Michael Olise (second from left) made it 2-0. © ANSA / ANNA SZILAGYI

Kane with a header, Olise clever: Bayern beats BVB

FC Bayern, led by super striker Harry Kane, has celebrated the next victory of its flawless season and is pulling away from the competition in the Bundesliga.

18 October 2025

From: dpa

Kane, a brilliant goal-scorer and playmaker, and Michael Olise decided the top match against Borussia Dortmund with their goals – after the 2-1 (1-0) win, BVB is clearly far ahead for now.

Munich's prolific scoring ensured that the long-splitting German football classic remained exciting until the end, preventing Borussia from suffering a bigger defeat of the season. Kane gave the home side the lead with a header in the 22nd minute – Olise made it 2-0 in the 79th minute. Shortly afterward, substitute Julian Brandt pulled one back (84th minute) – and things were tight again.

Harry Kane got things started. © ANSA / ANNA SZILAGYI

The Munich team now has eleven wins in as many matches across all competitions. In the Bundesliga, coach Vincent Kompany's team is five points ahead of RB Leipzig after Matchday 7. Dortmund have slipped from second to fourth place in the table and are already seven points behind Bayern.

Bayern dominates at will for a long time

"We have to be like a fist. A fist hurts more than a slap," Dortmund coach Niko Kovac said before the match. It had long been a pious wish. Borussia were far from scoring any effective goals in their 113th Bundesliga clash against Bayern.

Bayern played significantly better. © ANSA / ANNA SZILAGYI

The home team dominated the match for a long time, with stats showing Munich had almost 75 percent possession before the break. The fact that they only went into the break with a 1-0 lead was the only good news for BVB. Following a corner from Joshua Kimmich, Kane surprisingly had no pressure to head the ball. Opponent Serhou Guirassy and goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, who didn't move off the line, didn't look good.

Many missed opportunities

In a one-sided first half, Bayern had several chances to slap the ball – but then wingers Olise and Luis Díaz, in particular, failed to find the net. Olise wasted an early chance (3'), and shortly thereafter, a shot from the Frenchman was saved by Dortmund keeper Gregor Kobel (11'), as was Díaz's follow-up. After a spectacular interchange, Olise later hit the outside of the post (36'), and Díaz's shot was blocked at the last moment shortly after.

Dortmund's defense, which initially featured former international Niklas Süle in place of the injured Ramy Bensebaini, barely had a chance to catch their breath for 45 minutes. "We can't park the bus at the back. We have to look for a way forward," coach Kovac told Sky. There was no sign of that before halftime.

Dortmund reacted too late. © APA/afp / ALEXANDRA BEIER

Bayern also had to replace a regular starter at short notice because Serge Gnabry was suffering from adductor problems. Kane replaced the German national team player in the number 10 position, while summer signing Nicolas Jackson moved into the striker position. And it was Kane who then orchestrated Munich's attacking play, repeatedly winning balls in his own half and initiating quick attacks with clever, precise passes. The only thing the Munich team could complain about at halftime was their failure to convert chances.

Dortmund's late goal threat

Dortmund hadn't lost to Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga three times in a row – after the break, at least the effort to continue that run was evident. In front of national coach Julian Nagelmann, Felix Nmecha had the Westphalians' first chance with a header (49th minute), and Guirassy fired a powerful shot over the bar (59th minute).

But that was the end of Dortmund's goal threat for a long time. When Olise took advantage of Dortmund's uncertainty in front of their own goal with a clever sliding tackle to make it 2-0, the match seemed to be over. But Brandt surprisingly pulled one back.

The results

Heidenheim – Bremen 2:2
Goals: 0:1 Grüll (50th), 1:1 Schimmer (67th), 1:2 Stage (69th), 2:2 Föhrenbach (83rd)

Cologne – Augsburg 1:1
Goals: 0:1 Rieder (54th), 1:1 El Mala (76th)

Mainz – Leverkusen 3:4
Goals: 0:1 Grimaldo (11th), 0:2 Kofane (24th), 1:2 Lee (34th), 1:3 Grimaldo (45+3rd), 2:3 Amiri (71st), 2:4 Terrier (87th), 3:4 Sieb (90th)

Leipzig – Hamburg 2:1
Goals: 1:0 Baumgartner (45th), 1:1 Lokonga (48th), 2:1 Baumgartner (50th)

Wolfsburg – Stuttgart 0:3
Goals: 0:1 Tomas (35th), 0:2 Mittelstädt (55th), 0:3 Stiller (80th)

Bayern – Dortmund 2:1
Goals: 1:0 Kane (22nd) 2:0 Olise (79th), 2:1 Brandt (84th)