Bayern Munich 3-2 St Pauli: Leroy Sane double secures hard-fought Bayern win over visitors

Leroy Sane scored twice in the second half as Bayern Munich battled to a 3-2 victory over St Pauli on Saturday, maintaining their six-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga with seven matches remaining.

Bayern, who will face Inter Milan in the Champions League quarter-final first leg on April 8, now sit on 65 points. Their closest challengers, Bayer Leverkusen, kept up the pressure with a 3-1 win over VfL Bochum on Friday, staying within touching distance at 59 points.

"We have to continue and we are one game closer. We have to win another seven games," Bayern coach Vincent Kompany said.

The win was marred by an injury setback as Hiroki Ito, who came on in the 58th minute, suffered a foot issue late in the match. The Japan international had only recently returned from a previous injury to the same foot, which he broke in July. With Bayern already missing defenders Dayot Upamecano and Alphonso Davies, Kompany acknowledged the concern.

"He (Ito) felt the same foot where he had the problems this season so that's not great for us," Kompany said. "The extent of what he has is a bit difficult to say right now. Let's not jump to conclusions but that's what it was."

Bayern took the lead in the 17th minute when Harry Kane tapped in from a Michael Olise cross. Kane, the Bundesliga’s top scorer with 22 goals, has now netted against all 19 clubs he has faced in Germany’s top flight—second only to Miroslav Klose in all-time records.

St Pauli, who had hit the crossbar earlier, responded 10 minutes later with a clever flick from Elias Saad, keeping the league leaders under pressure. However, Sane stepped up to restore Bayern’s advantage in the 53rd minute, drilling in another precise cross from Olise.

Jamal Musiala nearly extended the lead in the 69th minute, only for his shot to be tipped onto the bar. Two minutes later, Sane capitalized on a swift Bayern move, finishing after a Kane cutback to put the hosts in control. St Pauli managed a late consolation in stoppage time when Lars Ritzka unleashed a powerful strike, but Bayern held on to secure a crucial victory.

SportsLigue