Kane shines as Bayern Munich whip 10-man Leverkusen in Champions League clash

Bayern Munich took a commanding step toward the Champions League quarter-finals with a 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen, thanks to a Harry Kane double and a dominant all-around performance in the first leg of their last-16 tie.

Kane opened the scoring just nine minutes into the match, heading in a pinpoint cross from Michael Olise. Bayern doubled their lead through Jamal Musiala, who capitalized on a goalkeeping error by Matej Kovar to slot the ball into an open net.

Leverkusen’s hopes of a comeback were further diminished when Nordi Mukiele received a second yellow card for a reckless challenge just past the hour mark. Kane sealed the win with his second goal of the night, converting a penalty after Edmond Tapsoba fouled him during a corner, following a VAR review.

Manuel Neuer’s brilliant save from Jeremie Frimpong earlier in the game kept Bayern in control, while Vincent Kompany’s Leverkusen side struggled to keep pace with the Bundesliga leaders. The result leaves Bayern firmly in control as they head into the second leg.

“This is the Champions League, this is the biggest game of all,” Kane told TNT Sports after the game.

“We’re playing against a team who have had an unbelievable couple of seasons. If we don’t carry it on, then it doesn’t mean anything.

“We’re here to send a message not just to everyone but to ourselves.”

Kane’s nine-goal haul is the most by an English player in a single Champions League campaign and the joint-most in a European Cup campaign alongside Dennis Viollet, who scored nine goals for Manchester United in 1956-57.

The 31-year-old also has nine goals in the Champions League knockout stages now, with Frank Lampard (15) and Wayne Rooney (14) the only Englishmen ahead of him in that regard.

He has now scored more goals across all competitions than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues since he joined Bayern (75).

Seventeen of them have come in the Champions League, which is also more than any other player in the competition in that time.

Former Germany international Thomas Hitzlsperger told BBC Match of the Day: “Kane was instrumental to the win. I have seen him when he is quiet and doesn’t score and people say has he reached a peak already. But his record speaks for itself, he is so important.”

Athletic journalist Rory Smith, added: “There is a genuine debate at times over his mobility. There was a game against Frankurt recently he missed and Bayern looked more fluid.

“But he is such a reliable goalscorer even if he detracts from the fluency of the team a bit, how do you keep him out?”

The second leg at BayArena will take place on Tuesday, 11 March (20:00 GMT).

It was a night where everything that could have gone wrong for Leverkusen, went wrong.

Xabi Alonso’s side came into the game having not lost to Bayern this season – earning two draws in the league and a win in the German Cup in December.

But their decision to leave Patrik Schick and Victor Boniface on the bench and play without a recognised striker left the German champions without an outlet on the few occasions they made some progress in the opposition’s half.

Individual mistakes also did not help Die Werkself as Mukiele was far too passive in the box to allow Kane to head in the early opener.

Alonso’s decision to pick Kovar in front of Lukas Hradecky to guard the Leverkusen goal will also be scrutinised after the Czech shot-stopper’s error let Bayern double their advantage in the second half.

Their misery was compounded when Mukiele planted his studs on Coman’s calf from behind, leaving the referee with no option but to dismiss him for a second bookable offence.

Tapsoba’s introduction to shore up the 10-man side also backfired as the centre-back put his arms around Kane to bring him down and conceded the penalty from which the striker sent them three goals clear.

“It’s the first leg, we can’t get carried away and we know what type of team they are, next week will be tough,” the former Tottenham star said.

“There was a lot of talk around the last game. We came into it fresh and it’s where the game was won. We made it difficult for them. Tuesday will be no different. We have to be ready.”

Only Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski (34 goals) has scored more for a club in Europe’s big five leagues this season than Kane.

In the end, Leverkusen were fortunate not to fall further behind on a forgettable night as Bayern substitute Joao Palhinha brushed the woodwork in the stoppage time.

“A lot went against us today, but that was our own fault. We didn’t have good control and made big mistakes,” Leverkusen boss Alonso said.

On the other hand, Kompany’s only concern on an otherwise spotless night was an injury to Neuer, who was replaced by Jonas Urbig in Bayern goal.