Bayern Munich 8-1 Mainz 05: Harry Kane nets a hat-trick as Champions cut gap on leaders to seven points

On Saturday, Harry Kane scored a hat-trick in Bayern Munich's 8-1 demolition of Mainz 05, setting a Bundesliga record and closing the gap on leaders Bayer Leverkusen to seven points.

Kane, who signed from Tottenham Hotspur for a league record 100 million euros this season, became the first Bundesliga player to score at least twice in eight different games.

He also equaled Uwe Seeler's record for most goals in a Bundesliga debut season, scoring 30.

"I trust him to do anything," Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel said when asked if Kane would break the league record of 41 goals in a single season.

"He is a great personality, a great role model. A top player. It is an absolute gift to be able to train him."

"It was the right decision to bring him here, he proves this week in week out," said Tuchel, who will leave at the end of the season.

The England captain also scored twice in Bayern's 3-0 win over Lazio on Tuesday, propelling the club into the Champions League quarterfinals.

Bayern are second in the standings with 57 points, ahead of Leverkusen's home game against VfL Wolfsburg this Sunday.

Kane opened his account in the 13th minute, tapping in from close range with the Bavarians desperate to keep their slim title chances alive after only winning one of their last four league games.

They added another through Leon Goretzka after Kane's shot bounced off the post seven minutes later.

Mainz briefly cut the deficit with a thunderous free kick from Nadiem Amiri, and the visitors pressed hard for a second goal before Kane restored order in first-half stoppage time.

After the interval, the hosts overran Mainz, and Thomas Mueller scored in the 47th minute to make it 4-1.

With Mainz's defence in disarray, the hosts poured forward, and Jamal Musiala threaded a shot past the keeper before substitute Serge Gnabry scored with an audacious mid-air backheel flick to make it 6-1.

Kane completed his hat-trick from close range by nodding in on the rebound at the far post, and Goretzka's stoppage-time header completed the scoring.

SportsLigue