Bayern Munich Makes History In 9-2 Champions League Win Over Zagreb

Harry Kane netted four times, leading Bayern Munich to a stunning 9-2 win against Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League. (Photo by Peter Kneffel/picture alliance via Getty Images)

This is a remarkable achievement. On Tuesday, Bayern Munich triumphed over Dinamo Zagreb with a score of 9-2, kicking off their Champions League journey in front of a packed crowd at the Allianz Arena. Harry Kane was a standout performer, scoring four goals (a penalty at the 19th minute, three more at the 57th, 73rd, and 78th minutes), while Raphaël Guerreiro found the net at the 33rd minute. Michael Olise also made a significant contribution with two goals (one at the 33rd minute and another at the 61st), and Leroy Sané (85th minute) and Leon Goretzka (90th minute) added to the tally for Bayern. On the other side, Dinamo Zagreb's Bruno Petkovic (49th minute) and Takuya Ogiwara (50th minute) managed to score as well.

The two goals scored by Dinamo Zagreb shortly after halftime were probably the only blemish on what was otherwise an excellent night for Bayern Munich. Just before the break, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer had to leave the game due to an injury, and when Sven Ulreich took over, Bayern’s defense went through a chaotic five-minute stretch during which Zagreb seemed poised to make a comeback.

"After the match, Bayern Munich's head coach Vincent Kompany spoke to German television about the two rapid goals conceded after halftime. He acknowledged, 'We have to improve in that area. However, we kept our composure and quickly generated three significant scoring opportunities. Our mentality was strong.'"

Just seven minutes after Zagreb cut the deficit to 3-2, Bayern Munich regained their two-goal advantage with a stunning shot from Kane. Then, just four minutes later, the score was even again when Olise netted his second goal of the night.

Ultimately, what matters is securing the three points, the nine goals we netted, and achieving victory," Kompany remarked. "The atmosphere was positive, and the players had a great time on the field. We did allow two goals due to being a moment behind as a team, but we bounced back well, making it a successful evening for us."

That might be putting it lightly. In reality, Bayern set multiple records on Tuesday. The team from Munich became the first in the Champions League history to net nine goals in one match. Additionally, the combined total of 11 goals from both teams is the highest in a single game since Dortmund's 8-4 victory against Legia Warsaw during the 2016/17 season.

Bayern Munich's standout player, Jamal Musiala, proved to be unstoppable once again. (Image by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via ... [+] Getty Images)

These are merely the records for the club. Bayern's sensation Kane netted four goals, breaking Wayne Rooney's record as the English player with the highest goal count in Champions League history. With 33 goals now to his name in the tournament, Kane's four strikes tonight put him halfway to matching his total of eight goals from the previous season.

Kane mentioned to UEFA after the match, “Talking to Wayne Rooney always signals that you're on the right track. He’s among the top English players and one of the finest to have ever played the sport. It's a meaningful accomplishment.”

Considering everything we've discussed, what can we learn from yet another remarkable Champions League night at the Allianz Arena? To start, netting nine goals against any team is quite an achievement. However, Kompany will certainly view those chaotic five minutes right after halftime with some worry, as a stronger opponent could have taken advantage of that situation.

We still aren't entirely sure what to make of this Bayern squad after their five victories in all competitions at the start of the season. So far, Kompany's side hasn't really faced a significant challenge. The last two matches against Holstein Kiel and Dinamo Zagreb, especially, are quite different from the tougher teams Bayern will encounter in the weeks ahead.

Keeping this in consideration, Bayern Munich's true challenge will arrive on matchday 5 of the Bundesliga when they go up against Leverkusen. Meanwhile, in the Champions League, Aston Villa will present a much tougher hurdle compared to Zagreb.

In simpler terms, we need to assess Bayern's current situation more closely. However, there are definitely some bright spots. Jamal Musiala and Aleksandar Pavlovic both delivered impressive performances. The young midfielder managed the game effectively and showed that he could be a key player for Bayern in the long run. Musiala, in particular, made a strong case for why he deserves a substantial contract extension.

In general, the benefits far exceed the drawbacks. In the end, Kompany has guaranteed that his new team has taken full advantage of what appears to be a relatively straightforward beginning to the season.