Leroy Sane grabbed a late winner as Bayern Munich won 1-0 at Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday to open up a nine-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga, while Robert Lewandowski led the league’s show of support to Ukraine in the wake of Russia’s invasion.Sane came off the bench before sealing the three points for Bayern in a game overshadowed by outside events, with Frankfurt’s stadium lit in the Ukrainian national colours of blue and yellow.Electronic signs at the ground read “Stop it, Putin!” in a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin.pic.twitter.com/tpTpnQKnZX— Julian Nagelsmann (@J__Nagelsmann) February 26, 2022 There was a minute’s silence, as there were at other grounds around Germany, before kick-off.The Bayern team wore black armbands for the victims of the conflict while Munich captain Lewandowski wore a yellow and blue armband.”I decided to wear the armband this morning, the world can not accept what is going on, we have to support Ukraine and the people fighting there,” said Lewandowski.”I am anti-war and think what is happening there can not be allowed, it hurts.”I hope the whole world supports Ukraine – their people are fighting for freedom and I have huge respect for them.”Sane’s goal secures a narrow win for Bayern. #SGEFCB pic.twitter.com/l6zps51Jcs— Global Watch Football (@gwf_official) February 26, 2022 Frankfurt beat Bayern in their previous two meetings and this was a nip and tuck affair until Sane intervened.”That was hard-fought. We could have taken the lead earlier, but the mentality was really good – that was important,” said Bayern midfielder Joshua Kimmich.Just four minutes after Sane came on, Kimmich’s deft pass through the defence put the winger into space to roll his shot past Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp.It was heart-breaking for the hosts who went close with chances for striker Filip Kostic.Seven of the top Champions League scorers have direct links to Africa.1. 🇨🇮 Haller – 10 goals3. 🇪🇬 Salah – 8 goals4. 🇨🇩🇫🇷 Nkunku – 7 goals5. 🇩🇿 Mahrez – 6 goals7. 🇩🇿🇫🇷 Benzema – 5 goals8. 🇨🇲🇩🇿🇫🇷 Mbappe – 5 goals9. 🇸🇳🇩🇪 Leroy Sané -5 goalsDOMINANCE! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/WPafJsTMSp— AfroBallers (@afroballers) February 18, 2022 At the other end, Trapp pulled off a string of saves and was poleaxed in the first half when Kingsley Coman’s shot smashed into his face.”I have already got a bit of a headache,” quipped Trapp. “You can’t defend everything against Bayern and we gave it our all.”Borussia Dortmund can trim Bayern’s lead on Sunday away to Augsburg.© Agence France-PresseBUNDESLIGA – ROUND 24FridayHoffenheim – Stuttgart 2-1 (0-0)/Baumgartner 85, 90 – Endo 58/SaturdayM’gladbach – Wolfsburg 2-2 (1-2)/Thuram 42, Embolo 82 – Wind 6, Bornauw 33/Greuther Furth – Koln 1-1 (0-0)/Griesbeck 69 – Kainz 52/Union Berlin – Mainz 3-1 (1-0)/Haraguchi 7, Becker 56, Awoniyi 75 – Burgzorg 90/Freiburg – Hertha 3-0 (1-0)/Grifo 12 pen, Schade 83, Holer 86/Leverkusen – Bielefeld 3-0 (1-0)/Alario 29, Diaby 57, 81/Eintr. Frankfurt – Bayern Munich 0-1 (0-0)/Sane 71/Sunday17:30: (5.20) Bochum (3.80) RB Leipzig (1.68)19:30: (5.60) Augsburg (4.00) Dortmund (1.60)***odds are subject to change
© Agence France-Presse