Joshua Kimmich secured a late win for FC Bayern in the Bundesliga classic against Borussia Dortmund. Niko Kovac had great words for the Munich midfielder after the final whistle. The Bayern captain himself also sent a clear message in the title race.
FC Bayern’s 3:2 win at Borussia Dortmund had one decisive moment and it was Joshua Kimmich’s. In the 87th minute, the 31-year-old volleyed the ball into the net to clinch the top match.
Dortmund coach Niko Kovac made no secret after the match as to who he blamed for the defeat. „He was the small but significant difference,“ said the BVB coach about the international. Kovac added about the late goal: „That’s world class.“
The Bayern star had already initiated the equalizer beforehand. His sensitive chip ball found Harry Kane, who scored in the 54th minute to make it 1:1. Kovac also expressly highlighted this action: „You have to acknowledge that as an opposing coach.“ Overall, the Dortmund coach spoke of a „really good Clasico“ and „advertising for German soccer“. His team had „deserved a point“.
Kimmich clear: „We won’t concede that again“
The win means that the record champions are now eleven points ahead of the runners-up in the table. For Kimmich, this was an opportunity to make a clear statement in the championship race. „It’s up to us. You have to be honest about that. We now have an eleven-point lead. We’re not going to give that up,“ the midfielder explained on the Sky microphone at Signal-Iduna-Park, adding: „It’s going to stay that way!“
The 31-year-old said of his goal: „I didn’t have many options left at that moment. I just concentrated on getting the ball in properly. And luckily it went in at the back.“ The goal in Dortmund was special for him: „I generally don’t score that many goals now, so I like to take every goal with me. To make it 3:2 so late in Dortmund is of course something very special.“
However, Kimmich admitted that it had not been an easy evening. They had „struggled for a long time“ and spoke of a „very physical game“. The first half in particular was „very disjointed“ before it became „a bit more fluid“ after the break.
