Just four points separated Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich before Tuesday evening's Der Klassiker, so it was always likely that it would take a moment of genius to make a breakthrough.
While there weren't a glut of chances during the first half of the top-of-the-table Bundeslia clash, both sides could well have gone ahead inside the opening 10 minutes but for some fine defending.
Dortmund had the better chances of the first half with Erling Haaland going close inside the opening minute only to see his effort cleared off the line after Manuel Neuer went rogue, while Achraf Hakimi had a header correctly ruled out for offside.
As for champions Bayern, Serge Gnabry saw his goal-bound shot cleared off the line by Lukasz Pizszcek - but the visitors eventually made the breakthrough with a piece of magic from Joshua Kimmich.
In the 43rd minute of the game, Dortmund failed to clear their lines.
Kimmich picked up the ball 25 yards out, and with defenders crowding out a potential shot at goal, the Germany international elected to scoop the ball up and over BVB goalkeeper Roman Burki.
Admittedly Burki should have done better as the 'keeper got a hand on the ball before turning it into his own net, but it doesn't take anything away from the confidence and quality shown by Kimmich in such a pivotal game.
That goal sent Bayern into half-time 1-0 up, and should that score remain the same, they would open up a seven-point lead on Dortmund in the title race.
