HARRY KANE BECOMES FASTEST PLAYER TO HIT 100 BUNDESLIGA GOAL INVOLVEMENTS TODAY
Harry Kane scores his 30th goal as Bayern Munich defies an injury crisis to secure a 9-point lead for Christmas.
Harry Kane hit his 30th goal this season as Bayern Munich overcame injuries and illness to beat Heidenheim 4-0 on Sunday. They're heading into the Bundesliga's winter break with a solid nine-point lead.
Kane dodged a couple of defenders and scored with a strong shot off the post in stoppage time. That puts him at 30 goals in 25 games for Bayern this season, with 19 in the German league alone.
Kane said on DAZN that there’s still a way to go this season, but they're on the right track. They have the belief and team spirit they need to keep going into next year.
Bayern coach Vincent Kompany had a bunch of young players on the bench because several players were out injured, including captain Manuel Neuer and Joshua Kimmich. Also, Konrad Laimer was suspended, Nicolas Jackson is at the Africa Cup of Nations, and three players were sick.
But the starters had the game well in hand, so they didn't need many subs.
Two defenders teamed up for Bayern's first goal when Jonathan Tah headed a corner to Josip Stanisic, who nodded it in.
Heidenheim's fans put up a big banner before the game saying they wished to stay in the top division. But their team didn't get a single shot on target and is now in 17th place as they head into the winter break.
Bayern's second goal was due to a bad defensive mistake by Heidenheim. Defender Patrick Mainka ran into his goalkeeper, and the ball bounced around until Michael Olise poked it in.
Luis Díaz made the win certain with a header from Stanisic's cross in the 86th minute before Kane scored the fourth.
Bayern hasn't lost to a German team since March and has won 13 and drawn two out of 15 Bundesliga games this season. They're averaging over 3.6 goals per league game.
Borussia Dortmund is in second place, nine points behind Kompany's team. Bayer Leverkusen and Leipzig are another three points back.
Also on Sunday, Mainz's new coach, Urs Fischer, is still unbeaten after four games. His last-place team drew 0-0 with St. Pauli, who are in 16th place.
MATTHAUS WARNS KOMPANY: DO NOT CHANGE ATTACKING STYLE DESPITE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE EXIT
Bayern have secured the Bundesliga! Read why Matthaus wants more "spectacular football" despite the 6-5 aggregate loss to PSG.
Lothar Matthaus has called on Vincent Kompany to continue with his attacking style, despite Bayern Munich's exit from the Champions League at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain. The German legend feels Bayern’s entertaining approach shouldn’t be altered even though their defence showed vulnerabilities during the 6-5 aggregate loss in the semi-finals.
After conceding six goals over two legs, Bayern’s Champions League run came to an end. While the defeat exposed defensive issues, it also highlighted the offensive strategy Kompany has brought to the team. These defensive struggles aren’t limited to Europe either; high-scoring Bundesliga matches, like the 4-3 win over Mainz and the 3-3 draw with Heidenheim, have revealed a back line that’s still trying to find the right balance between taking risks and maintaining solidity.
Matthaus, who once captained Bayern, stresses that the club should stick with Kompany’s attacking mindset, even if it leaves them open at the back. He pointed out, “With such an attacking style of play, you can't defend everything, of course. Yes, they've conceded quite a few goals, but they’re still having a successful season and are close to winning the double. They’ve even made it to the Champions League semi-finals.”
The return of excitement at the Allianz Arena was clear, especially during the second leg when Ousmane Dembele’s early goal stunned the crowd. Although Harry Kane’s late equaliser wasn’t enough to turn the tie around, Matthaus sees positives in the bigger picture. He believes Bayern has brought back the thrill and flair fans expect.
“While Bayern didn’t play their best in the semi-final second leg against PSG, they have entertained throughout the year. I look forward to their matches because they’re usually packed with goals. Bayern stands for spectacular football, and this season has been no different. I wouldn’t move away from that style,” Matthaus shared.
With the focus shifting back to domestic competitions, Bayern have already secured the Bundesliga championship. They still have two league games left against Wolfsburg and Koln before preparing for the DFB-Pokal final against Stuttgart on May 23.
BAYERN MUNICH RULE OUT MARCUS RASHFORD MOVE REGARDLESS OF ANTHONY GORDON OUTCOME
Marcus Rashford is not a target for Bayern Munich this summer, as the club focuses entirely on signing Gordon from Newcastle.
Bayern Munich aren’t considering a move for Marcus Rashford this summer, no matter what happens with Anthony Gordon. That’s according to a German reporter who’s close to the story.
Right now, Rashford is wrapping up his loan at Barcelona. He’s set to return to Manchester United at the end of the season. Barcelona have an option to make the deal permanent for €30 million (£26 million) in the summer. Both Rashford and Barcelona want him to stay, but here’s the catch: the club doesn’t want to pay the full €30 million.
Barcelona would rather keep Rashford on loan for another year or get him for a lower fee. Manchester United’s not having it. They want the full price, so Barcelona are starting to look at other players.
Rashford hasn’t made a secret of where he wants to be. Earlier in the season, he told Sport, one of the local Barcelona papers, about how much he wants to stay, saying, “Of course, what I want is to stay at Barca. It’s the ultimate goal.” He talked about the pressure and expectations at the club, saying they keep him motivated and that he feels like he’s in the perfect environment to grow and win trophies. For now, though, it’s all up in the air until next summer.
Last year, Bayern Munich actually showed some interest in Rashford before he went to Barcelona. But now, they’re focused on signing Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United for the left wing. The problem is, Gordon’s interested, but Newcastle’s price is ridiculous, reportedly around £80 million (€92.6 million). That’s much higher than what Bayern’s willing to pay. They’re thinking closer to £60 million (€69.4 million), and maybe with add-ons or an instalment plan. If Newcastle won’t budge, it probably isn’t happening.
Christian Falk, a trusted journalist from Bild, says Bayern aren’t considering Rashford as a backup if they can’t land Gordon. Bayern’s got a short list of players for the left wing, and Rashford isn’t on it. Gordon’s their main focus, but even if that deal falls through, Rashford’s not the next in line.
So at this stage, Bayern and Rashford won’t be coming together this summer, even if Gordon stays at Newcastle. That’s just not in the plans.