Struggling Bayern need Kane to inspire Champions League challenge

Harry Kane joined Bayern Munich last summer to win trophies. 

Yet despite the striker's personal excellence, his new employers seem on course for their first season without any silverware since 2011-12. 

This comes after many years of the 30-year-old falling short of tasting glory with both Tottenham and England. 

Ahead of Bayern's crucial Champions League clash with Lazio tonight, we take a look at the German giants' current woes and whether Kane can rescue their campaign. 

Erratic defence

Kane was expected to end his trophy curse in his first game for Bayern. 

Instead, he was brought off the bench for his debut with his new side already 2-0 down in the DFL-Supercup against RB Leipzig. They ultimately lost 3-0.

In November, Bayern were knocked out of the DFB-Pokal by third-tier side FC Saarbrucken. 

As disappointing as those defeats were, the Bavarians had won 11 Bundesliga titles in a row and were expected to add a 12th. 

Yet their 3-0 defeat at leaders Bayer Leverkusen last Saturday, leaves them five points behind with 13 games remaining. 

There is plenty of time to turn things around and the Champions League offers an alternative hope but Thomas Tuchel's team need to improve. 

Despite Kane scoring 28 goals in as many games across all competitions, Bayern's defence has been erratic. 

The season has been regularly punctuated by disappointing results, leaving Tuchel under huge pressure. 

Tactical switch

Ahead of the trip to Lazio in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie, Tuchel urged his Bayern side to get the best out of Kane. 

The centre forward had an unusually quiet game in the defeat to Leverkusen, touching the ball just 18 times, while failing to have a shot or create a chance. 

Tuchel said: "It was rare for Harry to have so few touches. 

"The formation was actually thought of with him in mind but we didn't find him at all. 

"We want to get Harry in the game more and we need to fix it. 

"I'm convinced we can show a reaction. It wasn't good enough in Leverkusen. But it's a new opponent, a new competition. I hope we can make up for it." 

Tuchel made the decision to switch to an unfamiliar 3-4-2-1 formation for the top-of-the-table Bundesliga encounter, only to be outmanoeuvred by his counterpart Xabi Alonso, who also switched systems. 

Kane verdict

Kane gave an honest assessment of Bayern's poor performance against Leverkusen. 

He said: "I thought the pressure, especially in the first half and even in the second half, we pressed them well. 

"But every time we won it back, we gave it straight back to them. That allowed them to build momentum. 

"In the final third, we weren't good in one-vs-one battles, we weren't good in duels, the final delivery wasn't there, so a really disappointing day with the ball." 

Now comes a game against Serie A outfit Lazio that Bayern desperately need to win, as they look to turn their season around. 

Kane was bought to make the difference in moments like this and though he has had a superb first season in Germany, there is now real pressure on him. 

For all his achievements, he has not always been able to deliver on the big occasion, for either club or country. 

That is exactly what Bayern now require Kane to do, starting tonight.