Kane hat trick against Augsburg hides Bayern's concerning lack of goals

BERLIN — Harry Kane scored a hat trick including two penalties for Bayern Munich to beat Augsburg 3-0 in the Bundesliga on Friday.

The win stretched Bayern’s lead to eight points ahead of the rest of the 11th round, and Kane took his goals tally to a league-leading 14.

The England forward is the fastest player to reach 50 goals in the Bundesliga in what was his 43rd game.

However, coach Vincent Kompany should be concerned by his team’s ongoing difficulty of scoring in matches it dominates. Bayern previously defeated St. Pauli and Benfica only 1-0.

Kompany’s team had to wait until stoppage time before Kane sealed the result with his second penalty. Two minutes later, Kane scored with a header after controlling Leon Goretzka's cross with his first touch for a flattering scoreline.

Bayern had possession and chances, but the visitors defended resolutely with Augsburg goalkeeper Nediljko Labrović denying Kane, then twice Jamal Musiala to keep the game scoreless at halftime.

Bayern counterpart Manuel Neuer, who overcame a rib injury to start, had little to do at the other end.

Musiala, Goretzka and Michael Olise all went close after the break. Labrović and the Augsburg defense held on.

Then Mads Pedersen was penalized for handball following a VAR review and Kane duly broke the deadlock in the 63rd.

Bayern continued as before with 80% possession, but had to wait for Keven Schlotterbeck to be penalized through VAR for a foul on Kane. Kane sealed the result in the third minute of stoppage time and there was still time for him to grab another.

It’s Bayern’s seventh consecutive win without conceding a goal since it conceded four at Barcelona (4-1) on Oct. 23 in the Champions League.

Bayern next hosts Paris Saint-Germain in that competition on Tuesday, then Borussia Dortmund away in the Bundesliga next weekend, before defending champion Bayer Leverkusen visits in the third round of the German Cup.