Robert Lewandowski scored another hat-trick, striking late to ensure that Bayern Munich stay top of the Bundesliga after a remarkable come-from-behind 4-2 win over Borussia Dortmund in a thrilling "Klassiker".
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Lewandowski completed his treble in the last minute, shortly after Leon Goretzka had put Bayern ahead for the first time following Erling Haaland's early double which had fired the visitors 2-0 ahead after only nine minutes.
The win ensured that Bayern stay two points clear of RB Leipzig, who increased the pressure on the defending champions earlier on Saturday with a 3-0 win at Freiburg.
It was the sixth consecutive league game in which Dortmund had conceded at least four goals in Munich - a bitter blow for Edin Terzic's team after they had frustrated Bayern for the first 88 minutes.
The visitors made a furious start, Haaland scoring in the second minute with the help of a deflection from Bayern defender Jerome Boateng, seven minutes before Thorgan Hazard set up the Norwegian for a tap-in.
But Lewandowski pulled one back in the 26th and equalised from the penalty spot before the interval after Mahmoud Dahoud fouled Kingsley Coman in the area. A VAR review confirmed it was the correct decision.
Haaland hurt his right foot after a challenge from Boateng and had to go off in the 60th.
Boateng himself was carried off 10 minutes later after injuring himself making a clearance.
Bayern pushed harder for the win with Dortmund relying on long balls forward for reserve team striker Steffen Tigges. The visitors were without Jadon Sancho, Gio Reyna and Raphael Guerreiro due to injury.
Goretzka capitalised on a defensive mistake to make the breakthrough in off the left post, and Lewandowski claimed his 31st goal of the season while Dortmund were still reeling from going behind.
Dortmund complained about a possible foul in the play that led to Goretzka's goal, with Terzic saying "it was definitely a foul."
"We were fast to react," Goretzka told broadcaster Sky. "To score a vital goal in the final minutes ... you can only imagine what it would have been like if the stadium had been full."
Teammate Thomas Muller added: "Fighting spirit is in our DNA - but it's hard work, it (the comeback) wasn't part of our game plan."
At Freiburg, Christopher Nkunku scored Leipzig's opener shortly before the break and in-form Alexander Sorloth and Emil Forsberg sealed the three points with goals after the break that gave them a sixth straight league win.
Third-placed Wolfsburg saw their unbeaten league run ended after nine games in a 2-1 defeat at Hoffenheim with Andrej Kramaric scoring the winner.
Australian Associated Press
