without a win and moved out of last place.
Oviedo fell to the bottom after a 1-1 draw at Alaves.
Real Sociedad made a promising start under new American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo after holding fourth-placed Atletico Madrid to a 1-1 draw.
Former Sociedad striker Alexander Sorloth put Atletico in front in the 50th, but Goncalo Guedes equalized five minutes later for the hosts.
Girona left the relegation zone with a 2-1 win at Mallorca.
