Joshua Kimmich made all the difference with a delightful dink, grabbing all three points for Bayern Munich in the most anticipated game of recent times. Borussia Dortmund were on par with their adversaries for most parts of Der Klassiker, except for that one moment as BVB succumbed to a 1-0 loss at Signal Iduna Park in the crucial Bundesliga game.
The Black and Yellows actually began strongly and had two shots on target by the 15th-minute mark, but the away side grew into the game slowly.
It was a proper midfield battle in the centre of the park, with no quarter being given or asked. However, right before the half-time break, Joshua Kimmich got to a loose ball and decided to take matters into his own hands by attempting a delightful chip. Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Burki was caught out and couldn’t save Kimmich’s effort.
The second half was more or less the same, with blows being exchanged, but Bayern stamped their authority and suffocated the home side to go seven points clear at the top of the Bundesliga table.
With that said, here are the five major talking points from Tuesday’s Der Klassiker:
#5 Alphonso Davies outshines Achraf Hakimi
There was so much hype surrounding the young full-backs before the game, but it’s fair to say that Alphonso Davies stood head and shoulders above Achraf Hakimi. The Morrocan has been brilliant this season, but his first touch and passing let him down against Bayern Munich.
However, Davies delivered on the big occasion and put up a mature performance which earned him plaudits from fans of both teams.
There was a moment in the game when the Canadian teenager beat four men and was almost through on goal, only for Mats Hummels to intervene.
He may be just 19 but Alphonso Davies already looks like the future of Die Roten.
#4 Jadon Sancho failed to make the desired impact
The Englishman came on from the bench for the third game in a row, but his run of underwhelming performances against Bayern Munich continued on Tuesday.
Barring a few good touches, Jadon Sancho wasn’t able to create any chances in the final third, which will be a big worry for Borussia Dortmund.
They clearly looked a better team with Sancho on the field, but his lack of match fitness was there for all to see.
The 20-year-old hasn’t looked the same since Bundesliga’s return, and his lack of sharpness cost BVB dearly in Der Klassiker.
#3 Joshua Kimmich: The midfield metronome
Apart from scoring the winning goal, Joshua Kimmich covered a distance of 13.73 km, the most in Der Klassiker. The man was literally everywhere.
Kimmich and Leon Goretzka didn’t allow Dortmund any space through the centre, and the former was mopping up any danger by picking up passes and making crucial interceptions and tackles for the whole 90 minutes.
The 25-year-old put in a complete shift when it mattered most, and deservedly won the Man of the Match award.
#2 Where to for Borussia Dortmund from here on?
Borussia Dortmund may miss out on the Bundesliga title yet again, despite Die Roten getting off to wobbly starts both this season and the last.
It’s difficult to see how Dortmund will be able to cut the gap between themselves and their Der Klassiker rivals.
Since Hansi Flick’s appointment, Bayern Munich have looked much stronger. They seem to be getting better with each game, and there aren’t many weaknesses within the side.
It’s actually terrifying to imagine how well the Bavarians could be if Leroy Sane joins from Man City. Moreover, if Jadon Sancho ends up leaving Signal Iduna Park, Lucien Favre will have some serious questions to ponder upon.
#1 Bayern Munich on the verge of title glory
After Tuesday’s big win, Bayern Munich are now on the brink of winning an unprecedented eighth consecutive Bundesliga title. Their dominance hasn’t come easy, but they’ve somehow kept the run going on and on.
Die Roten have six more Bundesliga games to play before the end of the season, and they need to win four of those to be certain of winning the league title.
The seven-point gap could be a big mountain for BVB to climb, and it has given Bayern an insurance policy. Even if there are late-slip ups, the Bavarians are still favourites to lift the Bundesliga again.