Bellingham: ‘Sensational’ Kane Ballon d’Or hopes depend on Bayern and England success
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The two Englishmen will face off at Allianz Arena in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final clash, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.Kane scored in the first leg at the Bernabeu in a 2-1 win for the German giants, taking his tally across all competitions to 49 goals this season, and creeping closer to his second Champions League final – and potentially his first Ballon d’Or.
Bellingham, who battled with Bayern in his three seasons with Borussia Dortmund, admits that team accolades are just as vital to individual ones in the award race, and recognises that thwarting Kane’s European efforts may harm his Ballon d’Or hopes.
“Similar to the debates we’ve had in the last years, it all depends on what the team achieves,” Bellingham explained.
“Harry’s an unbelievable player, but it depends on what his teams do first and foremost.”
Bayern head into Wednesday’s showdown with confidence following a 5-0 win over St. Pauli on Saturday.
Kane was rested as his team-mates secured an emphatic victory at Millerntor-Stadion, extending their winning run to five matches as they edge closer to a record-setting 35th Bundesliga title.
Highlights: Kane and Bayern too hot for Real in Bernabeu first leg
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“It seems like they’re going to win the Bundesliga, which obviously hurts me considering my brother is at Dortmund, and I was a player there,” Bellingham continued.
“Again, it depends on what he does with England, and hopefully, we can try and stop them from winning the Champions League tomorrow, which will obviously have a big effect.”
Whilst the 22-year-old will hope his side can blunt Kane’s effectiveness in Europe, Bellingham knows how vital Kane will be come the summer, when the duo will link up as key parts of Thomas Tuchel’s England squad at the World Cup.
The 32-year-old Kane has already netted 113 goals for Bayern in only his third season at the club, and is battling Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe for the most goals scored in the Champions League this season.
The Frenchman scored his 14th European goal of the campaign when he pulled one back in the first leg against Bayern.
After Wednesday’s clash, Kane and Mbappe will not share a pitch until, potentially, the final of this year’s World Cup.
Bayern have ‘earned the right’ to be confident at Real – Kompany
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Seeding means that England and France will not meet unless they both make it through to the final, and success in that tournament will be pivotal to both Mbappe and Kane’s Ballon d’Or dreams.
“He’s a sensational player,” Bellingham said about Kane. “It’s a pleasure to play with him with the national team. I think he’s amazing.
“He’s showing everyone the last two or three years he’s reached a level where he’s almost perfected his craft in terms of what he can do as a striker.
“It’s a joy to watch as a team-mate going into the World Cup. It’s an amazing sight to see him going into such a level of form. But of course, tomorrow we want to be able to nullify his threat.”
When is Real Madrid v Bayern Munich?
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid takes place on Wednesday, April 15 at Allianz Arena in Munich.
Kick-off is at 20:00 UK time, with live coverage on TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max starting from 19:00.
