Kane scores several times again: Bayern rejoice as leaders
Led by goal machine Harry Kane, FC Bayern Munich have stormed to the top of the Bundesliga table, at least for the time being.
In the 4:2 (2:0) win against newly promoted 1. FC Heidenheim, England's national team captain Kane increased his tally for the season to 17 league goals with a brace in a game that was wild at times. In the previous season, this would have made him top scorer.
The 30-year-old gave his side a reassuring 2:0 lead at the break in impressive style (14th/44th minute). However, Heidenheim showed plenty of heart after the break and fought their way back into the game brilliantly through Tim Kleindienst (67') and Jan-Niklas Beste (70') against a sloppy Bayern side. Eleven minutes after coming on as a substitute, Raphael Guerreiro gave Bayern another chance to celebrate their imminent victory (72'). Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, who also came on as a substitute, then made it all clear (85').
The Munich side will now head into their annual general meeting on Sunday as leaders, with Kane unable to celebrate due to his international trip. However, Bayer Leverkusen can knock FC Bayern off top spot again with a win against 1. FC Union Berlin on Sunday.
After scoring three times against Darmstadt and Dortmund and two goals in the Champions League group win against Galatasaray Istanbul, Kane also struck several times against the up-and-coming club. 75,000 spectators in the arena were once again impressed by the formidable interplay between Kane and Leroy Sané.
After the German international's preparatory work on the right wing, Kane beat three defenders with a perfect shot from a turn. The Heidenheim defense made it easy for him when he made it 2-0: Kane headed in completely free following a Sané corner. Munich spent around 100 million euros on the most expensive purchase in the club's history in the summer. The extent to which this investment paid off for FC Bayern was evident from the beaming face of honorary president Uli Hoeneß, who applauded profusely.
Starting eleven debut for Bayern's Pavlovic
In what was only the second competitive match between the two very different teams, it was again a high-scoring affair, albeit not as much as the 5:4 win for Munich in the cup four-and-a-half years ago. Coach Thomas Tuchel's Bayern side, who promoted Thomas Müller and Serge Gnabry to the starting line-up for the first time since September and gave 19-year-old Aleksandar Pavlovic his debut, had the game under control for a long time. Munich then became sloppy after the break.
However, Tuchel could ultimately breathe a sigh of relief that his rotation with five changes after the Galatasaray win did not fail. Guerreiro's goal on his comeback was particularly pleasing for his teammates. The 29-year-old Portuguese is back after tearing a muscle fiber in his left thigh. Because of this and a torn muscle bundle in the summer, the former Dortmund player had only made two appearances for Munich.
In the midst of his impressive form, Harry Kane contributed twice against 1st FC Heidenheim, helping FC Bayern Munich maintain their lead in the Bundesliga, despite temporary challenges from their opponents. If Bayer Leverkusen fails to win against 1. FC Union Berlin on the following day, Bayern Munich's position as the league leaders will remain secure. Furthermore, after his successful debut in the starting eleven, Aleksandar Pavlovic showed promise for FC Bayern Munich in their recent match against an opponents of a different caliber.
Source: www.dpa.com
