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Harry Kane struck twice, including a stoppage-time winner, to guide Bayern Munich to a 2-1 victory over RB Leipzig on Saturday, snapping a three-game losing run in all competitions and staying eight points off leaders Bayer Leverkusen.
The embattled Bavarians, desperate to end a losing run of two consecutive Bundesliga defeats along with one in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie against Lazio, concluded a turbulent week on a high after having decided to part ways with coach Thomas Tuchel at the end of the season.
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“We played a very good first half, but couldn’t take the lead,” Tuchel said. “The second half was a bit complicated. We scored the opener when Leipzig were strong.
“We reacted well after the equaliser. The win was good for us after three defeats in a row.”
Bayern are in second place, eight points behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen, who are top on 61 after their 2-1 win over Mainz on Friday. Leipzig remained fifth on 40.
Tuchel said talking about title chances at the moment was superfluous.
“We don’t need to talk about that [title chances],” he said. “We have to win every single game now. The situation is clear, Leverkusen have a big lead. Now we have to deal with this situation.”
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Bayern should have gone in front in the first half when Kane hit the post with a fifth minute header and come close again with a bicycle kick.
Leipzig enjoyed the better start after the break, testing keeper Manuel Neuer repeatedly before Kane drilled in on the quick break after good early work from Jamal Musiala.
Leipzig, battling for a top four finish and a spot in next season’s Champions League, had two golden chances with Benjamin Sesko but both times Neuer denied the Slovenian.
The keeper was beaten in the 70th when Sesko’s shot took a slight deflection to wrong-foot him.
Kane, however, came to the rescue once more with his 27th league goal of the season, drilling in a powerful low drive to snatch the three points.
“Harry has been doing this since he was 14 years old, firing 50 goals every year and that won’t change,” Tuchel said.
“It’s maths. The more he misses the more likely he is to score with his next chance.”