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Tag: Bundesliga

  • Bayern Munich cruise to victory over Union Berlin, but Hertha win

    Bayern Munich cruise to victory over Union Berlin, but Hertha win

    Tanguy Nianzou scored his first Bayern Munich goal on a rare start as the Bundesliga leaders recovered from two straight league draws on Saturday.

    They had an easy 4-0 home win over Union Berlin.

    The defending champions, seeking a 10th title in a row, increased their advantage back to seven points pending Borussia Dortmund’s trip to Cologne on Sunday.

    Kingsley Coman opened the scoring on 16 minutes with a fast, swerving effort which goalkeeper Andreas Luthe should still have done better with.

    “We played very well, we played together, we defended together. We were very efficient…and created lots of chances,” Coman said.

    Nianzou, 19, then headed in a corner-kick on 25 minutes with Luthe getting a hand to the ball and again slightly at fault.

    The French centre-back has struggled since arriving from Paris St-Germain (PSG) in 2020.

    But the absences of Benjamin Pavard (coronavirus) and Niklas Süle (thigh injury) opened the door against Union Berlin.

    He had a few worries defensively but eighth-placed Union Berlin could not find a final pass.

    This is as Bayern Munich upped the ante on Borussia Dortmund with seven games left for the leaders to play.

    Luthe’s terrible game continued when he crashed into Robert Lewandowski and the striker netted from the penalty kick spot just before the break.

    Soon after the interval, the world player of the year scored his 31st of the league season after good work by Jamal Musiala.

    Strugglers Hertha Berlin won 3-0 at home to Hoffenheim to move out of the automatic drop zone, in spite of new coach Felix Magath missing the game after contracting coronavirus.

    Magath’s new British assistant Mark Fotheringham, relegated with Magath at Fulham in their last job in Europe together in 2014, was in charge on the Hertha Berlin bench and was energetic in his support.

    “Mr Magath gave us some positive words and what Mark did on the sidelines was great,” midfielder Marco Richter said. “I don’t know if I should say but Mr Magath also talked to us at half-time (over the telephone).”

    VfB Stuttgart stormed back from 2-1 down to win 3-2 at home to Augsburg to leave Hertha Berlin still in the relegation play-off spot.

    Mainz beat Arminia Bielefeld 4-0 with goal-line technology wrongly awarding them another goal, which was taken away on video review.

    Arminia Bielefeld slipped into the second automatic relegation spot.

    They are a point behind Hertha Berlin, who are level on points with Stuttgart and Augsburg.

    Rising COVID-19 figures in Germany also played minor havoc with other clubs.

    Freiburg missed Nicolas Höfler in their 0-0 draw at bottom side Greuther Fürth and temporarily moved fourth ahead of RB Leipzig welcoming Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday.

    The match between Bochum and Borussia Mönchengladbach on Friday was abandoned after a linesman was hit by a plastic cup thrown from the Bochum fans as Gladbach led 2-0.

  • Robert Lewandowski quits Bayern Munich training

    Robert Lewandowski quits Bayern Munich training

    Bayern Munich suffered a scare around their star striker Robert Lewandowski on Tuesday when he had to abandon training after slipping while attempting a shot.

    World Footballer of the Year Lewandowski left the public session prematurely for medical examinations after the incident.

    “I didn’t hit the ball cleanly and it hurts a bit,” Lewandowski said amid reports of a knee problem.

    Bayern Munich later spoke of “a small injury” without disclosing any details in a club statement.

    The Bundesliga champions will not want to be without their top goalscorer in the deciding weeks of the season.

    Bayern Munich have reached the quarter-finals of the 2021/2022 UEFA Champions League, with the draw slated for Friday, and which will be played April 5/April 6 and April 12/April 13.

    They went out at this stage last year against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) when Lewandowski was sidelined with injury.

    Bayern Munich are top of the Bundesliga but their lead could be reduced to four points by Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday.

    They play on Saturday against Union Berlin in the Bundesliga, followed by an international break — where Poland’s Lewandowski has no game — before an April 2 date at Freiburg.

    But there was also good news at the Bayern Munich camp as key midfielder Leon Goretzka returned to team training from a knee injury.

    It is an injury which has seen him out of action for more than three months.

    Corentin Tolisso was also back from an injury sustained last month.

    “It went well and it was fun. Of course I’m excited to take the next steps now,” Goretzka said. “It’s extremely liberating. I hope I can come back better now.”

  • Bayern Munich extend Bundesliga lead to 9 points after beating RB Leipzig

    Bayern Munich extend Bundesliga lead to 9 points after beating RB Leipzig

    Bayern Munich had to fight hard for a 3-2 win against RB Leipzig on Saturday to extend their 2021/2022 Bundesliga lead over Borussia Dortmund to nine points.

    Thomas Müller broke the deadlock in the Allianz Arena in the 12th minute, taking the rebound after goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi saved Robert Lewandowski’s effort.

    However, it did not take RB Leipzig too long to level things up with Portuguese striker André Silva.

    Müller hit the net again, but his goal was disallowed after video check.

    Nevertheless, Bayern Munich were ahead before the break, thanks to a header by top goalscorer Lewandowski.

    Early into the second half, RB Leipzig equalised again as Christopher Nkunku was not intimidated when he got face-to-face with goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

    But the visitors were unlucky when Josko Gvardiol turned a cross from Serge Gnabry into an own goal, sealing the victory for Bayern Munich.

    “We made too many mistakes in the build-up. You can’t make mistakes against a team like Bayern Munich,” RB Leipzig managing director Oliver Mintzlaff said.

    Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann said his side secured a “beautiful win,” while Müller said they deserved the victory in spite of an equal game.

    “Both teams showed an attractive game, both tried to be offensive, but I will say we deserved to win,” Müller said.

    Earlier on Saturday, Eintracht Frankfurt were the winners of a thrilling game against VfB Stuttgart, taking home three points after a 3-2 triumph.

    Evan Ndicka steered the ball into the net early in the game, but Waldemar Anton equalised for VfB Stuttgart before the break.

    A stunner from Ajdin Hrustic gave Eintracht Frankfurt the advantage once again, until Sasa Kalajdzic put the hosts back in the game.

    Eintracht Frankfurt, however, had the last say after Hrustic scored the winner in the 77th minute.

    Cologne are dreaming about the UEFA Champions League after a 1-0 win over Freiburg.

    It was Anthony Modeste’s powerful left-footed shot that moved them up to sixth in the standings.

    Borussia Mönchengladbach were held at Arminia Bielefeld and did not improve their situation, remaining 12th in the standings after a 1-1 draw.

    This is the first Gladbach game in over two decades without Max Eberl as their sporting director.

    He stepped down from his position last week and some fans brought “Thank you, Max” banners to the stadium.

    Augsburg left the relegation zone with an important 2-0 victory against Union Berlin.

    A big mistake from the goalkeeper made it easy for Michael Gregoritsch to open the scoring and a stunner from Andre Hahn closed the case for the Bavarian team.

    Elsewhere, Mainz beat Hoffenheim 2-0 with Jae-sung Lee and Moussa Niakhaté scoring within the last 10 minutes.

    On Sunday, title contenders Borussia Dortmund welcome Bayer Leverkusen, while Wolfsburg host Greuther Fürth.

    Hertha Berlin and VfL Bochum had played out a 1-1 draw on Friday.

  • Bundesliga club heads to court to overturn 750-spectators limit

    Bundesliga club heads to court to overturn 750-spectators limit

    Bundesliga club Cologne has asked a higher administrative court for a ruling as they aim to overturn coronavirus regulations restricting attendance to 750 spectators.

    The court in Münster confirmed on Tuesday that a letter from the club arrived on Monday.

    The state of North Rhine-Westphalia, where Cologne is located, does not allow more than 750 fans into stadiums in the latest restrictions which are valid until Feb. 9.

    Cologne want this overturned and be permitted to have at least 10,000 fans present, or better even 24,000, on Saturday against Freiburg.

    Borussia Dortmund and Arminia Bielefeld, who also play at home on the weekend, had announced legal action as well, but the court said it has so far received nothing from them.

    When a ruling will come is unclear.

    The state government has until midnight Wednesday to make a statement.

    The court said it can not make a ruling on the actual number of fans allowed into stadiums but only say whether the government restrictions for big sporting events are just or not.

    Other German states allow more fans to Bundesliga games, such as Baden-Württemberg (6,000) and Bavaria (10,000).

  • Bundesliga players pick Lewandowski as best player, Klopp as best coach

    Bundesliga players pick Lewandowski as best player, Klopp as best coach

    Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski is the best football player and Liverpool’s Juergen Klopp the best coach, according to a survey among German Bundesliga players conducted by Kicker sports magazine.

    Kicker said in its latest edition on Monday that Lewandowski garnered 43.2 per cent of the vote from 234 players polled.

    Liverpool’s Mo Salah was a distant second with 20.5 per cent, and Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) third.

    Klopp was first in the coaching list with 34.6 per cent.

    He emerged winner ahead of fellow German Thomas Tuchel from 2020/2021 UEFA Champions League winners Chelsea (24.8) and Spain’s Pep Guardiola from 2020/2021 English Premier League (EPL) champions Manchester City.

    Bundesliga players also rated the English top-flight the best league with a big majority of 67.9 per cent.

    Bayern Munich and Germany midfielder Joshua Kimmich meanwhile earned the dubious honour of being voted disappointment of the current season.

    That result likely has to do with his coronavirus stance rather than his skills on the pitch.

    Kimmich first voiced doubts about vaccination and has been sidelined since early November owing to two quarantine periods, a coronavirus infection and related lung problems.

  • Lewandowski equals Muller’s Bundesliga goal record

    Lewandowski equals Muller’s Bundesliga goal record

    Robert Lewandowski equalled Gerd Muller’s Bundesliga record for goals scored in a single calendar year as Bayern Munich thrashed Stuttgart.

    Lewandowski’s second goal on Tuesday was his 42nd in 2021, matching Muller’s haul from 1972.

    Serge Gnabry scored either side of half-time to put the visitors 2-0 up, before Lewandowski struck twice in three minutes.

    Germany international Gnabry completed his hat-trick two minutes later.

    One more goal in Bayern’s final game of the year – at home to Wolfsburg on Friday – will give Lewandowski the record outright.

    In May, the Poland striker scored in the last minute of the 2020-21 season to break Muller’s record for Bundesliga goals in a campaign.

    Gnabry, who was involved in all five goals in Stuttgart, has found the net nine times in Germany’s top flight this season – more than any other midfielder in the division.

    The win moves Julian Nagelsmann’s side nine points clear of second-placed Borussia Dortmund, who can cut the gap at the top of the table to six points with victory at home to bottom club Greuther Furth on Wednesday.

     

    BBC

  • Bundesliga: Bayern Munich fight back to defeat Mainz, Dortmund play draw

    Bundesliga: Bayern Munich fight back to defeat Mainz, Dortmund play draw

    Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich came from behind to beat Mainz at the Allianz Arena.

    The visitors took a shock lead courtesy of Karim Onisiwo’s close-range header midway through the first half.

    Kingsley Coman’s confident finish from Corentin Tolisso’s pass restored parity, before Jamal Musiala completed the turnaround with a low strike.

    Moussa Niakhate went closest to a late equaliser but shot straight at Manuel Neuer.

    The result means manager Julian Nagelsmann has won 100 games in Germany’s top-flight, spanning spells with Hoffenheim, RB Leipzig and Bayern.

    Nagelsmann’s side move six points clear of second-placed Borussia Dortmund, who were held to a 1-1 draw at Bochum.

    Bochum’s Sebastian Polter opened the scoring from the penalty spot following goalkeeper Gregor Kobel’s foul on Christopher Antwi-Adjei, but Julian Brandt equalised late on from Erling Braut Haaland’s cross.

    Marius Wolf thought he had fired Dortmund level early in the second half, but Jude Bellingham was ruled to be in an offside position in the build-up to the goal.

  • Erling Haaland breaks record in 50th Bundesliga appearance

    Erling Haaland breaks record in 50th Bundesliga appearance

    Erling Braut Haaland scored in a winning return for Borussia Dortmund at Wolfsburg to become the youngest player to reach 50 German Bundesliga goals.

    The Norwegian, aged 21 years and 129 days, struck a late volley after coming on for his 50th Bundesliga appearance.

    Wout Weghorst had given Wolfsburg the lead before an Emre Can penalty and Donyell Malen effort turned the game.

    Dortmund briefly went top, but Bayern Munich beat Arminia Bielefeld 1-0 to go back above them.

    Leroy Sane’s well-struck effort from outside the box helped Bayern Munich break a 44-year record. They have scored 102 Bundesliga goals in 2021, beating Cologne’s record of 101 in 1977.

    Haaland’s goal for Dortmund was his 10th in just seven games of a season interrupted by a hip flexor muscle injury that had sidelined him since mid-October.

    It was a positive end to a week that saw Dortmund crash out of the Champions League on Wednesday with a 3-1 loss to Sporting Lisbon.

    With their sixth win in the last seven league matches, Dortmund moved up to 30 points, one below champions Bayern.

  • Bundesliga: Bayern Munich suffer biggest loss since 1978

    Bundesliga: Bayern Munich suffer biggest loss since 1978

    Bayern Munich suffered their biggest defeat since 1978 as they were thrashed at Borussia Monchengladbach in the German Cup second round.

    Gladbach led 1-0 after two minutes and 3-0 by the 21st minute.

    Kouadio Kone slotted home his first goal for the club before Ramy Bensebaini swept home Jonas Hofmann’s cross and then netted a penalty.

    Breel Embolo took advantage of a defensive mistake for the fourth and then his second from Luca Netz’s pass.

    “I’m absolutely shocked. We simply didn’t turn up,” Bayern sports director and former player Hasan Salihamidzic told ARD.

    “We were just not there. We did not win a single tackle or challenge in the entire first half.

    “Everything that could go wrong went wrong. We let ourselves be outplayed in every situation – a collective blackout.”

    Gladbach scored with five of their six shots on target – with Bayern having more possession and more efforts than the hosts without scoring.

    It was only the second defeat Bayern, who named a first-choice team, have suffered under Julian Nagelsmann and ended a run of scoring in 85 consecutive games.

    Nagelsmann was at home self-isolating, having tested positive for Covid-19.

    Bayern last lost a game by a five-goal margin 43 years ago when Fortuna Dusseldorf beat them 7-1 in the Bundesliga.

    Their record defeat remains a 7-0 home loss to Schalke in the league back in 1976 – but this is their biggest defeat in a competition they have won a record 20 times.

    Adi Hutter’s Gladbach, who have lost four of their past eight games, are in the bottom half of the Bundesliga.

     

    BBC

  • Bundesliga: Bayern Munich beat Furth to go 3 points clear

    Bundesliga: Bayern Munich beat Furth to go 3 points clear

    Bayern Munich eased past hosts Greuther Fuerth 3-1 on Friday, in spite of playing almost the entire second half with 10 men.

    The win helped the defending champions to open up a three-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga.

    But Bayern Munich top goalscorer Robert Lewandowski saw his scoring streak snapped, after failing to equal Gerd Muller’s all-time record of scoring in 16 consecutive league games.

    It was always going to be a one-sided encounter against the newly-promoted club, bottom in the Bundesliga and without a win this season, and Bayern Munich took a quick lead.

    This was barely after just 10 minutes into the game with Thomas Muller slotting in from an Alphonso Davies cut-back.

    Joshua Kimmich was devastatingly accurate with a low drive on the half hour to score his third league goal, after netting twice last week, and Lewandowski hit the woodwork just before the break.

    A reckless challenge by Benjamin Pavard three minutes after the restart left the champions with 10 men, but it hardly changed the dynamic of the game.

    A 68th minute own goal by Sebastian Griesbeck, under pressure from Lewandowski, killed off any slim hopes of a comeback that Fuerth may have been secretly harbouring.

    The home fans did get a moment to savour when Cedric Itten headed in a cross in the 87th minute to cut the deficit.

    Bayern Munich, who take on Dynamo Kyiv in the UEFA Champions League next week, move up to 16 points from six matches, with VfL Wolfsburg, on 13 in second place, travelling to Hoffenheim on Saturday.

    Third-placed Borussia Dortmund, on 12, take on Borussia Monchengladbach.