Lewandowski Fires Back at Kane in Epic Bundesliga Scoring Battle
Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane is pursuing Robert Lewandowski's single-season Bundesliga goal record once more, with the Polish legend playfully challenging his successor about the number of matches required to achieve such an extraordinary feat.
Kane and Lewandowski are considered among the premier forwards of their era, with the Englishman stepping in as Lewandowski's replacement in 2023, following the Pole's departure to Barcelona the previous year.
The 37-year-old veteran dedicated eight seasons in Munich, netting 238 goals across 253 Bundesliga appearances while securing the league championship in every campaign during his tenure at the Allianz Arena. Kane has now inherited this responsibility, assisting Bayern in reclaiming their position atop German football following Bayer Leverkusen's brief period of supremacy.
Kane, who holds the all-time scoring records for both Tottenham Hotspur and England, has maintained a similarly extraordinary scoring pace in Germany, registering 92 goals in 87 league matches for Bayern, positioning himself to potentially surpass Lewandowski's seemingly insurmountable single-season record from 2020–21, after coming up five goals short in his inaugural season.
Lewandowski Hints at Asterisk on Potential Kane Record
Lewandowski Hints at Asterisk on Potential Kane Record
Kane's tally of 36 goals during 2023–24 places him fourth among the most productive Bundesliga campaigns in history, with Lewandowski shattering Gerd Müller's nearly five-decade-old benchmark in 2020–21.
The Polish marksman, denied the Ballon d'Or following the pandemic-affected 2019–20 season, delivered an absolutely phenomenal scoring campaign, finding the net 41 times across just 29 Bundesliga matches, achieving a remarkable rate of 1.41 goals per appearance.
Currently, Kane has netted 30 times in 24 matches. He requires 12 goals in Bayern's remaining 10 fixtures to eclipse the benchmark established by his distinguished predecessor.
"Harry Kane consistently scores numerous goals, performing exceptionally well and doing an outstanding job," Lewandowski remarked in a recent conversation with Sky Sports Germany. "When I noticed I achieved this in 29 matches... if I had played 34 games, I can only envision scoring even more!"
A knee ligament problem suffered in April forced the prolific Polish striker to miss four league fixtures, and he was also given rest during the away match at FC Köln in autumn, against whom he would later score twice at home. Undoubtedly, Lewandowski, considering his exceptional form throughout that campaign and his entire Bayern tenure, would have increased his record total had he avoided the fitness complications.
Consequently, the opportunity remains available for Kane this season. The English forward has started all except one of Bayern's Bundesliga matches, making a 30-minute substitute appearance in the other. He has failed to score on just six occasions and has netted four consecutive doubles, positioning him to potentially overtake Lewandowski.
"Thanks to him [Kane], I can feel even more pride in my record now!" Lewandowski concluded. He will undoubtedly monitor his former team closely for the season's remainder.
Could Kane Break Lewandowski's Single-Season Scoring Record?
Could Kane Break Lewandowski's Single-Season Scoring Record?
As previously mentioned, Kane requires 10 goals across 12 matches to surpass the record. At his present rate of 1.25 goals per game, he would conclude the season with 42.5, which, despite being an unattainable exact figure, indicates he remains on course.
Nevertheless, Kane's pursuit has encountered a setback. Vincent Kompany has announced his striker will be absent from Friday evening's match against Borussia Mönchengladbach due to a calf problem, leaving him with only nine games to score 12 goals (requiring an average of 1.33 goals per match).
Bayern's manager dismissed concerns about a "serious" problem, so Kane should return for their Champions League campaign resumption away at Atalanta next week.
Kane has shown no preference regarding his scoring targets since joining German football, but it's noteworthy that Bayern still face three of the bottom four teams before season's end. Wolfsburg and Heidenheim, currently facing relegation, share the division's poorest defensive statistics.
Therefore, numerous opportunities will present themselves for the 32-year-old to capitalize.