Bayern overcome Augsburg in Bavarian derby

FC Bayern beat FC Augsburg 3-2 in Saturday's Bavarian derby. Aleksandar Pavlović and Alphonso Davies handed Munich a 2-0 lead before half-time. Augsburg's Ermedin Demirović pulled one back early in the second half, but Harry Kane soon restored the two-goal lead. Demirović converted a penalty in added time, moments after Manuel Neuer had saved a spot-kick, but Bayern claimed an ultimately crucial victory.

The Bavarians started with Neuer in goal and Raphaël Guerreiro, Matthijs de Ligt, Eric Dier and Davies in defence. Pavlović and Leon Goretzka anchored a midfield featuring Leroy Sané, Jamal Musiala and Kingsley Coman, with Kane up front. Coman had to be replaced with injury midway through the first half by Mathys Tel. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Thomas Müller and Lovro Zvonarek came on for Sané, Musiala and Pavlović in the closing stages.

Pavlović opens

The match got off to a lively start, Demirović testing Neuer before referee Christian Dingert pointed to the spot after de Ligt handled the ball near the box, but it was overturned for a free-kick after VAR intervention. Augsburg soon had the ball in the net, but Elvis Rexhbecaj's goal was chalked off for offside.

Goretzka hit the side-netting as Bayern slowly grew into the game, and Pavlović opened the scoring when he capitalised on a loose ball in the box from a corner, netting his first competitive goal for FCB. The match ebbed now, with Guerreiro firing an effort over. Munich upped the ante again before half-time and Kane fired just wide before Davies doubled the lead when he crashed the ball into the bottom left corner of the net from the edge of the box.

Drama till the end

The hosts pulled one back after the restart, Kevin Mbabu's cross finding Demirović, who headed past Neuer. Fredrik Jensen fired wide, but Bayern responded minutes later when Kane tapped in from close range. The flag went up for offside, but the goal stood after a VAR review.

The contest was long on aggression but short on clear-cut chances for a spell. Augsburg increasingly opened up and Tel struck the post from a counter before Musiala hit the side-netting and Kane saw a header blocked. The hosts were awarded a penalty following another VAR check after Neuer caught Felix Uduokhai going up for the ball. The Bayern skipper made amends by saving from Sven Michel. Dingert pointed to the spot again after Müller's challenge on Demirović, who converted from 12 yards, but Bayern held on for all three points.

The result takes Bayern onto 47 points from 19 matches, one short of Bayer Leverkusen, who take on Borussia Mönchengladbach later on Saturday. The Bavarians will be back in action next Saturday when they entertain Gladbach at the Allianz Arena.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen