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Bundesliga: Bayern Munich brush aside Gladbach to continue title march

Bayern Munich cruised to a 4–1 win over a struggling Borussia Moenchengladbach on Friday, barely missing the injured Harry Kane as they continued their relentless march towards another Bundesliga title.

Kane was ruled out with a calf strain on Thursday, having scored 45 goals in 37 games in all competitions this campaign.

The hosts barely felt the England captain’s absence, however, with Bayern winning thanks to goals from Luis Diaz, Konrad Laimer, Jamal Musiala and Nicolas Jackson.

Musiala’s 57th-minute spot kick was his first league goal this season after he missed the first six months with a broken leg suffered at last year’s Club World Cup.

“I’m still a couple behind him,” Musiala said to Sky Germany of Kane, Bayern’s regular penalty taker. “It’s also a responsibility to take penalties now and then.

“It gives me a bit of confidence in myself. I’m happy I took the opportunity.”

With Manuel Neuer replaced at half-time as a precautionary measure and Joshua Kimmich taken off late, the 23-year-old Musiala was handed the captain’s armband for the first time in his career in the closing stages.

“It’s a great honour for such a big club. I’m embracing it, and I’m really happy,” Musiala said.

The victory sent Bayern 14 points clear of Borussia Dortmund with nine games remaining and served as the ideal tune-up for next week’s first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Atalanta in Italy.

Bayern already have 92 goals, nine shy of their own Bundesliga record set in 1971-72, while Kane still needs 12 goals to beat Robert Lewandowski’s league record of 41 in a 34-game season.

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Gladbach were reduced to 10 men when Rocco Reitz was sent off after conceding a penalty on 55 minutes, with Musiala scoring from the spot.

Five-time Bundesliga winners Gladbach have spent just one season this century in the second division but now sit just three points clear of Werder Bremen in the relegation play-off spot.

Gladbach midfielder Wael Mohya, 17, scored in the 89th minute to become the club’s youngest-ever goalscorer.

Kane’s double in Bayern’s 3-2 win at Dortmund last weekend all but sealed another Bundesliga title for the German giants, who have won 12 of the past 13 league crowns.

With Kane out and Michael Olise on the bench, Gladbach may have hoped for better but were behind just after the half-hour mark when Diaz volleyed in a Leon Goretzka pass.

Bayern dealt Gladbach another blow just before half-time when Diaz fed Laimer, who hammered in a second.

Any hopes the visitors had were dashed when their captain, Reitz, held back Jackson in the box, giving away a penalty and seeing red.

With Kane watching on from the VIP suite, Musiala stepped up to convert the penalty.

Jackson tapped in a Lennart Karl cross to make it four before Mohya pulled one back in the final minute for Gladbach.

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Bayern Munich suffer Manuel Neuer blow

Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is set for a spell on the sidelines after tearing his calf muscle, the Bundesliga club announced on Sunday.

Neuer, 39, was subbed off at half-time in Saturday’s 3-0 win at Werder Bremen which helped Bayern restore their six-point lead over Borussia Dortmund atop the Bundesliga table.

Bayern sporting director Max Eberl initially said Neuer’s substitution was a “precautionary measure” and the injury was “nothing dramatic”.

A scan on Sunday, however, showed the tear was more serious than initially expected.

“Bayern Munich will have to do without Manuel Neuer for the time being,” the league leaders said in a statement without indicating how long their captain would be out.

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German media reported Neuer was in doubt for Bayern’s trip to Dortmund at the end of February and would miss next Saturday’s clash with Eintracht Frankfurt.

The veteran goalkeeper turns 40 in March and has been plagued by calf problems recently, missing 10 matches last season with a similar injury.

Bayern were 11 points clear in the German league at Christmas but Dortmund have drawn six points behind the leaders after a six-match winning run.

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‘Winter signing’ Jamal Musiala returns to boost weary Bayern Munich

Midfielder Jamal Musiala has made a timely return for a Bayern Munich side that has grown weary in recent weeks as they continue to fight on three fronts.

In December, Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen ruled out any big winter purchases, saying the return of Musiala and fellow long-term injury absentees Alphonso Davies and Hiroki Ito were like “internal winter signings”.

Musiala broke his leg during the Club World Cup. After two appearances off the bench and a star turn in the Champions League midweek, Musiala is likely to start away at Hamburg on Saturday.

Bayern remain eight points clear of Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga but will still be stinging from a shock 2-1 home loss to Augsburg last week, their first league defeat of the season.

Like most of the league, Augsburg lack the quality to challenge the defending champions, but the Bavarian minnows prevailed by outworking a jaded side, showing the strain of a long season.

While Musiala lacks match fitness after missing six months, his freshness will be key in the second half of the campaign.

The 22-year-old made his first start since returning in Wednesday’s 2-1 Champions League win over PSV Eindhoven, scoring Bayern’s opening goal.

The goal showcased Musiala’s very particular set of skills. He dribbled through a crowded penalty box, played a clever one-two before blasting a lethal shot into the roof of the net.

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“A beautiful goal from a tight angle,” Bayern striker Harry Kane said of Musiala’s strike. “He showed his qualities. He was outstanding, and I take my hat off to him.”

Bayern Munich have made a habit of beating the stuffing out of Saturday’s opponents, Hamburg, recently.

One of only three German European Cup winners with Bayern and Dortmund, Hamburg are a huge club with a massive following, but their stats against the Bavarian giants do not make for happy reading.

Hamburg last beat Bayern in 2009, with Bayern winning 17 and drawing three of their past 20 games.

In their past eight games, all Bayern wins, they have piled up 36 goals, and Hamburg have scored just once.

Bayern already thumped Hamburg 5-0 in Munich this season, but one glimmer of hope for the hosts this weekend is their home record.

Hamburg have claimed 15 of their 18 points at home this term and have not lost at their ground since October.

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Bayern Munich confirm talks to extend Harry Kane’s contract

Bayern Munich sporting director Max Eberl on Monday confirmed the club are in talks to extend Harry Kane’s deal at the club.

The 32-year-old England forward, who joined Bayern in 2023, has a deal until 2027.

“We’re talking to Harry, we’re talking,” Eberl said at a Bundesliga event in Frankfurt.

“Everyone knows at some point a decision has to be made,” he added.

Club CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen said on Monday: “Harry has great confidence in us, and he feels comfortable in Munich.

“He and his family are settled in. Therefore, we’ve got absolutely no reason to rush.”

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Long without a team trophy, Kane broke his drought in 2025 when Bayern won the Bundesliga.

This campaign, Bayern are eight points clear in the league and sit second in the 36-team Champions League table.

Speaking in October, Kane said he could “definitely imagine” extending his stay in Germany.

Kane has scored 119 goals in 126 games for Bayern, while adding 30 assists.

In this campaign, Kane has 34 goals in 30 games. With 21 goals in 19 Bundesliga matches, Kane is on track to break the single-season league record of 41 goals set by Robert Lewandowski in 2020-21.

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Harry Kane double fires Bayern Munich into Champions League last 16

Harry Kane scored twice in three second-half minutes as Bayern Munich saw off Union Saint-Gilloise 2-0 on Wednesday to reach the last 16 of the Champions League.

Bayern joined Arsenal in sealing a top-eight finish in the 36-team table with a game to spare, avoiding a potential two-legged knockout play-off round.

The six-time European champions sit second in the standings behind Arsenal ahead of their last league-phase outing at PSV Eindhoven next week.

Kane headed in from a corner before winning and converting a penalty to put the hosts firmly in control.

The England captain had a chance for a hat-trick but missed a late spot-kick, after Bayern centre-back Kim Min-jae had been dismissed for a second yellow card.

Bayern’s Champions League defeat at Arsenal remains their only loss in all competitions this season, in which they have also already opened up an 11-point lead in the Bundesliga.

Kane’s second goal was his 34th of the campaign, bringing Bayern’s total tally to 103 strikes from 29 games.

Bayern Munich were sluggish in the opening half, perhaps unsettled by the absence of their 9,300-strong ultra contingent, with the lower stand closed due to a UEFA sanction for setting off pyrotechnics.

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The best chance of the opening half fell to Belgian champions Union SG.

With half an hour played, an unmarked Promise David got away from the Bayern defence and had just Neuer to beat, but headed his effort directly at the goalkeeper.

Bayern needed a set-piece to break the deadlock with 52 minutes gone.

Michael Olise lofted the ball into the six-yard area, and Kane found space at the near post to head his side in front.

One minute later, Kane was felled by Union’s keeper Kjell Scherpen and stepped up to double Bayern’s lead.

Kim, handed a rare start with Dayot Upamecano out sick, was sent off in the 63rd minute, picking up a second yellow for yanking Raul Florucz’s arm as the winger went on the attack.

But the red card did not disrupt Bayern’s flow.

Kane uncharacteristically blasted a penalty against the bar with 10 minutes left, while Olise chipped another opportunity over with just Scherpen to beat.

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Arsenal thump Bayern Munich to stay perfect in Champions League

LONDON: Arsenal thumped Bayern Munich 3-1 in a clash of the English and German league leaders on Wednesday at Emirates Stadium to maintain their perfect record in the Champions League this season.

The Gunners dominated the second half after Bayern’s 17-year-old midfielder Lennart Karl cancelled out Jurrien Timber’s opener in the opening period.

Noni Madueke opened his goalscoring account for the Premier League frontrunners to restore their lead, and fellow substitute Gabriel Martinelli took advantage of a huge blunder from goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

England captain Harry Kane, a former Tottenham player, had a miserable return to London, largely a peripheral figure despite his astonishing goalscoring record for the six-time European champions.

“Look at Bayern Munich this season, they have been the best team in Europe,” Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice told TNT Sports.

“This was probably the toughest game tactically we have played this season. The way they work it is so, so good.”

The England man said this season feels different from the previous campaign, when Arsenal again came up short, finishing second in the Premier League for a third straight season.

“There are so many leaders in the team,” Rice added. “We are just taking it one game at a time. There is a hunger and desire to win every game. There is a long way to go — let’s not get carried away.”

Bayern started the match at the Emirates top of the Champions League table, just above the Gunners, with both teams having won four games out of four.

The game took time to come alive, but the Gunners went ahead in the 22nd minute when Timber headed home a Bukayo Saka corner, with a flailing Neuer unable to intercept.

The goal underlined Arsenal’s relentless brilliance from set-pieces.

Eberechi Eze, who scored a hat-trick in Sunday’s 4-1 win against Tottenham, had a glorious chance to double the Gunners’ lead but scuffed his shot wide.

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Arsenal had looked relatively comfortable, but Bayern were back in the game in the blink of an eye in the 32nd minute, courtesy of Karl’s goal.

Joshua Kimmich played a superb diagonal ball that was laid off first time by former Arsenal player Serge Gnabry, and Karl finished confidently past David Raya.

Arsenal were quickly on the front foot in the second half, with Neuer pushing a fierce Saka shot over the bar.

Karl then surged down the right and into the home side’s penalty box, but his weak shot was easily collected by Raya.

As the intensity built, Arsenal’s Mikel Merino failed to connect properly with another dangerous corner before Neuer saved a Cristhian Mosquera header from point-blank range.

Now it was all Arsenal.

Neuer was called into action again, saving with his legs as Rice bore down on him, with Saka unable to turn in the loose ball.

But the pressure finally paid off with just over 20 minutes to go, when Bayern defender Dayot Upamecano played a stray ball that was picked up by substitute Riccardo Calafiori on the left.

He crossed, and fellow substitute Madueke turned the ball home.

There was worse to come for Bayern when Eze sent a long ball over the top, with Neuer well outside his area.

Martinelli’s first touch took him past the stranded goalkeeper, and he had a free run at goal, maintaining his nerve to slot home.

The delirious Arsenal fans taunted Kane with a chant of “Harry, Harry, what’s the score” as they revelled in his misery.

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Vitinha says PSG-Bayern Champions League clash will show who’s ‘best’

Portuguese midfielder Vitinha said Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) home clash with undefeated Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Tuesday will be a meeting between “the two best teams in Europe”.

PSG come into the sternest test yet of their European title defence, top of the French Ligue 1, and with three wins from three so far in the league phase.

But their opponents, Bayern, have started their season with a European record 15 wins in 15 outings, and sit second behind only PSG in the standings in the continent’s elite club competition.

“We are the two best teams in Europe. Bayern are in fantastic form. We’re also doing well, continuing our momentum from last year,” Vitinha told his pre-match press conference on Monday.

But as for who is mightiest between the two heavyweights, the 25-year-old said Tuesday’s match will tell.

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“The answer will be given tomorrow. We have to talk on the pitch,” he told reporters.

“When you’re a player, you want to play in this type of match because everyone wants to see it, and people will say, ‘this team is better because they won’.”

PSG coach Luis Enrique was, however, more temperate in his build-up to the game.

“To find out who is the best team in Europe, we have to wait until the end of the season and see how many trophies each team wins,” the 55-year-old said.

“Right now, it’s clear they are very strong… It’s incredible that they’ve won their last 15 matches. We already have trouble winning three or four matches.”

If PSG have been less dominant than Bayern domestically — drawing three matches and losing one in 11 league outings — Luis Enrique said supporters should still “trust” his side to show they can best the Bavarians.

“Do you think that I or the supporters should assess our team? I don’t think so, we deserve to have a little trust,” the Spaniard said.

“But tomorrow (Tuesday) at the Parc des Princes with our supporters, we have the confidence we need to overcome their pressing game.”

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Bayern Munich extend coach Kompany’s contract until 2029

Vincent Kompany has extended his contract as coach of Bayern Munich by two years until 2029, the Bundesliga champions announced on Tuesday.

Kompany was not Bayern’s first choice when he was appointed in the summer of 2024, but the Belgian reclaimed the German title for the Bavarians in his debut season at the club.

“It feels like I’ve been here a lot longer and that I know the club well,” former Manchester City captain Kompany said in a statement.

“It’s been a great experience so far. We’ve started on a wonderful journey. Let’s keep working hard and celebrate much more success!”

At a press conference later on Tuesday ahead of Bayern’s Champions League home match against Club Brugge a day later, Kompany said he was “busy preparing for the games” when Bayern bosses approached him about an extension.

“When the proposal came up, and my only request was that it doesn’t become a big topic and that we could quickly refocus on the next game.

“Personally, everything just feels right in Munich… There aren’t many places better than Bayern.”

Bayern defender Jonathan Tah told reporters: “we’re all delighted about the contract extension.”

The 39-year-old coach has Bayern flying with 11 wins in 11 games this season, sitting atop the Champions League and Bundesliga tables.

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“Vincent Kompany has brought the fun back to FC Bayern –- and the spark has really caught on. Under his leadership, a real team has grown that plays dominant and attractive football,” Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen said.

“I like Vincent’s level-headedness. He never pushes himself into the limelight and makes our players better with his meticulous work.”

Kompany’s appointment came as a surprise when Bayern paid a £10 million ($13 million) to release him from his contract with Burnley in 2024.

“When we appointed Vinny, we had a clear vision of our shared path and he quickly proved that he would help FC Bayern move forward -– both on and off the pitch,” said Max Eberl, the club’s sporting director.

“He’s a role model who unites players, fans and everyone at the club, and we want to build something long-term with him.”

Under Kompany, Burnley won promotion to the Premier League but were relegated after just one season, recording the lowest top-flight points tally in their history.

Despite winning 12 of the previous 13 Bundesliga titles, stability in the Bayern dugout has been rare during that run.

Pep Guardiola, whose three-year stint at the club ended in 2016, was the last Bayern coach to complete at least two full seasons.

Before bringing Kompany to the club, Bayern reportedly tried to sign Xabi Alonso, Julian Nagelsmann, Oliver Glasner and Ralf Rangnick but were knocked back by each candidate.

When an attempt to hold on to then coach Thomas Tuchel, who had already agreed to leave at the end of the season, was also rebuffed, Bayern turned to Kompany.

Kompany confirmed on Tuesday that Serge Gnabry and Josip Stanisic would be out for Wednesday’s match with Brugge.

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Kane could extend Bayern stay as interest in Premier League cools

Harry Kane is considering extending his stay at Bayern Munich after the England captain claimed his interest in returning to the Premier League has cooled.

Kane has made a fast start to the season at Bayern, scoring 18 goals in 10 games to fuel the German champions’ Bundesliga title defence.

The 32-year-old, who has netted 103 goals in 106 appearances for Bayern, is under contract in Munich until 2027 and is “fully all in” ahead of possible negotiations over a new deal.

“In terms of staying longer, I could definitely see that,” said Kane, who has reported for England duty ahead of a friendly with Wales and a World Cup qualifier in Latvia.

“I spoke openly a couple of weeks ago that I have not had those conversations with Bayern yet, but if they were to arise, I would be willing to talk and have an honest conversation.

“Obviously it depends on how the next year or so goes and what we achieve together. Right now, I would say we are in a fantastic moment, and I am not thinking about anything else.”

When Kane left Tottenham in 2023, it was expected the striker would return to England to try and break the Premier League goalscoring record.

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He needs 48 goals to eclipse Alan Shearer’s mark of 260.

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank recently said he would love to have the club’s record goalscorer back in north London.

“In terms of the Premier League, I don’t know. If you had asked me when I first left to go to Bayern, I would have said for sure I would come back,” added Kane, who is reported to have a £57 million ($66 million) release clause in his Bayern contract.

“Now I have been there a couple of years I would probably say that has gone down a little bit, but I wouldn’t say I would never go back.

“What I have learnt in my career is that different opportunities and different timings happen and things fall in place. Going back to my first point with Bayern right now I am fully all in with Bayern.”

Bayern Munich sporting director Christoph Freund recently said his side are “probably witnessing the best version of Harry Kane there has ever been”.

Kane won the Bundesliga last season with Bayern, his long-awaited first major trophy, and that success has driven England’s record goalscorer to improve even further.

“When you win a title like I did last year, maybe it could be easy to go the other way and be like, ‘OK I’ve done what I wanted to achieve’,” Kane said.

“But it’s given me more motivation to do more and be better. I think I’ve shown that this year.

“I was interested in how I would feel after winning a trophy. Obviously, there’s still a lot more I want to achieve in terms of other trophies and bigger trophies for sure.”

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Harry Kane doubles up as Bayern Munich sink Chelsea in Champions League

Harry Kane scored twice as Bayern Munich beat Chelsea 3-1 at home in their Champions League opener on Wednesday.

Michael Olise pressured Trevoh Chalobah into an own goal with 20 minutes gone, before Kane won and converted a penalty seven minutes later.

Cole Palmer finished off a superb team counter-attack just two minutes later to bring Chelsea back into the game.

But Kane stepped up again midway through the second half to wrestle control back Bayern’s way.

“It was a top performance against a really good side,” Kane told DAZN.

“We spoke before the game that we’re playing the club world champions, and we had to be on it from the start, and we were.”

England captain Kane says facing Premier League sides gives him extra motivation to “play better”, and Chelsea were on the receiving end as he climbed up to 10 goals in just six games this season.

Asked if Kane’s goalscoring exploits made him the best in the world, Bayern coach Vincent Kompany said: “We can talk about talent and quality, but it’s the hard work that gets him to where he is.

“Based on what I experienced in the best years of my career, that’s a non-negotiable.”

Kompany was, however, eager to pump the brakes on suggestions that six-time champions Bayern were favourites for the competition.

“It’s one game. Steady on now. It’s just the beginning.”

Bayern captain Manuel Neuer, the last survivor from the 2012 Champions League final between the sides, won by Chelsea at the same venue, brought up his 100th win in the competition.

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He now trails just Cristiano Ronaldo, Thomas Mueller, and Iker Casillas.

Bayern have now won their past 22 Champions League openers dating back to a 2002 loss to Spain’s Deportivo La Coruna.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said his side “cannot commit mistakes the way we did,” but added, “we can build something special from this defeat.

“There are seven more games and many more points to get.”

Maresca restored Palmer and three others to the starting line-up, having copped criticism for resting players in Saturday’s limp 2-2 draw at Brentford.

Bayern had won five from five to start the season but were caught off guard early by the visitors’ intensity, with Chelsea pinning the hosts back.

Bayern caught their breath and created some pressure of their own before breaking through when Chalobah failed to deal with an Olise cross, turning it into his own goal.

The hosts were soon two up as Kane struck from the spot.

Moises Caicedo gave away the penalty with an awkward tackle in the box, but helped Chelsea hit back immediately, playing a clever one-two on the break, allowing Palmer to slam home.

Bayern came to life 10 minutes into the second half, with Konrad Laimer, Kane, and Olise all having efforts saved in quick succession.

Kane padded Bayern’s advantage shortly after, pouncing on a poor Malo Gusto pass before sliding the ball into the far corner.

The 32-year-old was taken off to a standing ovation in stoppage time, with Chelsea loanee Nicolas Jackson coming off the bench to make his Champions League debut against his parent club.

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