How Harry Kane’s start at Bayern Munich compares to Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham
On the same Saturday afternoon at the end of October, separated by barely an hour and 850 miles, the two best English players in the world lit up Europe’s elite.
As the clock ticked towards 4pm, Harry Kane received the ball in the centre circle of Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena. “Why not?” he thought. The second of Kane’s three goals in Bayern’s 8-0 rout of Darmstadt will live long in the memory, sailing into the net from 60 yards out, but he was elbowed out of the headlines by one of his compatriots a little after 5pm.
Jude Bellingham had threatened to let his debut Clasico pass him by but bent the biggest game in club football to his will. After hammering Real Madrid level, Bellingham snatched all three points against Barcelona in the 92nd minute.
Incredibly, it was not Kane’s first hat-trick for Bayern or Bellingham’s maiden stoppage-time winner in all white. The crown jewels of the England national team have been beyond comparison in the top flights of Germany and Spain respectively but how do they stack up against one another?
Harry Kane’s start at Bayern Munich
| Date | Result | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/08/23 | Bayern Munich 0-3 RB Leipzig – DFL Supercup | 0 | 0 |
| 18/08/23 | Werder Bremen 4-0 Bayern Munich – Bundesliga | 1 | 1 |
| 27/08/23 | Bayern Munich 3-1 Augsburg – Bundesliga | 2 | 0 |
| 02/09/23 | Gladbach 1-2 Bayern Munich – Bundesliga | 0 | 0 |
| 15/09/23 | Bayern Munich 2-2 Leverkusen – Bundesliga | 1 | 0 |
| 20/09/23 | Bayern Munich 4-3 Man Utd – Champions League | 1 | 1 |
| 23/09/23 | Bayern Munich 7-0 Bochum – Bundesliga | 3 | 2 |
| 30/09/23 | RB Leipzig 2-2 Bayern Munich – Bundesliga | 1 | 0 |
| 03/10/23 | Kobenhavn 1-2 Bayern Munich – Champions League | 0 | 0 |
| 08/10/23 | Bayern Munich 3-0 Freiburg – Bundesliga | 0 | 1 |
| 21/10/23 | Mainz 1-3 Bayern Munich – Bundesliga | 1 | 0 |
| 24/10/23 | Galatasaray 1-3 Bayern Munich – Champions League | 1 | 1 |
| 28/10/23 | Bayern Munich 8-0 Darmstadt – Bundesliga | 3 | 1 |
Boisterous chants of “Auf Wiedersehen!” tumbled down the stands of the Allianz Arena at the end of a humbling night but Kane had only just arrived in Germany. Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel felt compelled to apologise to his new number nine for the performance of the team that he had joined after a 3-0 reverse against RB Leipzig in the DFL Supercup.
Despite Bayern’s subsequent unbeaten start to the Bundesliga, Tuchel has often cut a frustrated figure on the touchline. Yet, the former Chelsea boss has never had a public issue with Kane, lauding the England captain – as he takes great pride in pointing out – at every opportunity. There have been plenty.
Each week Kane seems to topple a new record, most recently becoming the first Bundesliga player to ever reach double digits for goals after just nine games in the competition.
Kane’s arrival has coincided with Leroy Sane’s rejuvenation – which surely isn’t a coincidence. Of his seven assists, four have teed up Sane.
Beyond the cold numbers, Kane has brought some warmth to Bayern. “He’s a world-class footballer and a great guy,” Leon Goretzka said. “You notice his aura in the dressing room.”
Jude Bellingham’s start at Real Madrid
| Date | Result | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/08/23 | Athletic 0-2 Real Madrid – La Liga | 1 | 0 |
| 19/08/23 | Almeria 1-3 Real Madrid – La Liga | 2 | 1 |
| 25/08/23 | Celta Vigo 0-1 Real Madrid – La Liga | 1 | 0 |
| 02/09/23 | Real Madrid 2-1 Getafe – La Liga | 1 | 0 |
| 17/09/23 | Real Madrid 2-1 Real Sociedad – La Liga | 0 | 0 |
| 20/09/23 | Real Madrid 1-0 Union Berlin – Champions League | 1 | 0 |
| 24/09/23 | Atletico 3-1 Real Madrid – La Liga | 0 | 0 |
| 30/09/23 | Girona 0-3 Real Madrid – La Liga | 1 | 1 |
| 03/10/23 | Napoli 2-3 Real Madrid – Champions League | 1 | 1 |
| 07/10/23 | Real Madrid 4-0 Osasuna – La Liga | 2 | 0 |
| 21/10/23 | Sevilla 1-1 Real Madrid – La Liga | 0 | 0 |
| 24/10/23 | Braga 1-2 Real Madrid – Champions League | 1 | 0 |
| 28/10/23 | Barcelona 1-2 Real Madrid – La Liga | 2 | 0 |
As early as August, two games and three goals into the season, Carlo Ancelotti was confident that Bellingham’s finishing hot streak would not cool. Swatting aside any suggestions of mulling over a bid for last season’s Serie A top scorer Victor Osimhen, Ancelotti explained: “I believe the club thought it could get over [Karim] Benzema’s absence by signing Bellingham.”
Benzema finished with 19 league goals in his final season at Madrid – Bellingham surged past the halfway mark of that tally before Halloween.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Madrid’s talisman before Benzema assumed the mantle, was the last player to begin his career in the capital with as many as 13 goals in 13 games. Bellingham is not only recreating the goalscoring contribution of his predecessors but the charisma that they boasted.
Ancelotti explained: “Good players with personality suffer less.” Luka Modric agreed. “He exudes personality, character, it’s no coincidence that he has adapted so well,” the veteran midfielder, who made his professional debut before Bellingham was two months old said. “He’s a top boy, with an extraordinary talent.”
How Harry Kane’s start at Bayern Munich compares to Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham
| Stat | Harry Kane | Jude Bellingham |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 13 | 13 |
| Minutes | 1,063 | 1,122 |
| Goals | 14 | 13 |
| Assists | 7 | 3 |
Both players have enjoyed and endured remarkably similar periods of adaptation to life at their new clubs. Over the opening weeks, the pair papered over any teething problems that may have existed with a steady torrent of tap-ins.
This cloaking poaching is particularly impressive given Bellingham arrived as a midfielder. If Ancelotti was the only one to envisage Bellingham as Benzema’s replacement, Kane was quite clearly Bayern’s answer to the void created by Robert Lewandowski’s departure in 2022.
While Bellingham added goals to his game immediately upon his arrival in Madrid, Kane took some time to rediscover the creative string to his bow. After just one assist in his first five matches, Kane has racked up six in eight games since September’s international break, tuning in to the same frequency as his fleet-footed teammates.
Bellingham has also rounded out his game in recent weeks, demonstrating the drive that was routinely on display at Borussia Dortmund, most notably against Girona and Napoli.
Both players have been tipped as leaders in their respective dressing rooms but Bellingham has almost transcended football. An instantly iconic celebration – already copied by school kids and professional athletes from other sports – certainly helps. Carlos Alcaraz probably won’t hop in the air and mimic Kane’s meek punch at a Grand Slam any time soon.
