🇩🇪 Bayern Munich defeat Hoffenheim to keep pace at top of Bundesliga | OneFootball

Bayern Munich moved to within a point of Bayer Leverkusen at the top of the Bundesliga with a 2-0 win against Hoffenheim at the Allianz Arena.

Scorers: Musiala 18′, 70′, Kane 90+2′

After dominating possession for much of the opening periods, Bayern broke the deadlock in the 18th minute through Jamal Musiala.

A short corner saw the youngster pick up the ball before driving it across Hoffenheim keeper Oliver Baumann from a tight angle and into the net. It was a great finish from one of Bayern’s best players this season to date.

Bayern couldn’t get a second before the break with the visitors staying in the game with some resolute defending.

Raphaël Guerreiro came the closest after being slipped in by Harry Kane but could not finish from a narrow angle.

Hoffenhem started the second half relatively strongly, with Andrej Kramarić at the heart of everything they did from midfield.

Bayern responded with a flurry of chances, Leroy Sané having a goal ruled out for offside before Harry Kane’s shot was deflected wide. Musiala then almost got his and his side’s second but his shot cannoned off the Hoffenheim post.

That inability to get a second kept Hoffenheim in it and Bayern had Manuel Neuer and the woodwork to thank for preserving the lead.

The captain made two excellent stops from Maximilian Beier and Kramarić before the former clipped the crossbar when he probably should have scored.

Beier and Hoffenheim were left ruing those misses when Musiala doubled Bayern’s lead with 20 minutes to go. Sané  was the provider, finding his fellow forward in the box, who slotted home coolly.

Things went from bad to worse for Pellegrino Matarazzo’s side when Grischa Prömel received his second yellow just four minutes later for an ill-timed tackle on Sané.

Kane got in on the act late on, finishing smartly with his left foot after a through ball from Leon Goretzka. It was the England captain’s 22nd league goal of the season, equalling Robert Lewandowski’s Bundesliga record from the opening 16 games, achieved in 2020/21.

A happy start to 2024 for Bayern as they keep up the pressure on Leverkusen at the top of the table.