09 March 2024 , 17:40
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Harry Kane became the first player to score FOUR hat-tricks in his debut Bundesliga season as Bayern Munich demolished Mainz in an 8-1 battering.
The England captain, 30, was in red hot form again as under-pressure Bayern closed the gap on Bayer Leverkusen to seven points.
Outgoing boss Thomas Tuchel has insisted his side aren’t giving up on retaining their title for a record-extending 12th successive season... and with Kane at the peak of his powers, they still have hope.
Kane took his Bundesliga tally to 30 for the season, joining German legend Uwe Seeler as the only players to hit that landmark in their first campaign. And it puts Robert Lewandowski’s single-season record of 41 league goals firmly in Kane’s sights, with nine games left to play.
"I believe he can do everything," said Tuchel when asked if Kane could beat Lewandowski's record. "He's doing what he's always done, throughout his career. He's a role model, a great personality, a top player. It's a gift to be his coach.
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"He's proving week in, week out, that it was the right decision to sign him."
Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer added: "We know he can finish well with both feet and his head. He just has that feeling [for goal]. And he works for the team."
Having fired Bayern into the Champions League eight with a double in midweek in the 3-0 win over Lazio, Kane gave Bayern the lead inside 15 minutes and scored his second in first-half injury time, to make it 3-1. His third, in the 70th minute, made it 7-1 and took him to 40 goals in all for club and country this season.
Harry Kane celebrates his side's first goal (2024 Daniel Kopatsch/Getty Images)Leon Goretzka (2), Thomas Muller, Serge Gnabry and Jamal Musiala were all also on target for Bayern.
Goretzka, asked about Bayern's title hopes post-match, said: "Today was a convincing win and we've often missed that this season. That's why we're in the situation we are.
"Nevertheless, it is our duty to do everything we can for the club and to continue to throw everything into the balance and of course to win our games. If Leverkusen starts to wobble, then we have to be there."
Leverkusen will look to move back 10 points clear when they face Wolfsburg on Sunday.
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