Kane sends Bayern top overnight

FC Bayern beat FC Köln 1-0 on Friday night to claim top spot in the table, at least overnight. Munich were dominant in the first half, but it was only Harry Kane's record-breaking goal that ultimately separated the sides as Bayern sealed three points.

The Bavarians started with Manuel Neuer in goal and Konrad Laimer, Dayot Upamecano, Minjae Kim and Noussair Mazraoui in a back four. Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka anchored a midfield featuring Kingsley Coman, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Leroy Sané, with Kane as the target man.

Deserved lead

Bayern dominated from the off and almost took an early lead, but a Choupo-Moting effort went just wide before Timo Hübers beat Kane to a low cross and hit his own post. Sané saw a chip saved when through on goal, with Neuer denying Dejan Ljubičić at the other end. Köln's approach was bold at first but it allowed Bayern space to counter. Choupo-Moting had a shot cleared off the line but Kane was on hand to mop up the rebound and score his 18th goal after a mere 12 Bundesliga appearances - a new record and the most in a single season by an Englishman.

Further chances came and went for Choupo-Moting, Sané and Coman as the home side dropped increasingly deeper. Neuer saved a Rasmus Carstensen header before his Köln counterpart Marvin Schwäbe denied Coman, and the sides went into half-time with Munich a goal to the good.

Slow-burning second half

Clear-cut chances were at a premium after the restart, with Bayern happy to sit back and wait for a mistake. Hübers headed over, with Choupo-Moting seeing a shot blocked.

The game sprang to life again in the last quarter-hour, Kane seeing a header deflected behind before a Sané shot was blocked. Coman’s header hit the crossbar, Neuer beat Luca Waldschmidt to a ball and Mazraoui saw an effort blocked as Bayern sealed a narrow but deserved victory.

The result means Bayern have 31 points from 12 matches, one clear of Bayer Leverkusen, who take on Werder Bremen on Saturday. The Bavarians will be back in action on Wednesday when they entertain Copenhagen in the Champions League.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen