Bayern exact cruel revenge on Kiel, secure first place in Bundesliga table

German giants FC Bayern München have preserved their perfect record under newly-appointed head-coach Vincent Kompany. After winning their opening round Pokal fixture, the Bavarians have taken maximum points from their first three 2024/25 Bundesliga fixtures. Kompany's FCB travelled to Holstein Stadium for the first time since the infamous DFB Pokal upset in January of 2021. This time, there wouldn't be much of a contest in a 6-1 victory. The result will enable Bayern to wrap up the weekend 

Kompany made three changes to the side that lined up against Freiburg just prior to the international break. Sacha Boey, Joao Palhinha, and Kingsley Coman dispatched Aleksandar Pavlovic, Mathys Tel, and Michael Olise. Palhinha played alongside Kimmich in a midfield double-six set-up. The German record champions lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. The hosts - without suspended coach Marcel Rapp - went for two personnel switches from their last match. Nicolai Remberg and Dominik Javorcek replaced injured actors Alexander Berhardsson and Marco Komenda. 

The newly-promoted side found themselves caught out before 15 seconds had been played. Harry Kane headed a routine Manuel Neuer launch in Jamal Musiala's direction. The young German phenom latched onto the ball unchallenged and calmly netted the 1-0. The Storks found themselves frustrated despite a few brave attempts to mount a response. A couple charges from the hosts amounted to nothing and a bad error from newly anointed Kiel captain Lewis Holtby enabled the Bavarians to double the advantage in the 7th.

Holtby - not exactly inexperienced at Bundesliga level - made a rookie mistake by sending a clearance directly onto the lurking foot of Serge Gnabry. Kane then easily polished off the 2-0. Matters got worse still when new introduction Remberg headed a Musiala cross into his own net in the 13th. Sitting on a 3-0 lead, Kompany's crew proceeded to back off significantly for most of the duration of the half. Gantry missed three chances to extend the lead in the 25th, 26th, and 32nd. Coman also couldn't find a tight-angle finish in the 37th.

Kane did find the back of the net off a Gnabry cutback in the 43rd and the Gerrman giants were able to head into the tunnel with a commanding 4-0 lead. After the hosts hit the crossbar in the 47th, a good bit of the second half was played at half speed. FCB substitutes Alphonso Davies and Michael Olise added the 5-0 in the 65th. Davies supplied some fancy footwork and a sharp finish that Kiel keeper Timon Weiner could only parry directly into Olise's path. 

Kiel subs Tymoteusz Puchacz and Armin Gigović - both new summer acquisitions - were able to pull back a consolation goal in the 82nd; something that certainly helped the mood inside the stadium. Kane would nevertheless score the final goal on this day, slotting home the 6-1 at 90+1. Kane drew the penalty himself off a Carl Johansson tackle, though most spectators will have found the decision to be rather soft.