LAST UPDATE | 9 Mar
HARRY KANE SCORED a hat-trick as Bayern Munich thumped Mainz 8-1 on Saturday, equalling a 60-year-old record and keeping alive his team’s hopes of catching leaders Bayer Leverkusen.
Kane, who also laid on two assists, now has 30 goals in his first season in Munich colours, equalling the record for a maiden campaign set by German legend Uwe Seeler for Hamburg in 1963-64.
With nine games remaining to break the record, the England captain has also drawn nearer to the season record of 41 goals set by Bayern’s Robert Lewandowski 2020-21.
The win was Bayern’s second biggest this season, just behind their 8-0 demolition of Darmstadt in October.
Elsewhere, Borussia Dortmund’s coach and sporting director both praised Jadon Sancho after the England winger’s goal secured a 2-1 win at Werder Bremen.
The win, which kept Dortmund in fourth place and on course for Champions League football next season, was set up by Sancho’s first goal since returning from Manchester United on loan in January.
Sancho dribbled in from the left flank before scoring in a trademark solo effort reminiscent of his peak at Dortmund three years ago.
“Doing something like that, you can of course see what a great footballer he is,” Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl said of Sancho.
The goal put Dortmund 2-0 up, but the visitors lost Marcel Sabitzer to a straight red card shortly after and held on for a half to ensure a 2-1 win.
It was his first goal in eight matches after returning to the side — and his first in Dortmund colours in 1,031 days dating back to May 2021.
Kehl, who played a key role in bringing Sancho back to the club on a loan until the summer, said the 23-year-old was “rewarded” for his hard work.
You can see how he can make the difference, especially in one-on-one situations.”
Prior to Saturday, Sancho had laid on two assists since returning in January.
“Everyone is happy for Jadon because they saw how hard he was working and how willing he was to help the team.
“Goals help. He’s had one or two assists before, but this goal will help him and give him a boost.”
Sancho had barely played this season after falling out with United manager Erik ten Hag, who would not allow him to train with the first team.
Dortmund coach Edin Terzic, who was in charge as an interim manager when the Black and Yellows won the German Cup in 2021 thanks to two goals from Sancho, praised the winger.
“It’s an example of what he’s capable of and hopefully he can continue like this. He’s not limiting himself to scoring a goal — it was his entire performance.
“We know he’s not 100%, there’s no way he can be (after a long layoff). But we’ll get him there.”
“You should not forget that he didn’t play for a long time. It’s like when a player has a cruciate ligament injury and is out for a long time.”
In Spain, Girona returned to winning ways by beating Osasuna 2-0 to move back into second place in La Liga, as Atletico Madrid ceded further ground on the top three with a shock defeat at Cadiz.
A goal inside the opening 15 minutes from Cristian Portu and a late Savinho strike allowed Girona to leapfrog Barcelona back into second spot.
Atletico Madrid were shocked by lowly Cadiz as Diego Simeone’s men sank to a 2-0 defeat on the south coast.
A brace either side of half-time from loanee Juanmi secured an invaluable three points for the 18th-placed Andalusian side and condemned Atletico to a seventh defeat this term.
The result pushes Cadiz closer to safety as they provisionally move to within two points of 17th place, while it leaves Atletico four behind Girona in third.
Real Sociedad required late goals from Robin Le Normand and Andre Silva to come from behind and win at second-from-bottom Granada.
Myrto Uzuni twice gave the hosts the lead in the first half, cancelling out Sadiq Umar’s equaliser just after the half-hour. But Le Normand struck 10 minutes from time to level matters and Silva pounced in the 85th minute to nick a 3-2 win for the Basques.
Earlier, Valencia climbed to eighth with a 1-0 win at home to Getafe, courtesy of a clever lofted finish by Hugo Duro five minutes before the break.
In France, Brest were unable to close the gap to Paris Saint-Germain when they fell to a 1-0 away defeat against a determined Lens in Ligue 1.
An opportunistic goal just after the half-hour mark by Ruben Aguilar was the difference as second-placed Brest remain nine points behind leaders PSG.
Lens move up to fourth with the win and sit level on points with Monaco, who occupy the last automatic Champions League qualification spot.
Two goals in the second half gave Lyon a 2-0 victory on the Breton coast against Lorient.
Nicolas Tagliafico and Mama Balde struck inside 20 minutes of the break to get Lyon back to winning ways after last weekend’s 3-0 defeat at home to Lens.
The win sends Lyon above Toulouse and into tenth spot, now seven points clear of the danger zone.
Updated with evening games at 10.55pm
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