Saturday 23 / August / 2025
BERLIN: Bayern Munich launched its Bundesliga title defense in devastating style, thrashing RB Leipzig 6-0 in the opening round of the 2025-26 campaign at the Allianz Arena on Friday.
The defending champion took control from the outset, dominating possession and dictating the tempo. After early chances for Konrad Laimer and Harry Kane, the breakthrough came in the 27th minute when Michael Olise finished from close range following neat interplay through midfield.
Just five minutes later, Bayern doubled its advantage. New signing Luis Diaz made an immediate impact on his Bundesliga debut with a thunderous drive that crashed in off the underside of the bar, leaving Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi helpless.
The home side's dominance was further emphasized before the interval as Olise struck again in the 42nd minute, capitalizing on Serge Gnabry's clever pass to make it 3-0.
Leipzig coach Ole Werner responded with two substitutions at half-time, but the visitor's hopes of a comeback quickly faded.
In the 64th minute, a swift Bayern counterattack saw Diaz release Kane, who slotted confidently into the far corner for his first goal of the evening.
Leipzig briefly thought it had pulled a goal back through Antonio Nusa, only for it to be ruled out due to an infringement at the free-kick in the build-up. The disallowed goal summed up a frustrating night for the visitor, who struggled to match Bayern's intensity.
With the contest effectively settled, Kane showcased his clinical edge. The England captain curled a precise shot into the bottom corner in the 74th minute before completing his hat-trick just four minutes later, racing clear and finishing with authority to seal the 6-0 rout.
"We wanted to set a statement at home and I think we did that," Kane said afterwards. "We were clinical and can't complain. Everyone knew what to do, and after half-time I thought it was time to get on the scoresheet as well."
The result maintains a remarkable opening-day record for the Bavarians, who have never lost as defending champion since the format was introduced in 2002. Bayern now turns its attention to Wednesday's DFB Cup tie at lower league side Wehen Wiesbaden, while Leipzig must regroup quickly ahead of its home clash with Heidenheim.
Chelsea routs West Ham for season first win
Chelsea brushed aside an early setback to record a resounding 5-1 victory over West Ham at the London Stadium, securing its first win of the season in style.
Despite losing Cole Palmer to injury in the warm-up, the Blues produced a ruthless attacking display as Joao Pedro, Pedro Neto, Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Trevoh Chalobah all found the net.
The result handed the host back-to-back defeats at the start of the Premier League campaign and left the home fans frustrated in what quickly became a one-sided London derby.
Palmer's absence gave 18-year-old Estevao Willian his chance, but the teenager's evening began harshly when his misplaced backheel in the sixth minute allowed Lucas Paqueta to stride forward and unleash a swerving strike past Robert Sanchez.
Any nerves, though, quickly faded. Estevao grew into the contest and was heavily involved as Chelsea struck back. His compatriot Joao Pedro equalized with a close-range header just nine minutes later before VAR denied West Ham the lead, ruling Jean-Clair Todibo narrowly offside in the build-up to Niclas Fullkrug's finish.
Chelsea seized control soon after. Neto's crisp volley put them ahead in the 23rd minute, and Estevao capped his bright response to early adversity by supplying the cross for Fernandez to tap in a third.
The boos from the home crowd at half-time foreshadowed what was to come. Fernandez squandered a chance after the restart, but Chelsea was relentless from set pieces. Caicedo and Chalobah both punished goalkeeper Mads Hermansen's misjudged attempts to claim corners, scoring twice in quick succession to put the result beyond doubt.
Large sections of the stadium emptied before the final whistle, as anger mounted towards Graham Potter and his players. With a 3-0 loss to newly promoted Sunderland last weekend, West Ham now sits at the bottom of the standings with eight goals conceded.
