Frankfurt, Feb 27 (BNA): Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich needed a goal in the 71st minute from substitute Leroy Sane to break Eintracht Frankfurt’s resistance to a 1-0 win on Saturday that put them nine points clear.
Bundesliga top scorer and Poland striker Robert Lewandowski, who was playing with a blue and yellow hand tape in the colors of the Ukrainian flag, was frustrated by Eintracht goalkeeper Kevin Trapp, who prevented Joshua Kimmich and Kingsley Coman from making great saves.
Frankfurt also had a golden opportunity for themselves in the second half, but Ivan Ndika headed over the bar from close range in the 65th minute.
However, the visitors weren’t ready to end their league scoring record and snatched the winner when Sane caught a perfectly-timed Kimmich pass and tucked it away to beat Trapp.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting could have added another but his twisting shot from a good position in the last minute was saved by Trapp.
“We needed to fight for this win,” said Bayern’s Kimmich. “We did it well, we had many good chances and we should have scored earlier to be more in control at the end.
“The way we played was good and this win is really important,” he said after Bayern’s fifth win in their last six league games.
“But there is still a long way to go, and there have been cases before when we had a little bit of protection and then squandered it. We need to protect this feature until the end.”
Bayern, who have now scored at least once in each of their last 71 Bundesliga games and are chasing a 10th consecutive league title, have 58 points.
Borussia Dortmund, second with 49 games, plays Augsburg on Sunday. Bayer Leverkusen is third with 44 after beating Armenia Bielefeld 3-0 earlier.