Munich: Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane returns to north London to face old foes Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday and faces a familiar challenge.
Kane will once again step onto the pitch at the Emirates Stadium to shine in a struggling team that looks set to have a disappointing season with no silverware.
However, this time, Kane is wearing the red and white of Bayern Munich, a proud club that collapsed under the weight of Bayer Leverkusen’s impressive Xabi Alonso this season.
Despite his illustrious career, Kane went to Bayern, the German behemoths synonymous with the success of trophies and silverware.
Kane quickly established himself as Bayern’s most important player, scoring 32 goals in 28 league games and six more in the Champions League.
And the England captain is nowhere near the first piece of silverware.
Leverkusen, who have been struggling for a long time due to their lack of performance, are 16 points clear with six games remaining and can win the league for the first time this weekend with two games in hand at Arsenal.
Riding high in England’s top flight, Arsenal fans will be happy to say that Kane has taken his trophy-less curse with him to Bayern.
As Kane envisions a happier home in north London following his 100 million euro ($108 million) move, Tuesday presents the perfect opportunity to throw the knife into an Arsenal side lacking European football pedigree.
Another man looking to silence the doubters is Thomas Tuchel, the manager of Bayern’s Champions League success.
Tuchel took more Paris Saint-Germain to the 2020 Champions League final than any other manager and won the competition with Chelsea a year later.
Despite missing out on the league title for the first time in more than a decade, Tuchel knows all will be forgiven with Champions League victory.
Tuchel unexpectedly left out five of his team – captain Manuel Neuer, Leroy Sane, Kinsley Coman, Noussair Mazraoui, and Aleksandar Pavlovic – from Saturday’s loss at Heidenheim.
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“None of the five are rested,” Tuchel said, but all are expected to travel to London, with Neuer and Sane almost certain to play.
“We’re in the quarter-finals, so there’s not much to do. Nothing matters but this goal.”
Two-time Champions League winner Thomas Mueller said his team can overcome disappointment and exit on Tuesday.
Mueller pointed to his “experience” in football and said critics should hold off until there is nothing left to play.
“Feeling sorry for yourself doesn’t help all of us,” Mueller said. The anger inside me laughed again,” he said.
Despite their current situation, both Bayern and Kane can take comfort from their record with Arsenal.
Kane has a habit of exacting revenge on the club that left him as a teenager, scoring 14 goals in 19 games. No player has scored more goals in a North London derby.
The England captain’s record in defeat to Arsenal is less impressive, but still solid, with seven wins, seven draws and five draws.
Bayern have lost just three of their 12 Champions League meetings with the Gunners, winning seven and winning 5-1 in the last three meetings between the clubs.
The six-time European champions are Bayern’s record rivals with Arsenal, but it’s a reminder of what has changed between the teams.
The Gunners have won all four of their Champions League home games this season, scoring 13 goals and conceding none in their first Premier League title since 2004.
