Kane penalty sends Bayern four points clear
Harry Kane netted a 68th-minute penalty to give Bayern Munich a 1-0 victory at Borussia Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga and move it four points clear of defending Bayer Leverkusen in second.
Bayern had control of the game at Borussia Park in the first half, with 75 per cent of possession, but struggled to convert that into goals, despite going close through Thomas Muller and Leon Goretzka.
It finally found the breakthrough in the 68th minute when Lukas Ullrich caught Michael Olise in the box to give away the spot-kick and Kane sent Moritz Nicolas the wrong way to break the deadlock, bagging his 15th league goal of the season.
Bayern had chances to make sure of the points after that. Both Alphonso Davies and Serge Gnabry forced impressive saves out of the Gladbach keeper in the closing stages, but the lead was not extended.
Vincent Kompany's side is in top spot with 39 points after 16 games. Gladbach remains in 10th.
Omar Marmoush's goal earlier in the day saw the Eintracht Frankfurt star move level with Kane at the top of the Bundesliga scoring charts, but the England international pulled clear once more.
His 15th goal of the campaign proved vital to earn a win when, for large parts of the game, Bayern struggled to find a way in behind Gladbach.
Gladbach, on the other hand, did not test the returning Manuel Neuer with any of its five attempts.
Its heroic defending kept it in the game, but it did not have enough in the final third to earn a point.
A frustrated Kompany insisted the winning margin should have been higher for his Bayern side.
"It is a very difficult away game, and we were just back from holidays," the Belgian coach said.
"If you had the chances we had today you would want to score two or three goals to kill off the game. We never did that."
Bayern had lost five of its previous nine away games at Gladbach, more than against any other team in the same period, but this time the hosts were largely toothless, particularly in the first half.
"What I liked was the attitude and mentality to keep fighting," Kompany added. "In the final 10 minutes, things could still happen. but we kept our cool.
"We could again have scored a few more goals, but the concentration of the team was really good."
Kane spoke of his desire to win a first trophy of his career prior to the game.
"It's true that, so far, I won individual accomplishments as a top scorer or best player," the England captain said.
"I start every season with the goal to win a trophy and I am not satisfied with being distinguished only on an individual level.
"I'm only 31. I think the best Harry Kane is yet to come. I'm very confident about this, and very confident that the second part of my career, the one which is now beginning, will be rich in major trophies. And when I hang up my boots, it will no longer be a topic."
