Harry Kane Brace Helps Bayern Munich Keep Pace With Leaders Leverkusen

Harry Kane scored a goal in each half as Bayern Munich brushed off Stuttgart 3-0 on Sunday to stay four points behind Bayer Leverkusen, who beat Eintracht Frankfurt earlier by the same scoreline. Leverkusen's win meant the perennial German champions started seven points behind but Kane settled nerves by netting after two minutes, tapping home a pass from Leroy Sane. Bayern lost midfielders Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich to flu just hours before the match and had only five outfield players on the bench but dominated a listless Stuttgart.

"It was pretty intense today," Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel said of his side's injury crisis, revealing "I tried to stay very calm and keep my distance on the sidelines to give the players a bit more trust."

"Today was very good, but it's not over, we've got another game."

Bayern had two more goals struck off for offside in the opening half but Kane doubled up early in the second, heading in from close range from a free-kick.

Kim Min-jae was next to score, heading in from another set piece for his first goal in Bayern colours, sealing the game for the home side.

Kane told DAZN that it was "probably our best performance of the season", saying "everyone who came in did really well. We'll need that throughout the season".

Bayern sit four points behind Leverkusen and have a game in hand, against 15th-placed Union Berlin, in January.

Kane's double took him to 20 league goals from 14 matches so far this season -- four clear of Stuttgart's Serhou Guirassy, who was kept quiet by Bayern's miserly defence.

Brilliant Boniface

Earlier on Sunday, Nigeria striker Victor Boniface scored and laid on two assists as Leverkusen beat Frankfurt 3-0, continuing his side's hopes of a maiden Bundesliga title.