After a profession of particular person awards however no group honours, Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane’s title breakthrough may come as early as full time of Saturday’s dwelling match towards Mainz. If they beat sixth-placed Mainz and second-placed Bayer Leverkusen fail to beat Augsburg at dwelling, Bayern and Kane might be topped Bundesliga winners. Bayern are eight factors clear with 4 video games remaining, so a primary title for Kane is a mere formality. But after dropping six finals — three with Tottenham, two with England and one with Bayern — a debut title win could be a long-awaited reward for the 31-year-old ahead.
After 20 years at boyhood membership Tottenham, Kane moved to Bayern in 2023, motivated by a want for group honours.
While Bayern’s goals of successful the Champions League in their very own stadium this season flamed out with a quarter-final loss to Inter Milan, lifting the Bundesliga defend would soothe frustrations after a trophyless 2023-24.
Kane has not often spoken in regards to the title, preferring to concentrate on the duty at hand, however in February he revealed how a lot the pursuit of a group honour drove him.
“There are many individuals who, all through my profession, solely discuss in regards to the reality I have never received a title but. It could be good to silence a couple of of them,” Kane stated.
Kane would additionally be a part of Kevin Keegan and Owen Hargreaves as Englishmen who received the Bundesliga.
Speaking with Sky Germany on Wednesday, Bayern powerbroker Uli Hoeness — a key participant behind the 100 million euro ($105 million) choice to carry Kane to Bavaria — stated “no one deserves the title extra” than the England captain.
Calling Kane “an actual Bayern participant”, Hoeness lavished reward on the striker, saying “he fights, he works, he scores an unbelievable variety of objectives, however he additionally works onerous for the group.
“You can really feel that he completely desires to win this title.”
On Saturday, Eintracht Frankfurt can take a step in qualifying for the Champions League by means of a top-four end for the primary time, after they host RB Leipzig.
Frankfurt, whose solely different participation within the fashionable Champions League got here by means of successful the Europa League, sit three factors away from fourth-placed Leipzig.
Leipzig may fall as little as sixth with a loss, whereas seventh-placed Borussia Dortmund — who’ve taken 10 of a potential 12 factors of their previous 4 matches — are additionally inside putting distance.
One to observe: Yussuf Poulsen (RB Leipzig)
RB Leipzig’s journey to third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday might be essential within the Champions League race.
Leipzig have solely missed the Champions League as soon as since their promotion in 2016 and being absent from the highest European stage could be a serious setback as new Red Bull boss Jurgen Klopp oversees his first low season with the membership.
Leipzig striker Yussuf Poulsen stated Klopp had already been to the membership “a number of” instances and had made a mark along with his “expertise, ardour and data. His whole profession demonstrates what he’s able to.”
Poulsen joined when Leipzig had been within the third division in 2013, earlier than two successive promotions, back-to-back German Cups and a Champions League semi-final.
He informed AFP on Wednesday “there’s not sufficient room within the sky for us to make that growth once more,” however stated “the following step for this membership is to win titles usually.”
Key stats
12 – Thomas Mueller has received a file 12 Bundesliga titles. If Bayern win the title, Mueller would equal Ryan Giggs’ file of 13, probably the most within the top-five European leagues.
36 – St Pauli sit 14th, however they’ve conceded simply 36 objectives — solely Bayern and Leverkusen have fewer within the towards column.
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