Football

Bayern Munich's resurgence continued on Saturday as they thrashed Stuttgart 4-0 at home, with Harry Kane's hat-trick proving decisive. The victory ended a three-game winless run in all competitions and propelled Bayern back to the top of the Bundesliga on goal difference.Kane, who had not scored in four games for club and country, broke the deadlock in the 57th minute with a stunning long-range effort. He doubled his tally just three minutes later with a clinical finish from inside the box. The England captain completed his hat-trick in the 72nd minute, tapping home from close range.Bayern sporting director Max Eberl hailed Kane's performance, describing him as a "killer." "It was nice with that first goal, and the two afterwards showed what a killer he is," Eberl said.Kane, who has now scored 57 goals in all competitions for Bayern, admitted to feeling relieved after ending his goal drought. "There's always talk when you don't score for a while as a striker," he told Sky Germany. "I always believed in myself, my abilities and my teammates -- that was clear today."Bayern coach Vincent Kompany praised Kane's unwavering hunger for goals. "He's always hungry, even in training," Kompany said. "He's always scored goals and always will -- that will never change."The victory was a timely boost for Bayern ahead of their midweek Champions League clash with Barcelona. Kompany acknowledged the importance of the upcoming match but emphasized the need to celebrate their latest triumph. "We can celebrate a bit, but then it keeps going against Barcelona," he said.

In a thrilling Bundesliga encounter, Bayer Leverkusen emerged victorious with a dramatic 4-3 win over Wolfsburg, while Borussia Dortmund suffered a humiliating 5-1 defeat at Stuttgart.Leverkusen and Wolfsburg traded blows throughout the match, with the score locked at 3-3 from the 48th minute. However, Wolfsburg's Yannick Gerhardt was sent off in the dying stages, leaving his team vulnerable. Victor Boniface, who had come on as a substitute, capitalized on the opportunity, scoring a stoppage-time winner to secure a crucial victory for Leverkusen.Leverkusen's Granit Xhaka expressed dissatisfaction with the performance, calling it "a giant wake-up call." He emphasized the need for improvement in defense, stating, "We can't keep going with performances like that. We can't defend so naively."Despite the win, Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso made significant changes to the lineup that had thrashed Feyenoord in the Champions League. Nordi Mukiele, on loan from PSG, had a nightmare debut, scoring an own goal in the fifth minute. Florian Wirtz equalized for Leverkusen, but Wolfsburg's Sebastiaan Bornauw and Mattias Svanberg put the visitors back in the lead. Piero Hincapie leveled the score again for Leverkusen on 48 minutes.In the late game, RB Leipzig were held to a 0-0 draw at promoted St Pauli. Leipzig's goalkeeper, Peter Gulacsi, kept St Pauli at bay in the first half, but the hosts held on for a point in the second half.Meanwhile, Stuttgart soared to a dominant 5-1 victory over Dortmund. Deniz Undav scored a brace, while Ermedin Demirovic, Enzo Millot, and El Bilal Toure also found the net. Dortmund, who had raided Stuttgart for players in the summer, were outclassed and disappointed.Dortmund coach Nuri Sahin admitted that Stuttgart's win was "absolutely deserved" and vowed to improve their performance in their next match.

Real Madrid, the reigning UEFA Champions League champions, will commence their 2024-25 campaign at home against VfB Stuttgart, the German Bundesliga runners-up. The match, scheduled for Wednesday, September 18 (IST), marks the first of eight group games in the revamped Champions League format.Real Madrid, under the guidance of manager Carlo Ancelotti, will be bolstered by the return of midfield stars Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni from injury. The Spanish giants have enjoyed a positive start to their La Liga campaign, with summer signing Kylian Mbappe scoring in their previous two matches.Stuttgart, on the other hand, have endured an inconsistent start to their Bundesliga season, winning one, drawing one, and losing one of their opening three fixtures. The German club will be eager to make a statement against the European champions and secure a positive result in their first Champions League group stage match.The match will be played at the iconic Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid, with kickoff scheduled for 12:30 AM (IST). Fans can catch the live telecast on the Sony Sports network, while live streaming will be available on the SonyLIV app and website.Real Madrid will be the heavy favorites heading into the match, but Stuttgart will be determined to cause an upset. The German club has a history of performing well in European competitions, reaching the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League in 2018.The return of Bellingham and Tchouameni will provide a significant boost to Real Madrid's midfield, while Mbappe's goalscoring prowess will be crucial in breaking down Stuttgart's defense. The German club will need to be at their best to contain Real Madrid's attacking threats and create chances of their own.The match promises to be an exciting clash between two teams with contrasting styles and ambitions. Real Madrid will be aiming to extend their dominance in Europe, while Stuttgart will be looking to make a name for themselves on the continental stage.

Ten-man Bayer Leverkusen emerged victorious in the season-opening German Super Cup, defeating Stuttgart 4-3 on penalties after a thrilling 90 minutes that ended 3-3. The match marked the first time Leverkusen had lifted the trophy.Victor Boniface opened the scoring for Leverkusen in the 11th minute, but Stuttgart's Enzo Millot equalized just four minutes later. Leverkusen's hopes were dealt a blow shortly before halftime when Martin Terrier was sent off for a dangerous tackle, leaving them with 10 men.Stuttgart took advantage of their numerical superiority in the second half, with Deniz Undav giving them the lead. However, Patrik Schick's goal with two minutes remaining sent the match to penalties.In the shootout, Bayern Munich loanee Frans Kraetzig and Silas Mvumpa missed from the spot for Stuttgart, while Leverkusen converted all of their penalties.Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso praised his team's "huge spirit" and determination, particularly in the final 10-15 minutes when they were down a man. He expressed satisfaction with the team's start to the season and their renewed spirit.Stuttgart manager Sebastian Hoeness acknowledged that the match was a positive sign for his team, who had undergone significant upheaval during the summer. He noted that the performance demonstrated that they were "going in the right direction."The German Super Cup, which traditionally pits the Bundesliga champions against the Cup winners or league runners-up, was played without either Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund for the first time since 1993.