Modeste beats buzzer to breathe life into Der Klassiker and his own career

The first to approach him was Edin Terzić, and neither man attempted to look for the right words. They just saw each other, knew what it meant, and held each other, before the coach whispered a few words of vindication to his player. Teammates had submerged Anthony Modeste instants before at the denouement of this breathless Klassiker and now they followed Terzić, queuing up to congratulate the French striker on his moment of delight and relief.

Youssoufa Moukoko, the effervescent forward half Modeste’s age who had begun the comeback and whose performances in the last week had seemed to start the process of making the older man look obsolete, hugged his senior in a touching moment – pointing to Modeste as they walked towards Signal Iduna Park’s main stand, telling those in it to give it up for the man whose header delivered Borussia Dortmund from yet more disappointment in this fixture.

Further along in that same stand Oliver Kahn had shown what it meant with his reaction to Modeste’s later-than-late equaliser. The Bayern Munich chief’s reaction is destined to be the gif of choice for the rest of this year, as he slumped back in his seat then hit his forearms forward with an “Ah Mann!” summing up the twist, the shock, the exasperation and the celebration.

Dieses Ergebnis haut einen doch vom Stuhl… Ein verrücktes Fußballspiel mit einem frustrierenden Ende für uns. Dass wir mit dem Abpfiff das Tor kassieren, ist mehr als ärgerlich. pic.twitter.com/z6Muhwi5lK

This was the time for emotion, not analysis. Up until the evening’s incredible climax it was following a familiar, if entertaining, script. Bayern had threatened little in the first half yet taken the lead through Leon Goretzka’s shot from outside the area, their only