Record-breaking Harry Kane sends Bayern Munich past Cologne
Harry Kane has already overtaken Kevin Keegan and Jadon Sancho as the Bundesliga's top-scoring Englishman in a single season, his 18th of the campaign sending Bayern Munich past Cologne on Friday.
Cologne 0-1 Bayern Munich
Goals: 0-1 Kane (20')
Bayern knew that they would go top with a win - at least until Bayer Leverkusen play Werder Bremen on Saturday - and they started positively. Leroy Sané sent a low ball in for Kane that Timo Hübers was relieved to see hit the post after stretching to intervene. Kane then sent what has become a trademark through-ball from deep for Sané to latch onto, but Marvin Schwäbe did well to stay big and quell the danger. Jan Thielmann forced a save from Manuel Neuer at the other end before the flag went up for offside against him, but most of the first-half traffic flowed in the opposite direction. Kane made it 1-0 with his 18th goal in just 12 Bundesliga games when he reacted quickest to Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting's shot that was cleared off the line, and Choupo-Moting and Sané both could - and perhaps should - have made it 2-0 soon after. Kingsley Coman then saw a volley on the turn saved by Schwäbe and it was 1-0 at the break.
Coman had another chance at the start of the second half when he got the break of the ball following a Kim Min-jae clearance, but Hübers again did well to get back and clear the danger. Hübers then headed a Florian Kainz corner over the crossbar as Cologne enjoyed a good spell inside the hour. Steffen Baumgart made a pair of attacking changes soon after with Steffen Tigges and Faride Alidou entering the fray, but their period of pressure was on the wane. Coman crossed deep for Sané at the back post and his volley was deflected wide for a corner. Coman headed the subsequent set piece onto the woodwork. The Frenchman blasted another effort wide of the far post but a second goal eluded Bayern, who will nonetheless be satisfied with the three points.
Match stats
- Kane has already broken the single-season goal record for an English player in the Bundesliga, surpassing the tally of 17 set by Keegan (1978/79) and later Sancho (2019/20).
- With eight goals and six assists, Sané is behind only Kane (23) for direct goal involvements in the Bundesliga this season.
- Bayern are on a 19-game unbeaten run against Cologne, winning 17 and drawing two.
- Cologne have not kept a clean sheet in the Bundesliga for their last 20 games.
- Baumgart's record as a coach against Bayern reads six defeats, one draw.
- With three goals each, Kainz and Davie Selke are the Billy Goats' leading marksmen in 2023/24.
Watch: Kane: "One of the best spells of my career"
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Teams
Cologne: Schwäbe - Carstensen, Hübers, Kilian (Waldschmidt 78'), Chabot - Ljubicic (Alidou 65'), Martel - Thielmann (Paqarada77'), Kainz (c) (Huseinbašić 78'), Maina - Selke (Tigges 65')
Unused subs: Köbbing, Schmitz, Heintz, Uth,
Out: Christensen (knee), Pentke (knee)
Coach: Steffen Baumgart
Bayern: Neuer (c) - Laimer, Upamecano, Kim, Mazraoui - Kimmich, Goretkza - Sané, Choupo-Moting, Coman - Kane
Unused subs: Ulreich, Gnabry, Davies, Sarr, Guerreiro, Müller, Tel, Krätzig, Pavlović
Out: Buchmann (thigh), De Ligt (knee), Musiala (hamstring)
Coach: Thomas Tuchel
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