Kane and Bayern claim Supercup glory
Harry Kane added his first piece of silverware as a Bayern Munich player after the Bundesliga giants defeated Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup. However, the afternoon's standout performer was not Kane — it was summer signing Nathaniel Brown, who opened the scoring with a crisp, low finish into the corner.
The 23-year-old, recruited from Eintracht Frankfurt and primarily a left-back by trade, was deployed in the No 10 position ahead of fellow new arrival Ismael Saibari. He showed exactly why Vincent Kompany trusted him there, also threatening with a shot that whistled just wide in the 43rd minute and creating danger throughout.
Kane was full of praise after the final whistle. "It was a great performance. Not his natural position but he has had spells there in pre-season. He is obviously a smart player, really good on the ball, good in tight areas, and you saw that with his finish." Kane also noted Brown's versatility and pointed to goals the youngster had already scored during pre-season.
Kompany will need patience in the coming weeks as Jamal Musiala continues his recovery from a health scare that saw him collapse on the pitch twice. Saibari can help fill that creative void, and the inventive Brown — when fully integrated into Bayern's passing patterns — could prove to be an important asset when the Bundesliga resumes next weekend.
LaLiga: Mourinho's late winner, Gordon's brilliant debut
Spain's two biggest clubs both kicked off their LaLiga campaigns with away wins, though the manner of those victories could not have been more contrasting. Barcelona dismantled Elche 5-0, with Anthony Gordon — brought on as a substitute — registering two assists on his debut. Real Madrid, meanwhile, required a 90th-minute strike to edge past Espanyol 2-1.
The match-winner at Espanyol was Carlos Espi, a 21-year-old striker signed from Levante, who pounced on a loose ball inside the area to seal the points. Manager Jose Mourinho — beginning his second stint at Real Madrid — greeted Espi with a beaming embrace. The pair are both living at the club's training ground, sharing breakfast together each morning.
Thibaut Courtois has already compared Espi to former fan favourite Joselu, who scored two memorable late goals against Bayern Munich on the road to winning the UEFA Champions League in 2024. At 6'4
