Harry Kane bagged a record-breaking 31st league goal and Jamal Musiala scored twice in Bayern Munich’s 5-2 demolition of Darmstadt that moved the champions to within seven points of the Bundesliga leaders, Bayer Leverkusen.
Kane put Bayern, who face Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals next month, 2-1 up in first-half stoppage time to take his tally to 31, more than any player has scored in their first Bundesliga season. It is also a personal league best for the England captain – the Bundesliga’s most expensive transfer at €100m – but the gloss was partly taken off the achievement when he limped off injured after sliding into a post late in the game and twisting an ankle.
Kane was named in the England squad this week for upcoming friendlies against Brazil and Belgium and the Bayern coach, Thomas Tuchel, says it is too early to say whether he will be fit enough to feature.
“He stumbled and fell in the net and twisted his ankle,” said Tuchel. “He is cooling it now with ice. There is no diagnosis yet. We have to wait and see and hope it is just a scary moment. Overall we are happy with a deserved win. We kept creating chances and we deserved the goals we scored.”
The visitors had the upper hand from the start but it was Darmstadt who struck first, with Tim Skarke polishing off a quick break in the 28th minute.
Bayern did not have to wait long for an equaliser as teenager Aleksandar Pavlovic, fresh from being picked for the Germany squad for friendly matches this month, dribbled past three players, charged into the box and found Kane, who passed to Musiala to finish the move.
Kane gave Bayern the lead in stoppage time with a diving header but Darmstadt almost levelled when Oscar Vilhelmsson hit the crossbar on the stroke of half-time.
Musiala put the game to bed in the 64th minute with a stunning solo run for his 10th league goal. The substitute Serge Gnabry and Mathys Tel both got on to the scoresheet before Vilhelmsson scored for Darmstadt, who also hit the woodwork again late in the game.
The win lifts Bayern to 60 points in second place, with Leverkusen travelling to Freiburg on Sunday.
Stuttgart remain third after a 3-0 win at Hoffenheim which was secured thanks to first-half goals from Enzo Millot and Serhou Guirassy followed by a Jamie Leweling strike after the interval.
Mainz boosted their hopes of avoiding relegation after two goals from Jonathan Burkardt sealed a 2-0 home win over fellow strugglers Bochum.
Real Madrid continued their march towards the La Liga title as Vinícius Júnior scored twice in a 4-2 victory at Osasuna.
Vinícius put the visitors ahead after four minutes but Osasuna’s Ante Budimir levelled three minutes later by slotting in from close range following a corner.
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Dani Carvajal restored Real’s lead after 18 minutes, using the outside of his foot to steer a shot into the far corner. Brahim Díaz added a third in the 61st minute before Vinícius scored his second three minutes later with a low finish from a tight angle.
Osasuna pulled one back in stoppage time when Iker Muñoz received a cutback inside the box and poweed a shot into the net.
Vinícius, who has scored six goals in his last four games, said: “The entire team played a great game, not just me. I don’t think as much about the goals I scored as I do about the chances I missed.”
Real are now 10 points clear of second-placed Girona after they slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Getafe. Jesus Santiago gave Getafe the lead in the 33rd minute with his first goal in La Liga after being found in the penalty area by Ilaix Moriba. Girona came close to equalising late on but David Soria denied Artem Dovbyk and Cristhian Stuani headed wide as the visitors fell to their fourth successive away defeat.
Marco Raíllo scored with a late header to give Mallorca a 1-0 win over struggling Granada.
Emmanuel Emegha scored twice as Strasbourg snapped an eight-game winless streak in Ligue 1 by beating struggling Nantes 3-1.
Kevin Gameiro opened the scoring for Strasbourg after just three minutes before Eray Comert levelled from close range before the interval. Emegha made it 2-1 around the hour-mark with a right-foot shot and completed his brace in the 78th minute after dribbling past goalkeeper Alban Lafont.
It was Strasbourg’s first league win in 2024 and lifted them to 12th place, six points above the relegation zone.
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