Having failed to lift a trophy for the last two years, Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes said his team is hungry for silverware this season after its 3-0 win at promoted Greuther Fuerth.

Defending champion Borussia Dortmund kicked off the 50th Bundesliga season on Friday with a 2-1 win over Werder Bremen, but Bayern also started its campaign on Saturday with an impressive win at its Bavarian neighbor.

Goals by Thomas Mueller, Marco Mandzukic and Arjen Robben, helped by a deflection from the boot of Fuerth defender Thomas Kleine, gave Bayern the three points in an impressive display.

"We're aiming very high this season, the team is fired up and extremely motivated," said Heynckes, who has rejected reports he is set to quit at the end of the season when his contract expires.

"I'm not surprised by this result, we were very composed, smart and clever too. We were playing a promoted team who were still euphoric after what they achieved, and that's never easy. But after scoring the opening goal, we controlled the rhythm of the match and we fully deserved to win."

After losing out to Dortmund for the second year running in last season's title race, plus suffering defeat in both the German Cup and Champions League finals in May, Bayern is showing impressive early form.

"We can be extremely satisfied. A 3-0 win away from home is a very, very good start," said captain Philipp Lahm.

"Obviously, there are still areas for improvement, but we gave up very few chances and defended well.

"It's important to approach our forthcoming matches with a good feeling. I'm looking to the future with confidence."

Having held Bayern out until the 43rd minute, Fuerth's defence tired as the game wore on.

"Once you fall behind to Bayern it's always hard," said Fuerth's ex-Schalke coach Mike Bueskens.

"If you give them space just for an instant, they'll free up Robben with a first-time pass, and suddenly it's 2-0."

Next Saturday, Dortmund is at Nuremberg, which enjoyed a 1-0 win at Hamburg on Saturday, while next Sunday Bayern is home to Stuttgart, which suffered a late 1-0 defeat at home to Wolfsburg.

(China Daily 08/27/2012 page23)