In a high-octane Bundesliga opener, English striker Harry Kane made an emphatic debut for Bayern Munich, orchestrating a 4-0 drubbing of Werder Bremen at Weserstadion. Kane, Bayern's record acquisition, quickly proved his worth, not just with a goal, but an assist too under the astute leadership of Thomas Tuchel.
The game sprang to life early, as Kane's precise assist found Leroy Sane in the fourth minute, who effortlessly slotted the ball past the keeper, handing Bayern an early advantage. It was then Alphonso Davies' surge down the left flank, and his pinpoint delivery found an advancing Kane who sealed his debut goal in the 74th minute, doubling the lead. Wrapping up the dominant display, Sane, together with Mathys Tel, added goals in injury time, underlining Bayern's assertive start to the 2023-24 season.
Shifting focus to La Liga, after suffering an initial setback against Real Betis, Villarreal, the 2021 Europa League champions, redeemed themselves with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Mallorca. The Yellow Submarine maintained their dominance, holding a significant 61% possession. It was the sharpshooter Gerard Moreno who broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute, securing three crucial points for Villarreal.
In France's Ligue 1, a gripping contest between Metz and Marseille kept fans on the edge of their seats. Metz, despite being reduced to 10 men in the latter half, showcased resilience. Emran Soglo drew first blood in the 14th minute after a crafty assist from their latest addition, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The momentum seemed to shift after Metz's Aboubacar Lo received marching orders in the 59th minute. However, Cheikh Sabaly and Georges Mikautadze retaliated with goals, placing Metz ahead. In a dramatic turn of events, Vitinha's late equalizer for Marseille ensured both teams shared the spoils, with an extended injury time period failing to crown a victor.
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