Bayern Munich began the 2025-26 Bundesliga with a 6-0 win over RB Leipzig, powered by a Harry Kane hat-trick. Bayer Leverkusen lost at home to Hoffenheim, while Borussia Dortmund surrendered a 3-1 lead to draw with St. Pauli after conceding late. The outcomes underscored Bayern's continued dominance and the fragile title challenges from other top clubs. The Bundesliga has long suffered from a lack of competition at the top, which has hindered European success and commercial growth. The last German side other than Bayern to win the Champions League was Dortmund 28 years ago. The DFL's proposed 1 billion ($1.2 billion) investment deal was halted by fan protests.
"We wanted to send a statement from the first game at home and that's what we did today," said Harry Kane, who scored a hat-trick as Bayern Munich hammered RB Leipzig 6-0 on the first day of the 2025-26 Bundesliga season. Given that Bayern were last season's champions and Kane was top scorer, the message rang out loud and clear across Germany on Friday.
"We're definitely making it harder than we need to," concluded Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. "Its certainly not what we imagined." Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel could not stop his side dropping late points againImage: Sina Schuldt/dpa/picture alliance The Bundesliga's lack of competition at the top has long been a criticism of Germany's top flight. It has also hindered it on a broader stage, both in sporting and commercial terms.
Of the three clubs bookmakers expect to join Bayern in the top four, Bayer Leverkusen, the only club to break Bayern's streak with an unprecedented unbeaten campaign in 2023-24, lost at home to Hoffenheim. Borussia Dortmund, the team who won it before the streak started, led 3-1 after 85 minutes only to fall to a draw against St. Pauli. The final side were RB Leipzig themselves.
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