Kane hits hat trick as Bayern rout Leipzig in German League opener

Harry Kane hit a hat-trick, Michael Olise a double and newcomer Luis Diaz also scored as Bayern Munich made a ‘statement’ against RB Leipzig 6-0 at home in the Bundesliga season opener on Friday.

Bayern’s big-money arrivals, all brought in from the Premier League across the past three seasons, were dominant as the Bavarians begun their title defence in style.

Olise scored twice in the first half, either side of a Diaz strike. Not to be outdone, Kane scored three goals in the second half — with two assists coming from Diaz, to bring Bayern’s total to 6-0.

Kane told the Bundesliga website “after we went into half-time 3-0 up, I said to myself ‘I have to get on that scoresheet’.”

The 32-year-old England captain has seven Bundesliga hat-tricks since joining Bayern from Spurs in the summer of 2023.

Kane was subbed off to rapturous applause with four minutes remaining as the defending German champions, winners of 12 of the past 13 Bundesliga titles, sounded a warning on the opening day of the competition.

Kane told Sky Germany: “we wanted to open the season with a statement and that’s exactly what we’ve done,” adding “we were on top in all areas and were clinical when we needed to be, so we can enjoy this.”

Bayern captain Joshua Kimmich agreed with Kane’s assessment, saying “a 6-0 at home against Leipzig is clearly a statement, but what’s hard in football is to back it up in three days’ time.”

Kimmich praised Kane as an “absolute team player,” telling Sky Germany the England captain “he loves to score but he sets goals up and gets back and helps in defence, that’s something special.

“He doesn’t just define himself with goals, and that helps us extremely.”

The defeat showed Leipzig have a long way to go to challenge for the top spots after their first summer transfer window under Jurgen Klopp, who took over as Red Bull global head of football in January.

Leipzig captain David Raum called the match “a catastrophe”, saying his side lacked “mentality and willpower” in one-on-one situations.

Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen let a one-goal lead slip to lose 2-1 at home to Hoffenheim in new coach Erik ten Hag’s Bundesliga debut on Saturday. Taking over from Xabi Alonso in the summer and overseeing a radically restructured side after several high-profile exits, the former Manchester United boss cut a frustrated figure on the sideline.

Leverkusen hit the lead after six minutes when Jarell Quansah, who arrived from Liverpool this summer, headed in an Alex Grimaldo free-kick.

Hoffenheim, who finished just one spot above the relegation placings last season, levelled with 25 minutes played, Fisnik Asllani taking advantage of a defensive error from Quansah.

Tim Lemperle put the visitors ahead after 52 minutes. He was given too much time by Leverkusen’s defence and skidded a low shot into the corner of the goal.

Leverkusen lost just three league games in the past two seasons, often saving points with the clock winding down, but there would be no late heroics. The defeat showed the scale of the rebuild Ten Hag has on his hands.

“Of course we’re disappointed, that’s clear... We’ve still got a lot of work to do. That’s not unexpected,” Ten Hag told reporters.

Eintracht Frankfurt proved they still know their way to goal without departed striker Hugo Ekitike as they thumped Werder Bremen 4-1 at home, Jean-Matteo Bahoya scoring a brace in either half.

Now at Liverpool, Ekitike scored 15 and added eight assists in the league last season, but youngsters Bahoya, Can Uzun and Ansgar Knauff all scored for the home side in a dominant victory.

Bremen pulled one back through Justin Njinmah in the second half but rarely troubled the hosts.

German Cup holders Stuttgart were beaten by Union Berlin, who won 2-1 thanks to a first-half double from debutant Ilyas Ansah.

Back in Berlin for the first time since winning the cup final in May, Stuttgart hit the woodwork twice and had a stoppage-time equaliser for Nick Woltemade ruled out for offside.

Elsewhere, Augsburg won 3-1 at Freiburg and Wolfsburg won by the same scoreline at Heidenheim.

Agencies