MUNICH, GERMANY — The Allianz Arena crackled with anticipation on a night that delivered everything Bundesliga football promises — goals, drama, and a late twist that set nerves jangling before Bayern Munich ultimately held on for a pulsating 3-2 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt. Harry Kane was the central figure, scoring twice and tormenting the visitors throughout, but Frankfurt's refusal to capitulate ensured a nervy finale that had the home faithful on edge deep into stoppage time.
It was Aleksandar Pavlovic who drew first blood, rifling a left-footed effort from outside the box into the bottom right corner in the 16th minute following a corner routine. The Allianz Arena erupted, and the tone was set. Four minutes later, Kane doubled the advantage with a powerful header from close range, meeting Josip Stanisic's headed pass from a corner and directing the ball into the centre of the goal. Bayern were rampant, and Frankfurt looked shell-shocked.
The visitors' goalkeeper Kauã Santos was the only thing standing between Bayern and a rout. In the 19th minute, he produced a fine stop to deny Kane from a difficult angle on the left, tipping the effort onto the top of the frame. Seven minutes later, Santos was at it again, saving Stanisic's right-footed effort from the right side of the box after Jamal Musiala had carved open the Frankfurt defence. The Brazilian stopper was already earning his wages, and the night was still young.
The second half brought more of the same relentless Bayern pressure. Kane tested Santos twice in quick succession around the hour mark, with Michael Olise the provider on both occasions, before the England captain finally beat him in the 68th minute — a composed left-footed finish from outside the box into the bottom left corner after a precise delivery from Joshua Kimmich. At 3-0, the contest appeared over.
Frankfurt, however, had other ideas. A VAR review confirmed a penalty after Harry Kane fouled Oscar Højlund in the area in the 73rd minute, and Jonathan Burkardt — introduced from the bench just moments earlier — stepped up to convert coolly to the bottom left corner in the 77th minute. Suddenly, the tie had a pulse again. The visitors sensed blood, and Jonathan Burkardt rattled the left post in the 62nd minute — a moment that, in hindsight, foreshadowed Frankfurt's second-half resurgence. Then, with four minutes remaining, Arnaud Kalimuendo — another substitute — lashed a left-footed shot from the centre of the box into the top right corner to make it 3-2 and set up a frantic finale.
Bayern scrambled to hold on through nine minutes of added time, with Aurèle Amenda picking up a yellow card in the 90th+8' minute as Frankfurt threw everything forward. Mario Götze's header drifted just too high in the dying seconds, and Bayern survived.
The statistics told the story of Bayern's dominance, even if the scoreline flattered Frankfurt. The Bavarians launched 24 shots at goal compared to Eintracht Frankfurt's 9, winning 8 corners to Frankfurt's 2 and registering 11 shots on target. Yet the numbers also underline Frankfurt's resilience — Kauã Santos made 8 saves in a genuinely heroic individual display, single-handedly keeping his side in the match long enough for the late drama to unfold. Possession was split almost evenly at 50.6% to 49.4%, a reflection of Frankfurt's willingness to engage rather than simply defend. Three yellow cards for the visitors — including one for Nnamdi Collins for a bad foul — spoke to the desperation that crept into their play as the game wore on.
Bayern Munich, sitting top of the Bundesliga with 57 points from 22 games and a goal difference of +63, march on with their title credentials intact. Frankfurt, seventh on 31 points, showed enough character to suggest they remain a dangerous proposition for any side. Bayern will carry this momentum into a mouth-watering trip to face Borussia Dortmund on February 28, while Frankfurt must dust themselves off before hosting SC Freiburg on the same date.