Kane's role as a sub: How a brilliant tactical move led FC Bayern to victory

Even six substitutions weren’t enough to knock Bayern off their stride – on the contrary: after a patchy first half, Munich upped the ante after the restart and beat VfB Stuttgart 5-0. 30 minutes were enough for sub Harry Kane to score a hat-trick – and it was only the second time the England forward scored after coming off the bench. Not only did Bayern remain unbeaten at the top of the table, they also won their 12^th out of 13 matches and extended their record of the best start to a Bundesliga campaign, boasting in incredible goal difference of 49-9.

Excitement in the run-up

FC Bayern had advanced to the DFB Cup quarter-finals thanks to a victory over Union Berlin earlier this week, as had Stuttgart with a win at Bochum. Two teams full of confidence faced off – in the Bundesliga, only FC Bayern, Borussia Dortmund and VfB Stuttgart had found the net in every match this campaign, with the German record champions scoring at least two in each of their last 20 league games – only Bayern under Pep Guardiola had achieved this feat in 2013/14.

But VfB refused to be intimidated by Bayern’s attacking prowess. They have Deniz Undav, who outshone VfB legend Jürgen Klinsmann recently. The latter had scored five goals in a row for VfB in March 1986, whereas Undav had scored all of Stuttgart’s last six league goals.

Not the best omen for a large-scale rotation in the Bayern squad, but head coach Vincent Kompany still shuffled his deck after Wednesday evening’s exhausting cup fight in Berlin. Jonas Urbig started between the sticks for the second time this Bundesliga campaign, whereas Harry Kane and others started on the bench. FC Bayern have gone unbeaten with Kane as a starter since the beginning of 2024/25 (32 wins and seven draws). Without Kane in the starting line-up, FC Bayern lost two out of four games.

‘Zidane of the Alps’ or ‘Konrad Yamal’?

But Bayern didn’t get off to a nervous start. The hosts did. Ameen Al-Dakhil saw a yellow card after just two minutes and soon lost the ball to Nicolas Jackson, with VfB keeper Alexander Nübel only just denying the latter. Bayern relied on Urbig releasing the fast forwards Jackson and Luis Díaz with sharp long balls. Konrad Laimer got hold of the third fine pass, teeing up Michael Olise on the wing, who squared back for Laimer to open the scoring with a cunning back-heel through Nübel’s legs to put Bayern in front (11’). After the final whistle, assistant coach René Marić was unsure whether “Zidane of the Alps or Konrad Yamal” was the better fit. Bayern were a goal up after trailing in the last three consecutive Bundesliga matches. It was a record for the Austrian: he has been involved in five goals this season, surpassing his tally of four last season. “The way we played, with this intensity and energy, was fun,” commented Laimer: “We’re very hungry and keep going.”

But instead of putting their opponents under pressure, FC Bayern lost their rhythm, dropped deeper and were too passive against VfB’s high press. Stuttgart got a grip and enjoyed almost 70 percent of the ball until half-time. The Swabians were dominant and unlucky on several occasions. The stats favoured the hosts, who boasted nine shots to Bayern’s six and nine crosses to Bayern’s three – only their finishing let them down. Nikolas Nartey found the back of the net from a free kick, but the goal was ruled out for offside, and Chema Andrés fired wide.

Brilliant tactical plan

It was a hard-fought and scrappy game now, with Stuttgart in the driving seat. “We lost our momentum because of the challenges,” said Vincent Kompany. FC Bayern had never allowed more shots on goal in the first half of a competitive match under the Belgian. Kompany had his forwards drop deeper to create gaps, and FC Bayern had more chances again, took control and imposed their play with fresh legs. Munich soon enjoyed 65 percent of the ball and regained momentum. Jonas Urbig made a fine save to keep out Undav’s deflected shot (60’) before Kompany introduced attacking prowess: “We lost energy towards the end every time against Stuttgart, so I planned to bring on Harry at this point from the start.”

Kane went on to bag a hat-trick within 30 minutes. He unleashed a 128 km/h belter to make it two after Aleksandar Pavlović had won the ball – the fastest shot for a goal so far this Bundesliga campaign. “The second goal was the decisive moment,” commented VfB coach Sebastian Hoeneß: “We let the game slip away, which was unnecessary. And then the game took its course, as can happen against Bayern.” Kane went on to convert from the spot after Bayern had been awarded a penalty for handball and rounded off the scoreline when he made it five from an Olise cross. “The boys did a great job in the first 60 minutes,” Kane said in praise of the hard workers who had exhausted Stuttgart: “We subs could exploit the space – and of course it’s nice for me personally to score a few goals.”

‘Bayern crushed us today’

Díaz fired wide when he was through one-on-one and Nübel only just kept out another Kane effort, but he was powerless when Stanišić unleashed a belter to make it three – it was the Croatia international’s second goal in his 50^th Bundesliga appearance in Bayern colours. Deniz Undav was fed up: “Bayern crushed us today.” Sebastian Hoeneß found different words: “Bayern are the gold standard, and not only in the Bundesliga. Alongside Arsenal, they’re the best team in Europe at the moment.” The German record champions take on Sporting in the Champions League on Tuesday, and who knows what brilliant trick they come up with this time.