With a hat-trick from Harry Kane in Bayern Munich’s 8-1 thumping of Mainz 05 on Saturday, the champions closed the distance on leaders Bayer Leverkusen to seven points in the Bundesliga.
After joining this season for a league-high 100 million euros from Tottenham Hotspur, Kane became the first player in his first Bundesliga season to score at least twice in eight different games.
By increasing his tally to 30, he also tied Uwe Seeler’s record for the most goals in a Bundesliga debut year.
When questioned about whether Kane may surpass the league record of 41 goals in a single season, Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel responded, “I trust him to do anything.”
“A wonderful role model, he has a beautiful demeanor. a superior athlete. Being able to train him is a true gift.
Tuchel, who will depart at the conclusion of the season, stated, “It was the right decision to bring him here; he proves this week in and week out.”
In Tuesday’s 3-0 victory over Lazio, which propelled Bayern into the Champions League quarterfinals, the England captain also scored twice.
In the rankings, Bayern sit in second place with 57 points, one point ahead of Leverkusen’s Sunday home match against VfL Wolfsburg.
The Bavarians were keen to hold on to their slender title prospects after a poor run in which they had only won one of their last four league games. Kane opened his account in the thirteenth minute, tapping in from close range.
Seven minutes later, after Kane’s strike deflected against the post, Leon Goretzka gave them another.
After Nadiem Amiri’s thunderous free kick gave Mainz a momentary lead, the visitors were pressing hard for a second goal until Kane restored order in first-half stoppage time.
Following the break, the hosts overran Mainz, and in the 47th, Thomas Mueller finished a swift move to make it 4-1.
The Mainz defence was completely overwhelmed as the hosts continued to attack, and Jamal Musiala managed to thread a shot past the keeper. Serge Gnabry, a substitute, then made it 6-1 with an incredible backheel flip in mid-air.
From close range, Kane finished his hat-trick by nodding in on the rebound at the far post, and Goretzka’s header in stoppage time sealed the carnage.
Editing by Ed Osmond, reporting by Karolos Grohmann
