Tag: Bayern Munich

Eintracht Frankfurt Troll Barcelona Despite Loss To Bayern Munich


Bayern Munich’s German midfielder Leroy Sane (2nd R) celebrates scoring the 4-0 goal with his team-mates during the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Bayern Munich and Eintracht Frankfurt on October 24, 2020, in Munich, southern Germany.
CHRISTOF STACHE / AFP / POOL

 

Bundesliga side, Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday trolled Barcelona despite the team’s loss to Bayern Munich in a league game.

The German and European champions won 5-0 but Frankfurt in a tweet on their handle trolled Barcelona who were defeated 8-2 by the Bavarians in the quarter-final of the UEFA Champions League last season.

“FINAL — We fall to the Champions of Europe by less goals than @FCBarcelona did,” the club tweeted on their US handle after the match.

 

Lewandowski On Fire

Robert Lewandowski took his Bundesliga tally to a record 10 goals in the first five games this season with a hat-trick as Bayern Munich thumped Eintracht Frankfurt 5-0 on Saturday, then issued a warning to the European champions’ future opponents.

“I hope that we will keep this form for a very long time — it doesn’t matter against who we play, we always want to show our best football, we always want to win,” Lewandowski told Sky.

Lewandowski has scored nine goals in his last three league games and wrapped up his treble within an hour at the Allianz Arena.

Defending champions Bayern have scored 22 goals this term — 10 more than league leaders RB Leipzig who stayed top with a 2-1 win over 10-man Hertha Berlin.

 

(L-R) Frankfurt’s German defender Martin Hinteregger, Bayern Munich’s German forward Thomas Mueller and Frankfurt’s Japanese midfielder Makoto Hasebe vie for the ball during the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Bayern Munich and Eintracht Frankfurt on October 24, 2020 in Munich, southern Germany. CHRISTOF STACHE / AFP / POOL

 

Bayern sit one point behind in second place, level on 12 points with third-placed Dortmund who later saw off Schalke 3-0 at home in the Ruhr derby with goals by Manuel Akanji, Erling Braut Haaland and Mats Hummels.

In Munich, Leroy Sane marked his return from injury with the fourth goal during a brief cameo, before England Under-17 midfielder Jamal Musiala also came off the bench to net the fifth.

– Davies injury –

However, Bayern’s victory came at a price with Canadian left-back Alphonso Davies out for up to eight weeks with torn ankle ligaments.

Lewandowski underlined his status as one of the world’s best strikers last season by scoring a career-best 55 goals in 47 games, including 34 in the Bundesliga.

The Polish international opened the scoring on 10 minutes when he fired home, then beat Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp with a powerful header in the 26th minute.

Bayern had a penalty appeal turned down when Douglas Costa’s cross clipped the hand of Frankfurt’s Makoto Hasebe.

Lewandowski wrapped up his hat-trick on the hour mark with a clinical finish from another Costa cross.

Sane then came on to ghost past a defender and drive his shot into the bottom corner with 18 minutes left before Musiala grabbed the final goal as Frankfurt suffered their first league defeat of the season.

Later, Haaland, 20, netted his 23rd goal in 26 games since his January transfer to Dortmund as they extended Schalke’s miserable record to 21 Bundesliga games without a win.

Dortmund bounced back from their 3-1 Champions League defeat in mid-week at Lazio with an impressive display.

Dortmund centre-back Akanji, back in the side after recovering from the coronavirus, opened the scoring on 55 minutes when he rifled home a rebound.

“I’m fully fit and it’s nice to score after a few unpleasant days at home in quarantine,” Akanji later told Sky.

– Haaland strikes again –

Haaland put the result beyond doubt with a superb chip over Schalke goalkeeper Frederik Ronnow on 61 minutes after staying on his feet despite a defender’s lunging challenge.

Hummels struck with a powerful header from a corner 12 minutes from time.

Earlier, Leipzig came from behind in a 2-1 win over Hertha, whose Colombian striker Jhon Cordoba scored in the eighth minute.

Leipzig drew level when defender Dayot Upamecano fired home from a free-kick on 11 minutes.

Berlin were reduced to 10 men after the break when substitute Deyovaisio Zeefuik was shown two yellow cards within four minutes of coming on.

Leipzig made the man advantage count when Marcel Sabitzer converted a penalty with 13 minutes left.

Hertha were lucky not to finish with nine men when another sub, Jessic Ngankam, scythed down Leipzig left-back Angelino and the referee changed his decision to a yellow card having initially shown a red.

Borussia Moenchengladbach warmed up for Tuesday’s Champions League game at home to Real Madrid with a 3-2 comeback win at Mainz.

Germany midfielder Lars Stindl gave Gladbach an early lead, but the visitors were 2-1 down at half-time after French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta scored twice for Mainz.

Gladbach midfielder Jonas Hofmann converted a penalty on 76 minutes before Matthias Ginter headed the winner as Gladbach climbed to fifth.

Union Berlin drew 1-1 at home against Freiburg as Vincenzo Grifo’s first-half goal was cancelled out two minutes later by Union midfielder Robert Andrich.

AFP

Lewandowski, Mueller Doubles Send Bayern Second With Bielefeld Win

Bayern Munich’s Polish forward Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring the 0:3 goal during the German first division Bundesliga football match between DSC Arminia Bielefeld and FC Bayern Munich at the SchuecoArena in Bielefeld, western Germany, on October 17, 2020. (Photo by WOLFGANG RATTAY / POOL / AFP) 

 

Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Mueller both scored twice as Bayern Munich banished their early-season blues with a thumping 4-1 win over Bundesliga minnows Arminia Bielefeld on Saturday after a “crazy” first half.

Treble winners Bayern started the day in mid-table following a shock defeat to Hoffenheim last month, but victory in Bielefeld was enough to propel them back up to second place.

The champions burst out of the blocks and had an early penalty appeal turned down before Mueller bundled in the opener on eight minutes.

Lewandowski doubled the lead shortly afterwards, smashing the ball in from the edge of the area after a sharp cross from Leon Goretzka.

The Poland striker linked up with Mueller to make it 3-0 just before half-time, and returned the favour after the break with a pinpoint cross to set up Mueller’s second.

“The first 45 minutes were crazy, we played really well. We knew that the first game after the international break would be really important,” Lewandowski told Sky.

Japan winger Ritsu Doan then pulled one back for Bielefeld on the break, the PSV Eindhoven loanee netting his first Bundesliga goal since moving to Germany in the summer.

Yet despite a late red card for Corentin Tolisso, Bayern were untroubled in the final stages and can now turn their attention to Wednesday’s Champions League opener against Atletico Madrid.

Hansi Flick’s side now sit level on points with third-placed Borussia Dortmund, who snatched a late 1-0 win at Hoffenheim earlier on Saturday.

– ‘Hectic schedule’ -Dortmund, who like Bayern had already lost one game this season, looked set to drop further points before Erling Haaland and Marco Reus came off the bench in the second half to breathe new life into a blunt performance.

Haaland, 20, surged forward on the break to set up Reus with a tap-in and snatch Dortmund’s first away victory over Hoffenheim in eight years.

“They’ve always made it difficult for us here in recent years. We didn’t have many good chances in the first half and we knew we needed to create more in the second half,” the goalscorer told Sky.

Haaland was initially rested after he played three times for Norway in the previous two weeks, prompting criticism of the busy international schedule.

“At Dortmund, we are used to having a lot of midweek games at this stage of the season. The schedule is a bit more hectic this year, so we have to look after ourselves,” said Reus, after slotting Haaland’s square pass into the open net to score his first goal since February.

Dortmund and Bayern now sit one point behind league leaders RB Leipzig, who held onto top spot with a 2-0 win against surprise high-fliers Augsburg.

Angelino headed Leipzig in front on the stroke of half-time to score his second goal in two games, before Yussuf Poulsen doubled the lead with a sumptuous volley on 66 minutes.

“These are the games you need to win if you want to land in the top four,” Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann told Sky.

Elsewhere, Lucas Alario’s first half header sealed a 1-0 win for Bayer Leverkusen and extended second-from-bottom Mainz’s miserable run to four defeats in four games.

Promoted side Stuttgart continued their good start to the season, as Marc-Oliver Kempf and Gonzalo Castro fired them to a 2-0 win away to Hertha Berlin, while Werder Bremen held Freiburg to a 1-1 draw in the south west.

Freiburg took the lead early on through Philipp Lienhart and had a second goal ruled out for offside before Bremen’s Niclas Fuellkrug levelled the scores from the penalty spot.

 

-AFP

Partey Time For Arsenal + Other Expected And Done Big Deadline Day Deals

Thomas Partey is expected to join Arsenal on transfer deadline day. Photo: [email protected] Teye Partey.

 

Arsenal’s move for Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey is expected to be the biggest deal of transfer deadline day, while Edinson Cavani is on the verge of a move to Manchester United.

Partey has been a long-term target for the Gunners, who have reportedly matched his 50 million euro (£45 million, $59 million) buyout clause to bolster their threadbare midfield options.

The Ghanian has made 188 appearances for the Spanish giants and was part of the Atletico sides that reached the 2016 Champions League final and beat Arsenal on the way to winning the Europa League in 2018.

Uruguayan international Lucas Torreira is expected to go the other way from Arsenal to Atletico on a season-long loan deal.

Arsenal have made an impressive start to the season, winning three of their opening four Premier League games, as they aim to return to the Champions League next season for the first time in five years.

However, the Londoners have been short in central midfield with Mesut Ozil and Matteo Guendouzi, who has joined Hertha Berlin on a season-long loan, frozen out by Mikel Arteta.

United, scrambling for reinforcements after their 6-1 defeat to Tottenham on Sunday, are expected to make more signings, with Dutch international midfielder Donny van de Beek their only addition before Monday.

Brazilian international left-back Alex Telles has joined from Porto for an initial fee of £13.5 million.

 

telles
Telles. Photo: [email protected] United

“He is a player we have been tracking for some time and his performances over the past few years are exactly what we are looking for,” said United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

“He is a fighter and a winner and will add real determination and competition to the squad.”

Former Paris Saint-Germain striker Cavani is reportedly close to joining on a two-year deal as a free agent.

After a forlorn chase of Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho, United are also interested in adding two teenage wingers — Amad Traore of Atalanta and Penarol’s Facundo Pellistri.

However, neither is expected to make an instant impact on the first-team should deals be completed.

Premier League table-toppers Everton signed centre-back Ben Godfrey for a reported initial fee of £25 million.

But Theo Walcott is on the way out of Goodison Park for a return to Southampton on loan, whom he left as a 16-year-old to join Arsenal in 2006.

Tottenham’s Ryan Sessegnon has also joined the growing batch of young English players in the Bundesliga with a season-long loan move to Hoffenheim.

– Quiet window for European giants –

According to a report by the Centre for Economics Business Research, Premier League clubs were on course for an astonishing 95 percent of the net spend in Europe’s big five leagues this transfer window.

Barcelona’s accounts for the 2019/20 season showed the drastic impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on even the world’s richest clubs as the Catalans posted 97 million euro losses.

However, some of Europe’s giants were busy on the final day.

Juventus secured one of the hottest properties in Italian football as Federico Chiesa joined from Fiorentina on a two-year loan deal worth 10 million euros with an obligation to buy if certain conditions are met for a further 40 million.

Bayern Munich added a trio of new players as Douglas Costa returned to the Allianz Arena for a second spell on loan from Juventus.

In this file photo taken on August 12, 2020 Paris Saint-Germain’s Cameroon forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final football match between Atalanta and Paris Saint-Germain at the Luz Stadium in Lisbon. Bayern Munich confirmed on October 5, 2020 the signing of former Paris Saint Germain forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting with more signings reportedly expected in the last few hours before the transfer window closes.
David Ramos / POOL / AFP

The European champions also signed former PSG striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting on a one-year deal and Bouna Sarr from Marseille.

AFP

Bayern Munich Sign Ex-PSG Forward Choupo-Moting As Costa Returns

In this file photo taken on August 12, 2020 Paris Saint-Germain’s Cameroon forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final football match between Atalanta and Paris Saint-Germain at the Luz Stadium in Lisbon.  David Ramos / POOL / AFP

 

Bayern Munich confirmed Monday the transfer of former Paris Saint Germain forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and the return of Brazil winger Douglas Costa on loan from Juventus, with both players signing for a year.

Having already completed the transfer of Espanyol midfielder Marc Roca on Sunday on a five-year contract, Bayern also added Choupo-Moting on a one-year deal as back-up to Robert Lewandowski.

Costa, 30, will compete with Serge Gnabry, Kingsley Coman and Leroy Sane for a place on the flanks.

Choupo-Moting, 31, was out of contract after his PSG deal expired and returns to the Bundesliga following stints with Hamburg, Nuremberg, Mainz and Schalke.

“It’s a great feeling to come back to the Bundesliga — and then to the biggest club in Germany,” said Cameroon international Choupo-Moting in a statement.

“Who wouldn’t want to play for FC Bayern?

“It’s an honour. The aim at Bayern is always to win everything, and I am highly motivated to achieve these goals.”

Bayern also annouced that Costa, who played for Bayern from 2015 until 2017, netting 14 goals in 77 matches, is returning to Munich, where he won Bundesliga titles in 2015/16 and the following season.

“I’m very happy to be playing for Bayern again, I had a wonderful time in Munich, with lots of successes and I’m sure we’ll win titles again,” said Costa, who has made 31 appearances for Brazil.

 

File photo: Bayern Munich’s German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and his teammates celebrate with the trophy after the UEFA Super Cup football match between FC Bayern Munich and Sevilla FC at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary on September 24, 2020.  BERNADETT SZABO / POOL / AFP

 

According to reports, Bayern also want to sign right-back Bouna Sarr from Marseille before the transfer window closes in Germany at 1600 GMT.

The Bavarian giants are said to have tried again to sign Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, 19, but the German media reports that the two clubs could not agree a fee.

Bayern coach Hansi Flick has made no secret that he needs new signings after losing Philippe Coutinho, Ivan Perisic and Thiago Alcantara from the squad which won the Champions League title last August.

AFP

Lewandowski Hits Four As Bayern Munich Win Seven-Goal Thriller

Bayern Munich’s Polish forward Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring during the German first division Bundesliga football match FC Bayern Munich vs Hertha Berlin on October 4, 2020 in Munich, southern Germany. (Photo by CHRISTOF STACHE / AFP).

 

Robert Lewandowski netted four goals – including the decisive added-time penalty – as defending Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich survived a fight-back by Hertha Berlin to seal a nervy 4-3 win on Sunday.

Lewandowki, voted European footballer of the year on Friday, scored twice to put Bayern 2-0 up early in the second half only for Hertha to score three times to make it 3-3 with time almost up.

However, the Poland hot-shot then converted a 93rd-minute spot kick to seal the win which lifts Bayern to fourth in the table.

The victory got Bayern back to winning ways after their record 23-match winning streak was ended by a 4-1 defeat at Hoffenheim last Sunday.

Yet the European champions again looked jaded at the Allianz Arena while Hertha finished the stronger.

Fresh from their 3-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday in the German Super Cup, Bayern gave a first start to US junior international Chris Richards, 20, at right-back.

In the build-up, Bayern announced the signing of defensive midfielder Marc Roca from Espanyol to replace Thiago Alcantara who has joined Liverpool.
– Hertha fight back –

Bayern made a nervy start as Hertha’s Colombia striker Jhon Cordoba beat Manuel Neuer on 15 minutes with a fierce strike, but he was offside.

Thomas Mueller headed the ball in the Hertha net on 36 minutes, but the VAR ruled he was offside.

Lewandowski first struck on 40 minutes when he fired home the rebound after Hertha goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow had saved his initial header.

It was Lewandowski’s 100th Bundesliga goal for Bayern at Munich’s Allianz Arena.

It was 1-0 at the break, but the Poland star doubled his tally six minutes into the second half when he turned through 180 degrees to fire home after Richard’s pass.

Hertha pulled a goal back when Cordoba struck with a header on 59 minutes from a free-kick by Matheus Cunha, who has been called up by Brazi.

The 21-year-old Cunha then made it 2-2 after dribbling past Jerome Boateng, then beat David Alaba and Benjamin Pavard before firing past Neuer on 71 minutes.

Bayern again pulled ahead when Mueller met Alaba’s free-kick and served up a tap-in for Lewandowski on 85 minutes.

There was still time for Hertha replacement Jessic Ngankam to header an equaliser past Neuer on 88 minutes.

However, Lewandowski netted the decisive spot kick just before the whistle after being pulled down by Berlin defender Maximilian Mittelstaedt.
– Augsburg miss top spot –

Earlier, second-placed Augsburg missed the chance to top the table as they were held to a goalless draw at Wolfsburg, who had a first-half goal disallowed.

Having beaten Union Berlin and shocked Borussia Dortmund in their opening German league games, a third straight win would have sent Augsburg top ahead of RB Leipzig, who routed bottom side Schalke 4-0 on Saturday.

With coach Heiko Herrlich missing on the sidelines due to a lung problem, Augsburg’s attack failed to find the net at Wolfsburg, who have drawn their opening three league games.

The hosts had a first-half goal by midfielder Josip Brekalo ruled out as the VAR spotted striker Wout Weghorst offside in the build up.

AFP

Bayern Munich Set To Sign Roca, Choupo-Moting – Reports

Bayern Munich’s German midfielder Serge Gnabry (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League semi-final football match against Lyon at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon on August 19, 2020. Miguel A. Lopes / POOL / AFP

 

Bayern Munich are set to boost their squad by signing Espanyol midfielder Marc Roca and former Paris Saint-Germain forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting before the transfer window closes Monday, according to reports.

German daily Bild and magazine Kicker say the European champions are close to signing Roca, 23, to replace Thiago Alcantara, who has joined Liverpool, and Choupo-Moting, 31, as understudy for striker Robert Lewandowski.

Roca is already in Munich and will cost nine million euros ($10.5 million), plus bonuses, when he signs a five-year contract.

Choupo-Moting is a free agent after leaving PSG. He is a Cameroon international with German nationality, who has played for Hamburg, Mainz, Nuremberg and Schalke in the Bundesliga.

However, Bayern have yet to confirm either signing with the transfer window closing in Germany at 1700 (1500 GMT) on Monday.

The German champions want to sign an extra defender and are also in talks with Lyon right-back Bouna Sarr, 28.

The Bavarian giants are said to have renewed interest in Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, 19, but Bild claim the two clubs can not agree a fee.

Bayern coach Hansi Flick has made no secret that he needs new signings after losing Philippe Coutinho, Ivan Perisic and Alcantara from the squad which won the Champions League title last August.

AFP

Bayern Munich Chasing After Hoffenheim Striker Kramaric- Reports

Hoffenheim’s Croatian forward Andrej Kramaric scores the 4-1 goal from the penalty spot during the German first division Bundesliga football match TSG 1899 Hoffenheim v FC Bayern Munich on September 27, 2020 in Mainz, southern Germany. (Photo by Daniel ROLAND / AFP)

 

Bayern Munich are reportedly chasing Hoffenheim striker Andrej Kramaric as a backup to Robert Lewandowski after Croatia forward scored twice against them in last weekend’s shock Bundesliga defeat.

German daily Bild claim Munich sports director Hasan Salhamidzic contacted Kramaric’s management after the Croatian striker netted twice in Bayern’s 4-1 loss at Hoffenheim.

It was the European champions’ first defeat after 23 straight wins.

So far, Bayern are tight-lipped about the Croatia international, who has scored 67 goals in 134 Bundesliga games.

“I don’t currently know anything about that,” said Bayern head coach Hansi Flick when asked about the Kramaric rumours, “but I know him very well, he is one of the best strikers in the Bundesliga and has enormous quality.”

Bayern routinely buy the German league’s best players and Kramaric is the man of the moment.

He has netted seven goals in just three games: a hat-trick against Cologne on the opening day of the Bundesliga season, two goals in the German Cup win over minnows Chemnitz and another double against Bayern.

According to reports, Hoffenheim want at least 40 million euros ($47 million) for Kramaric, who has no buy-out clause in his contract which runs until 2022.

However, Germany legend Lothar Matthaeus has already urged Bayern to sign the 29-year-old before the transfer window closes on Monday.

“He would not only be an ideal backup for Robert Lewandowski, but also for (attacking midfielder) Thomas Mueller. (Kramaric) is a good professional with a lot of quality,” said the Sky pundit.

-AFP

Bayern, Rivals Await Champions League Draw As Pandemic Riddle Remains


Hoffenheim’s Croatian forward Andrej Kramaric (C) celebrates scoring the 4-1 goal from the penalty spot during the German first division Bundesliga football match TSG 1899 Hoffenheim v FC Bayern Munich on September 27, 2020 in Mainz, southern Germany. Daniel ROLAND / AFP.

 

Less than six weeks Bayern Munich won last season’s delayed final behind closed doors, the draw for the group stage of the next Champions League takes place on Thursday with the threat of the coronavirus pandemic again hanging over the competition.

Bayern were crowned European champions for the sixth time after beating Paris Saint-Germain beating Paris Saint-Germain at an empty Estadio da Luz in Lisbon in August. The surreal occasion represented a triumph of sorts for UEFA.

European football’s governing body succeeded in playing its flagship competition to a conclusion despite the long shutdown caused by the health crisis, but the final rounds were not the same.

“A game like this without supporters is not the football that we know,” lamented Bayern coach Hansi Flick. “Perhaps they can be back again in the future.”

Thursday’s draw is part of a ceremony which will also see the best men’s and women’s player of last season crowned.

UEFA had to ditch plans to stage the event in Athens and instead moved it to its own headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, where the draw will go ahead without guests.

It is further evidence that, after the battle to get last season finished, things are not about to return to normal in Europe yet, and virus cases are exploding again.

But this time the football, it seems, will go on.

Both Bayern and PSG will be in the first pot of seeds along with Liverpool, Real Madrid, Juventus, Porto, Zenit Saint-Petersburg and Sevilla, the Europa League winners.

There is the prospect of plenty of enticing match-ups, with Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund and both Manchester clubs all in the second pot, and Inter Milan, Atalanta, RB Leipzig and Marseille among the lower seeds.

But the excitement of the draw will be quickly tempered.

First, there is the realisation that almost all the leading clubs will make it through to the last 16 anyway, as they always do, removing much of the jeopardy from the early games.

– Pitfalls ahead –

As the pandemic continues to cast a shadow, it seems hard to imagine the final going ahead as scheduled in Istanbul next May in a full stadium.

UEFA experimented with the return of fans when around 15,500 attended last week’s Super Cup between Bayern and Sevilla in Budapest.

“Health is the number one priority but we want to bring hope,” said UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin. He added: “Fans and players are the essential part of football.”

But with rules on large gatherings varying considerably from country to country, UEFA must decide how to approach the issue of crowds attending games in the Champions League and Europa League, the draw for which is on Friday.

UEFA’s current stance is that games will be behind closed doors “until further notice”.

It has adapted its rules. In the face of travel restrictions, it will allow matches on neutral territory. If a club suffers a Covid-19 outbreak, a game can go ahead as long as each team has at least 13 fit players including one goalkeeper.

The group stage starts on October 20, more than a month later than usual, and all six rounds of games will be packed into eight weeks.

However, in the event of more delays, UEFA has set January 28 as the deadline to complete the group stage.

Pitfalls lie ahead, but the draw offers a brief return to something like normality.

AFP

Bayern Boss Flick Refuses To Blame Players, Fatigue For Hoffenheim Humiliation

Hoffenheim players celebrate after the German first division Bundesliga football match TSG 1899 Hoffenheim v FC Bayern Munich on September 27, 2020 in Mainz, southern Germany.
Daniel ROLAND / AFP

 

Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick refused to blame fatigue or his players for Sunday’s shock 4-1 defeat at Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga which ended the European champions’ 23-match winning streak.

Having needed 120 minutes before to beat Sevilla 2-1 in the UEFA Super Cup showdown in Budapest on Thursday, Bayern lost for the first time in ten months, but Flick refused to blame his side’s tired limbs.

 


Bayern Munich’s German head coach Hans-Dieter Flick looks on ahead the German first division Bundesliga football match TSG 1899 Hoffenheim v FC Bayern Munich on September 27, 2020 in Mainz, southern Germany. Daniel ROLAND / AFP

 

“It was clear that we would lose at some point. We’re going to forget this game and still have confidence in our strengths,” said Flick in Hoffenheim as Bayern lost for the first time since December 2019.

“I can’t really blame the team for their dedication and determination. The mentality after the 120 minutes on Thursday was top.

“We’ll tick this game off and prepare to face Dortmund,” Flick added with one eye on Wednesday’s German Super Cup showdown in Munich, which could give Bayern a fifth title in 2020.

Bayern captain Manuel Neuer also refused to blame their crammed fixture list, a knock-on effect of the coronavirus pandemic, with the defending German champions often playing twice a week this season.

“We’re not looking for excuses. This is what awaits us this year. There’s a game every couple of days, we know that and have to accept it,” said Neuer.

Flick rested star striker Robert Lewandowski from his starting side, but Bayern never recovered from conceding two goals in the opening 25 minutes.

First, Hoffenheim defender Ermin Bicakcic, who later went off injured, headed the hosts into the lead, then striker Munas Dabbur chipped Manuel Neuer after a horrible mistake by Munich defender Benjamin Pavard.

A superb strike by Joshua Kimmich from the edge of the area gave Bayern a 2-1 lifeline at half-time.

Having hit the crossbar just before the break, Croatia international striker Andrej Kramaric netted a second-half goal, then converted a late penalty to seal the win and move Hoffenheim to the top of the league.

Bayern are in the unusual position of seventh in the Bundesliga table after the first two matches.

“The table standings mean nothing, honestly”, insisted Hoffenheim coach Sebastian Hoeness, the 38-year-old nephew of Bayern’s honorary president Uli Hoeness who coached Munich’s reserves last season before joining Hoffenheim.

“The win means that we are on the right path, the main thing is that we stay cool, we are still in a process” of developing.”

Bayern forward Thomas Mueller said they will take the defeat in their stride.

“I don’t know any team in sport that has remained undefeated or without defeat for years,” he said.

“Of course, we didn’t want that and before the game I didn’t have the feeling at all that it would happen today. But it happened.

“Now we just have to deal with it, have a good rest and on Wednesday, go straight into the next game.

“We have a very nice opportunity to fight back.

AFP

Hoffenheim End Bayern Munich’s 23-Match Winning Streak


Hoffenheim players celebrate after the German first division Bundesliga football match TSG 1899 Hoffenheim v FC Bayern Munich on September 27, 2020 in Mainz, southern Germany. Daniel ROLAND / AFP

 

European champions Bayern Munich suffered their first defeat since December when their 23-match winning run was ended by a shock 4-1 Bundesliga defeat at Hoffenheim on Sunday.

Hoffenheim, the current league leaders, raced into a 2-0 lead with early goals by defender Ermin Bicakcic and striker Munas Dabbur.

Although Joshua Kimmich gave Bayern a lifeline just before the break, Croatia international striker Andrej Kramaric netted a second-half goal and converted a late penalty to seal the win.

It was the first time Bayern have lost under head coach Hansi Flick in any competition since going down 2-1 to Borussia Moenchengladbach on December 7, 2019.

Hoffenheim coach Sebastian Hoeness is the nephew of Bayern’s honorary president Uli Hoeness and left Munich’s reserves in July to take over at the new Bundesliga leaders.

Bayern looked tired in Hoffenheim, showing the effects of being taken to extra time in the UEFA Super Cup on Thursday before beating Sevilla 2-1 in Budapest.

The defeat brings to an abrupt end Bayern’s run of 23 consecutive wins, a record for a club in one of Europe’s five main leagues, surpassing Real Madrid’s 22 straight wins between September and December 2014.

 


Hoffenheim’s Croatian forward Andrej Kramaric (C) celebrates scoring the 4-1 goal from the penalty spot during the German first division Bundesliga football match TSG 1899 Hoffenheim v FC Bayern Munich on September 27, 2020 in Mainz, southern Germany. Daniel ROLAND / AFP

 

With Robert Lewandowski rested ahead of Wednesday’s German Super Cup showdown at home to Borussia Dortmund — the chance to win a fifth title in 2020 — his 19-year-old understudy Joshua Zirkzee struggled to spark Bayern’s attack.

Hoffenheim took full advantage of Munich’s lethargy with Bicakcic giving them the lead on 16 minutes when he out-leapt Corentin Tolisso at a corner and headed past Manuel Neuer.

The hosts doubled their lead when Bayern defender Benjamin Pavard tried to snuff out a counter-attack, but his pass rolled into the path of Israeli striker Dabbur, who held his nerve to chip the ball over Neuer on 24 minutes.

It was the first time Bayern have been two goals down since they lost 5-1 at Eintracht Frankfurt in November 2019, a defeat which cost Flick’s predecessor Niko Kovac his job.

Bayern knuckled down and went in 2-1 down at the break after Leroy Sane’s superb pass across the box eventually landed at the feet of Kimmich who fired home superbly from the edge of the box on 36 minutes.

Hoffenheim could have had a third goal as their Croatia striker Andrei Kramaric clipped the crossbar after his shot beat Neuer on the stroke of half-time.

Flick responded by beefing up his side by bringing on Lewandowski and central midfielder Leon Goretzka for Zirkzee and Pavard respectively on 57 minutes.

Lewandowski went close with a couple of half-chances but Kramaric made sure of the win when he finished a counter-attack with a stunning strike on 77 minutes.

With the visitors growing ever more desperate, Bayern conceded a penalty in added time when Neuer brought down replacement forward Ihlas Bebou in the area and Kramaric converted the resulting penalty.

AFP

Martinez’s Extra Time Goal Hands Bayern Narrow Super Cup Win Over Sevilla

Bayern Munich’s German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and his teammates celebrate with the trophy after the UEFA Super Cup football match between FC Bayern Munich and Sevilla FC at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary on September 24, 2020. BERNADETT SZABO / POOL / AFP

 

Bayern Munich have won the 2020 UEFA Super Cup after beating Sevilla 2-1 courtesy of a Javi Martinez extra-time winner. 

Having equalised with a crucial 120th-minute goal seven years ago when Bayern won the 2013 Super Cup on penalties against Chelsea, Martinez struck on 104 minutes at the Puskas Arena to hand the Champions League winners’ a fourth title in 2020.

After Lucas Ocampos converted an early penalty for Sevilla, Leon Goretzka equalised for Bayern, who had two second-half goals disallowed before substitute Martinez, 32, struck.

Having replaced Goretzka on 99 minutes, it was Martinez – linked to a return to Spain after losing a first-team place under Hansi Flick – whose header extends Bayern’s winning streak to 23 games dating back to February.

Bayern had beaten PSG in the final of the UEFA Champions League to book a date with Sevilla. Photo: [email protected] Bayern Munchen.

 

Bayern can win a fifth title this year next Wednesday when they host Borussia Dortmund in Munich for the German Super Cup.

There were a smattering of travelling Bayern and Sevilla fans among the 15,500 crowd in Budapest as both clubs played for the first time in front of spectators since the Covid-19 pandemic first hit Europe in March.

Champions League winners Bayern fell behind for the first time this season on 14 minutes when the VAR judged David Alaba had fouled Ivan Rakitic in the area and Ocampos converted Sevilla’s penalty.

 

Bayern Munich players celebrate with the trophy after the UEFA Super Cup football match between FC Bayern Munich and Sevilla FC at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary on September 24, 2020. Laszlo Szirtesi / POOL / AFP

 

Alaba was booked for the challenge, but replays showed Rakitic seemed to run into the Austrian defender.

There were nervous glances in the Germans’ ranks, especially when defender Benjamin Pavard and Thomas Mueller both missed chances.

Goretzka got Bayern back on level terms when Mueller and Robert Lewandowski combined in the area for the midfielder to smash home the equaliser with 34 minutes gone.

It stayed 1-1 at the break, but Bayern turned up the heat on the Europa League holders.

Just six minutes after the break, Lewandowski had the ball in the net after being set up by Thomas Mueller, but the VAR spotted the Poland striker was just the length a of a boot offside.

Then with an hour gone, Bayern winger Leroy Sane was left frustrated after his shot powered past Sevilla’s Moroccan goalkeeper Bono, but the VAR spotted Lewandowski had the lightest of touches on a Sevilla defender in the build up.

Bayern maintained the pressre, but with the 90 minutes almost up Manuel Neuer underlined his status as one of the world’s best goalkeepers with a finger-tip save to deny Youssef En-Nesyri after Sevilla attacked from the edge of their own penalty area.

Sevilla made a great start to extra-time with Bayern in all sorts of trouble, as Ocampos had a shot blocked while En-Nesyri’s shot clipped the post after crashing off Neuer’s leg.

However, the scene was set for Martinez, a veteran of the side which won the 2013 Champions League final in London, to add to his chapter in Bayern’s folklore.

AFP

UEFA Boss Ceferin Defends Decision To Allow Fans Into Super Cup

This handout provided by UEFA shows UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin giving a press conference closing an executive Committee meeting at the UEFA headquarters on June 17, 2020 in Nyon. – The 2019-2020 Champions League, suspended since March because of the coronavirus pandemic, will be completed in a ‘Final Eight’ in Lisbon in August, UEFA said. (Photo by Harold Cunningham / UEFA / AFP)

 

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has defended the decision to allow fans to attend Thursday’s Super Cup match between Bayern Munich and Sevilla in Budapest, despite concerns about the Hungarian capital being a coronavirus hotspot.

A limited crowd will be allowed into the 67,000-capacity Puskas Arena for the meeting of the Champions League winners and Europa League holders, although several hundred Bayern fans reportedly handed back their tickets because of safety fears.

“We will have 16,000 spectators in the stadium, not even 30 percent,” of capacity, Ceferin said at a press conference following a UEFA executive committee meeting in Budapest on Thursday.

“The measures are strict and there is not a question of health risks for the fans.

“The easiest thing for us would be not to do anything. Health is the number one priority but we want to bring hope.”

Ceferin pointed out the number of fans being allowed into games currently varies considerably from country to country around Europe, with some setting a fixed maximum number of spectators and others adjusting crowds as a percentage of capacity.

Other countries, such as England and Spain, have started the new season with games behind closed doors.

“Fans and players are the essential part of football. We will take care of health, we are working day and night on it, but from today on we will see what we decide,” added Ceferin, who insisted no decision had been taken in terms of fans attending games at next year’s European Championships.

AFP