Bayern Munich surged nine points clear at the top of the Bundesliga with a 3-0 victory over Werder Bremen on Friday, courtesy of Harry Kane’s clinical penalty brace. The England captain continued his red-hot form, taking his league tally to 21 goals in 19 games, including an impressive nine penalties.
Kane’s Impactful Performance
The match saw few chances in the first half, but Kane signaled his intent just 30 seconds after the break, striking the crossbar with a powerful shot from outside the box. His breakthrough moment came when he won and converted Bayern’s first penalty, forcing a handball from Anthony Young after heading the ball against the defender’s outstretched arm.
With Michael Zetterer wrong-footed, Kane calmly slotted the spot-kick home to put Bayern ahead. In the 82nd minute, Leroy Sane doubled the lead with a close-range tap-in from Konrad Laimer’s cross.
Werder Bremen’s night went from bad to worse when Young conceded another penalty in stoppage time, bringing down Jamal Musiala inside the box. Kane stepped up once again, maintaining his flawless penalty record—29 consecutive spot-kicks converted for club and country.
Kane: “Still Room for Improvement”
Despite his outstanding goal-scoring record, the 31-year-old striker remains focused on improving his game. Speaking to DAZN after the match, Kane acknowledged that he could have been even more ruthless:
“I had a couple of other chances which could’ve gone my way. There’s still room for improvement, especially with the left foot.”
He also emphasized his responsibility as a striker to break the deadlock in tight games:
“Throughout the season, there will be challenging matches like tonight. It’s my responsibility to rise to the occasion and secure the 1-0.”
Praise from Vincent Kompany
Bayern coach Vincent Kompany lauded Kane’s professionalism and relentless work ethic:
“I observe everything he does, both in matches and during training. It’s no coincidence—he puts in an immense amount of effort.”
Bayern’s Upcoming Challenges
Bayern will face title challengers Bayer Leverkusen next weekend, in a crucial away fixture that could define the Bundesliga title race. Their busy schedule also includes a Champions League knockout tie against Celtic.
“Two big away games next week—it’s going to be tough,” Kane admitted. “But for us, it’s about competing against ourselves, pushing our level, and seeing how far we can take it.”
Werder Bremen’s Struggles
Despite fighting hard, Bremen were missing key players due to suspensions and injuries. Coach Ole Werner was absent, along with Niklas Stark and Marco Friedl (both suspended), while Leonardo Bittencourt and Romano Schmid were sidelined with muscle strains.
Striker Marvin Ducksch voiced his frustration over Bayern’s first penalty decision:
“If that situation were reversed, we wouldn’t have gotten that penalty.”
Even with the loss, Bremen remain eighth in the Bundesliga, just one point away from European qualification, as they seek their first continental appearance since 2010-11.
With Kane firing on all cylinders, Bayern’s title charge shows no signs of slowing down.
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