LEVERKUSEN, Germany: A second-half Harry Kane hat-trick took Bayern Munich back to the top of the Bundesliga, ahead of RB Leipzig, with a 4-0 home win over Stuttgart on Saturday.
Leipzig’s earlier 2-0 win at Mainz had allowed them to leapfrog Bayern into top spot, while Kane came into the match without a goal for club or country in four games — his longest drought since moving to Germany.
Stuttgart, who surprisingly finished one spot ahead of Bayern in second place last season, held the hosts at bay but the dam eventually broke in the 57th minute, when Kane’s long-range effort dribbled past goalkeeper Alexander Nuebel.
Kane added a second just three minutes later, clipping the ball through a crowded penalty box and past Nuebel to double Bayern’s lead.
The England captain pounced on a loose ball on the 80-minute mark to bring up his third, chalking up his sixth hat-trick in Bayern colors and his 57th goal for the German giants in all competitions.
France forward Kingsley Coman scored in the final minute to complete the win.
Earlier on Saturday, goals from Xavi Simons and captain Willi Orban took Leipzig past Mainz, just days out from their home Champions League clash with Liverpool.
Still unbeaten this season in Germany alongside Bayern, Leipzig took the lead after 20 minutes thanks to an excellent Simons solo goal.
Leipzig captain Orban tapped in a rebound from a Lois Openda cross to put his side 2-0 ahead.
Orban told Sky: “We could have finished things off earlier but we’re happy with the win.”
Victor Boniface’s 72nd-minute goal was the difference as Bayer Leverkusen beat Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 at home.
Leverkusen were given an early chance when Amine Adli was felled in the box, sending Boniface to the spot after a long VAR review. The Nigerian’s shot, too soft and central, was gobbled up by Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp.
Just five minutes later, the referee was sent to the video screen again, this time finding a penalty for Frankfurt, with Robert Andrich lightly touching Omar Marmoush’s foot.
Marmoush showed Boniface how it is done, blasting a low shot left to give the visitors the lead on 16 minutes. The Egyptian now has an incredible nine goals and five assists in just seven league games this season.
Andrich made good on his error soon afterwards, combining expertly with Adli and Martin Terrier to flit through the penalty area for a superb one-touch goal in the 25th minute.
Boniface would also redeem himself, giving Leverkusen the lead inside the final 20 minutes, heading in a deflected cross from substitute Florian Wirtz to put the hosts on course for victory.
Andrich told Sky Germany: “We were focussed and played good football.
“And there was a nice goal from me,” he added with a grin.
The 30-year-old midfielder, who made his Germany debut last season after a career largely spent in the lower divisions, said of his performance: “I always have fun playing football, but I maybe have to work a bit harder than the rest.”
Elsewhere, Freiburg continued their impressive start to the season with a 3-1 home win over Augsburg to go into outright third.
Freiburg were three goals up at half-time, with Vincenzo Grifo, Philipp Lienhart and Christian Guenter scoring, before Augsburg’s Phillip Tietz pulled one back in the second period.
Borussia Moenchengladbach striker Tim Kleindienst scored a double, days after making his Germany debut, in a 3-2 home win over former club Heidenheim.
Hoffenheim won their first game since their season opener, with Andrej Kramaric, Marius Buelter and Haris Tabakovic scoring in a 3-1 win over lowly Bochum, who sit last with just one point from seven games.

ABU DHABI: Undefeated featherweight champion Ilia Topuria says he feels “amazing” as he prepares to take on the ever-dangerous Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 308 at the Etihad Arena on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island.

The bout, which takes place on Oct. 26, will be Topuria’s first title defense after the fighter, nicknamed “El Matador,” won the featherweight belt earlier this year by knocking out Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298.

“I feel amazing,” Topuria told Arab News. “This is the last part of the training camp, cutting weight, and that’s it. On Oct. 26 I’ll take what belongs to us, which is victory.”

Topuria acknowledged that while he had made some adjustments, the core of his training remains the same.

He said: “It’s been … a bit more professional. We always try to implement new skills and things we’ve learned from past experiences.”

As for his mindset, it has not shifted since he reached the pinnacle of the sport. He added: “I always felt like I was the best in the world, and I still have that same feeling.”

Holloway, who is known for his relentless striking volume and durability, presents a unique challenge, but Topuria’s approach remains straightforward, and he said: “The plan is simple: Go in and take his head off. That’s it.”

In fact, Topuria has something special planned for the opening moments of the fight, and added: “I’ll point to the ground in the first 10 seconds and give the fans the most exciting 10 seconds in UFC history.”

Whether Holloway will engage in this bold challenge remains to be seen, but Topuria is clear about his own strategy.

He said: “I don’t know what he’s going to do, but I know what I’m going to do. I’ll point to the ground, stay in the middle of the Octagon, and if he wants to bang, we can bang. If not, I might have to do something different.”

Returning to Abu Dhabi is significant for Topuria, who made his first UFC bow in the city four years ago on Fight Island during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said: “I have very good memories here. I made my UFC debut in Abu Dhabi, though it was without fans. Now I have the opportunity to come back and defend my belt in front of everyone. It’s great; I can hardly wait.”

Topuria highlighted the city’s role in the global growth of combat sports as he praised the development of the sport in the region.

He said: “It’s growing a lot. They’re supporting not only MMA (mixed martial arts), but also boxing, and the growth is amazing. I feel like the development here is incredible, even compared to Europe. The culture, the food — everything is great.”

Although his days in Abu Dhabi are focused on training, Topuria revealed he plans to do some sightseeing.

He added: “We’re going to do a bit of exploring in Abu Dhabi before the fight. We’re planning to visit the museums and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, and we want to explore other parts of the city, such as Yas Marina Circuit.”

As a professional mixed martial artist of Georgian and Spanish descent, Topuria has a message for his community of compatriots in the UAE, saying: “They’re going to enjoy what they see and feel a lot of pride when they watch me shine. This fight is for them.”

Topuria does not feel burdened by being champion, and said: “I don’t feel any extra pressure. I chose this path, and I’ve dreamed of this moment. God is giving me what I’ve asked for, so I just feel gratitude.”

Topuria plans to return home quickly after the fight to his 2-month-old daughter, adding: “I’ll be leaving the next day because I need to take care of her and my son. Of course, this (the fight) is for both my children — it’s for my whole family.”

The fighter is ready to make a statement at UFC 308 and give the fans in the UAE’s capital a memory for the ages, cementing his legacy in Abu Dhabi.