Kane scores and inspires Bayern to 2-1 win over Dortmund in Bundesliga's Klassiker

Harry Kane scored again as Bayern Munich dealt Borussia Dortmund its first Bundesliga loss of the season by winning der Klassiker 2-1 on Saturday.

Bayern, the defending champion, dominated and delivered a statement to its closest rival after six rounds.

“It was first versus second. So yeah, there’s a lot on this game, especially for momentum,” Kane said. “We talk a lot about trying to keep our momentum and keep pushing and keep trying to win every game that’s possible, and we’re doing that so far.”

The England forward launched the first good chance, while defending. He eluded two Dortmund forwards, and sent the ball forward. Michael Olise drew a save from Gregor Kobel, who then secured Luis Díaz’s effort from the rebound.

Kane scored in the 22nd minute with a header to Joshua Kimmich’s corner. It was his 22nd goal for club and country this season and stretched his scoring streak in the Bundesliga to five games that have yielded nine goals.

Olise grazed the left post with another shot. The only complaint Bayern could have at the break was that it was leading only 1-0.

“Probably just weren’t clinical enough in the final third," Kane said.

Dortmund improved significantly after the interval when Felix Nmecha went close, Serhou Guirassy fired over, and Karim Adeyemi failed to capitalize on a rare Kimmich mistake.

It mattered little, as Olise sealed the win by sliding in to cut out substitute Jobe Bellingham’s attempted goal-line clearance in the 79th. That move started with a brilliant cross-field ball from Kane for Díaz, whose cross Bellingham needed to clear.

Substitute Julian Brandt scored seconds after his introduction but Kane defended as Bayern held on for its 11th consecutive win across all competitions.

”We did well in the second half to kind of hang in in certain moments. We got the second goal. Disappointing to concede so quickly after, but ultimately it was about digging deep," Kane said.

Bayern, the only undefeated team left, opened a five-point lead over Leipzig, while Dortmund dropped to fourth behind Stuttgart.

Álex Grimaldo scored twice and was booked for complaining as Bayer Leverkusen almost squandered a two-goal lead before beating Mainz 4-3.

Grimaldo converted a penalty and Christian Kofane got another goal before Lee Jae-sung pulled one back for Mainz. Grimaldo scored again before the break but was booked in the 69th when he clearly didn’t agree with referee Florian Exner’s decision to award Mainz a penalty when Phillipp Mwene fell under minimal contact from Arthur.

The decision survived a VAR review despite little evidence of a foul, and Nadiem Amiri scored against his former side from the spot.

Martin Terrier thought he sealed Leverkusen’s win late, then Amiri sent Armindo Sieb through to score in the 90th to ensure a nervy finish for the visitors.

It was Leverkusen's third straight win under new coach Kasper Hjulmand, who was back at his former team. Hjulmand had an unhappy spell in charge of Mainz in 2014-15.

Leipzig held on beat promoted Hamburger SV 2-1 after the home fans honored Hamburg’s Danish forward Yussuf Poulsen with a huge tifo in tribute to his 12 years at the club in his first game back. Leipzig was still in the third division when Poulsen joined from Lyngby in 2013.

Heidenheim drew with Werder Bremen 2-2, Augsburg drew in Cologne 1-1, and Christian Eriksen made his first start for Wolfsburg in a 3-0 loss at home to Stuttgart. It was Wolfsburg's fourth straight Bundesliga defeat and a sixth league game in a row without a win.

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Bayern's Michael Olise, centre, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's second goal during the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Lennart Preiss)

Bayern's Michael Olise during the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Lennart Preiss)

Bayern's Harry Kane, left, and Dortmund's Nico Schlotterbeck, centre, in action during the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Lennart Preiss)

Bayern's Harry Kane, centre, during the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Lennart Preiss)

Bayern's Michael Olise, centre, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's second goal during the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Lennart Preiss)

Köln's Said El Mala scores his side's first goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1. FC Köln and Augsburg in Cologne, Germany, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. (Marius Becker/dpa via AP)

Leipzig's Christoph Baumgartner, right, scores the opening goal past Hamburger's goalkeeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes during the German Bundesliga soccer match between RB Leipzig and Hamburger SV in Leipzig, Germany, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. (Jan Woitas/dpa via AP)

Mainz's Nadiem Amiri reacts during the German Bundesliga soccer match between FSV Mainz 05 and Bayer 04 Leverkusen, in Mainz, Germany, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

Leverkusen's head coach Kasper Hjulmand, center, celebrates with players after Leverkusen's Martim Terrier scoring fourth goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between FSV Mainz 05 and Bayer 04 Leverkusen, in Mainz, Germany, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

Leverkusen's Alex Grimaldo, left, celebrates with Leverkusen's Jonas Hofmann after scoring his side's third goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between FSV Mainz 05 and Bayer 04 Leverkusen, in Mainz, Germany, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

WASHINGTON (AP) — CJ Abrams had the go-ahead RBI in a five-run fifth inning, Cade Cavalli won his fourth consecutive start and the Washington Nationals defeated Colorado 13-3 on Monday night to send the Rockies to their season-worst seventh consecutive loss.

Daylen Lile homered and drove in five runs for the Nationals, who had dropped three games in a row and seven of eight.

Willi Castro and Ezequiel Tovar homered for Colorado.

After going hitless for the first four innings against Rockies starter Ryan Feltner (5-8), the Nationals opened the fifth with two singles. Nasim Nuñez then laid down a sacrifice bunt toward third that Castro threw down the right-field line for an error, allowing two runs to score.

Abrams laced a double to right to drive in Nuñez and give the Nationals a 3-2 lead. Abrams stole third and scored on Abimelec Ortiz’s grounder. Lile and Brady House hit consecutive doubles to add another run.

Abrams, who missed the previous four games with a sprained ankle, went 1 for 4 with two stolen bases as Washington’s designated hitter.

The Nationals added three runs in the sixth and two in the seventh. Lile hit a three-run homer in the eighth.

Cavalli (12-5) struck out seven and allowed two runs in six innings. He is 7-1 with a 1.98 ERA in eight outings since the All-Star break and has started Washington’s last three victories.

Castro ripped the first pitch of the fourth off the foul pole in right. He’s hit eight of his 15 home runs since the All-Star break. Tovar led off the fifth with a shot to center, his 10th of the season.

Tovar was removed in the sixth with a strained left wrist. The shortstop got hurt while trying to catch Jacob Young’s single an inning earlier.

Feltner allowed seven runs — five earned — and struck out six in 5 2/3 innings.

Washington LHP Andrew Alvarez (2-5, 3.60 ERA) pitches Tuesday. Colorado had not announced a replacement for originally scheduled starter Kyle Freeland, who was placed on the 15-day injured list Monday.

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Colorado Rockies' Ezequiel Tovar hits a double off Washington Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli during the third inning of a baseball game in Washington, Monday, Aug. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)

Colorado Rockies pitcher Ryan Feltner throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals in Washington, Monday, Aug. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)

Washington Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli reacts as he walks on the field during the third inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies in Washington, Monday, Aug. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)

Washington Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies in Washington, Monday, Aug. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)

Washington Nationals' CJ Abrams, right, slides into second base for a steal ahead of a tag by Colorado Rockies second baseman Connor Norby during the first inning of a baseball game in Washington, Monday, Aug. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)