U Gotta Be Kimmich Me

The stage was set. The artificial piped-in sounds were ready & blaring: the recreation of fan noises to 'mimic' a real stadium atmosphere; complete with boos for away team and cheers for home. Former Spurs legend Steffen Freund was in the commentary booth. A masked Oliver Kahn; Franz Beckenbauer and a slightly over-zealous Hasan Salihamidzic were watching from the stands. Two 41-goal strikers awaited: Erling Braut Haaland & Robert Lewandowski. So began the epic showpiece of German football - Borussia Dortmund v Bayern Munich.

And it was Bayern who grabbed the all-important goal two minutes before half-time. It was German star Joshua Kimmich who produced a magnificent chip over the out-stretched Roman Burki to put Bayern crucially ahead; and there it stayed till the final whistle. It was great creativity from the outstanding Kimmich; but I think there were two mistakes from Burki as well. Firstly; he was stationed too far off his line in that scenario; and though he back-pedaled well; he should have flicked it over the bar rather than attempt to claw it out.

Overall; it must be said that Bayern had the better of this chess-match. Their 4-3-3 formation trumped Dortmund's 3-4-3; notably working harder in the centre of the park and utilising the movement up-front of Serge Gnabry, Kingsley Coman & Thomas Muller to create space. They also pressed Dortmund well up-top; thus denying them the time & luxury of building up plays from the back. In the second half; with the match entering its crucial stages; Hansi Flick smartly switched to a more-conservative 4-5-1 formation; bringing in the more defensive-minded Javi Martinez for Gnabry; and safely seeing the game through.

For Dortmund; it was a disappointing outing for their star striker Haaland. He played like there was too much expected of him; snatching at chances and being at times just a little too slow to the loose ball. His day was perhaps summed up when he had a shot cleared off the line; a goal-bound grounder cleared via the arm of the ground-stricken Jerome Boateng (and a possible penalty); and finally had to hobble off injured. It must be said too that Bayern could well have had a late penalty awarded when Lewandowski was rater unceremoniously showed off the ball by Manuel Akanji.

So after the dust had stttlled; it was Bayern who came away with the vital away win. They are now seven points clear at the top with six games to go. The destiny of this season's Bundesliga title; looks well and truly set.