Late Tel goal takes Bayern past stubborn Gladbach

BERLIN: A goal from French teenager Mathys Tel with three minutes remaining took Bayern Munich to a 2-1 win at Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday.
A first-half strike from Kou Itakura had Gladbach looking like keeping their recent hoodoo over Bayern alive, before Leroy Sane pulled one back midway through the second half.
With the clock winding down, Bayern's Joshua Kimmich curled in a corner and Tel found himself unmarked, with Gladbach's defence focusing their energies on Harry Kane.
Tel headed in, sending the visiting fans into raptures and sending Bayern top of the table, at least until Union Berlin host RB Leipzig on Sunday.
Two German giants of the 1970s, Gladbach has become Bayern's bogey side over the past decade, despite the Bavarians winning the last 11 Bundesliga titles.
Bayern had won only one of their past seven against Gladbach, a run which included a 5-0 German Cup thumping in 2021, Bayern's biggest loss since the 1970s.
Despite scoring seven goals in their first two league games, Bayern had few chances early, Gladbach suffocating striker Kane out of the game.
The home side broke the deadlock after 30 minutes, Itakura heading in a rebound from a corner to give his side the lead.
With Kane receiving Gladbach's attention, Sane found space and looked the most likely, rattling the crossbar five minutes from half-time.
The former Man City winger eventually got his side on the board in the second half, pivoting after collecting a Joshua Kimmich chip and sliding the ball into goal with the studs of his boot.
Tel, 18, came from the bench in the 81st minute and scored just six minutes later to snare the three points for Bayern.
Nigeria striker Victor Boniface scored in each half to help Bayer Leverkusen to a 5-1