Hat-trick hero Harry dazzles in 'Der Klassiker' debut

DORTMUND, Germany — Harry Kane scored a hat-trick in his first 'Der Klassiker' appearance as Bayern Munich closed within two points of surprise Bundesliga leader Bayer Leverkusen.

Bayern captain Manuel Neuer lauded Kane after the 4-0 win at Borussia Dortmund, telling German TV: "That's his experience, he brought it with him to the Bundesliga from England and he shows us it week after week.

"We've got some quick guys up front and with them we really hurt Dortmund."

Stung by a midweek German Cup elimination to third-tier Saarbrucken, injury-hit Bayern had been five points behind Leverkusen, which earlier on Saturday won 3-2 at Hoffenheim.

Bayern, however, crafted the perfect response, scoring two goals in the opening nine minutes to grab a hold on the match in Dortmund.

France centerback Dayot Upamecano, cleared to play just hours before the match after missing a month with a hamstring injury, headed Bayern in front from a Leroy Sane assist after just four minutes.

Former Manchester City winger Sane laid on Bayern's second on the counterattack, slipping a perfect pass across the face of goal for Kane to tap in.

Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel said his team was confident of bouncing back from the Saarbrucken shocker.

"We knew what we could do, and we had enough confidence to put a plan in place," Tuchel said.

Unbeaten at home for more than a year, Dortmund was shell-shocked by the power of the supposedly weakened visiting side.

Dortmund manager Edin Terzic made four changes early in the second half as his side hoped to chase the game, but Bayern scored next as Kane stroked home a controlled finish with 15 minutes remaining.

"The way we played during the week, it was bitter," Neuer said of the German Cup loss. "But we showed what we can do today."

"Bayern was simply more aggressive in the duels and simply more dangerous on the counterattack "said Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, who made several big saves early in the second half.

England captain Kane scored again in injury time and now has 15 league goals in 10 matches since joining Bayern from Tottenham in the summer.

Billed as Germany's equivalent to 'El Clasico' between Real Madrid and Barcelona in Spain, Bayern has not lost 'Der Klassiker' in the league since 2018.

Leverkusen on top

Earlier on Saturday, goals in each half from Alex Grimaldo took Leverkusen to a 3-2 win at Hoffenheim.

Unbeaten Leverkusen, who has now won nine and drawn one in the league, made difficult work of the win, allowing Hoffenheim to score twice in two minutes to let a 2-0 lead slip.

The visitor retook the lead thanks to a late Grimaldo goal.

"I gave Grimaldo a kiss," said Leverkusen goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky, whose howler allowed Hoffenheim back into the match.

"Last year we would not have won this game."

Florian Wirtz scored first after just nine minutes, tapping in a Victor Boniface assist, with Grimaldo scoring from a set-piece just before halftime.

With Leverkusen cruising, Hradecky hit a low pass while roaming well outside his box and Anton Stach took advantage of the error by driving a long-range shot home.

Former Manchester United striker Wout Weghorst unleashed a stunner just two minutes later to bring the home side level, but Grimaldo curled in the winner with 20 minutes remaining, his fifth league goal of the season since arriving from Benfica in the summer.

"That was a fight," Wirtz told Sky. "We did it hard... but wins like that are also nice."

Union Berlin's woes continued ahead of Wednesday's Champions League visit to Napoli, losing 3-0 at home to Eintracht Frankfurt thanks to a first-half double from Omar Marmoush and a late strike from Nacho Ferri.

The loss, Union's 12th in a row in all competitions, means the side has now tasted defeat eight times so far this season — equal to its final total at the end of the last campaign.

"It's difficult to talk about being in a relegation battle," said captain Christopher Trimmel, "but we simply need to do it."

Elsewhere, Mainz won its first match of the season, shocking RB Leipzig 2-0 at home thanks to goals from Lee Jae-sung and Leandro Barreiro, just days after sacking manager Bo Svensson.

Freiburg fought back from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 at home to Borussia Monchengladbach, Italy midfielder Vincenzo scoring a penalty in the sixth minute of injury time to level the scores.

Cologne was held 1-1 at home to Augsburg, meaning Steffen Baumgart's struggling side now sits last in the Bundesliga.

AFP