European football: Bayern’s lucky 13 as Kimmich breaks down 10-man Gladbach

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Bayern Munich needed more than an hour before breaking the resistance of Borussia Mönchengladbach, to earn a 3-0 victory over opponents who spent more than 75% of the game with 10 men. It was the Bundesliga leaders’ 13th win in 13 matches across all competitions this season.

Joshua Kimmich slotted in after 64 minutes and the substitute Raphaël Guerreiro added another five minutes later before the teenager Lennart Karl, who had scored in their Champions League win over Club Brugge on Wednesday, made it 3-0 in the 81st. Bayern have a maximum 24 points from eight league matches, five ahead of RB Leipzig, 6-0 winners at Augsburg.

Bayern, who set a league record with 30 goals from eight games, almost took the lead after 55 seconds with Harry Kane combining with Nicolas Jackson to send Luis Díaz through, but the Colombian missed the target.

Gladbach put up a fight but their game plans looked to be going out the window in the 18th minute following the dismissal of Jens Castrop, who received a straight red card for a studs-up challenge.

The hosts retreated but Bayern still did not get a single shot on or off target after Díaz’s missed early chance until a weak effort from Kane in the 43rd minute. It was one-way traffic after the break, with Michael Olise missing a double chance in the 50th minute and Kane’s effort a little later ruled offside.

Kimmich finally broke the deadlock in the 64th minute, finding enough space in the crowded box to stab in before Guerreiro doubled their lead six minutes later. Karl then curled a shot into the top corner to finish the job in the 81st minute for his first Bundesliga goal.

Kevin Stöger had the chance to get Gladbach back in the game but he sent his 75th-minute penalty on to a post. Bottom-placed Gladbach are now 15 league games without a win, a club record.

Third-placed Borussia Dortmund were playing Cologne in the late kick-off. In Italy, the match of the day was between Napoli and Inter, while in France Paris Saint-Germain were at Brest.