Harry Kane scored twice, including a stoppage-time winner, to give Bayern Munich a 2-1 win over RB Leipzig on Saturday, snapping a three-game losing streak in all competitions and leaving them eight points behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen .
The Bavarians, desperate to end a losing streak of two consecutive Bundesliga defeats including the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie against Lazio, endured a tumultuous week after deciding to part ways with coach Thomas Tuchel. Concluded. End of season.
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“We played very well in the first half but couldn’t take the lead,” Tuchel said. “The second half was a bit complicated. We scored the opener when Leipzig was stronger.
“After the equaliser, we reacted well. This win was good for us after three consecutive defeats.”
Bayern remains second, eight points behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen, who are top with 61 after a 2-1 win over Mainz on Friday. Leipzig finished fifth with 40.
Tuchel said it was unnecessary to talk about title prospects at this time.
“We don’t need to talk about that (title possibility),” he said. “We have to win every single game now. The situation is clear, Leverkusen has a big lead. Now we have to deal with this situation.”
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Bayern should have been ahead in the first half when Kane hit the post with a header in the fifth minute and went close again with a bicycle kick.
Leipzig enjoyed the better start after the break, testing keeper Manuel Neuer repeatedly, before Kane drilled home on a quick break after good early work from Jamal Musiala.
Leipzig, fighting for a top-four finish and a place in next season’s Champions League, had two golden chances with Benjamin Cesco but both times Neuer denied the Slovenian.
The keeper was beaten in the 70th when Cesko’s shot took a slight deflection off his wrong foot.
However, Kane came to the rescue once again with his 27th league goal of the season, drilling in a powerful low drive to snatch the three points.
“Harry has been doing this since he was 14, scoring 50 goals every year and that won’t change,” Tuchel said.
“It’s math. The more he misses, the more likely he is to score on his next chance.”
