Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane struck twice in seven minutes late in the game to guide his team to a 2-1 victory over visiting Galatasaray on Wednesday and secure a spot in the Champions League knockout stage with two games to spare.
The England captain, who scored a hat-trick against Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga on Saturday, headed in a Joshua Kimmich free kick in the 80th minute and then tapped in his second six minutes later to make sure of top spot in the group. The visitors cut the deficit in stoppage time through Cédric Bakambu.
Kane, who has now scored four goals in the Champions League in his first four matches for Bayern, saw his volley at the far post only hit the woodwork in the 53rd minute. Galatasaray thought they had taken the lead after the hour mark but Mauro Icardi was ruled offside.
In a high-intensity contest, the visitors eventually ran out of team and Bayern took advantage. Kane first rose high to connect with Kimmich’s free-kick in the box before launching the move for the second goal and finishing it at the far post with a simple tap-in in the 86th minute.
“Of course there is pressure and expectation, so I’m delighted with the start,” Kane told TNT Sports. “It’s all down to the team really, setting me up and giving me chances.” Bayern stretch their record unbeaten run in Champions League group matches to 38, having won their past 17 in a row.
In Group C, Brahim Díaz, Vinícius Jr and Rodrygo all scored as Real Madrid cruised into the last 16 after a 3-0 victory over Braga.
Real, without Jude Bellingham due to a shoulder injury, got an early scare when Lucas Vázquez held Braga defender Cristián Borja inside the box to concede a penalty in the fourth minute. The Madrid goalkeeper, Andriy Lunin, palmed away a weak effort by Álvaro Djaló and that proved to be as close as the Portuguese side got.
Díaz opened the scoring with a first-time strike from close range in the 27th minute, set up by Rodrygo. Vinícius Jr doubled the lead in the 58th minute when he collected a low cross by Vázquez to finish neatly. Three minutes later, Vinícius started a break and played in Rodrygo, who netted with a brilliant chip over the goalkeeper.
Also in Group C, Union Berlin earned an unexpected 1-1 draw at Napoli, ending their 12-game losing run across all competitions – but it was not enough to keep the Bundesliga side’s hopes of a last-16 place alive.
After André-Frank Zambo Anguissa’s opener was ruled out by VAR for a foul in the buildup, Matteo Politano deflected in Mario Ruí’s cross to give Napoli a half-time lead. Union got the equaliser early in the second half, David Datro Fofana finishing after Sheraldo Becker’s shot was palmed away by Alex Meret.
Madrid could secure top spot in the group with a point at home in their next game against Napoli. The Italian champions are second on seven points, four clear of Braga in third. Union Berlin are bottom on one point.
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In Group D, Real Sociedad sealed a place in the knockout stages after scoring three early goals in a 3-1 win over Benfica, who are eliminated after a fourth straight defeat.
Mikel Merino headed home the opener after six minutes, with Mikel Oyarzabal pouncing on a defensive error five minutes later to double la Real’s lead. Merino saw a goal ruled out for handball, before Ander Barrenetxea then cut inside and fired into the far corner for the hosts’ third goal in 21 minutes.
Nicolás Otamendi then conceded a penalty, but Benfica were reprieved as Brais Méndez’s spot-kick struck a post. Rafa Silva hit back for the visitors in the second half but Imanol Alguacil’s side held on to reach the last 16 for the first time in 20 years.
Lautaro Martínez helped Internazionale book their spot in the last 16, and ensure Real Sociedad’s passage too, with a 1-0 win at RB Salzburg. Substitute Martínez sealed a narrow win five minutes from time after Simone Inzaghi’s men were awarded a penalty for a handball.
In-form striker Luuk de Jong struck early to give PSV Eindhoven their first win in Group B as a 1-0 home victory over Lens at Philips Stadium lifted them from bottom place into second in the standings.
PSV advance to five points, ahead of Lens but only on their head-to-head results. Arsenal top the standings with nine points after their 2-0 home win over Sevilla left the Spanish side bottom with two.
