Bundesliga
Disastrous Draw for Wasteful Düsseldorf
Köln hosted Düsseldorf for the Rhineland derby, with the visitors in dire need of points to keep their survival hopes alive. Köln had the chance to break into the top half of the Bundesliga table with 3 points. It was an even first half. The home side started off well, but Fortuna were able to get a decent amount of chances. There were no clear-cut chances, though. Köln had the majority of the possession, but they couldn’t get anything to show for it. The away side were able to steal in though, and a misplaced pass from Katterbach allowed Karaman to score, as his shot took a cruel deflection to steer clear of Horn. The second half saw more of the same, but they still couldn’t create a major chance. That was, until Kainz drilled a low cross for Uth, who struck the post, drew a save and then...
Lightning Leverkusen Win the Rhine Derby
Gladbach welcomed Leverkusen for the Rhine derby, as cardboard fans filled the stands in Borussia-Park for the second matchday since the restart of the Bundesliga. Leverkusen got off to a lightning-quick start, and they were rewarded for it when Bellarabi played Havertz through, who calmly slotted home with a brilliant finish. Leverkusen dominated possession in the first half as Aránguiz and Demirbay controlled the midfield. The foals had a rare chance in the 42nd minute as Neuhaus had a hit from range after a half-cleared corner, which Hrádecký spilled, but he managed to keep it away from the Gladbach players before Aránguiz cleared. 3 minutes later Leverkusen almost doubled their lead as Havertz hit the crossbar, and the ball rebounded for Bellarabi, who had his effort her...
Bayern Munich confirm €120 million Philippe Coutinho purchase option has expired
Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has revealed that the Bundesliga champions have not activated their purchase option for Philippe Coutinho. Barcelona’s Brazilian midfielder joined on a season-long loan last summer, but has failed to fulfil his potential in Bavaria and Rummenigge says the clause has now expired. Coutinho, 27, arrived with the option to buy for €120million last August, but Bayern have opted not to exercise the deal, though Rummenigge did not totally close the door on a future for Coutinho in Germany. “The option expired and we haven’t activated it,” Rummenigge told German magazine Der Spiegel. “We’re going to plan our squad for next season and we’ll see if he still has a role to play with us or not.” The former Liverpool star has failed to hit the heights he did ...
Victory to the West: Hertha Berlin 4-0 1. FC Union Berlin
Overall Report: Hertha Berlin started the Berlin Derby with far more possession and attacking threat, as Union set up their customary defensive counter-attacking system. The first half so a couple of decent chances for Hertha, most notably when Lukebakio went through on goal, but Gikiewicz was able to keep everything out. Union mainly threatened through set-pieces but couldn’t force Jarstein to do too much. The second half saw Union pushing a lot more, and Hertha found spaces through the middle, which they thoroughly exploited with two goals in 68 seconds. First, Plattenhardt whipped in a perfect cross for Ibisevic, who headed home. Then, the 35-year-old striker turned provider, as he played Lukebakio through, who went around the Union keeper and made it 2-0. Soon, Cunha was able to find s...
The Battle of Berlin and a Champions League Squabble: Bundesliga Matchday 27 Preview
Matchday 27 of the Bundesliga beckons, so let us take a quick look at all the fixtures for this weekend: FRIDAY: Hertha Berlin vs Union Berlin: The second matchday after the restart kicks off with a bang – The Berlin Derby. This will be more than just a derby – as the two teams are separated by a solitary point. Hertha go into this match on the back of their 3-0 victory over Hoffenheim, whereas Union lost 2-0 to Bayern, but they won’t be too displeased as they managed to frustrate the record champions for large parts of the match. Expect a cracker. Not these crackers, though: Player to Watch: Matheus Cunha – After his stellar display against Hoffenheim, the young Brazilian has the stage set for him shine against local rivals Union. Don’t be surprised if he picks the lock of Union’s de...
Bayern Munich reserve shirt number for Leroy Sane ahead transfer
Manchester City’s Leroy Sane has the No.10 shirt reserved for him at German giants Bayern Munich next season. Media outlets in Germany are convinced Sane will finally complete a move back to the Bundesliga this summer. And the current Bundesliga leaders are ready to offer the No.10 shirt worn for a decade by Dutch legend Arjen Robben and currently taken by the on-loan Philippe Coutinho. Sane’s transfer to Bayern was scuppered last August when he suffered a serious knee injury in the Community Shield. City and Bayern have to agree a deal but the 24-year-old now only has one year left on his contract. Bayern Munich chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said: “It is well known that I never comment on players who are under contract with other clubs.” Sane was one of Guardiola’s first signings ...
Brilliant Borussia and Sloppy Schalke: Match Report: Borussia Dortmund 4 – 0 Schalke 04
Overall Report: At the start it seemed that we would have a cracker on our hands. Schalke came close to breaking through the Dortmund defence in the first few minutes, but they couldn’t create a proper chance. Dortmund grew into the game and pierced Schalke’s defence with some precise passing, ingenious touches and a clinical assist and finish. After that they never looked back. Goals on either side of half-time saw them go clear. Schalke looked to get better after the third, but then Dortmund got a fourth goal through Raphael Guerreiro and the game was put to bed. It didn’t seem to be much of a derby, let alone the mother of all derbies, but let’s be happy that there was a game in the first place. Highlights: [embedded content] Tactics: The battle of the back 3s saw Dortmund emerge victor...
Victor Moses delighted to be back in training
Nigerian winger Victor Moses is delighted to be back in training with his Italian club Inter Milan. The former Nigerian international flown back to Italy last week after the Italian government agreed to allow teams to return to training as they prepare to restart the season. The 2019/2020 Italian Serie season and other sporting activities were suspended back in March, following the coronavirus pandemic which have ravaged the country. Teams were allowed to train the first time since March, but under strict conditions, in order to reduce the risk of the spread of the virus. It would be recalled that the Inter Milan hierarchy announced that none of their playing staffs tested positive for the dangerous virus. Meanwhile, it is unclear when the league will be allowed to return, but the Italian ...
Casemiro: Football can prove a return to normal is possible
Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro says it is “important” that football can return in Spain and that if it does, it will demonstrate that society can eventually return to normal after the coronavirus pandemic. Football fans had their first top-level live games to watch on Saturday with the return of the Bundesliga and, while the situation around the game was far from normal, the games were a source of entertainment and comfort to plenty. Spanish football is hoping to get the green light to resume as well, with La Liga chief Javier Tebas currently aiming for June 12 as the date when games can go on. “It’s a really significant step, not just for football but for society too, to show people that it is possible,” Casemiro told Real Madrid TV. “It’s not just about playing football, it’s about peop...
Club Brugge finally crowned Belgian league champions
Emmanuel Dennis’ Club Brugge have been finally crowned Belgian champions, with Gent joining them in the Champions League, while Charleroi, Antwerp and Standard Liege go into the Europa League. Waasland-Beveren are relegated to the second tier, while Beerschot VA and OH Leuven will play for promotion to the top flight in a playoff. If the playoff is not fulfilled before the start of 20-21 then KVC Westerlo will replace Waasland-Beveren as they already have a valid licence to play in the Pro League. Meanwhile in Germany, Werder Bremen, have announced just one day before the Bundesliga resumes that one of their players were quarantined. As per a club tweet, it comes as the result of ‘somebody in their personal circle’ testing positive for coronavirus. However, unlike the now-scrapped Italian ...
German Bundesliga restarts with ‘ghost’ derby
Borussia Dortmund host Schalke 04 in Germany’s fiercest derby on Saturday but no more than 300 people will be in and around the 80,000 capacity arena due to COVID-19 restrictions as the Bundesliga gets back to business after a two-month break. The Bundesliga is the first major sports league to resume since world sport was brought to a standstill by the pandemic, and players will have to abide by a strict set of health guidelines aimed at minimizing the risk of infection. Fans will not be able to attend the matches as part of the safety regulations, leaving it up to the players to provide the spark for what are being called “ghost” games. “It will most certainly be the most unusual derby in history,” Dortmund’s head of pro players Sebastian Kehl said this week. “This game lives off fans, th...
Chelsea still keen on signing RB Leipzig forward Timo Werner
Chelsea are maintaining their interest in RB Leipzig forward Timo Werner despite the fact that Liverpool are leading the race to sign the Germany international, 90min reports. The 24-year-old has enjoyed a superb season with Leipzig where he has scored 27 goals and registered 12 assists across all competitions. Out of those, 25 goals and seven assists have come in the Bundesliga, where he has helped his team keep up with Bayern Munich in the race for the Bundesliga title. In recent months, Jurgen Klopp’s side have been touted as the favourites to sign the German forward but they have yet to make an official approach to land his signature. Werner currently has a £52m release clause on his contract but the Reds are yet to trigger the value, given they are assessing the financial impact of th...
