On Friday evening, Bayern Munich were back in Bundesliga action after the international break, as they welcomed Augsburg to the Allianz Arena for matchday eleven of the 24/25 season.
Bayern came into the game more handicapped than they were heading into the break, with João Palhinha picking up a 2024 ending injury whilst away with Portugal, leaving Die Roten even lighter in midfield than they were before.
Harry Kane nets hat-trick to seal another Bundesliga record
For the task at hand, Vincent Kompany opted for a line up of; Neuer - Guerreiro, Upamecano, Kim, Davies - Kimmich, Goretzka - Olise, Musiala, Coman - Kane.
The first-half was an extremely dull affair, with Bayern struggling to break down the extremely stubborn, deep, low block from Augsburg - being limited to half-chances at best, with no chance of note to mention.
With a few minutes of the first period remaining, Kane flashed the ball across goal, but it just missed Musiala in the middle, and nobody else gambled on it. That was as close as Bayern got in the first-half.
Just after the hour mark, upon a monitor check, Bayern were awarded a penalty, after a handball. Kane dispatched the ball into the top corner for his 12th Bundesliga goal of the season.
With a quarter of an hour remaining, Leroy Sané, Serge Gnabry, and Konrad Laimer replaced Olise, Coman and Guerreiro.
There were around two minutes of normal time remaining when Musiala was replaced by Thomas Müller. Despite not scoring or assisting, it was one of Musiala's best performances of the season. Shortly after, a Gnabry cross could not quite be converted by Kane, who nearly injured himself in the process.
However, the reason for him nearly getting injured, was because he was bundled over - illegally. Upon another monitor review - a second penalty was given, with Keven Schlotterbeck sent off for a second yellow card.
From the spot, well, you know the rest. After scoring in the top right corner for his first penalty, this time Kane expertly dispatched into the bottom left corner, to make it two goals for him and two goals for Bayern Munich.
Very soon after, there was time for it to be three goals for Kane, and three goals for Bayern. An inswinging cross from Goretzka was expertly controlled by the 31-year old, who took the goalkeeper out of the game in the process. From there, Kane headed home the loose ball into an empty net, to put the gloss on things.
Between the two goals, Boey replaced Davies for his first appearance since mid-September. With the injury concerns that Bayern currently have, this is especially a very welcomed return.
This hat-trick means that Kane has scored 50 Bundesliga goals already, doing so in just 43 games. He becomes the fastest ever player to reach that landmark, another record of his that was previously held by Erling Haaland - who did so in 50 games.
That would be that, and Bayern would have three goals and three points. Not the prettiest game, but Kompany's side keep ticking along, ahead of the biggest week of the season. All the pressure is now on the chasing pack ahead of the weekend, with Bayern eight points clear having played a game more.
Enjoy the weekend, Bayern fans.