BERLIN (AP) — Harry Kane was substituted in at the hour mark and still had enough time to score a hat trick on Saturday.
The England captain took his goal tally for Bayern Munich this season to 28 and the defending champions maintained their eight-point lead over second-placed Leipzig with a 5-0 thrashing of Stuttgart on the road.
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Leipzig's Christoph Baumgartner celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt in Leipzig, Germany, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (Jan Woitas/dpa via AP)
Munich's Harry Kane, left, celebrates with his teammate Luis Diaz, right, after scoring his side's second goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between VfB Stuttgart and FC Bayern Munich in Stuttgart, Germany, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (Tom Weller/dpa via AP)
Leverkusen's Robert Andrich, right, pushes team mate Nathan Tella besides Augsburg's Kristijan Jakic during the Bundesliga soccer match between FC Augsburg and Bayer Leverkusen in Augsburg, Germany, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Leverkusen's Patrik Schick misses to score during the Bundesliga soccer match between FC Augsburg and Bayer Leverkusen in Augsburg, Germany, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Munich's Michael Olise, right, and Stuttgart's Maximilian Mittelstaedt, left, challenge for the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between VfB Stuttgart and FC Bayern Munich in Stuttgart, Germany, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (Tom Weller/dpa via AP)
Munich's Harry Kane celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between VfB Stuttgart and FC Bayern Munich in Stuttgart, Germany, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (Tom Weller/dpa via AP)
With Kane on the bench, Konrad Laimer took on the scoring duties and produced a superb finish. The Austria midfielder collected a long ball and combined with Michael Olise before slotting home from close range with a subtle backheel past goalkeeper Alexander Nübel in the 11th minute.
Kane made it 2-0 with a low shot into the bottom corner and Josip Stanišić added his name to the scoresheet. Kane added further luster to the win from the penalty spot after Stuttgart was reduced to 10 men for Lorenz Assignon using his arm to clear a ball in the 81st.
Kane completed the rout with a flick from an Olise cross with two minutes left. It was his 10th Bundesliga hat trick according to the league.
“It's been a while, it's nice to get another one," Kane said after being voted man of the match. “Big three points. We keep going.”
Kane has found the net five more times with England this season, taking his total to 33 goals for club and country.
Stuttgart had chances before halftime but lacked a cutting edge. Midfielder Nikolas Nartey thought he equalized only for his goal to be ruled out for offside after a VAR check.
Bayern Munich is unbeaten in 16 league and cup games against German opposition this season.
Leipzig demolished Eintracht Frankfurt 6-0 as 19-year-old Yan Diomandé produced a hat trick of his own.
Renowned for his stunning dribbling skills, the Ivory Coast winger has reportedly been approached by some of Europe's biggest clubs. He received an ovation when he was replaced in the 87th minute by Samba Konaté.
It was a clinical night for Leipzig with six goals from seven shots on target.
Conrad Harder, Christoph Baumgartner and David Raum also scored.
Bayer Leverkusen suffered a fourth loss, 2-0 at Augsburg.
Defender Dimitrios Giannoulis put the host in front after six minutes then turned provider to set up forward Anton Kade. Leverkusen, which hit the woodwork, remained in fourth place, 14 points behind Bayern.
Wolfsburg scored from all of its shots on target and moved four points clear of the relegation zone after beating Union Berlin 3-1. Heidenheim defeated Freiburg 2-1. Cologne and St. Pauli drew 1-1.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Leipzig's Christoph Baumgartner celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt in Leipzig, Germany, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (Jan Woitas/dpa via AP)
Munich's Harry Kane, left, celebrates with his teammate Luis Diaz, right, after scoring his side's second goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between VfB Stuttgart and FC Bayern Munich in Stuttgart, Germany, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (Tom Weller/dpa via AP)
Leverkusen's Robert Andrich, right, pushes team mate Nathan Tella besides Augsburg's Kristijan Jakic during the Bundesliga soccer match between FC Augsburg and Bayer Leverkusen in Augsburg, Germany, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Leverkusen's Patrik Schick misses to score during the Bundesliga soccer match between FC Augsburg and Bayer Leverkusen in Augsburg, Germany, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Munich's Michael Olise, right, and Stuttgart's Maximilian Mittelstaedt, left, challenge for the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between VfB Stuttgart and FC Bayern Munich in Stuttgart, Germany, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (Tom Weller/dpa via AP)
Munich's Harry Kane celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between VfB Stuttgart and FC Bayern Munich in Stuttgart, Germany, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (Tom Weller/dpa via AP)
The Premier League title race was blown open after Aston Villa struck in stoppage time to beat Arsenal 2-1 on Saturday.
Emiliano Buendia scored at the death in a thrilling finish at Villa Park that stunned first-placed Arsenal.
The Gunners' lead was cut to just two points after second-placed Manchester City beat Sunderland 3-0.
Villa was a point further back in third.
Liverpool's troubled title defense worsened when it dropped more points at Leeds. Arne Slot's team blew a two-goal lead and conceded in the sixth minute of added time at Elland Road in a 3-3 draw.
Chelsea dropped points for the third game in a row in a 0-0 draw at Bournemouth.
Buendia's winner came in the fifth minute of added time. The substitute kept a cool head during a goalmouth scramble, lifting a shot through the crowded box and into the roof of the net.
“In the manner that happened at the end, obviously, (it is) really difficult to take,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta told TNT Sports.
It was the third successive time that Arsenal has dropped points away from home after draws with Sunderland and Chelsea. Those results have opened the door to rivals such as City and Villa.
Villa's ninth win from its last 10 games followed a dire start to the campaign when Unai Emery's team was winless after its first five.
“At the minute we’re on a great run,” said Matty Cash, who put Villa ahead in the 36th. “We know it’s not even Christmas yet so we have to keep being demanding, keep being consistent, and then we’ll see where it takes us.”
Leandro Trossard was a halftime substitute for Arsenal and he made a quick impact by leveling the game seven minutes later.
Buendia went on in the 87th and proved an inspired substitution.
“We fight until the last minute, the last second, it was a really incredible win,” he said.
Arsenal's second loss of the season was its first since August at Liverpool.
“We are 18 games unbeaten, and yet still the margin is so small,” Arteta said. “The effort was absolutely there and (we must) use that pain to go again."
Man City will be a familiar sight in Arsenal's rearview mirror.
In back-to-back campaigns in 2023 and 2024 Arteta watched City chase his team down to win the title. And it is shaping up to be another fight between them.
Even after four losses in the league, City is just two points behind Arsenal after victory against Sunderland.
"We had the feeling that Arsenal are going to drop few points and if you want to be there you have to win games and that comes from the way you perform — not just a lucky day or lucky action,” City manager Pep Guardiola said.
Ruben Dias, with a brilliant long-range goal, and Josko Gvardiol gave City a 2-0 lead at the break at Etihad Stadium and Phil Foden headed in a third in the second half.
Fourth-placed Chelsea has seen its title challenge stall over the past week after a run of just two points from a possible nine.
Not even the return of Cole Palmer to the starting lineup for the first time since September could inspire the Club World Cup winner at Bournemouth.
To add to a frustrating day, Liam Delap went off in the first half with a shoulder injury.
Bruno Guimaraes scored directly from a corner in Newcastle's 2-1 win against Burnley.
The midfielder's wicked cross curled beyond Burnley goalkeeper Martin Dubravka and into the far corner in the 31st at St James' Park. Anthony Gordon added a second from the penalty spot in first half stoppage time.
What should have been a comfortable win for Newcastle ended with a nervy finish after Zian Flemming pulled a goal back with a stoppage time penalty and Burnley then threatened an equalizer.
Tottenham got a long-awaited home win in the league after beating Brentford 2-0.
Spurs’ last win at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was the opening game of the season against newly promoted Burnley. That was followed by six straight games without victory in front of its own fans. But that streak was broken by first half goals from Richarlison and Xavi Simons against coach Thomas Frank's former team.
Everton moved up to fifth after downing Nottingham Forest 3-0.
James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Leeds United's Dominic Calvert-Lewin celebrates scoring during the English Premier League soccer match between Leeds United and Liverpool in Leeds, England, Saturday Dec. 6, 2025. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)
Manchester City's Phil Foden, second left, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's third goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Sunderland in Manchester, England, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola applauds fans after the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Sunderland in Manchester, England, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Aston Villa players celebrate after Aston Villa's Emiliano Buendia scored his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Arsenal in Birmingham, England, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
Aston Villa's Emiliano Buendia, right, celebrates with Aston Villa's Donyell Malen after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Arsenal in Birmingham, England, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
Arsenal's Declan Rice reacts after the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Arsenal in Birmingham, England, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
Arsenal's Declan Rice reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Arsenal in Birmingham, England, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
Arsenal's Leandro Trossard, left, makes an attempt to score during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Arsenal in Birmingham, England, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta follows the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Arsenal in Birmingham, England, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
Aston Villa's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, left, makes a save ahead of Arsenal's Bukayo Saka during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Arsenal in Birmingham, England, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
