Bayern Munich’s latest UEFA Champions League opener will be remembered as a record-breaking night of pure dominance. In an incredible display of attacking power, Bayern demolished Dinamo Zagreb 9-2 at the Allianz Arena, with Harry Kane stealing the show by scoring four goals, including a historic hat-trick of penalties. This result marks a new record for the most goals ever scored by a single team in a Champions League match.
From the start, it was clear that Bayern Munich meant business. The Bavarian giants, under new coach Vincent Kompany, were eager to make a statement after a disappointing 2022-2023 season without silverware. Bayern quickly seized control of the game, with Kane opening the scoring from the penalty spot in the 19th minute. With that goal, Kane surpassed Wayne Rooney’s record to become the highest-scoring English player in the history of the European Cup, notching up his 33rd goal.
But Kane wasn’t done yet. Bayern’s relentless pressure led to further goals in the first half. Raphael Guerreiro added a second in the 33rd minute following a brilliant assist from Jamal Musiala, and just five minutes later, Michael Olise found the net to give Bayern a commanding 3-0 lead by halftime.
The second half saw a brief resurgence from Dinamo Zagreb. Capitalizing on some uncharacteristic defensive lapses by Bayern, Bruno Petkovic and Takuya Ogiwara scored back-to-back goals in the 49th and 50th minutes, momentarily giving the Croatian champions hope of a comeback. However, that hope was short-lived as Bayern immediately reasserted their dominance.
Kane completed his hat-trick in spectacular fashion, scoring two more penalties in the 73rd and 78th minutes – a first in European Cup history. By the time Kane converted his fourth goal, Bayern were already cruising towards their record-breaking scoreline. Substitutes Leroy Sané and Leon Goretzka added late goals to complete the rout, cementing Bayern’s place in the history books.
In addition to the individual accolades for Kane, Thomas Müller set a personal record of his own by making his 152nd Champions League appearance for Bayern Munich, surpassing Xavi’s previous record for most appearances with one club.
Kane, reflecting on his remarkable performance, said, “It’s the first time I’ve ever had three penalties in one game. It was a different feeling, but to score four goals is fantastic. To help the team in any way possible is important. Whether they’re penalties or normal finishes, I’ll take them all.”
Despite Dinamo Zagreb’s brief second-half revival, Bayern’s superior quality was evident throughout the match. Kane, along with Musiala, Guerreiro, and Olise, spearheaded an attack that completely overwhelmed their Croatian opposition. As Bayern Munich looks to bounce back from their trophy-less campaign last season, their performance against Dinamo sends a powerful message to the rest of Europe.
Coach Vincent Kompany, in his Champions League debut on the Bayern bench, couldn’t have asked for a better start. With this win, Bayern Munich continues their impressive record in the group stages, extending their unbeaten run to 40 matches.
The emphatic victory also comes as Bayern Munich eyes the final, which will be held at their home ground in Munich. Kane, who has already scored seven goals in two matches, including a hat-trick against Holstein Kiel in the Bundesliga, will be key to Bayern’s hopes of reclaiming European glory.
As for Dinamo Zagreb, the match was a harsh lesson in the realities of competing against Europe’s elite. Despite their efforts, particularly after scoring two quick goals in the second half, they were unable to cope with Bayern’s relentless pace and precision.
Looking ahead, Bayern Munich will face a tough run of fixtures with games against Aston Villa and Barcelona looming, but with Kane in fine form and the team firing on all cylinders, they will be confident of continuing their strong start to the season. Dinamo Zagreb, on the other hand, will need to regroup as they prepare to host Monaco in their next Champions League encounter.