Harry Kane hits hat-trick as Bayern Munich cruise past Augsburg

Harry Kane scored a hat-trick in Bayern Munich’s 3-0 win over Augsburg to break Erling Haaland’s Bundesliga record by becoming the fastest player to 50 Bundesliga goals.

The England captain’s seventh treble since moving to Germany – taking him to 14 league goals for the season – not only extended Bayern’s lead at the top to eight points but saw him smash Haaland’s previous mark.

Kane brought up his half-century in 43 league matches; Haaland scored 50 in as many games for Borussia Dortmund.

Despite Bayern’s overwhelming dominance throughout Kane had been restricted to just one attempt in an hour before he was gifted the opportunity from the spot in the 63rd minute.

Augsburg’s wing-back Mads Pedersen made a complete mess of dealing with Michael Olise’s inswinging corner to the far post under pressure from Kane and the ball struck his outstretched arm as it dropped through a crowd of players.

Referee Daniel Schlager initially awarded a corner, much to Kane’s fury, but after VAR advised a trip to the monitor he changed his mind and Kane, who has not missed a penalty since the World Cup in Qatar, slotted home from the spot.

It came as a relief to the hosts who had more goal attempts – 33 – than in any other league game this season but struggled to find a way through.

When Keven Schlotterbeck tripped Kane four yards out in second-half added time the Augsburg defender was sent off for a second yellow card and Kane found the opposite corner from the spot.

However, his hat-trick goal was a moment of individual brilliance, controlling Leon Goretzka’s cross so perfectly with his first touch it teed up a close-range header for his second.

It was one-way traffic from the off but a combination of a lack of a clinical finish and the visitors’ resilience and organisation ensured the contest remained goalless for two-thirds of the game.

Goretzka dragged an early shot wide from outside the area and Joshua Kimmich fired over with his weaker left foot before Kingsley Coman’s curling shot from the left brought the first save from Nediljko Labrovic.

The visitors goalkeeper found himself increasingly employed as Kane worked a chance for himself on the angle with a quick turn but was repelled at close-range, while Jamal Musiala’s effort from just inside the area was also dealt with by Labrovic.

When Kane again found a pocked of space on the right of the area his drilled cross into the six-yard box was inches ahead of the stretching Musiala and Goretzka’s rising drive was tipped over in added time.

Goretzka threatened again after the break with a deft header from Alphonso Davies’ cross dropping onto the crossbar with the goalkeeper beaten, with Olise’s effort beaten away and Musiala’s shot deflected behind.

But a degree of fortune brought the breakthrough, after which Bayern continued to rack up the shots with Kimmich twice trying his luck from distance and Musiala forcing yet another save from the overworked Labrovic before Kane scored twice in added time.