Bundesliga: Harry Kane hat-trick inspires Bayern to victory

Harry Kane scored a hattrick as Bayern Munich thumped VfB Stuttgart 4-0 in the Bundesliga on Saturday evening at the Allianz Arena.

Although Stuttgart managed to hold Bayern at the break, things imploded for the visitors in the 57th minute when Harry Kane broke the deadlock with a low, long-range shot.

The England captain then doubled his account of the day with a close-range finish three minutes later, before completing his hat-trick with 10 minutes left.

French international Kingsley Coman added a fourth at the tail end of the encounter to secure Bayern’s fifth win of the season.

The emphatic victory offers much-needed relief for Bayern boss Vincent Kompany, who had come under heavy scrutiny in recent weeks.

Saturday’s triumph ends a three-match winless run for the Bavarians, one that included a Champions League defeat away to Aston Villa.

Bayern continue to lead the Bundesliga table with 17 points, albeit with a superior goal difference over second-placed RB Leipzig, who beat FSV Mainz 2-0 at the Mewa Arena on Saturday.

Meanwhile, defeat leaves Stuttgart ninth on the table with nine points, eight points behind league leaders Bayern.

The hat-trick extended Harry Kane’s goal tally to eight in the league, one shy of Eintracht Frankfurt’s Omar Marmoush, who currently leads the race for the Golden Boot.

Marmoush scored for the sixth consecutive time in the Bundesliga as his side lost 2-1 to champions Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.

Despite being goalless at the break, Bayern manager Vincent Kompany encouraged his players to remain patient and vigilant.

“[I told them] To stay patient and not concede counters,” revealed Kompany after the game.

“I felt we could’ve used our chances better, especially in the first half.”

“Stuttgart is a very good team. We stayed patient and in the end deservedly won the game. I’m happy for the boys.”

Kane was also pleased after securing his third match ball in all competitions this season, especially as it ended his goalless run of three games.

“As a striker, there are moments where everything you touch goes in,” said the Bayern forward.

“When you don’t score there’s always a lot of talk. It’s part of the striker’s life. I always believe in myself and in my teammates.”

Kane will have to be in his best goalscoring form as Bayern Munich travel to Spain on Wednesday night for a UEFA Champions League match with Barcelona.

Soccer betting sites have Barca as slight favourites at +130 to beat Bayern (+175).

Meanwhile, Stuttgart travel to Turin on Tuesday for their Champions League match with Juventus, with online bookmakers paying -120.48 for the Italians to beat the Bundesliga side (+310).

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