This felt like Sourav Ganguly and Steve Waugh in 2001, with the India captain getting his Australian counter-part worked up by arriving late for the toss. David Raya had made him wait. Harry Kane responded by taking even longer for the penalty.
Kane has missed penalties on big nights: the 2022 World Cup quarter-final and the recent Nations League match against Spain are but two. Trailing through Eberechi Eze’s brilliant 25th minute finish from an equally brilliant pass by Martin Odegaard, Bayern equalised through Alphonso Davies 10 minutes later and took the lead in the 61st minute. Only Cristiano Ronaldo (11) has more. This was the kind of pass Kane played for Son Heung-min at Tottenham Hotspur, their 47 goals are a Premier League record for most goal combinations by two players. Kane scored the other two in the 3-2 win Changing countries and clubs, Kane’s passing range remains as good if not better.
Kane had won the penalty, his shot hitting Jurrien Timber’s hand. But at Allianz Arena, its roof rimmed by red lights and throbbing with anticipation, Kane conveyed a sense of calm. Raya moved late but with a start-stop routine and looking up to see which way the Arsenal goalie was going, Kane blasted the shot to put Bayern Munich ahead. This was the 10th consecutive Champions League match in which Kane has scored. It was Kane’s pass that led to Bayern’s first goal. Bayern moved the ball on the right from a throw-in before it reached Kane. He spotted Davies and played a pass on the inside of Timber that was perfect for the left-side attacker to run onto and score. In his last season at Spurs, Kane produced a masterclass at Manchester City. One of the goals came from a Kane pass to Son who found Dejan Kulusevski. Last season, against Paris St-Germain, he found Luis Diaz after dropping deep for a goal.
One who as a six-year-old had agreed to play in goal. Kane’s career has been forged by hard work. Under Mauricio Pochettino and then Jose Mourinho, Kane changed from being able to play with his back to goal and wait in the penalty area to one who is more mobile and can press. His passing ability stems from playing as a midfielder in youth football. When Bukayo Saka was injured, it was Kane who wanted the game to stop before Arsenal did.
As per Opta, Kane is the first player to score, provide an assist and take a goalkick in the Champions League since detailed data collection began in 2003-04. This was Kane’s 16th goal against Arsenal and his 156th in 158 matches since joining Bayern in 2023. For club and country, Erling Haaland has 18 goals and no assists this season. Kane has 16 goals and five assists.
“A machine and also a gentleman,” Diaz has said of Kane.
