Kane hits three as Bayern batter Mainz to cut gap, Dortmund win
Harry Kane hit his fourth Bundesliga treble in an all-round masterclass to help Bayern Munich crush second-bottom Mainz 8-1 on Saturday and trim Bayer Leverkusen's lead to seven points.
Leon Goretzka was on target in-between the England striker's first-half double, thanks to Kane's clever leave, and after a thumping free-kick from Nadiem Amiri failed to derail the improving champions, Thomas Müller, Jamal Musiala and Serge Gnabry netted.
Kane then headed in his 30th goal of his maiden Bundesliga season as he eyes Robert Lewandowski's league record of 41 goals in a campaign before Goretzka made it eight for the hosts in stoppage time.
"I hope this game acts as a kind of restart for the rest of the season. We used the momentum today," Kane said. "It was a great performance of ours from start to finish. Now we have to continue showing these kinds of performances in the upcoming weeks."
Unbeaten Leverkusen, seeking a first ever Bundesliga title, host Wolfsburg on Sunday when Xabi Alonso's side can re-establish their 10-point lead with just nine games left this season.
Donyell Malen's acrobatic finish and Jadon Sancho's first goal since returning gave 10-man Borussia Dortmund a 2-1 win at ninth-placed Werder Bremen to stay in the fourth Champions League spot.
Sancho, on loan from Manchester United, used his express pace to score before Dortmund, who host PSV Eindhoven in this season's Champions League last 16 second leg on Wednesday, weathered Marcel Sabitzer's harsh red for a studs-up tackle and Justin Njinmah's goal.
Dortmund kept up a one-point cushion over fifth-placed RB Leipzig, who won 2-0 at home to bottom side Darmstadt after Thomas Isherwood's early own goal and Christoph Baumgartner's classy strike left the Lilies 12 points from absolute safety.
Third-bottom Cologne drew 3-3 at Borussia Mönchengladbach in a wild Rhine derby after 200 fans were detained on Friday following clashes.
"More games like that and I'll get grey hair," Billy Goats coach Timo Schultz said.
Cologne are still adrift in the relegation play-off spot but put themselves two points ahead of Mainz in the automatic drop zone.
Augsburg powered up to eighth after beating mid-table Heidenheim 1-0 at home courtesy of Jeffrey Gouweleeuw's fine finish from a corner.
On Friday, VFB Stuttgart consolidated third spot with a 2-0 home win over Union Berlin while Bochum host Freiburg and Eintracht Frankfurt welcome Hoffenheim on Sunday.
Bayern have won the last 11 Bundesliga titles but with Leverkusen on the cusp of their first, the Bavarians announced last month that coach Thomas Tuchel would leave at the end of the season.
Since the announcement, Bayern have looked more relaxed and followed up the Champions League last-16 win over Lazio with another triumph.
Kane tapped in Jamal Musiala's pass following a quick break and the England captain also had a role in Goretzka's scuffed goal for 2-0, realizing he was offside and moving away from the ball.
Amiri, who joined Mainz from Leverkusen in January, tried to do his old side a favour with his free-kick for 2-1 but in truth it only flew in because Müller moved in the wall.
He made amends by converting Musiala's cross in the second half and the Germany youngster then deservedly got on the scoresheet himself after Kane's special pass.
Gnabry, on his Bundesliga comeback after weeks out injured, expertly flicked in the sixth before 30-year-old Kane was just onside to head home and Goretzka completed the rout.
