Red-hot Kane hits hat-trick as Bayern run riot against Bochum

Euro round-up: Record-breaking England captain takes his tally to 7 goals and 3 assists in his first five Bundesliga games

Sat, 23 Sep, 2023 - 17:34

Staff

Harry Kane scored a hat-trick in Bayern Munich’s 7-0 demolition of VfL Bochum on Saturday to take his league goal tally to seven and set a club record for most goals by a player in his first five Bundesliga matches.

Kane’s three goals put him above club great Gerd Müller, Miroslav Klose and Mario Mandzukic, who all scored five times in their first five games. The Bavarians, who beat Manchester United 4-3 in their Champions League opener on Wednesday, move up to 13 points in top spot from five Bundesliga games. Bayer Leverkusen, on 10, could join them if they beat Heidenheim on Sunday.

The England captain, who became the Bundesliga’s most expensive transfer when he joined the German champions this season for €100m, struck his first goal after benefiting from a lucky bounce in the 13th minute.

Earlier, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting had tapped in for a fourth-minute lead from a perfectly-timed Kingsley Coman assist. The hosts quickly killed off the game with two more goals before the break.

Matthijs de Ligt powered in a header in the 29th minute and Kane sent Leroy Sané through with a superb assist in the 38th minute for their fourth as Bayern outclassed their opponents. Kane made sure of a club record when he scored with a 54th-minute penalty before Coman hit the woodwork on the hour.

The substitute Mathys Tel made it half a dozen in the 82nd minute before Kane’s clever flick in the 89th put an end to Bochum’s miserable afternoon.

Milan returned to winning ways as Rafael Leão scored in a 1-0 home victory over Verona in a Serie A game that was delayed by 25 minutes due to a hailstorm.

Milan, who were humbled 5-1 by Inter last weekend and were held to a goalless draw in their Champions League group opener by Newcastle United, moved level with the league leaders Inter on 12 points but their city rivals play Empoli on Sunday.

skip past newsletter promotion after newsletter promotion Leão gave Milan the lead in the eighth minute when Olivier Giroud pinched the ball from Verona near the halfway line and released the winger, who sprinted past two defenders scrambling to track back before slipping his shot past the goalkeeper. The home side had their opportunities to double the lead but could not convert their chances. At the other end, Milan were rarely threatened by Verona who remain in ninth place, five points behind Stefano Pioli’s side.

Guardian