Kingsley Coman of Bayern Munich (2nd L) in action during the Bundesliga match against Hertha Berlin in Berlin, Germany, February 5, 2021. /CFP
Kingsley Coman of Bayern Munich (2nd L) in action during the Bundesliga match against Hertha Berlin in Berlin, Germany, February 5, 2021. /CFP
Kingsley Coman's first-half winner handed Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich a 1-0 victory at Hertha Berlin on Friday.
The win leaves Bayern 10 points clear of second-placed RB Leipzig, who have a game in hand away to crisis-hit Schalke on Saturday.
Coman found the net with a deflected shot on 21 minutes to give Bayern all three points in snowy Berlin, just hours before they left for next week's tournament in Qatar.
A bright start from the home side was snuffed out when goalkeeper Rune Jarstein brought down Leroy Sane in the box on 11 minutes.
Yet the Hertha stopper redeemed himself immediately, diving to his right to save Robert Lewandowski's penalty.
Ten minutes later, Jarstein was left flapping at the ball as Coman's shot deflected off Niklas Stark and looped into the net.
Both Jarstein and his opposite number Manuel Neuer made several saves before half-time, as an entertaining game swung from end to end.
Hertha had a brilliant chance to equalize two minutes from time, as Matheus Cunha beat the offside trap and found himself one-on-one with Neuer.
Yet the Brazilian's chip over the Bayern keeper trickled wide of the post, prompting howls of anguish from the Berlin bench.
Bayern will face African Champions League winners Al-Ahly in Monday's semi-final in Doha.
Players of Inter Milan celebrate during the Serie A match against Fiorentina in Florence, Italy, February 5, 2021. /CFP
Players of Inter Milan celebrate during the Serie A match against Fiorentina in Florence, Italy, February 5, 2021. /CFP
In Serie A, Inter Milan moved to the top of the standings with a 2-0 win at Fiorentina.
Antonio Conte's side pulled one point clear of AC Milan to keep the pressure on their city rivals who host lowly Crotone on Sunday.
Champions Juventus, in fourth, will host third-placed Roma on Saturday.
Fifth-placed Napoli will play Genoa with Lazio looking to push their winning streak to six matches against a Cagliari side without a league win in 13 attempts.
Source(s): AFP