Sunday 21 / September / 2025
BERLIN: Bayern Munich maintained their perfect start to the Bundesliga season with a commanding 4-1 victory at Hoffenheim, as Harry Kane delivered a decisive hat-trick to lead the champions to a new league record on Saturday.
The visitors arrived full of momentum, having scored 14 goals in their first three matches and carrying confidence from a midweek Champions League success. Hoffenheim, meanwhile, had also impressed under coach Christian Ilzer, winning two of their opening three fixtures, and looked determined to challenge the reigning champions.
The hosts created the better chances in the early stages. Fisnik Asllani struck the post after pouncing on a loose pass from Manuel Neuer in the 13th minute, while Alexander Prass later forced the Bayern goalkeeper into a strong save. Vladimir Coufal and Bernardo also came close as Hoffenheim applied pressure, but they failed to capitalize.
Bayern made them pay just before halftime. A cleverly worked corner found 17-year-old debutant Lennart Karl, whose delivery set up Kane to fire home from close range in the 44th minute. The England captain struck again only three minutes after the restart, converting from the penalty spot following a handball by Albian Hajdari to double the lead.
With the game shifting firmly in Bayern's favor, coach Vincent Kompany introduced Joshua Kimmich, Serge Gnabry and Michael Olise in the 62nd minute. The fresh legs proved decisive, and Olise was brought down inside the box shortly after. Kane completed his hat-trick with another composed penalty in the 77th minute, his ninth treble in Bundesliga play.
Hoffenheim briefly reduced the deficit through a deflected free-kick from Coufal in the 82nd minute, but Bayern struck again in stoppage time. Gnabry reacted quickest after Baumann had parried Kimmich's shot, sealing the emphatic 4-1 win.
With four victories from four games and an 18-3 goal record, Bayern recorded the best start in Bundesliga history, underlining their status as the team to beat this season.
"It was a deserved Bayern win after the second half and a clear result, so we are not satisfied. Every defeat hurts, but we didn't play badly. We started very well and caused Bayern problems, but we lacked the finishing touch," Hoffenheim coach Christian Ilzer said.
Elsewhere, Leipzig ended Cologne's unbeaten run with a 3-1 victory. Freiburg secured their second win of the campaign, sweeping aside Werder Bremen 3-0. Mainz eased past Augsburg 4-1. Newly promoted Hamburg celebrated their first top-flight triumph since 2018, defeating Heidenheim 2-1. On Friday, St. Pauli suffered their first defeat of the season, losing 2-0 to Stuttgart.
