Bayern Munich made it four wins from four at the top of the Bundesliga after hat-trick man Harry Kane was again the difference in a 4-1 win at Hoffenheim on Saturday.
In terms of goals scored and conceded as well as points, it is the best start to a Bundesliga season ever.
A bullish Hoffenheim beat Bayer Leverkusen on the opening day and won at Union Berlin last weekend. They worried the champions in the first half until perennial league top scorer Kane smashed in after a corner was passed straight to him.
His second after the interval from the spot was controversial as Albian Hajdari's handball seemed to come via an unlucky deflection.
A third goal and second cool penalty sealed matters after Michael Olise was fouled. The 32-year-old now has nine Bundesliga hat-tricks in two and a bit seasons.
Kane boasts eight goals in four league games and Bayern already look big favourites to retain their title despite their thin squad and Vladimir Coufal's late deflected free-kick. Serge Gnabry made it 4-1 from a tight angle.
"Hat-trick Harry was what they used to call me when I was at school," Kane told DAZN. "It was a tough game, first half especially we didn't play great."
RB Leipzig, battered 6-0 at Bayern in their league opener, rose to second after inflicting a first defeat on promoted Cologne with a 3-1 win. David Raum's free-kick just before the break sealed victory.
Werder Bremen missed a penalty and lost 3-0 at home to resurgent Freiburg after Vincenzo Grifo's spot-kick, Junior Adamu's strike and and own goal from Karim Coulibaly.
Freiburg are up to seventh having started with two defeats.
Mainz triumphed 4-1 win at Sandro Wagner's Augsburg despite one of their goalscorers Dominik Kohr being sent off at 2-0.
Hamburg's first Bundesliga goal since 2018 came from Luka Vušković in a 2-1 win over Heidenheim, who are bottom on no points.
VAR controversy at Hoffenheim
Bayern handed first league starts to Senegal forward Nicolas Jackson and 17-year-old German winger Lennart Karl.
Hoffenheim had the first big chance when in-form striker Fisnik Asllani hit the post before Kane also missed a good opportunity.
The England captain later got his first just before half-time with a furious finish as part of a clever corner routine involving Karl.
His coaxed in another on 48 minutes from the penalty spot after a video assistant check.
Surprisingly, the VAR decided to uphold the referee's penalty decision despite Sacha Boey's shot hitting Hajdari's thigh before catching his hand.
There was little doubt about his third before Coufal and Gnabry traded goals. The only negative for Bayern was an injury to defender Kim Min Jae after a strong performance.
"We played very well in the second half and we played like we can from the start of that half to the end. We are very happy," coach Vincent Kompany said. "The lads showed a lot of energy, even if it wasn't perfect."
On Friday, VfB Stuttgart beat St Pauli 2-0. On Sunday, Eintracht Frankfurt face Union Berlin, Leverkusen welcome Borussia Mönchengladbach and third-placed Borussia Dortmund host Wolfsburg.
- Harry Kane
- Hat-trick
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
