Harry Kane proud of Bayern's 'evolution' as history-making season beckons

[p]Nine points clear of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/dortmund/nP1i5US1/"]Borussia Dortmund[/a] atop the table, defending champions [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/bayern-munich-nVp0wiqd/union-berlin-pzHW4oaE/?mid=hj5ikutm"]Bayern host Union Berlin on Saturday heading towards another Bundesliga title.[/a][/p][p]With a German Cup semi-final against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bayer-leverkusen/4jcj2zMd/"]Leverkusen[/a] and Champions League quarter-finals versus [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-madrid/W8mj7MDD/"]Real Madrid[/a] in April, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bayern-munich/nVp0wiqd/"]Bayern[/a] could win a third treble - something no other European men's team has achieved.[/p][p]Speaking after Bayern once thumped [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/atalanta/8C9JjMXu/"]Atalanta[/a] for a second time on Wednesday, the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/j9N9ZNFA/"]England[/a] captain pointed out how early the former [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-city/Wtn9Stg0/"]Manchester City[/a] captain is in his development, despite winning the Bundesliga title last season.[/p][p][b]"In the way we play, we've learned and evolved over the last 12 months. I think a lot of people forgot it was Kompany's first year last year,"[/b] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kane-harry/v5HSlEAa/"]Kane[/a] told reporters at the Allianz Arena late on Wednesday.[/p][p][b]"We were still learning the way he wanted to play, we were still learning different ideas from him. I think we've really honed in on his ideas now, and for sure we're a better team this year than we were last year."[/b][/p][embed guid="e95547c1-eb72-47db-ba30-9a5378a4b154" url="https://x.com/FCBayernEN/status/2034883827751846080" social-type="twitter" /][p]Long derided for a lack of silverware, Kane said he was relishing the pressure and the spotlight big stage beckoned.[/p][p][b]"Now it's about proving it on the big stage. We've had a fantastic campaign in all competitions so far, but as we know and as we spoke about before, April and May is when it really counts.[/b][/p][p][b]"So we have to be at our highest level in those moments."[/b][/p][p]With 93 goals in 26 league games, Bayern are just eight short of the all-time single Bundesliga season record of 101, which they set in 1971-72.[/p][p]Kane has 30 goals and is 12 short of breaking [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lewandowski-robert/MVC8zHZD/"]Robert Lewandowski[/a]'s single-season record, set in 2020-21.[/p][embed guid="c4f030a1-22b0-4e72-be45-8a238816ba83" url="https://x.com/FCBayernEN/status/2034714630409343026" social-type="twitter" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/olise-michael/E5pvwqkK/"]Michael Olise[/a] is also on track for a spot in the record books. The one-time [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/crystal-palace/AovF1Mia/"]Crystal Palace[/a] winger has 17 assists this campaign - five short of beating Thomas Mueller's all-time record.[/p][p]With just two losses in 41 games in all competitions this campaign, Bayern have been cruising but the Bavarian giants have not had it all their own way.[/p][p]Against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/union-berlin/pzHW4oaE/"]Union Berlin[/a] this Saturday, Bayern will be without the injured [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/musiala-jamal/nVzSNrOf/"]Musiala[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/neuer-manuel/Sh5KwIo6/"]Neuer[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/davies-alphonso/4r3PXV20/"]Davies[/a] along with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jackson-nicolas/jXg8d5RJ/"]Nicolas Jackson[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tah-jonathan/2yf8EcuE/"]Jonathan Tah[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/diaz-luis/SKjMUHVm/"]Luis Diaz[/a], all of whom are suspended.[/p][h2]One to watch: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/chukwuemeka-carney/tpQg2gso/"]Carney Chukwuemeka[/a] (Borussia Dortmund)[/h2][p]Born in Vienna to Nigerian parents and raised in England, Borussia Dortmund midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka was selected in Ralf Rangnick's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/austria/naHiWdnt/"]Austria[/a] squad on Monday, days after switching his eligibility to his country of birth.[/p][p]With his international future secure - and with Dortmund's creative midfielder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/brandt-julian/hW5Goyrc/"]Julian Brandt[/a] leaving the club at season's end - the time is right for the 22-year-old Chukwuemeka to impress.[/p][p][b]"Carney has got some minutes but definitely not what he or any player would have wished for,"[/b] Dortmund coach Niko Kovac said Thursday.[/p][p][b]"He came back in for the last game and was hungry after a two-week break. It's always good when players are hungry and he has done that so far, whenever he's played."[/b][/p][embed guid="844f172c-6909-43bd-b76b-9b3ecf5f3cbe" url="https://x.com/Plettigoal/status/2031284254202605726" social-type="twitter" /][h2]Key stats[/h2][p][b]3 [/b]- Last-placed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/heidenheim/KWixEVWi/"]Heidenheim[/a] have just three points in their past 13 games and have not won since early December.[/p][p][b]21 [/b]- In 13 Bundesliga games under Urs Fischer, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/mainz/EuakNmc1/"]Mainz[/a] have picked up 21 points, a vast improvement on the six they collected in their first 13 games of the season.[/p][p][b]0 [/b]- Union have faced Bayern 14 times in all competitions but have never beaten the Bavarians, drawing five times and losing on nine occasions.[/p][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/soccer/germany/bundesliga/fixtures/"]Follow the Bundesliga here with Flashscore[/a][/h2]