Joshua Kimmich: Bayern Munich’s man for decisive Klassiker goals

Joshua Kimmich’s eye-catching late volley to decide Der Klassiker for Bayern Munich against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday was not the first time he has been decisive in Germany’s biggest fixture.

Nor was it the second. In fact, the 31-year-old has now scored three times against Dortmund. All three goals have been spectacular. And all three have been match-winning strikes.

His effort at Signal Iduna Park, a precise, side-footed volley in the 87th minute to seal a 3-2 victory, crowned his 20th Bundesliga Klassiker outing, and 27th against BVB overall. 

Watch: Highlights of Bayern’s Matchday 24 win in Dortmund

“We decided the game really, really late,” Kimmich said afterwards. “We knew that we had to stay calm and that they wouldn’t be able to match our level over the 90 minutes after the tough week’s they’ve had. It was a really important win for us.”

That is quite the understatement. Now with an 11-point lead at the summit, it will take a record-breaking run from Dortmund to wrestle the Meisterschale from Bayern’s grip.

Watch: Kimmich relfects on Klassiker win

About the players

6

Joshua

Kimmich

FC Bayern München

Kimmich’s first goal against Dortmund was just as memorable. Going into the teams’ Matchday 28 meeting at Signal Iduna Park in the 2019/20 season, Bayern’s lead at the top of the Bundesliga was just four points. Had BVB won that day, the title race could have taken on a very different complexion.

The midfielder had other ideas, though. Finding a pocket of space on the edge of the Dortmund box just before half-time, he executed a sublime chip over goalkeeper Roman Bürki to give Bayern a 1-0 win.

The Black-Yellows never recovered from that setback, and Bayern ended up lifting the Meisterschale with a 13-point advantage.

Watch: Kimmich’s match-winning chip 

He was the thorn in Dortmund’s side again just four months later in the Supercup [now known as the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup]. Bayern had gone 2-0 up at the Allianz Arena, but an Erling Haaland double pulled Dortmund level.

With extra time approaching, Kimmich stepped up once again. In the 82nd minute, he charged into the BVB box and fired off a low shot that was saved by Marwin Hitz.

Under pressure from a Dortmund defender, Kimmich was falling to the ground but still managed to react in time to get to the rebound and lift it over the goalkeeper and into the net for a 3-2 victory.

 Watch: Kimmich decides 2020 Supercup

Once is an accident, twice is a coincidence. But three times is very much a pattern in Kimmich's case.

About the clubs

Bayern Munich

Allianz Arena