Bayern Munich sent a clear message to Europe on Tuesday night: their ambitions this season stretch far beyond the Bundesliga. With Harry Kane chasing the Ballon d’Or and Michael Olise dazzling with flair and vision, the Bavarian giants thumped Champions League newcomers Pafos 5-1, extending their winning streak to nine games and maintaining a flawless start to the campaign.
The tone was set early. Just 15 minutes in, Kane opened the scoring with trademark precision, finishing off a brilliant move orchestrated by Olise. The French winger was in irresistible form, twisting defenders inside out before laying on the perfect pass for the England captain. Five minutes later, Bayern doubled their lead as Raphael Guerreiro combined slickly with Nicolas Jackson, who has arrived on loan from Chelsea, before firing home.
Olise wasn’t finished. On 31 minutes, he produced another dazzling run, beating defenders with stepovers and cutting into the box to provide Jackson with his first Bayern goal—an emotional moment for the forward since his summer arrival. Within minutes, Kane completed his brace, this time courtesy of an assist from ex-Liverpool man Luis Díaz, showcasing power, balance, and clinical finishing as he danced past three defenders before slotting into the net.
The home crowd found brief respite before the interval when Mislav Oršić capitalized on defensive confusion between Kim Min-jae and Dayot Upamecano, unleashing a long-range strike that beat Manuel Neuer.
Yet Bayern never looked threatened. After the break, their dominance continued. A counter-attack in the 68th minute saw Jackson denied by Pafos keeper Neofytos Michael, only for Olise to pounce on the rebound and fire home his deserved goal, capping a man-of-the-match performance with two assists and one strike of his own.
The result not only reinforced Bayern’s authority in their group but also added weight to Kane’s ever-growing Ballon d’Or campaign. The striker now has 17 goals already this season, while Olise’s performance confirmed his rapid rise as one of Europe’s most creative attacking forces.
Manager Vincent Kompany hailed the team’s ruthless efficiency but will demand the same intensity when Bayern return to Bundesliga duty against Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.
For Pafos, it was a harsh reminder of the gulf between Europe’s newcomers and its seasoned heavyweights. For Bayern, it was another night that underlined their growing case as Champions League favourites—and Harry Kane’s as football’s most deserving crown contender.
