Dortmund Deny Kane a Goal, Preserve Bundesliga Title Race with Draw at Allianz Arena

MUNICH – Harry Kane’s penalty miss at the Allianz Arena on Saturday denied him a goal on a night that seemed tailor‑made for the Ballon d’Or winner. Bayern had built the fixture around his triumph, displaying a giant banner and a gold‑trimmed jersey.

Five days after collecting soccer’s most prestigious individual award, Kane stepped up from the spot in the 56th minute only to hit the crossbar; the rebound stayed out. The miss did not halt Bayern, who out‑shot Dortmund 23‑12 and generated 4.05 expected goals to the visitors’ 0.63. Despite their dominance, they could not convert the pressure into a win.

Dortmund’s approach was to blunt Bayern’s rhythm rather than stop them attacking. They limited the hosts to 284 touches in the first half‑hour – well below Bayern’s league average – and kept the game open. The visitors’ resilience was highlighted when Konrad Laimer’s 38th‑minute strike restored parity, and later Fabio Silva’s goal gave them a 2‑1 lead.

“I probably could have been out there for another hour today and the ball wouldn’t have gone in the back of the net,” Kane said afterward. “You have to take that on the chin sometimes … It’s nothing to cry about.”

“Harry is such a great penalty taker,” Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel said. “You can’t really predict it, but I just tried to [not] give him anything. … Today, I thought I’d just give him nothing. I tried to make it hard as soon as possible for him and luckily it worked.”

“Every game is important for me,” Silva added. “It’s not about scoring against Bayern. I’m just thinking of helping the team with my football. Not all about goals. … Of course, I prefer [to] start than be on the bench.”

Although Bayern controlled possession and created numerous chances, they lacked the finishing edge that usually turns pressure into points. The draw left both sides level on points, ensuring the Bundesliga title race stays wide open.

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