PLAYER RATINGS | Hoffenheim 1-4 Bayern Munich – Kane nets NINTH Bundesliga hat-trick | OneFootball

Harry Kane scored his ninth Bundesliga hat-trick as Bayern Munich strolled to a 4-1 win against Hoffenheim at the PreZero Arena on Saturday afternoon. The Englishman took his league tally to eight this season, while Joshua Kimmich’s late own goal did little to dampen the Rekordmeister’s spirits as Vincent Kompany’s side extend their lead at the top, as Serge Gnabry added a fourth in added time.

Hoffenheim press, but it’s Bayern Munich who broke the deadlock

After their midweek UEFA Champions League win over Chelsea, Vincent Kompany made five changes to his squad, awarding first Bundesliga starts for Lennart Karl and Nicolas Jackson in place of Michael Olise and Serge Gnabry. Joshua Kimmich and Dayot Upamecano were also rested, while Josip Stanisic is out for the foreseeable future with a knee injury.

From the off, Bayern Munich’s second youngest starter, Karl (17), showed confidence throughout the first half, not shying away from taking on his opposing marker. But despite their dominance in the early exchanges, it was Hoffenheim who came closest when Fisnik Asllani hit the post after 15 minutes, capitalising on Manuel Neuer’s risky short pass.

That was an early warning sign for Bayern Munich as Harry Kane combined with Luis Diaz and Jackson before his shot went out for a corner via a deflection. Hoffenheim then went pressing for the opening goal with Asllani and Alexander Prass both having shots blocked – before the latter then tested Neuer just after the half hour mark.

But it was Bayern Munich and Kane that broke the deadlock in the 44th minute. Karl assisted an unmarked Kane on a corner, with the Englishman connecting with the ball, sending it past Baumann into the bottom corner for his sixth Bundesliga goal of the season.

Although Hoffenheim went toe-to-toe with Bayern Munich in the first half, Kane effectively put the game to bed two minutes after the break when he converted a penalty after the ball flicked up onto the hand of Hoffenheim defender Albian Hajdari courtesy of Boey’s effort.

In what was a quiet affair in the second half, the introduction of Joshua Kimmich, Michael Olise and Serge Gnabry breathed some life into Bayern, and it was Olise that drew a foul from Bazoumana Touré who brought the Frenchman down inside the Hoffenheim penalty area. And it was Kane who dispatched another spot kick to complete his hat-trick, for his ninth in the Bundesliga for Bayern, sending Oliver Baumann the wrong way and his side into a 3-0 lead.

Hoffenheim did manage to pull a goal back in the final 10 minutes via Kimmich’s deflection over Neuer before Gnabry added a fourth late on as Bayern extend their lead at the top of the Bundesliga in comfortable fashion.

Hoffenheim 1-4 Bayern Munich Player Ratings

Hoffenheim: Oliver Baumann (5) – Vladimír Coufal (6), Robin Hranáč (4), Albian Hajdari (3), Bernardo (5) – Bazoumana Touré (3), Leon Avdullahu (6), Wouter Burger (5), Alexander Prass (5) – Muhammed Damar (5), Fisnik Asllani (6)

Others: Andrej Kramarić (6), Grischa Prömel (-), Ilhas Bebou (-), Umut Tohumcu (-)

Bayern Munich: Manuel Neuer (5) – Sacha Boey (6), Jonathan Tah (6), Kim Min-jae (7), Konrad Laimer (6) – Leon Goretzka (6), Aleksandar Pavlović (6) – Lennart Karl (7), Nicolas Jackson (4), Luis Díaz (5) – Harry Kane (8)

Others: Joshua Kimmich (6), Serge Gnabry (5), Michael Olise (6), Dayot Upamecano (-), Tom Bischof (-)

GGFN Player of the Match: Harry Kane (8)

Lennart Karl impressed on his first Bundesliga start for Bayern Munich, but it’s difficult not to give the Player of the Match to Harry Kane, who netted his ninth Bundesliga hat-trick. Although two of his goals on Saturday afternoon came from the spot, his first was an exquisite goal, assisted by Karl.

GGFN | Daniel Pinder