Harry Kane could hardly have asked for a better start to his Bayern Munich career as he gave an almost instant justification for the Bundesliga champions' drawn out pursuit of the Tottenham Hotspur talisman over the course of the summer.

Some may argue that his actual debut came in a 3-0 defeat in the German Super Cup but in fairness to the England captain, he started that game on the bench on the same day he had put pen to paper, and was only introduced as a second-half substitute once the game was arguably beyond his new club.

Starting the real business of the Bundesliga, Kane enjoyed a very promising start by both scoring and assisting a goal as Bayern made something of a statement as they began their title defence with a 4-0 win at Werder Bremen.

What	Bundesliga 2023/24
Where	Germany
When	18th August 2023 - 18th May 2024
How to watch	bet365's European Soccer Live Streaming Highlights & Sky Sports
Odds	Bayern Munich 2/9, Borussia Dortmund 6/1, RB Leipzig 16/1, Bayer Leverkusen 50/1, Union Berlin 80/1

Instant impact for Kane

Although the Super Cup result immediately tempered the hype and fanfare surrounding Kane's arrival at the Bavarian giants, he took the minimum of time to register his influence for his new club.

He may have plundered 213 goals in 320 Premier League appearances, but there is much more to Kane's game than simply putting the ball in the back of the net, ably demonstrated by his vision and delightful pass to set Leroy Sane clear as early as the fourth minute to give Bayern the lead.

True, Kane spurned a couple of opportunities to capitalise on the slow start from the hosts to double the advantage, but he had played a key part in settling any nerves his side may have had.

And, when Bremen started to ask one or two more pressing questions, who else was on hand to kill the game off when needed, with Kane benefitting from Alphonso Davies' surging run and precise pass to give Jiri Pavlenka little chance with a clinical finish to open up some breathing room.

Sane bagged his second late on before Kane's replacement, Mathys Tel, rounded off the scoring in stoppage time for an emphatic opening win for the champions.

New Bayern hero strong favourite for top honours

Bayern struggled last season, relatively speaking, only winning the title on goal difference after Borussia Dortmund were held to a 2-2 draw by Mainz on the final day.

That came in the first season without Robert Lewandowski and it was not hard to see why Thomas Tuchel's men needed a new frontman, and focal point, with Kane quickly demonstrating his qualities.

Playing for the 11-time defending champions and scoring on his debut, Kane is now 1/2 favourite to finish as the top goalscorer in the Bundesliga this season. 

Niclas Fullkrug, who is a 14/1 chance in the outright market, was kept off the scoresheet on Friday night.

Serge Gnabry was Bayern's leading scorer in the league last season with 14 goals but, having missed the opener, he already finds himself behind Kane and is 10/1 to end the campaign as top dog.

Sane has bagged twice already, of course, and offers a little more value at 20/1, having gelled well with Kane, Kingsley Coman and Jamal Musiala in the thumping victory at the Weser Stadion in what is an ominous portent for those wishing to dethrone FC Hollywood.

Soft opening offers Kane big chance

Bayern were hardly given the stiffest of starts with a trip to Bremen on opening night, with the hosts having won only five times at the Weser Stadion last season, while losing 10 as they finished 13th. 

And it doesn't get any tougher for Bayern as they are strong 1/10 favourites for their first home game next up, against 18/1 Augsburg, who ended last term down in 15th, having won just three times on the road. 

Bayer Leverkusen look to offer the sternest test domestically before the Champions League gets underway, but that home contest is sandwiched in between eminently winnable games against Borussia Monchengladbach and Bochum, and Kane and Bayern look to have been given a great opportunity to make a strong start.

Silverware the goal for Kane

Having won 11 titles on the bounce, Bayern are strong favourites to continue that sequence with another success, something that will perhaps satiate Kane's yearning to finally reward his effort and excellence on the pitch with trophies.

There is little doubt that Bayern are the dominant force on the domestic front, despite last season's near failing which saw them register their lowest points tally since they finished third in the 2010/11 season.

Although their rivals hinted at a fallibility in the Bayern ranks, the Allianz Arena giants have strengthened, arguably while also weakening their opponents, with Kane's arrival the jewel in the crown.

The Champions League may ultimately be the club's top priority this season and that focal point they were perhaps missing last season sees them as a big danger to all in the outright betting, with Tuchel's side on offer at 5/1, second only to defending champions Manchester City at 9/4.

With Real Madrid priced at 8/1, Arsenal at 10/1, Barcelona at 14/1 and Paris Saint-Germain at 16/1, Bayern will be hoping Kane is the link they were missing on the European stage over the last couple of seasons. 

Others, perhaps including the player himself, may well be expecting him to be.