Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe reaffirm their status as the world’s best

It’s not easy being a Bayern Munich fan right now as the German giants have fallen from their former glory, experiencing a string of three consecutive losses, their worst run since 2015. Their title rivals Bayer Leverkusen are dominating the league. To add to their woes, their coach Thomas Tuchel will be departing Munich in the summer, less than a year after joining the club.  

However, amid all the gloom, Bayern managed to rediscover their winning touch when it mattered the most. With Harry Kane getting closer to his imperious best, the six-time European champions staged an impressive turnaround at home, overturning a first-leg deficit against the renowned Italian powerhouse Lazio, securing a spot in the Champions League quarterfinals.

Bayern have certainly faced its fair share of challenges during this campaign, but one thing they have never had to worry about is Kane’s incredible talent. In Tuesday night’s clash with Lazio, the England captain once again demonstrated his brilliance by scoring his 32nd and 33rd goals of the season. These crucial strikes, combined with an outstanding performance by Thomas Muller, sealed Lazio’s fate. 

Kane is a lethal hunter, always patiently waiting for the perfect moment to attack – and that moment arrived seven minutes before halftime. Initially caught off guard, Kane stood flat-footed as a deep cross seemed destined to sail out of play near the touchline. But Muller, who refused to give up, leaped and stretched to not only keep the ball in play but also headed it back into the danger zone.  

Sensing the opportunity, Kane swiftly sprang into action, his reflex muscles twitching as he darted forward, anticipating something big, even if he couldn’t quite predict what it would be. Guerreiro, off balance, scuffed his shot, but Kane was there, ready and waiting. The ball bounced perfectly into his eyeline, and with a graceful dive, he expertly nodded it home. It was a classic poacher’s goal, showcasing Kane’s innate ability to be in the right place at the right time.  

And he wasn’t done yet. In the second half, he doubled his tally with another instinctive finish, calmly tapping in the rebound after Sane’s shot was saved. Once again, Kane demonstrated his greatest strength: impeccable positioning and timing.

“It was a perfect night for us,” exclaimed Kane, his face beaming with satisfaction. The former Tottenham talisman expressed his hope that this win could serve as a catalyst to alter Bayern’s fortunes following a deeply disappointing domestic campaign. “We are well aware that we need to improve, but nights like this have the potential to completely transform our season. I’m really proud of the boys and we just have to keep this momentum going. Hopefully we can use this as a turning point for the rest of the season.”

For all the elation surrounding Bayern’s triumph, it’s important to maintain a sense of perspective. Let’s not get carried away. Truth be told, Bayern didn’t exactly dazzle in their performance. Kane’s opening goal came immediately after Lazio’s Ciro Immobile squandered a golden opportunity with a free header that could have put them 2-0 ahead on aggregate.  

Given Bayern’s current malaise, with their Bundesliga title slipping away after an impressive 11-year reign and the imminent search for a new coach in June, it remains uncertain how they would have responded if Immobile had converted that chance. However, the fact remains that Immobile missed from a mere six yards, and as they say, the rest is history.

If we were to credit Kane for single-handedly lifting Bayern out of their slump, we must also acknowledge the impact of Kylian Mbappe in a similar vein. On the very same night, Mbappe’s exceptional display led Paris Saint-Germain to victory over Spanish side Real Sociedad.  

The opposition was well aware of the threat posed by the France captain, but containing him proved to be an entirely different challenge altogether. With two brilliantly executed goals, Mbappe propelled PSG into the quarterfinals of the Champions League, bringing them one step closer to the coveted trophy that consumes their ambitions.  

Undeniably, all eyes were fixated on Mbappe, whose forthcoming transfer to Real Madrid has dominated headlines. Since the news of his impending departure broke, the 25-year-old has found himself frequently relegated to the substitutes’ bench and withdrawn from matches prematurely. 

While PSG coach Luis Enrique’s decisions may be driven by a long-term vision, Mbappe’s performance against Sociedad only served as a painful reminder of the immense void that will need to be filled come summer.  

The French champions certainly earned their victory, as Sociedad displayed a concerning lack of aggression in the early stages of the match. It was only after falling four goals behind on aggregate that they finally came to life. However, by that point, it was already too late.