Kane's hat-trick sends Bayern Munich to a record-breaking Bundesliga title finale
Harry Kane crowned a historic personal campaign by firing a hat-trick as champions Bayern Munich swept aside Cologne 5-1 in a stunning finale to the Bundesliga season on Saturday.
The England captain opened the scoring with a volley in the 10th minute, added a free kick three minutes later, and completed his treble with a long-range strike in the 69th to finish the season with 36 league goals — the most in the division. Kane has now netted 98 times in just 94 Bundesliga appearances for Bayern, and becomes the first player in the competition's history to claim the top scorer award in each of his first three seasons in Germany.
Said El Mala briefly reduced the deficit in the 18th minute before Tom Bischof restored the two-goal advantage four minutes later, and Nicolas Jackson rounded off the rout with a fifth in the 83rd minute.
The result sealed a dominant title campaign in which Bayern accumulated 89 points from 34 games and scored a staggering 122 goals, surpassing their own previous league record of 101 set back in 1971-72. The Bavarians could yet complete a domestic double, with the German Cup final against VfB Stuttgart to come next week.
France international Michael Olise was named the league's player of the season after contributing 15 goals and 19 assists across the campaign. "It has been incredible to be honest," Olise said, moments before being doused in beer by celebrating teammates. "We had a good season. I think we improved from last season. I am just proud to be part of the team."
Leon Goretzka, who departs after eight years at the club, was handed the honour of lifting the trophy by captain Manuel Neuer before triggering celebrations set to spill into Sunday, when Bayern will hold a title party with supporters in central Munich. Neuer himself, who signed a contract extension on Friday and could yet earn a place in Germany's World Cup squad, was substituted in the 60th minute with a minor calf problem.
Elsewhere on the final day, Borussia Dortmund secured the runners-up spot for the eighth time in the past 14 seasons with a 2-0 win at Werder Bremen, finishing on 73 points. Third-placed RB Leipzig on 65 points and fourth-placed VfB Stuttgart on 62 will join Bayern and Dortmund in next season's Champions League. Bayer Leverkusen and Hoffenheim earned Europa League places, while Freiburg — surprise finalists in this season's Europa League — claimed Conference League football with seventh place after a 4-1 victory over Leipzig.
At the bottom, St Pauli and Heidenheim both finished on 26 points and were relegated, while VfL Wolfsburg will enter a promotion/relegation playoff against the third-placed side from the second division.
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