Kane brace as Bayern beat Frankfurt

FC Bayern beat Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 in the Bundesliga on Saturday ahead of Tuesday's Champions League encounter with Real Madrid. Harry Kane handed Bayern an early lead before Hugo Ekitiké levelled the scores midway through the first half, but Kane converted a penalty on the hour to seal three points. The result, combined with Dortmund's defeat away at Leipzig, means Bayern are guaranteed qualification for the Champions League.

Bayern lined up with Manuel Neuer in goal and Joshua Kimmich, Matthijs de Ligt, Eric Dier and Noussair Mazraoui in defence. Konrad Laimer and Leon Goretzka anchored a midfield featuring Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Thomas Müller and Raphaël Guerreiro, with Kane as the target man.

Laimer had to be replaced with injury in the first half, Aleksandar Pavlović taking over. Minjae Kim replaced de Ligt at half-time, with Mathys Tel, Alphonso Davies and Lovro Zvoranek coming on for Kimmich, Mazraoui and Guerreiro in the second half.

Level at half-time

Bayern were dominant at first and Müller soon blasted over before Laimer won the ball in midfield, charged forward and squared for Kane to tap home. Neuer denied Omar Marmoush before Dier miscued a header at the other end, but Frankfurt levelled the scores out of the blue when Ekitiké curled into the bottom right corner of the net from 20 yards.

Keeper Kevin Trapp denied Müller and Eric Junior Dina Ebimbe fired wide. Trapp made a fine save against Choupo-Moting, with Goretzka firing wide from distance. Neuer denied Ansgar Knauff before Trapp deflected Guerreiro's shot onto the crossbar on the stroke of half-time.

Harry seals it

Knauff curled wide and Goretzka saw an effort deflected behind after the restart. Robin Koch then upended Müller in the box and Bayern were awarded a penalty following VAR intervention, with Kane dispatching into the left corner beyond Trapp.

Müller had a shot cleared off the line and a Tel cross evaded friend and foe alike. Trapp saved from Kane before Müller fired over a promising half-volley as Bayern sealed a deserved victory.

The result takes Bayern onto 69 points from 31 matches, six clear of VfB Stuttgart, who take on Bayer Leverkusen later on Saturday. The Bavarians will be back in action on Tuesday when they entertain Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final first leg.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen