New leading duo at Bayern
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With his fifth goal of the season, Bayern star striker Harry Kane became the Bundesliga’s top scorer. But the winner in Munich’s impressive 5-0 win over Werder Bremen on Saturday was someone else: Michael Olise scored twice on the Weser and set up two goals.
“Michael was a constant threat,” Kane said, praising the 22-year-old right winger, who joined from Crystal Palace for €53 million before the season. “First of all, he’s a very good player. He’s also a great lad. “He loves being in Munich,” the 31-year-old said of the France international, who grew up in Kane’s native England. That’s not the only thing the forwards have in common.
Like Kane, Olise has scored five goals in his first four Bundesliga games. Only four other players have managed that in a Bayern uniform: Luca Toni (47; 2007) and Douglas Costa (34; 2015) have even scored six goals. Rainer Ohlhauser (83, seven goals) after his promotion in 1965 and Paolo Guerrero (40, five goals), who came from the reserves in 2004, have also had an impressive influence.
With eight goals, Kane and Olise are the most dangerous duo in the Bundesliga; in the international comparison of the top 5 leagues, only Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski (36) and Raphinha (27) and Man City’s Erling Haaland (24) and Kevin De Bruyne (33) are ranked with eleven goals each ahead of them. In terms of goal participation, only the Barça duo (16 scorers) are slightly ahead of the two Munich players (15 scorers).
Strong debut at FC Bayern: first comparisons between Olise and Robben
With his speed and dribbling, Olise has repeatedly caused Bremen huge problems. « He has a good mentality, always wants to improve, always wants more goals and assists. That’s a great attitude. Because you have to be hungry to improve. And that’s exactly what he is, » Kane praised his London-born team-mate.
After his gala performance, some wanted to compare the Frenchman to the Dutchman Arjen Robben (40 years old), who shone at Bayern from 2009 to 2019. « It’s a big comparison, there’s still a long way to go. Robben was one of the best in the world in his position, » said Kane. Moreover, Robben has only scored four times in his first four Bundesliga matches for Munich.
Olise himself relies more on another former Bayern star: his compatriot Franck Ribéry (41). « I like Franck Ribéry very much. When I think of the Frenchman who played for Bayern, I think of him first and foremost, » said the otherwise taciturn Olise during his memorable performance in Munich. In just six minutes and 45 seconds, he finished the press conference with all the trimmings. When asked whether he preferred to score goals or provide assists, he replied: « Both. » Instead of words, Olise obviously prefers to let actions speak for themselves.
Eberl praises Olise’s defensive play – Kane gets off to a good start for FC Bayern
« Michael is enjoying his (Site notre bureau spécialisé), enjoying his time in Munich. « He was fantastic today, » Kane said. Sporting director Max Eberl also saw it that way. However, the 51-year-old did not highlight one of Olise’s two goals or another attacking scene, but rather a defensive action by the Frenchman shortly after the break. « Once Bremen had broken through, Michael Olise cleared the ball into his own penalty area – that’s Bayern Munich, » Eberl stressed.
Kane seems to benefit from Olise’s new attacking power. The centre-forward has scored a total of ten goals in the first four Bundesliga games; only Lewandowski (seven goals/three assists) managed that for the Munich team in the 2020/21 season – at the end of the season there was a record 41. goals. In league comparison, only one was better: Peter Meyer (84) started the first four games of the season for Borussia Mönchengladbach in 1967 with nine goals and three assists, but a fractured tibia and fibula in January 1968 prevented a historic record and also ended Meyer’s career.
