33-time German champions Bayern Munich received many criticisms when they broke the bank to sign Tottenham Hotspur’s all-time leading goal scorer Harry Kane for €120 million, but the 30-year-old England captain and forward proved why he deserve the lucrative transfer last weekend, as he scored his first hat-trick for the Bavarians on top of a couple of assists in Bayern Munich’s 7-0 demolition over fellow German Bundesliga 1 side VfL Bochum. Kane’s hat-trick in the trashing meant he has now scored eight goals in seven matches in all competitions for the home side thus far this 2023/2024 Season.
Kane’s Bright Start for Bayern Munich Continued
Thomas Tuchel may have his ups and downs during the initial phase of his managerial career at Bayern Munich, but the 50-year-old German has finally found the rhythm with his new team, owing largely to Harry Kane’s arrival. Prior to his first hat-trick and two-assist outing against VfL Bochum 1848 last weekend, England’s all-time leading goal scorer had already provided five goals and two assists in six matches in all competitions for his new team in Germany.
In his seventh career appearance for the Bavarians, Kane was spearheading the Bayern Munich offence once again in the 4-5-1 starting lineup fielded by Tuchel against VfL Bochum 1848, with the German manager replacing four players from that initial squad that beat 13-time English Premier League winners Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League Group A opener last midweek. VfL Bochum 1848, on the other hand, only had one change in their starting lineup that faced Eintracht Frankfurt last time around.
Bayern Hit Four in the First Half, Thrice in the Second 45 Minutes
Bayern’s slaughter over VfL Bochum 1848 started when Kane’s teammate Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting found the back of the net early in the 4th minute. The Cameroonian tapped in a shot after Leroy Sané tore the entire opposing defence down and found Kingsley Coman on the left flank, followed by the Frenchman’s assist to Choupo-Moting’s first goal of the season. Eight minutes later, speedy left-back Alphonso Davies received a ball from the opponent’s half and ran all the way into the penalty box before his shot was blocked by the defense. The ricocheted ball fell cleanly for Kane to notch the first goal of his hat-trick.
The Bavarian continued to hunt for more and found the net for the third time in the match, thanks to Joshua Kimmich’s corner delivery in the 29th minute. The 28-year-old’s set-piece cross was met by the head of Dutch centre-back Matthijs de Ligt for his fourth goal in Bayern Munich jerseys. The home side’s mood was further elevated less than 10 minutes later, when a freekick allowed Kane to unleash Sané into the box. The German coolly slotted home the goal into the bottom left post, meaning Bayern took a 4-goal lead into the half-time break against VfL Bochum 1848.
VfL Bochum 1848’s centre-back Ivan Ordets was the culprit for Bayern’s fifth goal of the match, when his mistimed pass was intercepted by Choupo-Moting, before the 34-year-old forward’s shot hit the hand of the defender. Referee had no choice but to award Bayern a penalty, which was converted by Kane via his usual choice of the bottom left corner. Manuel Riemann had to pick the ball from the net for the sixth time in the game, when another defender Bernardo’s pass was intercepted by Kane, before the England skipper set up his younger teammate Mathys Tel to score. VfL Bochum 1848’s tormenting day ended with Kane completing his hat-trick from close range two minutes before the added time was given.
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Harry Kane’s First German Bundesliga 1 Hat-Trick, Or Is It Not?
Harry Kane was without a doubt the player of the match in Bayern’s 7-0 statement victory over VfL Bochum 1848 with his hat-trick and two assists. Nonetheless, according to the official dictionary by the German Bundesliga 1, Kane’s treble in last weekend’s match might not be validated as a hat-trick since the term “Hat-trick” has a slightly different definition in Germany as compared to its usual use in other leagues like the Premier League. Based on Bundesliga’s official meaning, a “Hat-trick” are three goals scored in the same half, while Kane’s hat-trick in the match had a goal netted in the opening period, meaning he has not actually scored his first “Hat-trick” in the German top-flight football.
Notwithstanding by this incident, with the form Harry Kane is in, his first hat-trick as a Bayern Munich player will definitely come in no time. After the 7-0 victory over VfL Bochum 1848, Harry Kane and co. will travel to Preußenstadion to face SC Preußen Münster for the first round of the DFB-Pokal this Tuesday, before returning to the Bundesliga 1 to meet RB Leipzig at their home stadium of Red Bull Arena Leipzig next weekend.
Bayern’s 7-0 Demolition Matched by Newcastle’s 8-0 Slaughter
Bayern’s 7-0 humiliation against VfL Bochum 1848 was not the only high-scoring match European club football fans have seen last weekend. Elsewhere in England, the Eddie Howe-led Newcastle United dismantled Sheffield United 8-0 at their opponents’ home, Bramall Lane, in the Premier League.
What stole the headlines was not only the crazy score line, but the meeting between the Magpies and the Blades was also the first time eight different players scored in a single fixture in the history of the Premier League, eclipsing the previous records of seven different goal scorers set by Manchester United against Southampton FC (9-0) and Chelsea versus Aston Villa (8-0) in 2021 and 2012 respectively. The 8-0 win for Newcastle United meant they are now eighth in the Premier League table, and here are the full match details between Newcastle United and Sheffield United.
