For Bayern Munich, their trip to Mainz on Wednesday evening was a successful one. A 4-0 victory and advancement to the third round of the DFB-Pokal Cup—there was little more Vincent Kompany’s men could have asked for.
Harry Kane did some lasting damage at the MEWA Arena. No, he did not score goals. Instead, he collided with Mainz’s goalkeeper, Robin Zentner, who was left injured and required a lengthy treatment.
Zentner did not have to be subbed off, but he likely played the remainder of the game holding a grudge against Kane—a sentiment that didn’t fade after the final whistle.
After the game, the 30-year-old told ZDF, “Yes, I think you can blame him. He saw relatively early that he wasn’t going to get to the ball. He might as well have just stayed away.”
Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane has been accused by an opponent of causing injury.
In the first half of Wednesday’s 4-0 win over Mainz in the second round of the DFB-Pokal, Kane collided with Mainz goalkeeper Robin Zentner after challenging for a loose ball following a cross… pic.twitter.com/FISWjuL1GU
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) October 31, 2024
Zentner was referring to a loose ball that came into the box following Serge Gnabry’s cross. Kane, as a striker, went for it but ended up hitting the Mainz goalkeeper on the head, leaving Zentner with a nasty cut on his right eyebrow and stopping the game for several minutes.
Zentner openly blamed Kane—likely out of anger—but the Bayern Munich striker knew his actions were wrong. As soon as he hit him, Kane went over to apologize and check on him.
Bayern Munich’s 2023/24 season was nothing short of disastrous by their own lofty standards. They failed to win the Bundesliga for the first time in 11 years and also fell short in both the DFB-Pokal and the UEFA Champions League.
For Kompany and Kane, winning any trophy this season is crucial—especially for Kane, a player who seems almost cursed when it comes to claiming silverware.
Bayern’s recent 4-0 win over Mainz marked a step in the right direction, powered by a Jamal Musiala hat-trick and a goal from Leroy Sané, all within the first half.
𝗝𝗲𝘁𝘇𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗵𝗲𝗻! 📹 Unsere Highlights aus der #DFBPokal-Partie bei Mainz 05: https://t.co/o0W27IHl9N 🔴#FCBayern #M05FCB #DFBPokal pic.twitter.com/PJHUqQpkum
— FC Bayern München (@FCBayern) October 30, 2024
In the Bundesliga, Bayern currently sits atop the standings with 20 points, tied with RB Leipzig. Harry Kane, much like last season, leads the scoring charts with 9 goals so far.
