MUNICH – Few things are as straightforward as handing the ball to a Ballon d'Or-winning striker from the penalty spot. So when Harry Kane stepped up in the 56th minute at the Allianz Arena, there was little reason to expect anything other than a goal on a day that seemed tailor-made for him. Before kickoff, Bayern Munich had turned Der Klassiker into a celebration of Kane's Ballon d'Or triumph.
Accompanied by his family, Kane walked onto the pitch carrying the trophy as Bayern unveiled a giant banner bearing his likeness in the center circle and flag-bearers waved red-and-white Bayern flags around the pitch. The striker even wore a special red jersey with gold trim befitting the game's newest golden boy. Yet five days after collecting soccer's most prestigious individual award, Kane drove his penalty against the crossbar, the ball ricocheting back into play rather than over the line.
The miss was not a deterrent for Bayern, who went on to unleash 23 shots worth 4.05 expected goals to Borussia Dortmund's 12 and 0.63. The numbers reflected their status as the Bundesliga's undeniable heavyweight, pinning Dortmund back for long stretches as the Allianz Arena swelled with every attack and groaned with every near miss. For once, though, life came at Bayern fast.
Kane's penalty was merely the first sign that this would not be a routine Der Klassiker. A 2-2 draw followed, ensuring the title race would survive another weekend and leaving the two sides level on points, just as they had entered the night. By the numbers, Bayern had done enough to win and may have left feeling aggrieved by the crossbar's intervention.
It denied Kane from the spot and, deep into stoppage time, thwarted Lennart Karl's curling effort from the edge of the box. Yet the hosts never fully established the relentless rhythm that has become their hallmark. Bayern generated chances in waves, but Dortmund repeatedly found moments to slow the tempo, relieve pressure and remind their rivals that control of the match was never quite as complete as control of the shot chart.
The match ebbed and flowed, each team enjoying meaningful stretches of possession, creating a tension that lingered until the final whistle. To Dortmund's credit, they identified the only realistic way to blunt Bayern's superiority. The visitors did not stop Bayern from attacking, a near-impossible task these days.
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