Harry Kane scored twice in the first half to help Bayern Munich beat Werder Bremen 3-0 on Saturday to regain a six-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga table.
Borussia Dortmund beat Mainz 4-0 on Friday to close the gap on the league leaders to three points, but Bayern responded with clarity.
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At Bremen, they were in control from start to finish, with Leon Goretzka joining the England captain in goal in the 70th minute.
Kane has scored 26 goals in 22 Bundesliga games this season and 41 goals in all competitions, 13 of which came from penalties.
Kane’s second strike took him to 500 goals in his career for club and country, with the forward telling reporters: “500 goals is a big number – there’s a lot of hard work and dedication that goes into it.
“All I can say is thank you to all my teammates and coaches over the years – and I look forward to the next 50 years, the next 100 years.”
Bayern are without the suspended Michael Olise for the first time in 89 games since the French winger joined from Crystal Palace in 2024.
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Werder Bremen put the league leaders on the ropes early on but Kane gave Bayern the lead in the 22nd minute, awarding a penalty after VAR spotted Lennart Carr collapsing in the box.
This is the third consecutive game in which Kane has given Bayern the lead through a penalty kick.
Three minutes later, Bayern doubled their lead when Kane fired a low shot from the right post from the edge of the penalty area.
Bayern captain Manuel Neuer was substituted at half-time due to a recurrence of a calf injury, but sporting director Max Eberl said it was “nothing dramatic” and “a precautionary measure”.
Werder Bremen’s Marco Gruhl hit the post shortly after the break, but Bayern ended the game when Goretzka swept home with 20 minutes remaining.
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Hoffenheim continued its comeback this season, beating Freiburg 3-0 at home with goals from Fisnik Aslani, Ozan Kabak and Valentin Gendre, locking in third place.
Hoffenheim, a village of about 3,500 people, finished just one place above the relegation play-offs last season and is on track to reach the Champions League.
In the past 16 league games, Hoffenheim has only lost twice to Bayern and Dortmund.
– Stuttgart ranked fourth –
Elmedin Demirovic’s brace helped Stuttgart beat Cologne 3-1 at home later on Saturday to lift the reigning German Cup champions into fourth.
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Demirovic gave Stuttgart the lead after the quarter hour, but Ragnar Ache pulled one back with 11 minutes left.
Just five minutes later, Demirovic volleyed a supplementary shot and Stuttgart regained the lead. Germany striker Deniz Ondav made it three points with a stoppage-time goal.
“I’m a striker. I score goals,” Demirovic said.
Stuttgart will travel to Celtic in the first leg of the Europa League knockout round on Thursday and centre-back Jeff Chabot said “we’re looking forward to a good game and a good atmosphere.”
Leverkusen’s 4-0 win at home to St. Pauli was their fifth win in their past six games, moving the 2024 title winners above RB Leipzig into fifth place.
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Leverkusen took the lead with 13 minutes left when former Liverpool centre-back Jarell Quansah headed home, before Patrik Schick put the home side ahead a minute later.
Edmund Tapsoba and Ernest Poku scored in the second half for Leverkusen, who will face Olympiakos in Wednesday’s Champions League knockout round.
Frankfurt defeated Monchengladbach 3-0 at home, and coach Albert Lira achieved his first victory in charge.
Nathaniel Brown, Ayoubi Amaimoni and Ansgar Knaff scored for Frankfurt, who moved above Freiburg into seventh place.
In addition, Hamburg defeated Union Berlin 3-2 at home with one goal behind, surpassing its opponents and ranking ninth.
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