HARRY KANE was dubbed the “best striker in the world” for his genius finish against Barcelona.
But it was another ex-Premier League star who grabbed the matchball and the headlines.
Harry Kane produced a scintillating finish for Bayern MunichAFP
ReutersHe acrobatically volleyed in an emphatic equaliser[/caption]
GettyKane somehow rediverted the ball back across goal into the net[/caption]
The England captain, 31, saw his Bayern Munich side fall behind with just 57 seconds on the clock.
But he responded in some style at the Barcelona Olympic Stadium – used while the Nou Camp is renovated.
With 18 minutes gone, Michael Olise switched the play to Serge Gnabry in the left channel.
And the former Arsenal man got into the box before crossing for the ex-Tottenham striker.
It flashed across the face of goal at pace and at a difficult height.
But Kane showed expert ability to acrobatically redivert the volley with his instep.
The ball flew back past Barca goalkeeper Inaki Pena Sotorres and into the net as the No9 landed on the turf after his flying finish.
And fans could not get enough of the “beautiful” goal from the special striker, whose 34 Champions League goals have all come from inside the area.
FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS
One said: “Harry Kane is the best striker in the world.”
Another wrote: “Harry Kane is a very very very very very good football player.”
A third added: “Harry Kane is an insane player.”
And a final user replied: “That Kane finish… WOW.”
Ironically, it was the second time on the night Kane had found that corner of the net.
However, his initial celebrations were cut short when his tenth-minute header was ruled out by VAR for a marginal offside.
Even so, his exquisite equaliser took Kane’s tally in this season’s Champions League to five – top of the Golden Boot race.
He hit four, including four penalties, as Bayern thumped Dinamo Zagreb 9-2 but he fired a blank in the shock 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa.
That also sees Kane way out in front as the top scorer in the Champions League since the start of last season – with his 13 four clear of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior on nine.
But aside from his personal triumph and numbers, it turned into a nightmare evening for Kane in Spain.
Barcelona made the best start possible as captain Raphinha pounced on a super high line and a defensive error.
Joshua Kimmich messed up his clearance and the ex-Leeds man raced through before rounding Manuel Neuer to break the deadlock in the first minute.
But following Kane’s equaliser, Barca retook the lead when Robert Lewandowski knocked into an ungarded net against his former employers.
The goal was allowed to stand when a push on Kim Min-jae as he jumped to head clear was judged by VAR not to be enough for a foul in the build-up.
And it was 3-1 on the stroke of half-time.
A gorgeous inch-perfect cross-field 60-yard pass from Marc Casado picked out Raphinha and he jinxed into the area before curling into the far corner beyond the diving Neuer.
Lamine Yamal arguably delivered an even better ball ten minutes after the break, though, as Raphinha took it down superbly on his chest, raced clear and took his shot early to find the bottom corner and complete a stunning hat-trick.
That prompted a quadruple sub from fuming Bayern boss Vincent Kompany.
Raphinha was given a standing ovation when withdrawn on 76 minutes – although he had already handed the armband over to the returning Frenkie de Jong earlier on in the second half.
Lewandowski should have made it 5-1 late on but somehow didn’t turn home Yamal’s brilliant dinked cross.
GettyRaphinha put Barcelona in front after just 57 seconds[/caption]
AFPKane thought he had levelled with this header but VAR ruled him offside[/caption]
ReutersRobert Lewandowski found the net against his former side[/caption]
ReutersRaphinha got Barca’s third just before the break[/caption]
ReutersThe ex-Leeds man made it 4-1 after the break and completed his hat-trick[/caption]