Newcomers Klose, Toni help Bayern to 3-0 win

Germany striker Miroslav Klose scored twice and Italy's Luca Toni got another on their debuts for Bayern Munich in a one-sided 3-0 victory over Hansa Rostock at home yesterday.

Bayern, championship favourites after their record 70 million euros ($96 million) spending spree in the close season, lived up to pre-season expectations with an entertaining attacking style not seen in Munich for years.

It took just 14 minutes for Italy striker Toni, a transfer from Fiorentina, to get his first Bundesliga goal with his very first shot.

Klose broke through on the left and unselfishly slotted the ball for Toni to tap in as Rostock keeper Stefan Waechter came out to challenge Klose, who joined from Werder Bremen.

Klose doubled the lead against promoted Rostock by pouncing on a loose ball in the 66th minute when Waechter mishandled a Philipp Lahm shot.

Klose then outjumped two Rostock defenders five minutes from time to head in a Lahm cross at the far post.

"Three points and three goals - it's a good start," said Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld, who wants to win four titles this campaign after the team finished without any silverware last season.

"We showed discipline and kept pushing forward. The second half was very good. I'm glad the decision to play Toni worked out so well. He's a constant threat in front of the goal."

Toni missed the last two weeks of the pre-season with a knee injury and only resumed training on Thursday.

France midfielder Franck Ribery, the most expensive transfer in Bundesliga history at 25 million euros, was also a constant threat for Bayern with fine passes and several shots that delighted the sell-out crowd of 69,000.

Bayern kept Waechter busy with 25 shots on goal. Despite his blunder against Klose, Waechter had several good saves and prevented an even more one-sided result. Bayern goalkeeper Oliver Kahn did not have to make a single save.

"Bayern were clearly better," said Rostock coach Frank Pagelsdorf.

"We weren't able to stop their crosses. We've got our work cut out for us."

In other matches, Collin Benjamin got the winner in the 23rd minute with a free-kick that bounced off the crossbar and into the goal to give Hamburg their first victory in Hanover in 19 years.

Greece striker Ioannis Amanatidis struck for Eintracht Frankfurt in the 31st minute to spoil Lucien Favre's debut as Hertha Berlin's coach.

Favre, who has complained about Hertha's failure to sign new talent after several key players left in the close season, was forced to deny rumours that he had threatened to quit.

Artur Wichniarek (38), Christian Eigler (49) and Oliver Kirch (81) scored for Arminia Bielefeld to ruin Felix Magath's debut as Wolfsburg coach and sporting director before Sergiu Radu got one back six minutes from time.

Today - 17.00
Nuremberg vs Karlsruhe
Bor. Dortmund vs Duisburg