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
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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
Real Madrid victory in Super Cup semi-final sets up fourth consecutive El Clásico in Saudi Arabia
- Early Valverde rocket set the tone for a physical encounter in front of a packed Al-Inma Stadium
- 55,651 fans attended the match, topping Barcelona-Athletic Bilbao’s crowd by more than 5,000
JEDDAH: While Wednesday saw a sea of blue and red take over Al-Inma Stadium, Thursday belonged almost entirely to the colour white. The second semi-final of the 2026 Spanish Super Cup pitted Madrid Derby rivals Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid against each other in a fiercely contested encounter that ignited within the opening two minutes and ended with a 2-1 victory to Real Madrid.
In the first minute of the game, Real Madrid won a free kick from a position that appeared harmless, but Federico Valverde had other ideas. The Uruguayan unleashed a thunderous long-range strike that flew into the net, sending the stadium into raptures almost immediately.
Despite the early breakthrough, Real Madrid did not dominate proceedings. Atlético controlled much of the shot count, pushing relentlessly as they attempted to overcome the forged “home” advantage enjoyed by their city rivals in Jeddah.
That advantage was not driven solely by Saudi supporters. Ahead of kick-off, official broadcaster Thmanyah Sports got hold of a Real Madrid fan from Iraq who praised the organisation of the event and thanked Saudi Arabia for providing fans from across the region the opportunity to watch their team live.
Atlético didn’t plan on sending those fans home with a smile. They forced Thibaut Courtois into action on multiple occasions, with his save from a corner mid-way into the first half proving key in preserving Real’s lead.
Real did get close to doubling their advantage in the 27th minute when Rodrygo found himself through on goal, executing a trademark Ronaldo chop to beat his marker before being denied by Jan Oblak.
Atlético resumed their push after the break. In the 49th minute, they looked to find Julián Álvarez with a dangerous cross, but Antonio Rüdiger reacted sharply to step in and clear.
Once again, it was Real Madrid’s individual quality that made the difference. Valverde split the defence with a perfectly weighted through ball, releasing Rodrygo, who calmly slotted past Oblak in the 55th minute.
Atlético responded with increased vigour almost immediately. A slick move down the right flank culminated in a cross from Giuliano Simeone, which Alexander Sørloth powered home beyond Raúl Asencio in the 58th minute to bring the contest back to life.
As Atlético pushed for an equaliser, the Real Madrid fans rallied behind their team with chants familiar to Jeddah. Borrowing from one of Al-Ahli’s most popular anthems — one that engulfed Middle Eastern football in recent years — the crowd sang in unison: “For Real we came, from every city.”
Atlético were not fazed, as they came agonisingly close to levelling soon after. Antoine Griezmann produced a spectacular overhead kick from close range, only for Courtois to make another vital save. Moments later, Marcos Llorente broke through on the right once more, but his effort drifted wide.
Llorente continued to threaten, curling another attempt — this time from outside the box — but once again failed to find the target as Atlético searched desperately for a way back into the game.
Ultimately, Real Madrid managed to emerge unscathed, as they held on for the 2-1 victory.
Sunday will see the Al-Inma Stadium host once again, as Barcelona and Real Madrid face off in the fourth consecutive El Clásico Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia. Barcelona won the first encounter in 2023, followed by a 4-1 victory by Real in 2024, before Barcelona rallied to a 5-2 victory in the 2025 edition.
