Bayern and Kane playing with spare change as Gladbach heads to Munich
As Bayern Munich marches towards yet another Bundesliga crown, forward Harry Kane eyes a fresh achievement: surpassing Robert Lewandowski's mark for most goals in a single campaign.
Their victory against Borussia Dortmund at the Westfalenstadion this past Saturday extended Bayern's lead to 11 points, with only 10 matches remaining.
Regrettably for faltering Borussia Moenchengladbach, set to face off at Munich's Allianz Arena this Friday, Bayern and Kane show no signs of easing up.
Bayern need just 14 more strikes to eclipse the 1971-72 single-season tally of 101 goals.
Having netted 30 times across 24 Bundesliga outings this term, Kane trails Lewandowski's 2020-21 haul by 11.
"I am definitely well placed right now," Kane shared with German outlet Bild on Wednesday. "Surpassing him will prove tough. I reckon the odds are balanced for the time being."
When quizzed on wagering for his own success in breaking the record by May, Kane grinned and replied, "I'd rather folks place bets on my behalf."
Ever systematic, Kane divides the season into concise segments of matches, establishing precise aims.
"I avoid fixating on the records directly or declaring 'I must shatter this one now'. Instead, I segment the fixtures into phases... without solely eyeing Lewandowski's mark.
"I steer clear of that, focusing instead on what I ought to accomplish. I consistently aim for targets over every five or six encounters."
Given his pace, Kane should clinch the record without issue, though manager Vincent Kompany might consider benching the key forward ahead of upcoming Champions League and German Cup fixtures.
Ex-Bayern and Germany marksman Jurgen Klinsmann endorsed Kane's pursuit, informing AFP and various outlets on Wednesday: "Harry's exploits since arriving at Bayern Munich form an astonishing narrative.
Klinsmann asserted that Kompany "would never" obstruct Kane's path.
"Sideline him and deny the record? I doubt that will occur."
Player to note: Deniz Undav
Trailing Harry Kane in the scoring rankings yet enjoying a stellar year, Stuttgart's Deniz Undav continues to impress.
The 29-year-old has bagged 14 goals from 20 Bundesliga appearances, hitting a personal high of one every 106 minutes.
In contrast to Kane, the German player skips penalty duties for Stuttgart. Of Kane's 30 Bundesliga tallies, 14 stem from penalties this season, leaving Undav merely two behind in open-play efforts compared to the England skipper.
Notwithstanding his output, the ex-Brighton shooter expressed frustration to Bild that observers still undervalue him as a primary forward.
"I hold the top scoring tally, so I fail to grasp why discussions favour other forwards over me. That I get pigeonholed as a false nine constantly irks me.
"I have faced that label throughout my career. I believed that excelling in goals would end it.
"I am merely an effective, traditional centre-forward capable of doubling as a solid number 10. But the talent is not my doing. I am a forward, I convert chances, and I set them up too."
Essential figures
6. Between 2014 and 2023, Gladbach dropped just six of their 19 clashes with Bayern.
5-0. Among those was a remarkable 5-0 German Cup rout, Bayern's heaviest loss since the 1970s.
5. Lately, though, Bayern have triumphed in five straight against them, their strongest streak versus the Foals since the 1960s.
Schedule (1430 GMT unless noted)
Friday
Bayern Munich versus Borussia Moenchengladbach (1930)
Saturday
RB Leipzig versus Augsburg, Mainz versus Stuttgart, Heidenheim versus Hoffenheim, Wolfsburg versus Hamburg, Freiburg versus Bayer Leverkusen, Cologne versus Borussia Dortmund (1730)
Sunday
St Pauli versus Eintracht Frankfurt, Union Berlin versus Werder Bremen (1630)