In the Zone: How Kane's all-round game unhinged Leverkusen
Thursday, March 6, 2025
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UEFA Technical Observers Ioan Lupescu and Rafa Benítez analyse Bayern striker Harry Kane's impact against Leverkusen.
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With a few short words, UEFA Technical Observer Ioan Lupescu captured something essential about Harry Kane moments after Wednesday night's UEFA Champions League match between Bayern and Leverkusen had concluded. "He has cold blood," said Lupescu of one of this era's leading centre-forwards, "and in this kind of game he is always there."
Kane had just scored two goals to help Bayern claim a 3-0 lead at the halfway stage of this all-German round of 16 tie. In the process, the Englishman had moved on to 31 goals in all competitions for Bayern in 2024/25 – the seventh time in his career he has reached 30 goals for a season and we are barely into March.
In the following analysis, brought to you by FedEx, UEFA Technical Observers Lupescu and Rafa Benítez will put Kane's two strikes against Leverkusen under the microscope and draw out several aspects which, for the UEFA Technical Observer Group, underpin his enduring excellence.
Helping with the build-up…
The first point to make about Kane's ninth-minute opening goal concerns his role in its conception. As seen in the video above, he secures the ball in midfield before switching the play with his crossfield pass to Michael Olise on Bayern's right wing. "He almost never loses the ball," said Lupescu of this facet of Kane's game. "Even if he's surrounded by opponents, he can still keep possession."
According to Benítez, Kane has long thrived when dropping off between the lines, holding the ball up and feeding runners. Kane himself discussed playing "more as a No10" after Bayern's Champions League victory over Manchester United early last season.
"When you have a false nine and the wingers are high, they can run in behind if the centre-back is following the striker," added Benítez. "The fact he drops off and is between the lines and doesn't give a reference point for the centre-backs means he has more time to receive the ball or play in others."
…and then applying the 'killer' touch
To focus on the actual goal, this was all about "the killer instinct of a great striker" in the words of Lupescu. "He smells the cross and gets ahead of [Nordi] Mukiele," he continued. The video shows us Kane's anticipation, movement and then execution as he connects brilliantly with the cross and directs his header into the far corner.
Speaking to TNT Sports, the Player of the Match himself offered the following verdict: "I am always telling Mike [Olise] to put the ball in the box and it doesn't matter where I am, I will try to find it and catch the flight. He put a nice ball in a good area and I still had a lot to do, I still had to attack it at full pace. To see it go in early in the game was a nice moment."
Kane's penalty prowess
This was Bayern's first victory over Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen in seven attempts and the winning margin became all the more commanding thanks to Kane's second goal, struck from the penalty spot after 75 minutes.
For the 31-year-old, it was his 30th successful spot kick in a row for club and country. Since joining Bayern, he has taken 21 and scored 21 – including seven in the Champions League.
The technique he employed against goalkeeper Matěj Kovář – pausing his run-up before shooting – recalled two of his hat-trick of spot kicks against GNK Dinamo on Matchday 1. "Sometimes I now wait for the goalkeeper to take a step because then it becomes harder for him to make a save," Kane said after that 9-2 win, and this technique intrigued Benítez who commented: "Look at how he's waiting and waiting and seeing what is happening with the keeper. When he is so close to the ball, he stops [his run]."
Key lesson – Head it like Harry
To conclude this analysis of Kane's impact, we will return to his superb early header and Benítez's reading of the key ingredients involved. "Instead of waiting for the ball, he anticipates and tries to reach it ahead of the defender," said the former Champions League-winning coach. "It is great movement and the finish of a proper centre-forward."
For coaches working with young players, the following three elements are worth highlighting:
• Anticipation
• Movement
• Finishing
Finally, for further insights on crosses and how to connect with them, read Ole Gunnar Solskær’s insights here.
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