bundesliga

Harry Kane hits Bundesliga debut goal and assist as Bayern Munich beat Werder Bremen in season opener

20.08.2023

Harry Kane enjoyed a winning start on his full Bayern Munich debut, providing a goal and an assist in a 4-0 victory over Werder Bremen in the 2023/24 Bundesliga curtain-raiser.

Bremen 0-4 Bayern
Goals: 0-1 Sane 4' (assist: Kane), 0-2 Kane 74' (assist: Davies), 0-3 Sane 90' (assist: Müller), 0-4 Tel 90'+4 (assist Davies)

It did not take long for the defending champions to assert themselves at a packed-out Weserstadion, Jamal Musiala feeding Kane to flick the ball through to Leroy Sane, who raced clear of the home defence and slotted past Jiri Pavlenka in just the fourth minute. Niclas Füllkrug thought he had equalised a few moments later when he headed in from a free-kick, but it was rightly ruled out for offside. It was largely one-way traffic after that – apart from a Senne Lynen shot that Sven Ulreich did well to save – with Musiala and Noussair Mazraoui both firing rasping long-range shots narrowly wide, and Kane seeing an effort blocked by Milos Veljkovic.

Bremen only managed that one attempt on goal in the first 45 minutes, but had three in the first three of the second. First, Mitchell Weiser blazed over before Füllkrug threaded a brilliant pass through for Leonardo Bittencourt, but he could only prod wide at full stretch from eight yards out. Füllkrug then took aim himself but was denied by Ulreich. It set the tone for the remainder of the game as Bayern gave as good as they got, Kingsley Coman hitting the post with a sumptuous curler before Kane drew a fine save from Pavlenka from the edge of the box. Jens Stage reminded Bayern that the points were not yet secured with a fine strike from 25 yards that whizzed just wide. Yet Kane eventually got his goal, rifling in from Alphonso Davies’ pass to deservedly extend Bayern’s lead, before late goals from Sane and Mathys Tel sealed what was ultimately a comfortable win for Thomas Tuchel’s side.

Watch: Kane's first Bayern goal

Match stats

Sane's first strike was the 18th time that a Bayern player has scored the opening goal of a new season, and the 10th time in the last 11 campaigns.
Kane registered a goal and an assist on his Bundesliga debut, scoring with his sixth shot on goal.
Owen Hargreaves is the only other Englishman to have previously scored for Bayern. His last goal for the club was 18 years ago in a 3-0 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Sane scored his first-ever Bundesliga brace.
Tel has scored five of his six Bundesliga goals as a substitute.
Bremen have lost 15 of their last 16 Bundesliga home games against Bayern, drawing the other one. They last beat the record champions at the Weserstadion on 21 October 2006 (3-1).

Get Kane for your Fantasy team for 15M!

Watch: Kane: "I couldn't have asked for a better evening"

Teams

Bremen: Pavlenka - Pieper, Veljkovic, Friedl (c) - Weiser (Burke 59'), Bittencourt, Lynen, Stage (Kownacki 79'), Jung (Opitz 79') - Füllkrug, Ducksch
Unused subs: Zetterer, Groß, Schmid, Rapp, Gruev, Njinmah
Out: Agu (knee), Keita (groin), Salifou (ill), Stark (personal reasons), Woltemade (back)
Coach: Ole Werner

Bayern: Ulreich - Mazraoui, Upamecano, Kim (De Ligt 68'), Davies - Kimmich (c), Goretzka (Laimer 79') - Sane, Musiala (Müller 84'), Coman (Choupo-Moting 84') - Kane (Tel 84')
Unused subs: Hülsmann, Pavard, Gravenberch, Krätzig
Out: Gnabry (knock), Guerreiro (calf), Neuer (broken leg), Sarr (knock)
Coach: Thomas Tuchel