MUNICH: Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane scored a hat-trick to steer his team to a 4-0 victory over visiting VfB Stuttgart on Saturday, snapping their three-game winless run across all competitions and keeping them top of the Bundesliga.

Kane, who had missed a golden chance in front of goal in the 51st minute, broke the deadlock six minutes later, rifling in from outside the box.

The England captain, who had not scored in his previous two Bundesliga games then drilled in following a goal mouth scramble on the hour.

He secured his hat-trick in the 80th minute with his eighth league goal of the season after Joao Palhinha’s shot was blocked with substitute Kingsley Coman curling in Bayern’s fourth goal in the 89th.

“To be honest, I didn’t waste any second thinking about whether he scored or not (in past games),” Bayern coach Vincent Kompany told a press conference.

“I know what qualities he has. He’s always hungry, even in training. Sometimes we forget how hard Harry works for the team. He has always scored.

“I am happy with how the game went. I was not surprised that it was not easy and at halftime the main thing for us was to stay calm.”

Bayern had midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic taken off after eight minutes with a broken collarbone that will sideline the Germany international for several weeks according to the club.

The Bavarians are top of the standings on 17 points, ahead on goal difference of RB Leipzig, winners 2-0 at Mainz 05, earlier on Saturday.

Freiburg are third on 15 with champions Bayer Leverkusen in fourth a point behind after their 2-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt.

Elsewhere, Borussia Moenchengladbach striker Tim Kleindienst scored a double, days after making his Germany debut, in a 3-2 home win over former club Heidenheim.

Hoffenheim won their first game since their season opener, with Andrej Kramaric, Marius Buelter and Haris Tabakovic scoring in a 3-1 win over lowly Bochum, who sit last with just one point from seven games.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2024