Bayern beat Frankfurt thanks to Kane as Leverkusen lose

Berlin [Germany], February 22: Harry Kane scored a double yet again as nervy Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich overcame Eintracht Frankfurt 3-2 at home on Saturday to throw down the gauntlet to Borussia Dortmund.
Champions Bayern are nine points clear at the top and Dortmund face a tricky trip to RB Leipzig in the late game. They will look to trim the gap back to six ahead of the top duo meeting next weekend in Dortmund on matchday 24 of 34.
Discover more
Foreign policy analysis
Media consulting services
Quranic studies courses
Aleksandar Pavlovi? fired in from the edge of the box in wet conditions, although there were renewed question marks around Frankfurt keeper Kaua Santos.
Kane soon made in 2-0 on 20 minutes when he headed in a flicked-on corner. The England captain's 501st career goal meant he went ahead of his tally for the whole of the last league season.
His 28th goal of the Bundesliga campaign followed with his weaker left foot from outside the box in the second half as he threatens Robert Lewandowski's record of 41 in a German top-flight campaign.
It was Kane's third brace in three Bundesliga games and his only blemish was conceding a 77th-minute penalty for the returning Jonathan Burkardt to cut the deficit.
A terrible pass by Joshua Kimmich meant Frankfurt made it 3-2 late on through Arnaud Kalimuendo, but Bayern hung on.
"We have to learn from that. For our aims we can't have moments like we had," Bayern's Jamal Musiala, back in a Bundesliga starting line-up for the first time since April 2025 after injury, told Sky.
"We have to keep our energy and focus at 100% whatever the game, whatever the minute." Sixth-placed Leverkusen's top-four hopes were dented by a 1-0 loss at Union Berlin courtesy of Rani Khedira's first-half goal.
Leverkusen won at Olympiakos Piraeus in their Champions League knock-out round play-off first leg in midweek, but looked jaded in the capital.
A stunning overhead kick from Ragnar Ache helped mid-table Cologne to a 2-2 draw at home to third-placed Hoffenheim.
Wolfsburg remain just a point above the relegation play-off place after a late 3-2 defeat by Augsburg at the Volkswagen Arena.
Davies hurt again Bayern boss Vincent Kompany said possible yellow card suspensions ahead of next Saturday's clash at Dortmund would not come into his thinking, yet he rested Jonathan Tah and Leon Goretzka for all but the nervous last few minutes.
Kimmich did start and avoided a booking, but Alphonso Davies was forced off with yet another injury.
Jonas Urbig - again deputizing in Bayern's goal for the injury-prone Manuel Neuer - was barely troubled by injury-hit Frankfurt in the first half.
But the Eagles later hit the post through Burkardt on his return from over two months out and could easily have levelled for 3-3 through ex-Bayern man Mario Gotze in stoppage time.
New Frankfurt boss Albert Riera won his league opener last weekend against Borussia Monchengladbach after the firing of Dino Toppmoller.
But a poor start in Munich ultimately cost his side despite a much improved second half.
Mainz and SV Hamburg drew 1-1 on Friday to both edge further from trouble. There are three games on Sunday including bottom side Heidenheim at home to fourth-placed VfB Stuttgart.
Source: Qatar Tribune