Bayern Munich have opened up a five-point gap at the summit of the Bundesliga table after just seven matches, with England captain Harry Kane spearheading their relentless charge towards another title.
The Bavarian giants head into Saturday’s clash with Borussia Moenchengladbach having maintained a perfect record of 12 victories from 12 matches across all competitions. Vincent Kompany’s side remain the only team in Europe’s top five leagues yet to drop a single point this season.
Kane has been the driving force behind Bayern’s blistering start, netting 20 goals in those dozen victories. The 32-year-old striker has racked up 12 goals and three assists in just seven Bundesliga appearances, continuing the prolific form that saw him break records last season.
However, Kane’s influence extends far beyond his remarkable scoring rate. In last Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund, the former Tottenham man showcased his all-round game, operating in a deeper number 10 role behind Nicolas Jackson whilst maintaining his cutting edge in the penalty area.
“Conversations will be had,” Kane said following Bayern’s 4-0 Champions League triumph over Club Brugge on Wednesday. “Not next month, but maybe in the new year. We’re in a great position. I feel good.”
The England captain, who had been linked with a return to the Premier League, hinted at extending his stay in Bavaria, particularly after Kompany signed a new contract until 2029 earlier this week.
“Kompany is a big part of the club and a key part of why I enjoy being here so much. The extension is great news,” Kane added.
Bayern’s dominance could intensify further with the imminent return of Jamal Musiala. The 22-year-old creative midfielder, who broke his ankle at the Club World Cup in July, trained with the squad for the first time on Thursday.
“It was great to be back on the pitch. It felt great. My foot felt good,” Musiala told reporters.
Sporting director Max Eberl revealed that Musiala, originally expected to miss the entire calendar year, could now return before Christmas.
“It’s always just step by step, you don’t want to do anything too quickly,” Musiala explained. “When I come back, I want to be at 100 percent and at a good level. That’s why we’re taking our time.”
RB Leipzig, sitting five points adrift in second place, travel to mid-table Augsburg on Saturday as they attempt to keep pace with the runaway leaders. Leipzig have recovered impressively from their opening-day 6-0 humiliation at the Allianz Arena, claiming 16 points from their subsequent six matches.
Borussia Dortmund, meanwhile, host Cologne at the Signal Iduna Park, with Portuguese striker Fabio Silva potentially in line for his first start. The 23-year-old, who endured a difficult spell at Wolverhampton Wanderers, has impressed in recent substitute appearances and scored his maiden Dortmund goal in Tuesday’s Champions League win at Copenhagen.
“Fabio is playing more and more. I’m trying to give him more and more minutes because he deserves them,” Dortmund coach Niko Kovac said on Tuesday.
At the opposite end of the table, Borussia Moenchengladbach remain rooted to the bottom without a single victory this season. They face the unenviable task of hosting Kane and the all-conquering Bayern on Saturday afternoon.
Seventh-placed Eintracht Frankfurt, who shipped five goals against Liverpool in midweek, have the leakiest defence in the division with 18 goals conceded. They welcome St Pauli on Saturday as they seek to tighten up at the back.
