England captain Harry Kane struck a superb hat-trick as Bayern Munich launched their Bundesliga title defence in emphatic fashion, dismantling RB Leipzig 6-0 at the Allianz Arena.
It was Michael Olise who set the tone after 27 minutes, thumping a powerful strike into the far corner after the ball fell kindly at his feet.
Serge Gnabry, instrumental throughout, played a key role in the opener and was again the architect five minutes later, threading a precise ball to Luis DÃaz.
The Colombian, making his league debut after a summer move from Liverpool, smashed his shot in off the underside of the bar to double Bayern’s lead.
Bayern’s dominance only grew, with Gnabry once more tormenting Leipzig’s defence before unselfishly laying off to Olise, who rifled home his second just before halftime to give the hosts a commanding 3-0 lead.
Kane, who had been heavily involved in build-up play, took centre stage after the break, he netted his first in the 64th minute, finishing a sweeping counter-attack with typical composure.
Leipzig thought they had pulled one back when substitute Antonio Nusa found the net, but VAR intervened, ruling the goal out due to a rolling ball at the free-kick in the build-up.
That reprieve lasted only moments, as Kane curled a superb strike inside the far post to make it 5-0 before completing his hat-trick in the 77th minute.
Left unmarked, the England striker calmly slotted home to seal an emphatic victory for Vincent Kompany’s side.
Analysis: Bayern Lay Down a Marker
Bayern looked sharp, fluid and ruthless, issuing an ominous warning to the rest of the Bundesliga.
Olise dazzled on the wing, combining well with Konrad Laimer to stretch Leipzig repeatedly, while Gnabry and Joshua Kimmich dictated play with authority.
Kane operated slightly deeper than a traditional No 9 but was lethal when it mattered, timing his runs to perfection to notch his first Bundesliga hat-trick of the season.
Leipzig, under new manager Ole Werner, were simply overwhelmed. Sloppy in possession and exposed defensively, they struggled to cope with Bayern’s relentless attacking combinations.
This performance underlined the gap between a work-in-progress Leipzig and a Bayern side already in full flow.
What’s Next?
Bayern travel to Wehen Wiesbaden in the first round of the DFB-Pokal on Wednesday (19:45 BST), before visiting FC Augsburg in the Bundesliga on Saturday, 30 August (17:30 BST).
Leipzig return to league action the same day (14:30 BST) when they host Heidenheim.