HEIDENHEIM, Germany (AP) – Harry Kane scored his 30th goal for the club this season as Bayern Munich overcame an injury and illness crisis to beat Heidenheim 4-0 on Sunday and enter the Bundesliga winter break with a nine-point lead.
Kane beat two defenders and scored with a powerful shot that hit the post in stoppage time, taking him to 30 goals in 25 games in all competitions for Bayern this season, 19 of them in the German league.
“We know it’s a long road between now and the end of the season, but we’re doing everything right,” Kane told broadcaster DAZN. “The belief is there, the team spirit is there and that’s what we need to continue into the new year.”
Bayern coach Vincent Kompany named a bench filled with youth players after his squad was weakened by injuries to several players, including captain Manuel Neuer and Joshua Kimmich, the suspension of Konrad Reimer and the absence of Nicholas Jackson. africa cup of nations And three players were struck down by illness.
The starters made sure the game was under control long before substitutions were needed.
Two defenders combined to score Bayern’s first goal, with Jonathan Tarr heading in a corner kick and Josip Stanisic leveling the score.
Heidenheim’s fans called staying in the top division “our Christmas wish” in a huge banner before kick-off, but the team failed to get a shot on target and will enter the winter break in 17th place out of 18 Bundesliga teams.
Bayern’s second goal was an extreme example of the defensive mistakes that have cost Heidenheim this year. Defender Patrick Mainka collided with the goalkeeper, the ball ricocheted inside the box and was eventually slotted into the goal by Michael Oliseh.
In the 86th minute Luis Diaz headed in Stanisic’s cross to seal the victory and Kane made it 4-0.
Bayern have not lost to a German opponent since March and have won 13 and drawn two of their 15 Bundesliga games this season, averaging more than 3.6 goals per game.
Borussia Dortmund are in second place, nine points behind Kompany’s team, with Bayer Leverkusen and Leipzig both trailing with three points.
Also on Sunday, Mainz’s new manager Urs Fischer maintained a four-game unbeaten run in all competitions with a 0-0 draw against bottom team St. Pauli. St. Pauli ranks 16th.
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