Harry Kane and his Bayern Munich teammates have had a challenging five-day stretch.
Following a disappointing loss to Bundesliga rivals Bayer Leverkusen, where they were defeated 3-0, Thomas Tuchel’s team suffered another setback in a crucial Champions League match against Lazio.
Kane, formerly of Tottenham, received criticism from German media outlets for his underwhelming performances in front of goal during both games, failing to score in either match.
Meanwhile Tottenham have experienced a revitalisation under current manager Ange Postecoglou. The Australian coach has made an extraordinary impact on the north London team, even without their all-time leading goal scorer.
Despite ongoing scrutiny of the England captain, Tottenham’s fortunes have significantly improved under Postecoglou’s leadership, with the club witnessing a positive transformation and the development of their youthful squad.
In the 2022/23 season, the England captain delivered an impressive 30 Premier League goals, contributing to Tottenham’s eighth-place finish.
What do the stats say?
According to Opta Stats Perform, Tottenham averaged 1.64 goals per game and had an expected goal tally of 1.42 across all competitions that season. However, since Kane’s departure, Spurs are now averaging 1.96 goals per game, with an expected goal tally of 1.66, showcasing their adoption of a more fluid and attacking style of play.
They also demonstrate an elevated rate of shots per game, rising from 13.4 in 2022-23 to 15.1 currently, along with an increase in shots on target per game from 4.9 last year to 5.7 this year. Moreover, the most crucial statistic, the club’s win rate, favours the 2023-24 Spurs side, boasting a 55.6% rate compared to last year’s 46%.
German powerhouse Bayern Munich have experienced contrasting fortunes this season, facing the prospect of ending the 2023/24 campaign without any silverware for the first time 12 years.
Currently trailing rivals Leverkusen by five points in the league standings and having been eliminated from the DFB Pokal, their hopes for a trophy rest primarily on the Champions League, which appears to be their most realistic chance for success.
In the previous campaign, which culminated in them clinching the Bundesliga title, Bayern maintained an average of 2.73 goals per game in the league. However, with Kane on their team, they currently average only 2.45 goals per game. This statistic is particularly surprising given that Kane has scored 28 goals in all competitions for Bayern from just 29 appearances.
However, the Englishman’s goals undeniably contribute to Bayern Munich’s improved expected goal per game record compared to the previous campaign, with the current rate of 2.32 surpassing last year’s total of 2.24. Despite this improvement, Bayern averages marginally fewer total shots per game (18.4 last year compared to 18.3 this year), while their shots on target per game have seen a significant decline.