Tag Archives: Bayern Munich

Kingsley Coman sets to swap Bayern Munich for Al-Nassr in mega deal

French winger Kingsley Coman is on the verge of completing a sensational move from Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich to Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr.

According to reports from Germany and Saudi Arabia, the 28-year-old is expected to sign a lucrative five-year contract worth €22 million in wages.

The transfer fee agreed between the two clubs is believed to be €36 million, marking one of the biggest signings of the summer for Al-Nassr as they continue to strengthen their squad with high profile European stars.

Coman, who famously scored the winning goal in the 2020 UEFA Champions League final for Bayern against Paris Saint-Germain, has been a key figure for the Bavarians since joining from Juventus in 2015.

During his time in Munich, he has won multiple Bundesliga titles, domestic cups, and international honors, establishing himself as one of the fastest and most technically gifted wingers in Europe.

However, Bayern’s recent restructuring under their new sporting direction, combined with the club’s desire to refresh the squad, opened the door for the move.

Al-Nassr, backed by Saudi Arabia’s ambitious football investment program, moved swiftly to secure Coman’s signature.

At Al-Nassr, Coman will join the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mané, and Aymeric Laporte in what is shaping up to be one of the most star studded squads in the Saudi Pro League.

The deal is expected to be officially announced once Coman completes his medical examinations in Riyadh later this week.

PSG reaches Champions League final and will face Inter Milan for elusive title

Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday held off and defeated an inspired Arsenal 2-1 to reach the Champions League final against Inter Milan.

PSG reached the final of Europe’s elite tournament for just the second time in club history — it was runner-up five years ago — and did so in the first season following superstar Kylian Mbappé’s departure to Real Madrid.

The French club will try again for its first Champions League title when it faces Inter Milan on May 31 in Munich.

Three-time European champion Inter defeated Barcelona 7-6 on aggregate in one of the greatest semifinals in the competition’s history.

It took extra time, two astonishing comebacks and 13 goals to separate Barcelona and Inter and see the Italian club, which was a mere seconds away from elimination, prevail 7-6 on aggregate after winning another rollercoaster encounter 4-3 on Tuesday.

The PSG, which eliminated Aston Villa and Liverpool before sending Arsenal home, had lost to Borussia Dortmund at this stage last year and was beaten by Bayern Munich in the 2020 final.

Source: Africanews

Bayern Munich’s 11th successive Bundesliga title hopes halted after Saturday defeat

……Bayern Munich1-3 RB Leipzig

MUNICH-(BBC Sport)-Bayern Munich’s hopes of an 11th successive Bundesliga title were dealt a major blow as they lost to Leipzig.

Victory for Dortmund at Augsburg on Sunday would lift Edin Terzic’s team two points clear at the top heading into the final day.

Serge Gnabry finished off a slick move to give Bayern a half-time lead.

But Konrad Laimer levelled in the second half before penalties from Christopher Nkunku and Dominik Szoboszlai completed the turnaround.

Christopher Nkunku scores a penalty in Leipzig's 3-1 victory over Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena
Christopher Nkunku’s penalty gave Leipzig the lead for the first time in the match

Nkunku sent his spot-kick straight down the middle after being felled in the box by Benjamin Pavard, before Noussair Mazraoui handled to allow Szoboszlai to fire home Leipzig’s third.

Thomas Tuchel’s team travel to Koln on the final day of the season, but wins for Dortmund over Augsburg and at home to Mainz next weekend would secure their first title since 2012.

Leipzig are now guaranteed to finish third – and compete in the Champions League again next season – after Saturday’s impressive fightback.

Source: BBC Sport

Sadio Mane to join Bayern Munich in deal worth up to £35m

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Liverpool have agreed a 41m euro (£35.1m) deal to sell Sadio Mane to Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.

The Reds will get a fixed 32m euros (£27.4m) with an additional 6m euros based on appearances and 3m euros based on individual and team achievements.

Liverpool turned down two bids from Bayern before accepting their latest offer for the 30-year-old, whose deal with the Reds ran until next summer.

He joined Liverpool for £31m plus £2.5m in add-ons from Southampton in 2016.

Since then, Mane scored 90 Premier League goals for the Anfield club and finished last season with 23 goals in all competitions.

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News of his departure follows Tuesday’s signing of Uruguay forward Darwin Nunez from Benfica for an initial £64m.

Alongside fellow forwards Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, who are both 30, Mane has been integral to Liverpool’s success in recent years.

The trio helped the club win the Champions League in 2019 and then end a 30-year wait for the league title in the following season.

This has also been an exceptional year for Mane, who won the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal before helping Liverpool win the Carabao Cup and FA Cup and finish runners-up in the Premier League and Champions League.

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Mane is expected to replace Robert Lewandowski at Bayern, with the Poland international set to lave the German club having been linked with a move to Spanish giants Barcelona.

Source: BBC

Source: Africa Feeds

Jerome Boateng’s ex-girlfriend commits suicide after splitting from him

Jerome Boateng has been granted early leave from Bayern Munich’s Club World Cup preparations in Qatar following the tragic news about his former girlfriend’s death.

Kasia Lenhardt, 25, was found dead at a luxury apartment thought to belong to Boateng in Berlin’s upmarket Charlottenborg neighbourhood on Tuesday night by police.

The couple had only split last week and Lenhardt killed herself on her son’s sixth birthday. Police say they are not treating her death as suspicious.

Her death was announced publicly on Wednesday morning and that afternoon it was confirmed that Boateng would be returning to Germany.

Bayern are due to play Mexican club Tigres UANL in Thursday’s Club World Cup final but Boateng asked to leave the group for obvious and understandable personal reasons.

 ‘We were all really taken with it,’ Bayern boss Hansi Flick told a virtual news conference on Wednesday.

Jerome was in my room and asked me to go home. From the club side, we also fulfilled his wish.

‘After the corona test, which he also needs to enter Germany, he will travel home and will not be available to us until further notice.’

‘Jerome came to me and asked me to return home. After a negative (COVID-19) test he will return home and not be available until further notice.’

Boateng had started in their 2-0 semi-final victory over Al Ahly on Monday.

Speaking about Lenhardt’s death, a friend told MailOnline: ‘Yesterday was her son Noah’s birthday. Kasia was at home on her own. A member of her family called the police because they could not get hold of her and they were worried.

‘She died a week after Jerome gave an interview in which he said their relationship was over. He said some really nasty things about Kasia. She was very upset by it.’

Her death was confirmed by model friend Sara Kulka on Wednesday who paid tribute in a cryptic Instagram post that said: ‘I hope the truth comes out. I know how much you wished it would.’

Ghana’s Boateng writes to his ‘white brothers and sisters’

Lenhardt had been dating 32-year-old Boateng for 15 months before their relationship imploded on February 2 amid a vicious fight that saw the couple use social media and the press to exchange blows.

Boateng had accused Lenhardt of sabotaging his relationship with ex-girlfriend Rebecca Silvera and his family before they started dating, and of blackmailing him into staying with her.

Meanwhile Lenhardt – who had the footballer’s name tattooed on her ribcage – branded her ex ‘the devil’ and vowed to ‘speak up’ and ‘fight back’ once she had recovered from the break-up.

Just hours before she was found dead, Lenhardt had posted to Instagram talking about a ‘new chapter’ in her life.

She was also mourned by model Lovelyn Enebechi, who had starred on TV show Germany’s Next Top Model where Kasia also rose to fame.

‘Rest in peace! You wonderful, great person, I miss you and I am incredibly sad,’ she wrote on Instagram.

‘I would have loved to say goodbye to you and can not put into words how much I miss you, I will never forget you! I wish your family a lot of strength.

Boateng was the first to announce the split after Kasia wrote off his Mini in a crash in Berlin on January 5, with German media reporting that she was over the alcohol limit.

The 32-year-old said he was going to ‘take responsibility and act in the interests of [my] family’ while apologising ‘to everyone I’ve hurt especially with my ex-girlfriend and our children’.

In an interview with German newspaper Bild, Boateng then accused Lenhardt of blackmailing him with fake accusations of domestic abuse, while saying she has a ‘massive’ problem with alcohol.

He admitted cheating on his ex Silvera with Lenhardt, but said she was also controlling and abusive.

He said: ‘Kasia became my girlfriend by breaking the relationship with my ex-girlfriend Rebecca and my family and blackmailing me.

‘So I decided to stick with Kasia and try to make it work. Even making the relationship with her public was due to pressure from Kasia to do so. It wasn’t mine.

‘During our relationship, Kasia often threatened to destroy me. She threatened to ruin my career and even try to make me lose my children.

‘Kasia said she would do so by accusing me of beating her. She knew that my children’s mother accused me of the same thing and that we have a lawsuit over it.

‘Kasia contacted my children’s mother and said she would help her in court. Everything just to destroy me.’

He even went so far as to claim that the model used fake social media profiles to attack him and ‘spread lies’.

‘I hope she gets help that she urgently needs,’ he added.

But Lenhardt hit back, saying she had in fact ended the relationship because of Boateng’s ‘lies and constant infidelity’.

In a final parting shot, Kasia branded Boateng ‘the devil’ and said: ‘I will definitely speak up, but I have to collect myself. Please give me time.

‘I will fight back! Because I’ve never been so deceived, used and lied to. Give me a moment.’

News of Lenhardt’s death was confirmed by fellow model Sara Kulka, who uploaded a photo of the pair on Instagram.

Alongside it, she wrote: ‘Rest in peace. You wonderful person, I miss you and would have loved to say goodbye.

‘I hope you find your peace now and I hope the truth comes out now, I know how much you wished it would.

‘I will never forget you, I don’t know anyone who could laugh like you. I send a lot of strength to the family.’

Kasia rose to prominence on TV show Germany’s Next Top Model where she appeared in 2012, placing fourth in the competition.

She leaves behind a son, Noah, who is thought to be five years old and was born to a previous partner that she split from three years ago.

A Berlin police spokesman said: ‘Yesterday at around 8.30 p.m. there was a police operation in Charlottenburg on suspicion of suicide.

‘A lifeless person was found in the home. There are no indications of third-party involvement.’

MailOnline has reached out to representatives for Boateng for comment, but had not heard back at the time of publication. Fab4Media, which represents Kasia, put out a statement on Instagram which reads: ‘We are deeply shocked and are mourning with Kasia’s family.’

Boateng has a long and troubled history with the women in his life, and is currently embroiled in a lawsuit with Sherin Senler – the mother of his twin daughters – over claims he assaulted her in 2018.

The footballer is alleged to have thrown a small glass candle holder at her while on holiday, which his lawyers say is based on unproven third-party allegations.

Boateng and Senler began dating in 2007 but have had a stormy relationship which has seen them separate on numerous occasions amid allegations of repeated cheating, including with model Gina-Lisa Lohfink – though both parties have denied this.

Kevin-Prince Boateng mocks Black Stars after defeat?

The pair’s break up in 2011 – the same year twins Soley and Lamia were born – was so acrimonious that they were said to have only communicated through their lawyers.

Boateng and Senler, a former fashion student, rekindled their love in 2013 and got engaged the following year but are understood to have split again following the alleged assault in 2018.

In 2018, Boateng revealed he has a son – named Jermar – who was born three years earlier. At the time, he said the boy’s name comes from ‘the first letters of my name and his mother’s name’, though he has never revealed exactly who the mother is and has kept the boy largely out of the limelight.

The footballer was then involved in a relationship with Jamaican fashion model Rebecca Silvera, though it is unclear when exactly they started dating.

The pair dated until October 2019, when Boateng was first pictured with Kasia during a visit to New York.

Kasia confirmed their relationship was genuine in follow-up Instagram posts in December and on Valentine’s Day the following year, describing Boateng as ‘my love’.

But the romance headed into trouble in December last year as Rebecca took to Instagram to accuse Kasia of stealing Boateng from her by copying and manipulating her.

Boateng then split off from Kasia earlier this month, apologising to Rebecca and his family and saying it is ‘time to take responsibility’.

Kasia subsequently accused Boateng of ‘continuous infidelity’, though she did not reveal who the alleged trysts had been with.

Ghanaian-born surgeon ‘to help Gorilla Glue woman’

Source: Daily Mail

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Bayern Munich beat Al Ahly to reach Fifa Club World Cup final

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Robert Lewandowski scored twice as Bayern Munich progressed to the Fifa Club World Cup final by beating Al Ahly in Qatar.

The German champions dominated the first half and deservedly took the lead when Lewandowski slotted in.

Egyptian side Al Ahly competed well after the break, with their pace on the counter a concern for Bayern.

But Lewandowski made sure of the win with a late header for his 29th goal in 27 appearances this season.

Bayern Munich will play Mexican side Tigres in the final on Thursday, 11 February (18:00 GMT).

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Morocco retain CHAN title with a 2-0 win over Mali

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Source: BBC

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The top 3 clubs dominating the Champions League 2020/2021 so far

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The 2020/2021 Champions League is heading towards the fifth round, and six teams have already guaranteed, but three of those teams have won all games, and two have guaranteed a 1st place finish.

So, with Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Barcelona, Juventus, Sevilla & Chelsea securing their place in the final sixteen – let us take a preview at the top three squads dominating the tournament so far.

Bayern Munich

Champions League Matchday 4 proceeded this past Wednesday with eight fixtures taking place throughout Europe.

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The most dominant side in Germany remained top of the Bundesliga and held onto their undefeated Champions League record. A 3-1 thrashing over Red Bull Salzburg landed Bayern a place in the final round of sixteen and a guaranteed 1st place finish.

Bayern Munich held no prisoners in their reverse fixture against Salzburg. It was not quite the 6-2 battering they delivered in the first leg, but a comfortable 3-1 win ended the battle with a 9-3 aggregate score in favour of Bayern.

However, this did not come without a first-half gasp when Salzburg managed to take the lead. The score line did not survive long before Robert Lewandowski levelled the game before the half.

Kingsley Coman found Bayern’s 2nd and Leroy Sane with a headed effort sealed the deal as Marc Roca was sent off, leaving Salzburg with a 10-man squad.

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Digging Into the Bookmakers

With two games remaining in the group stage, Bayern’s early qualification allows them to recuperate the winning eleven if needed.

With all results required to secure first place, Bayern has a significant advantage over teams that have not qualified yet but leaving the bookies covering the group stage since there are more teams that could give a surprise and move further on the competition.

Back on to the Bayern, we can find it at 3/1 [4.00] +300 on the available odds to win the Champions League. This price has moved to a better number since the previous fixture. Due to other teams performing well, prices are leveling out.

Barcelona

Through the criticism Barcelona has received in recent months, a bitter-sweet Champions League campaign has seen the Spanish giants win all four matches – including a victory over Juventus. The unfortunate outcome is that Barcelona needs one more win to secure the 1st place position, Juventus has remained hot on their heels winning 3 of 4.

With Lionel Messi leading the way, ignoring the club’s history and achievements would be foolish. They have the talent to penetrate any defence in the tournament and continued to do so with another 0-4 victory against Dynamo Kyiv. Barcelona celebrated as one of three clubs in the contest to have won all four fixtures.

At the Bookmakers & Our Prediction

Barcelona are probably the best wildcard bet to place right now; the current price available will see a dramatic loss in value if they are successful against Juventus for a second time. I anticipate Barcelona will remain in the first-place position but lifting the trophy might be too much to ask for this season.

You can find Barcelona for 17.00 [18/1] +1700, multiply the amount of money staked by seventeen for a large return is not the worst punt given Barca’s current form.

Manchester City

Pep Guardiola has dropped eight points behind the English Premier League title race, but his lacklustre domestic performances have been the opposite in Europe.

As second-favourites to win the tournament, it is no surprise Manchester City are dominating early-on. This past week saw them join Bayern Munich as one of the only two teams to qualify within four matches.

A midweek fixture against Olympiacos ended with a small scoreline, but do not ignore the big performance. City could have won by 5/6 goals, delivering twenty-one attempts on goal before the final whistle.

Pep Guardiola is yet to claim Champions League silverware at Manchester City and wants nothing more, the more Manchester City drop points in the EPL could only turn their full focus onto the big prize in Europe.

At the Bookmakers & Our Prediction

The bookmakers have Manchester City as the second favourite team to win the tournament. Odds are currently set at 4.5/1 [5.50] +450 still holds value. If an English team should be favoured, Manchester City’s form is enough to claim that title.

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Bayern beats Barcelona 8-2: Barcelona’s worst defeat in almost 80 years

Bayern players cerebrating their historical victory after the final whistle

The cracks were already visible for Barcelona but Bayern opened the floodgates. Coach Setien could be sacked soon, Pique says Barca have hit rock bottom and talisman Messi might be considering his future.

Barcelona was humiliated, humbled, and outplayed by a ruthless Bayern Munich side in their Champions League quarter-final match on Friday. The scoreline read 8-2 at the end with Bayern Munich inflicting Barcelona to one of its worst defeats in their glorious history. Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez could just watch as Barcelona’s defence crumbled under the pressure put by Bayern attackers.

Thomas Mueller and Phillipe Coutinho scored twice while Robert Lewandowski, Serge Gnabry, Joshua Kimmich, and Ivan Perisic also chipping in with goals.

The cracks were already visible for Barcelona but Bayern opened the floodgates. Coach Setien could be sacked soon, Pique says Barca have hit rock bottom and talisman Messi might be considering his future.

It wasn’t just a regular loss for Barcelona but was one of the worst. It was the worst defeat they have suffered in almost 80 years. Last time they lost by a bigger margin than this was in 1940. 

Take a look at Barcelona’s worst five defeats in their history:-

SEVILLA 11 BARCELONA 1 (La Liga, 1940)

Barcelona took a 10th-minute lead only to fall apart as Sevilla scored all their goals in the space of an hour, between the 23rd and 83rd minutes to inflict the heaviest defeat on Barcelona in any competition.

Oddly enough, Barcelona finished fourth in the 1940-41 La Liga season, ahead of Sevilla who were fifth.

REAL MADRID 8 BARCELONA 2 (La Liga, 1935)

Fernando Sanudo racked up four goals for Real Madrid, the most a single player has ever scored when the two sides met, while Jaime Lazcano added a hat-trick.

Regueiro chipped in with another as Real celebrated the biggest win either side has claimed when playing each other in any competition.

BAYERN MUNICH 8 BARCELONA 2 (Champions League quarter-final, 2020)

Barcelona’s heaviest defeat in European competition in a single match did not look on the cards when David Alaba’s own goal cancelled out Thomas Mueller’s fourth-minute opener for Bayern in their Champions League last-eight clash in Lisbon.

But Barcelona’s ageing side were torn to pieces by an effervescent Bayern who scored almost at will after Croatia winger Ivan Perisic restored their lead.

The German champions led 4-1 at halftime and after Luis Suarez had pulled one back, they overran the Catalan side as substitute Philippe Coutinho, on loan at Bayern from Barcelona, scored two late goals.

The match bore a striking resemblance to Bayern’s 7-0 aggregate rout of Barcelona in the 2013 Champions League semi-final, when the German side won the first leg at home 4-0 followed by a 3-0 victory at the Nou Camp.

LIVERPOOL 4 BARCELONA 0 (Champions League 2019 semi-final)

Barcelona looked poised to reach the final of Europe’s premier club competition after winning the first leg at home 3-0 only to suffer an astonishing reverse at Anfield in the return fixture.

Liverpool, who were missing prolific forwards Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino in the return leg, produced a fantastic performance roared on by a fervent home crowd.

Striker Divock Origi gave Liverpool a seventh-minute lead on the night and completed the memorable comeback in the 79th after substitute Georginio Wijnaldum scored a quickfire brace early in the second half.

AC MILAN 4 BARCELONA 0 (Champions League final 1994)

Boasting the likes of Brazil striker Romario, Dutch defender Ronald Koeman and midfielder Pep Guardiola who went on to become the club’s trophy-laden coach, Barcelona headed into the final as favourites against the Italian side.

But AC Milan stunned their opponents with lethal counter-attacking which resulted in forward Daniele Massaro firing them into a 2-0 first-half lead.

Montenegrin Dejan Savicevic effectively killed the match as a contest with a delightful lob from the edge of the area in the 47th minute before France enforcer Marcel Desailly put the icing on the cake in the 58th.

Source: hindustantimes.com