'Character and quality': Bayern delight in statement win in Dortmund

Bayern Munich passed a test of character with a 3-2 victory at Borussia Dortmund which sets them firmly on course towards another Bundesliga title and should also be a boost for their other tasks.

Joshua Kimmich's volley into the top corner in the 87th minutes settled an exciting Klassiker after Harry Kane had reversed a 1-0 deficit with yet another brace and Bayern also shook off a Dortmund equalizer in the 83rd from Daniel Svensson.

The big win in front of 81,000 lifted Bayern 11 points clear at the top with 10 games left and Germany captain Kimmich declared the title race over.

Title race over

"It’s in our hands and we’re not going to give it away now. If we’re being honest, with an 11-point lead now, we’re not going to surrender this. No one has ever squandered that and it will stay that way," Kimmich said.

Kimmich praised the team's mentality and so did Kane, who said: "To come back and then show the character and quality that we did in the second half says a lot about us as a team."

Bayern more rested

Kimmich said Bayern profited from being more rested than Dortmund because they qualified directly for the last 16 in the Champions League while Dortmund had to play a play-off tie against Atalanta where they went out.

"It was clear to us at the break that it’d be difficult for Dortmund to keep up the tempo for 90 minutes," he said.

"They’ve had a tough couple of weeks with a lot of matches, which we haven’t, so we knew: the longer the game goes on, the greater our advantage. Thankfully we pressed that home right at the end.”

Other tasks

It is now Bayern's turn to face Atalanta in the last 16 and opponents in a potential path into the Champions League final could include the likes of record winners Real Madrid, title holders Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City.

Bayern are also in the German Cup semi-finals where they visit Bayer Leverkusen in April.

Bayern have not won the German Cup and Champions League since their 2020 treble while in the Bundesliga they are chasing back-to-back titles and a 35th German title overall.

Gladbach next

Next comes a Bundesliga home date against lowly Borussia Mönchengladbach on Friday night, and while the league lead is comfortable Kane is aware that Bayern's dropped points have come against smaller teams rather than against the big ones.

"We’re in a good position but it's often easier to motivate yourself for these top matches. You have to be just as focused and ready to fight in the other games, and that’ll be no different on Friday night,” the England captain said.

Chasing records

There Bayern and Kane have the next chance to work on Bundesliga records, and coach Vincent Kompany, who in a rare gesture celebrated with the players in front of their fans in Dortmund, is full of anticipation.

"It just keeps going, we've scored 88 goals. Why should we stop now? I'm just looking forward to these last two or three months in the Bundesliga," Kompany said.

The 88 goals mean that their league record 101 goals from 1971-72 will all but certainly fall.

Kane on 30 goals is just 11 away from Robert Lewandowski's record 41 strikes in a season. Kane scored a fourth straight brace and converted a 10th season penalty on Saturday, both equalling league records.

"There are periods in a season when a lot of things fall at your feet and go your way, and that’s exactly what I’m in at the moment. I just have to continue as I have up to now," Kane said.