Aleksander Pavlović and Harry Kane goals as Bayern overcome Eintracht Frankfurt

FC Bayern beat Eintracht Frankfurt 3-2 on Saturday to win their fourth match in a row. Aleksandar Pavlović and Harry Kane handed Bayern a two-goal lead in the first half. Kane made it three midway through the second half before Jonathan Burkardt and Arnaud Kalimuendo netted for Eintracht.

Bayern started with Jonas Urbig in goal and Josip Stanišić, Dayot Upamecano, Minjae Kim and Alphonso Davies in defence. Pavlović and Joshua Kimmich anchored a midfield featuring Michael Olise, Jamal Musiala and Luis Díaz, with Kane up front. Hiroki Ito, Tom Bischof, Serge Gnabry, Jonathan Tah and Leon Goretzka took over from Davies, Pavlović, Musiala, Kimmich and Olise in the second half.

First-half dominance

Bayern were in the driving seat from the off and Olise fired wide before Musiala saw a shot deflected over the bar. Munich took the lead when the ball was cleared only as far as Pavlović, who beat keeper Kaua Santos from 20 yards.

It was one-way traffic and Vincent Kompany’s team soon doubled their advantage, with Stanišić flicking on Olise’s corner for Kane to head home. Stanišić saw an effort saved and a deflected Musiala shot went inches wide. A Stanišić cross only just evaded Musiala. Urbig denied Jean-Matteo Bahoya at the other end with Eintracht’s first attack of note as Bayern remained two up at half-time.

Close finish

The contest was more balanced after the interval, with Mahmoud Dahoud miscuing an early header. Santos saved from Díaz and Olise fired inches wide before substitute Burkardt hit the post. Munich made it three when they won the ball in Frankfurt’s half and Kane fired past Santos.

Eintracht were awarded a penalty for Kane’s challenge on Oscar Højlund, with Burkardt converting. Things got exciting again when Kimmich was under pressure and passed towards Kim across the face of goal, but Kalimuendo was on hand to slot in. Bischof’s curled a free-kick over and Mario Götze flicked a cross over as Bayern saw out the storm and claimed three points.

The result means Bayern have 60 points from 23 matches, nine clear of Borussia Dortmund, who take on RB Leipzig later on Saturday. The Bavarians will be back in action next Saturday when they travel to face Dortmund in a top-of-the-table clash.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen