Kane double sinks Stuttgart as he moves to 20 goals
Harry Kane took his Bundesliga goal tally to 20 by scoring twice as Bayern Munich returned to winning ways with a 3-0 victory over Stuttgart.
Top-scorer Kane struck after only two minutes and the hosts could have been out of sight by the break but for Bayern loanee Alexander Nubel in the Stuttgart goal.
Kim Min-jae and Thomas Muller both had efforts ruled out by VAR in the first half, but Kane doubled Bayern's lead early in the second before Kim headed home the third as the hosts remained four points off league leader Bayer Leverkusen, which also won against 3-0 Eintracht Frankfurt, the side that smashed Bayern 5-1 last time out.
Bayern was out to bounce back from that humiliation and got off to the ideal start as Leroy Sane squared the ball for Kane to steer into an empty net after Stuttgart had carelessly given up possession in midfield.
Stuttgart attacks were few and far between throughout the contest, but Maximilian Mittelstadt’s tame effort was saved comfortably by Manuel Neuer.
The hosts thought they had a second in the 25th minute when Kim nodded home an Aleksandar Pavlovic free-kick, but it was ruled out by VAR with the defender adjudged to be marginally offside.
Bayern threatened again before the half-hour mark as Sane fired straight at Nubel at the near post.
The former Manchester City winger had another opportunity a couple of minutes later after being teed up by Muller but rolled it wide of a post.
Another chance came and went for Bayern as a Kane effort was superbly parried by Nubel and Jamal Musiala smashed the rebound over the bar.
Another goal was ruled out by VAR when Bayern capitalised on some poor Stuttgart play and Muller found himself in space before slotting home, with his celebrations cut short by an offside decision as the half-time whistle blew.
The hosts finally doubled the lead 10 minutes after the break. Another free-kick from Pavlovic was nodded towards Kane by Kim, and the England captin was at the back post to head home his 20th Bundesliga goal in only his 14th game.
Bayern kept pressing and had a third eight minutes later as a Pavlovic corner was deflected in off the head of the imposing Kim.
Fourth-placed Stuttgart had another shot on target with 10 minutes to play as Jamie Leweling advanced into the area and cut on to his left foot, but his drilled strike was saved by Neuer to deny any consolation as Bayern sealed the victory without any fuss.
