Match Report: Harry Kane hat-trick fires Bayern Munich to their first win in four games

On Saturday evening, Bayern Munich were looking to bounce back from the infuriating week before the international break, as they welcomed VfB Stuttgart to the Allianz Arena.

For this game, Vincent Kompany went with a line up of: Neuer - Guerreiro, Upamecano, Kim, Davies – Kimmich, Pavlović – Olise, Müller, Gnabry – Kane.

Within the first 10 minutes of the game, Aleksandar Pavlović had to be withdrawn after a worrying looking shoulder injury, and he was replaced with João Palhinha, who had a huge opportunity on his hands to stake his claim for a place in the side.

Bayern dominated possession and territory in the first half, but without creating any clear cut chances, as their visitors stayed firm in their shape.

Sublime Harry Kane scores yet another hat-trick for Bayern Munich

Just six minutes after the start of the second-half, Serge Gnabry played a ball from the right side that Harry Kane could not convert into the back of the net from very close range. In fairness to the Bayern number nine, the ball was played with a bit more pace than would have been ideal – even if he should have scored.

He was not to be denied six minutes later, however. Picking the ball up around midway throught the Stuttgart half, he took four of five touches to set himself before drilling a low effort into the bottom corner to give Bayern the lead.

Three minutes after that, and he could have scored again as his one-one-one against Alexander Nübel was too close to the goalkeeper.

However, from the same phase of play, having had another shot blocked, Kane juggled the ball under his close control in the area and fired his shot into the bottom corner, to make it two for him and two for Bayern.

With 22 minutes left, Kompany made a triple change, as Konrad Laimer, Leroy Sané, and Kingsley Coman, replaced Raphael Guerreiro, Michael Olise, and Gnabry.

With ten minutes of play left, Kane had his third hat-trick of the season, finishing a rebound from close range to make sure of all three points.

Straight after, Dayot Upamecano was afforded some, as Leon Goretzka replaced him. There was time for one more goal for Bayern, as Coman cut inside and fired a shot into the top far corner to put the gloss on things. That would be that, and Bayern would win 4-0.

This win leaves Bayern top of the Bundesliga, with 17 points from seven games – above RB Leipzig on goal difference. Much better today, heading into the massive clash against FC Barcelona.