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 one 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 recreation had been very welcome, notably within the mild of the Bundesliga's groundbreaking new TV deal which meant viewers within the England captain's residence nation may 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, one among their tougher home hurdles of current years, had Kane not confirmed as much as the celebration. It was the dictionary definition of ruthlessness however Ole Werner, the brand new Leipzig coach, may have completed nothing in his half-time workforce 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 for those who had been Bayern, or salt for those who had 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 relatively than passing from a free-kick award straight earlier than however wrongly, as a result of the officers had been solely alerted by Joshua Kimmich's “unusually robust protests” (per a DFB assertion), making it an occasion of VAR working outdoors its agreed remits.

With that mentioned, Leipzig would look ridiculous in the event that they had been to protest. And who would desire 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 might be unfair to evaluate the brand new coach or his workforce on this however rivalling Bayern is not going to be their job this season. Their job, and Werner's, is to neglect this and transfer on. Bayern had been merely magnificent, even with out Jamal Musiala to name on. Olise was scintillating, untouchable, and Vincent Kompany made some extent of praising Serge Gnabry, incessantly linked with a transfer away however renewed right here as Musiala's locum. “After we went into the locker room at half-time,” added Kimmich, “I already advised him that he was enjoying exceptionally effectively.”

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

Leverkusen took an early lead via 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 internet. Tim Lemperle hit the second-half winner, having hit a publish inside two minutes, and Ten Hag's workforce not often appeared like creating something outdoors 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 is not 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, had 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 crimson 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 in opposition to Dortmund to tie it up. “This shouldn't occur to a high workforce,” 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 mother and father, Mark and Denise, coming via to speak to Sebastian Kehl after full time. Bild reported that Bellingham's father gave the sporting director his views on the change 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 strain across the membership – with goalscorer Julian Brandt speaking about taking unhealthy habits of current instances “with us into the brand new season” – means a powerful lead from Kovac and Kehl is vital to get this season on the appropriate 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 at the moment and ask for additional funds, with one other ahead a precedence. That is with the lengthy recreation and the rigours of an extended marketing campaign in thoughts as a result of for now, there isn't a touching for Bayern. For the remainder of the Bundesliga, September can't come quickly sufficient.

Speaking factors

If anybody appears 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 purpose and two assists) and 20-year-old Jean-Mattéo Bahoya (two objectives) 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 had been runners-up within the Bundesliga and Pep Guardiola received his first Premier League title with Manchester Metropolis, to offer you some thought of how a lot has occurred since) was encouraging as they took a goalless draw at Borussia Mönchengladbach. “It could possibly solely get higher,” grumped the Gladbach captain, Rocco Reitz.

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