Kane and Bayern lay down ominous title marker as Ten Hag suffers shock defeat | Bundesliga

Remember when Harry Kane by no means scoring in August was a curio that felt prefer it wanted an exorcism? No person in Germany remembers, and an period when Bayern Munich’s centre-forward appeared even vaguely stoppable looks as if a really very long time in the past. The optics of his imperious second-half hat-trick on this opening sport have been very welcome, significantly within the mild of the Bundesliga’s groundbreaking new TV deal which meant viewers within the England captain’s residence nation might see Kane do his factor on the BBC or on a selection of two totally different YouTube platforms.

But the exceptional factor about Bayern’s first-night salvo is that they nonetheless would have destroyed RB Leipzig, certainly one of their tougher home hurdles of latest years, had Kane not confirmed as much as the get together. It was the dictionary definition of ruthlessness however Ole Werner, the brand new Leipzig coach, might have performed nothing in his half-time crew speak to vary the course of occasions. By the interval, Michael Olise’s double and a superb Luis Díaz debut strike in between already had Bayern residence and hosed. Kane’s contribution was merely further cream and cherry if you happen to have been Bayern, or salt if you happen to have been Leipzig.

Technically the guests might need had trigger for criticism, with Antonio Nusa’s thunderous second-half strike disallowed; rightly, as a result of Castello Lukeba had taken a number of touches slightly than passing from a free-kick award immediately earlier than however wrongly, as a result of the officers have been solely alerted by Joshua Kimmich’s “unusually robust protests” (per a DFB assertion), making it an occasion of VAR working exterior its agreed remits.

With that mentioned, Leipzig would look ridiculous in the event that they have been to protest. And who would need a replay of this nightmare? Werner is marshalling a big rebuild and in that sense the timing of this journey to Munich was merciless, like taking an examination having had 10 minutes to revise. It could be unfair to evaluate the brand new coach or his crew on this however rivalling Bayern won’t be their job this season. Their job, and Werner’s, is to overlook this and transfer on. Bayern have been merely magnificent, even with out Jamal Musiala to name on. Olise was scintillating, untouchable, and Vincent Kompany made a degree of praising Serge Gnabry, often linked with a transfer away however renewed right here as Musiala’s locum. “Once we went into the locker room at half-time,” added Kimmich, “I already instructed him that he was enjoying exceptionally effectively.”

The remainder of the opening weekend gave no indication that anybody – a minimum of for now – might do what Werner’s facet did not do and a minimum of make Bayern uncomfortable. Bayer Leverkusen have been, maybe, the weekend’s greatest losers for Erik ten Hag’s first Bundesliga sport on the helm after a shock 2-1 defeat at residence by unfancied Hoffenheim. “A sport by which not every thing was dangerous, however undoubtedly not a lot was good both,” within the phrases of their newly arrived goalkeeper Mark Flekken.

Leverkusen took an early lead by means of Jarell Quansah however they by no means appeared snug, and the guests equalised when Quansah deflected Fisnik Asllani’s shot previous Flekken and into his personal web. Tim Lemperle hit the second-half winner, having hit a submit inside two minutes, and Ten Hag’s crew hardly ever appeared like creating something exterior of set items – Quansah’s opener had been headed in from an Álex Grimaldo free-kick.

If the beginning lineup didn’t look too unfamiliar, with Flekken and Quansah two of solely three new signings beginning, the drop-off in high quality is obvious, with solely Patrik Schick, Edmond Tapsoba and Piero Hincapié (with the latter coveted by Arsenal) common starters within the again half of final season. Die Werkself’s well-known punch from the bench isn’t any extra both, with new boy Ernest Poku the one non-teenager of the outfield substitutes. Ten Hag wants a productive final week of the switch window.

The window has been irritating for Borussia Dortmund too, however not as irritating as their Saturday opener at St Pauli. BVB, following on from their sensational run-in to grab a Champions League place final season, have been striding in direction of a win as they led 3-1 with 5 minutes of regular time to go, regardless of Serhou Guirassy lacking a penalty after his headed opener. Then defensive debutant Filippo Mané was proven a purple card for holding again Abdoulie Ceesay as he ready to shoot and Danel Sinani scored the ensuing penalty earlier than Eric Smith scored his now-customary piledriver towards Dortmund to tie it up. “This shouldn’t occur to a high crew,” chided Niko Kovac, and he wasn’t the one sad one.

On Jobe Bellingham’s Bundesliga debut he was substituted at half-time, together with his dad and mom, Mark and Denise, coming by means of to speak to Sebastian Kehl after full time. Bild reported that Bellingham’s father gave the sporting director his views on the swap and Dortmund’s efficiency. It was clear Kehl had been blindsided. “We’re all upset with the outcome,” he mentioned, “however the [changing rooms and area around them] is and stays reserved for gamers, coaches and administration, not households and advisers. That received’t occur once more. We have now clearly knowledgeable everybody concerned of this.” Jobe’s arrival is a take a look at for Dortmund. Can they nonetheless develop elite expertise having wandered from that as their modus operandi? The stress across the membership – with goalscorer Julian Brandt speaking about taking dangerous habits of latest occasions “with us into the brand new season” – means a powerful lead from Kovac and Kehl is necessary to get this season on the proper highway.

Not every thing is ideal at Bayern; after Kane’s post-Tremendous Cup feedback that the squad “is a bit mild” Max Eberl is predicted to return to the board as we speak and ask for additional funds, with one other ahead a precedence. That is with the lengthy sport and the rigours of an extended marketing campaign in thoughts as a result of for now, there isn’t any touching for Bayern. For the remainder of the Bundesliga, September can’t come quickly sufficient.

Speaking factors

If anybody appears to be like able to problem, it’s the younger bucks of Eintracht Frankfurt. Making mild of Hugo Ekitiké’s exit, they hammered Werder Bremen 4-1 with 19-year-old Can Uzun (a sensational opening objective and two assists) and 20-year-old Jean-Mattéo Bahoya (two targets) main the way in which. No prizes for recognizing their subsequent €80m-plus gross sales.

The return of Hamburg after seven years away (within the season HSV went down Schalke have been runners-up within the Bundesliga and Pep Guardiola received his first Premier League title with Manchester Metropolis, to provide you some thought of how a lot has occurred since) was encouraging as they took a goalless draw at Borussia Mönchengladbach. “It could solely get higher,” grumped the Gladbach captain, Rocco Reitz.

The truth is each promoted groups – in what’s the rarest of occurrences within the fashionable European sport – saved a clear sheet on opening day, with Köln taking all three factors through Marius Bülter’s late headed winner eventually season’s shock crew Mainz. The true head-turner, although, was Effzeh’s new coach, Lukas Kwasniok, who wore the crew’s residence shirt on the touchline. “I noticed the jersey presentation at a sponsors’ night and acquired goosebumps,” he mentioned. “Then the choice was clear to me. I’d do it, if I used to be allowed to” (be aware; he was, as Köln have been carrying their black and gold away strip, with Kwasniok anticipated to modify to that to keep away from a conflict once they play at residence towards Freiburg subsequent week).