Harry Kane stole the spotlight with a second-half hat-trick as Bayern Munich demolished RB Leipzig 6-0 in their Bundesliga season opener on Friday. Michael Olise struck twice in the first half, newcomer Luis Diaz added another, and the trio of Premier League imports made sure the champions began their title defense in emphatic style.
Olise opened the scoring after 27 minutes before Diaz doubled the lead with a thunderous strike off the crossbar. Just before halftime, Olise added his second to give Bayern a commanding 3-0 advantage. After the break, Kane took charge, scoring three times in just 14 minutes, with Diaz assisting two of his goals. The 32-year-old England captain now has seven Bundesliga hat-tricks since joining from Spurs in 2023. He left the pitch to a standing ovation as Bayern’s dominance echoed across Europe.
What Did Kane and Kimmich Say After the Win?
Speaking to Sky Germany, Kane said, “We wanted to open the season with a statement and that’s exactly what we’ve done. We were on top in all areas and were clinical when we needed to be, so we can enjoy this.” Captain Joshua Kimmich echoed his words, calling the result “a statement” but warning that consistency is key: “what’s hard in football is to back it up in three days.”
Kimmich also praised Kane’s contribution beyond goals, describing him as “an absolute team player. 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.”
For RB Leipzig, the night was disastrous. Captain David Raum admitted the match was “a catastrophe,” criticizing his side’s lack of mentality and fight. Under the leadership of Jurgen Klopp as Red Bull’s global head of football, Leipzig has work to do to compete with Germany’s elite.
With Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund kicking off their campaigns on Saturday, Bayern’s resounding opening victory has already sent a clear warning to their rivals: the champions are ready to defend their crown.
By Yockshard Enyendi