║║ Bundesliga Season 2012-13 ║║

[Huntelaar]

Klopp: Dortmund by no means perfect against Nurnberg
The successful coach believes that the German champions were far from their best during Friday's 3-0 win, but was quite pleased with the final result nonetheless

Neuer: Bayern still have a long way to go
The Germany international has made it clear that the Allianz Arena side have to remain focused if they are to win silverware this term, despite their hefty lead in the Bundesliga

Lyon's Bastos agrees personal terms with Schalke
The Brazilian has reached agreement over personal terms with the Bundesliga outfit but his current employers have agreed to sell him to another club

Fiorentina confirm the signings of Wolski and Compper
The Tuscan outfit have added two new players to their ranks to help them in their bid to qualify for Europe next season

Klinsmann hails German football's progress
The former Bayern Munich coach feels the Bundesliga sides' impressive showing in Europe this season is evidence of the good work clubs have put in recently

Robben delighted with Guardiola appointment
The Bayern Munich winger is excited about the arrival of the ex-Barcelona coach, but insists that his side must remain focused on their season out of respect for Jupp Heynckes

Pizarro: This is the best Bayern team ever
The experienced striker has stated that the Bavarians are better than ever before, and is desperate for Champions League success this term

Slomka: I am not ready for Bayern Munich yet
The Hannover boss was believed to be in the running to take charge of the Bavarians, but believes he still has work to do before he has what it takes to take charge of a top club

Sammer: Hojbjerg could make Bayern debut this season
The young midfielder has been tipped for greatness, and the Bavarians' director of football feels he could soon make the step up into the senior ranks

Arsenal boss Wenger rubbishes Schalke job rumours
The Gunners boss has denied he has any interest in leaving Emirates Stadium for the German club, saying he’s ‘totally committed’ to the north Londoners

'Lewandowski must do what is right for him' - Klinsmann
With the Poland international attracting admiring glances from Europe's biggest clubs, the former Spurs man suggests he should put his own career first before worrying about others

Stuttgart sign Macheda on loan from Man United
The 21-year-old has joined the Bundesliga side on a short-term deal until the end of the season, following previous spells at QPR and Sampdoria

Dante: I thought my Brazil call-up was a joke
The 29-year-old admitted he believed the news was a wind-up by team-mate Luis Gustavo, but insists his dream is to represent his country at the World Cup in 2014

Schweinsteiger: I was close to leaving Bayern in 2008
The influential midfielder has admitted that he could have said farewell to the Allianz Arena a few years ago, and failed to rule out a move abroad in the future

Schalke reject fresh Tottenham bid for Holtby
The 22-year-old midfielder has signed a pre-contract deal to move to White Hart Lane in the summer, but Sandro's injury led to the club attempting to rush a deal through

Ribery: I am one of the best in the world
The Frenchman is delighted with his performances for Bayern Munich this season, and has stressed that Borussia Dortmund cannot be taken lightly in the Bundesliga

Bundesliga clubs record €2 billion turnover
Fourteen of the 18 clubs in Germany’s top-tier have made a profit as the league boasts a post tax income of €55m and a total revenue that is over seven per cent up from last season

Michel Bastos in Schalke talks
The Brazil international has once again been linked with a move to Gelsenkirchen and despite the Bundesliga outfit playing down rumours of their interest, a move could yet happen

De Boer: Sneijder’s Galatasaray move good for Netherlands
The Ajax boss believes the former Inter playmaker’s transfer to the Istanbul club is good news for the national side, but admits Turkey is not one of Europe's strongest divisions

I can still get better, says Bayern Munich's Kroos
The attacking midfielder has put in a string of impressive performances in 2012-13, but he is adamant that he has not reached his peak yet

 

[Huntelaar]

Bundesliga: Borussia Dortmund 3 Nuremberg 0

26 January 2013

Borussia Dortmund have coasted to a 3-0 victory over Nuremberg at the Signal Iduna Park, moving into second place provisionally in the Bundesliga.

The reigning German champions secured all three points with a competent display that was decided by a first-half double from Jakub Blaszczykowski, with Robert Lewandowski adding a third in the 88th minute.

Dortmund were awarded a rather soft penalty in the 18th minute as Timo Gebhart felled Lukasz Piszczek in the area. Blaszczykowski was handed the responsibility and he buried the spot-kick to the 'keeper's right in cool fashion.

Nuremberg have not won a game after going behind since March 2011 and any hopes of bucking that trend were gone when Blaszczykowski swept home from a low Mario Goetze cross, doubling his side's advantage in the 21st minute.

Although they remained in control in the second half, it was not until the 60th minute that Dortmund truly threatened again.

Lewandowski spearheaded the attack but instead off finishing from the Pole's pass, Goetze hit the ball back to his team-mate who was unable to beat Raphael Schaefer.

Lewandowski's persistence finally paid off in the 88th minute as a long ball from the back was cushioned into his path by Marco Reus and the striker rifled an emphatic volley into the roof of the net.

Victory sends Dortmund temporarily into second position on goal difference, nine points behind Bayern Munich who face Stuttgart on Sunday.

 

[Kiessling]

Bundesliga preview: Bayern look to march on

24 January 2013

A big fortnight for Bayern Munich will continue this weekend as they travel to Stuttgart in Bundesliga action.

The German league leaders announced the signing of Pep Guardiola last Tuesday as their new manager from next season and will look to extend a nine-game unbeaten run against their 10th-placed challengers on Sunday.

Stuttgart, only five points away from the last German UEFA Champions League spot, will be hoping to recover from two consecutive losses to Wolfsburg (2-0) and Mainz (3-1).

Nine points behind Bayern in second place is Bayer Leverkusen, who face a tricky away tie against Freiburg on Saturday.

Leverkusen will take good form into the clash with home wins against Eintracht Frankfurt (3-1) and Hamburg (3-0), but will need to be wary of a Freiburg side enjoying a great season in sixth position.

The home side is currently on a four-match unbeaten run as they aim to qualify for Europe for only the third time in their history.

High-flying Eintracht Frankfurt will be confident of a victory against Hoffenheim on Saturday, who has been winless in eight games.

Frankfurt is sitting in fourth place, a great achievement for a club only promoted at the start of the season.

Also on Saturday, second-last Augsburg have a tough contest against Schalke, while rock-bottom Greuther Fuerth will be hoping to get their second win of the season against Mainz.

Unbeaten in their last six games, Borussia Moechengladbach will take on Fortuna Dusseldorf and Hannover 96 locks horns with Wolfsburg with both teams looking to push into mid-table.

On Sunday, Werder Bremen travel to Hamburg hoping to banish the memory of their thrashing by Dortmund in front of their home fans last weekend.

 

[Kiessling]

Bundesliga preview: Dortmund bid to move second

31 January 2013

Borussia Dortmund will look to overtake second-placed Bayer Leverkusen when the teams meet at BayArena in the Bundesliga on Sunday.

The resurgent champions have made a stellar start to 2013 with two wins from as many matches and eight unanswered goals.

Dortmund thumped Werder Bremen 5-0 in their return from the winter break before accounting for Nuremberg 3-0 at the weekend.

Jurgen Klopp's men are third on the table, one point behind Leverkusen and 12 points behind unwavering leaders Bayern Munich.

Leverkusen were held to a 0-0 stalemate at Freiburg last time out, but boast an impressive record at home, where they have won their past seven matches in all competitions.

Dortmund, however, are stronger on the road than at home this season, claiming 19 of their 36 points away from the Westfalenstadion.

Meanwhile, Bayern will look to strengthen their title credentials when they travel to European hopefuls Mainz on Saturday.

Bayern are the form team of the league with 15 wins from 19 games, while fifth-placed Mainz are gunning for a Champions League place after reaching the Europa League for the first time last season.

Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes said he was unlikely to make any changes for the clash, but called on his regular substitutes to be ready to step up as the knockout stages of the Champions League and German Cup draw nearer.

"At the moment there is no need for big changes. We need to be successful and I will not risk anything," he said.

"The players know I will rotate once we get to the busy weeks where we will be playing Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday."

In other matches, fourth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt journey to Hamburg on Saturday, while Schalke entertain bottom-placed Greuther Furth.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Wolfsburg take on Augsburg at home, Freiburg face a tough test at Hoffenheim and Fortuna Dusseldorf welcome Stuttgart.

Seventh-placed Borussia Monchengladbach visit Nuremburg on Sunday, while Bremen will look to bounce back from two consecutive losses at home to Hannover on Friday.

 

[Kiessling]

Carvajal: Bundesliga much faster than La Liga
The Spain Under-21 international says the "rhythm" of the game is far different in Germany than his homeland, but says he is enjoying the challenge nonetheless

Heynckes: Bayern Munich know how to beat Mainz
The experienced coach has stressed that they will not underestimate the Nullfunfer, and he has little doubt that the league leaders will bag the full three points

Bundesliga is more attractive now, insists Heldt
The die Knappen sporting director has hailed the rise of Bundesliga and believes foreign stars are becoming increasingly tempted to ply their trade in Germany

Gomez will prove himself again at the highest level, says Low
The Mannschaft boss is confident the Bayern Munich star will again be competing at the highest level following his injury troubles

Prandelli: Guardiola picking Bayern not an insult to Serie A
The Italy coach thinks that the former Barcelona boss has made the right personal decision in joining the Bavarian club, and believes he will be refreshed after his hiatus

Schweinsteiger: Bayern Munich must be more accurate
The influential midfielder says the Allianz Arena outfit are not on top of their game just yet as a lack of accuracy in attacking areas is impacting on how many goals they score

Official: Heurelho Gomes leaves Tottenham for Hoffenheim loan
The Brazilian has failed to make an appearance for Spurs this term, and now heads to the Bundesliga side for the rest of the season in search of first-team football

Lars Bender: Playing against Sven is normal now
The midfielder says matches versus his twin brother are nothing out of the ordinary these days, but feels that both siblings will be desperate to win

Kuzmanovic leaves Stuttgart for Inter
The Serbia international has completed his return to Serie A after plying his trade in Germany for the past three-and-a-half years

Guardiola joins one of five best clubs in the world, says Ibrahimovic
The Sweden international says his former boss must make the most of the privilege of taking over the Bundesliga leaders, highlighting their current standing in world football

Scharner rejoins Wigan on loan from Hamburg
The 32-year-old indicated that it is "fantastic" to be back with his former club after failing to establish himself in Germany, and becomes the Latics' fourth January signing

Kuzmanovic's agent confirms Inter deal
The Serbia international's representative has said that he will leave Stuttgart and sign for the Nerazzurri before the close of the January window on Thursday

Heynckes: Gomez & Robben must accept bench role
Neither star has been in the first XI of late, but the 67-year-old has insisted that he has no intention of letting them walk back into the first team

Holtby is the bargain of the century, says Tottenham boss Villas-Boas
The Spurs manager has compared the German international to former White Hart Lane favourite Rafael van der Vaart and has praised his versatility

Klopp: I will become Guardiola's new Mourinho
The Borussia Dortmund boss is forward to the future Bayern coach's arrival in Germany, and expects to develop a good relationship with the 42-year-old

Ribery: Guardiola can do great things with Bayern Munich
The French winger thinks die Roten's new coach, who will takeover this summer, is great and will achieve success with them, while it reinforces the attraction of the league leaders

Diego calls for Wolfsburg improvement
The former Porto playmaker wants the club to become consistent in winning matches so that they can rise up the table, though he is not thinking about his own future at present

Bastos completes Schalke move
The Bundesliga side, currently in sixth place, have signed the Brazil international on a temporary deal which will see him join from Ligue 1 outfit Lyon until the end of the term

Sahin: I wasn't happy at Real Madrid or Liverpool
The Turkey midfielder has revealed that he is pleased to be back at the German Champions after a tough 18 months while he denied that he was a failure during his time in Spain

Klopp: Dzeko must take pay cut if he wants to join Dortmund
The German league champions' coach has revealed the Manchester City forward would have to take a reduction in wages to join the club to fit with strict financial regulations

Hamburg confident of holding on to Heung-Min Son
The 20-year-old South Korean has been the subject of interest from England but sporting director Frank Arnesen remains upbeat about him staying with the Rothosen

Holtby: Tottenham’s facilities the best I’ve seen
The 22-year-old recently completed a €1.75 million move to the club from Bundesliga giants Schalke and says he is excited at the challenge of settling into his new team

Beckenbauer: Bayern a bigger challenge for Guardiola than Chelsea
The Germany legend has praised the 42-year-old's decision to make the move to the Bundesliga rather than join one of the big guns from the Premier League

Bayern Munich handed Shaqiri injury blow
The winger will be out of action for a number of days and will miss the Bavarians next match due to the knock, while Rafinha is doubtful after picking up an ankle problem

West Ham sign Pogatetz on loan until end of season
The 31-year-old centre-back has welcomed the chance to return to England and hopes to aid West Ham in their battle against relegation from the Premier League

Muller: There is no B-team at Bayern Munich
The Roten forward is confident his side have a well balanced squad, while reflecting on the Bundesliga leaders' 15th league victory of the campaign on Saturday

'Klopp is a world-class coach' - Gundogan
The Germany international believes his boss is one of the best in the game, while revealing his desire to sign a new contract at Signal Iduna Park and stay at the club beyond 2015

Tottenham agree £1.5m Holtby fee with Schalke
The German midfielder is now set to move to White Hart Lane in January after the two clubs finally decided on a fee for the 22-year-old

Sunderland close in on Scharner deal
The former Wigan and West Brom midfielder looks set to seal a return to the Premier League with the Black Cats as his agent admits the player will "probably be at Sunderland"

Muller: Bayern must learn to be patient
The Germany international has stressed that it is only normal for the Bavarians not to put the match to bed in the opening stages every time they play

Heynckes happy with 'significantly better' Bayern display
The 67-year-old was delighted to see his players return to their normal selves against Stuttgart after a workman-like performance in their victory over Greuther Furth last weekend

Gundogan: We are aiming for second place
The Germany international believes that die Roten are too far ahead to be caught, but hopes that his side can finish runners-up in the league this season

Kroos: I wouldn't be who I am today without Heynckes
The Bavarian star has lavished praise on the 66-year-old for taking him under his wing early on in his career, while he shared his ambitions of becoming a key player for Germany

Mourinho: I will never coach in Germany
The Real Madrid boss refused to pass opinion on Pep Guardiola's decision to join Bayern Munich in the summer, but insisted that the Bundesliga does not appeal to him

Bayern must ignore Guardiola arrival to keep season on track
The 42-year-old was confirmed as the Bavarians' coach for next campaign, but the squad must focus on their present for the time being and put his appointment to one side

Adler denies tension with Neuer for Germany gloves
The former Bayer Leverkusen shot-stopper has downplayed suggestions that he feels pressure to reclaim his place as Die Mannschaft number one, at the expense of his counterpart

 

[Huntelaar]

Bundesliga wrap: Dortmund edge Leverkusen
4 February 2013

Robert Lewandowski struck a 63rd-minute winner as Borussia Dortmund overcame Bayer Leverkusen 3-2 in the Bundesliga on Sunday.

Marco Reus' exquisite finish was followed by a Jakub Blaszczykowski penalty as Dortmund took control of the clash at BayArena.

A brace from Stefan Reinartz drew the sides level after the break before Lewandowski's goal, and the visitors held on despite Blaszczykowski missing a late penalty.

Despite looking fragile in defence, the champions were at their flowing best going forward and were ahead after just three minutes.

Reus broke the offside trap and expertly chipped Bernd Leno after Lewandowski's perfectly weighted through ball.

It was 2-0 just moments later after Leno was adjudged to have brought down Lewandowski, and Blaszczykowski made no mistake from the penalty spot.

After being frustrated by Dortmund goalkeeper Mitchell Langerak, the hosts eventually found their way back into the game.

Stefan Kiessling took on Lukasz Piszczek before crossing for Reinartz to finish from close range.

Four minutes later, Leverkusen were level as Reinartz headed in at the back post after Stefan Boenisch squared his header to complete a remarkable comeback.

Parity did not last long though, as Philipp Wollscheid's poor back pass was latched onto by Mario Goetze, and although Leno saved his poked effort, he could do nothing to prevent Lewandowski sliding home the rebound.

Lewandowski was a constant thorn in Leverkusen's side, and he won his team's second penalty of the match as he got in down the right hand side and forced Boenisch into a foul.

Blaszczykowski again stepped up but Leno guessed right and held onto the spot-kick which was struck low to his left, but Dortmund still claimed the three points.

The win moves Juergen Klopp's men to within 12 points of league leaders Bayern Munich, while Bayer Leverkusen are third.

In the other game on Sunday, Nuremberg moved further clear of the relegation zone with a 2-1 victory over Borussia Moenchengladbach.

A Timmy Simons penalty and Tomas Pekhart's strike put Nuremberg ahead inside 30 minutes, with Patrick Herrmann's effort proving nothing more than a consolation.

Nuremberg are eight points clear of 16th-placed Hoffenheim, while Moenchengladbach sit in seventh.

 

[Kiessling]

Dortmund trio pull out of Germany squad
BVB's Marcel Schmelzer, Mario Gotze and Marco Reus have withdrawn from Wednesday's clash with France, a game which Oliver Bierhoff feels will be a great test for die Mannschaft

Klopp: Borussia Dortmund got lucky against Bayer Leverkusen
The BVB boss acknowledges the large helping of fortune that allowed his side to take all three points, but remains convinced the right team won the game

Lahm hails 'absolutely brilliant' Muller
The Germany forward scored once and helped set up another in Bayern Munich's 3-0 win over Mainz, and his team-mate was full praise for his ability and drive to improve

Low: Germany must improve to win World Cup 2014
The 53-year-old has questioned the young talent at his disposal and warned those who are expecting Pep Guardiola to be an instant success at Bayern Munich

Petersen: I have no chance under Guardiola
The striker has announced his intention to leave the Allianz Arena after his loan spell with Werder Bremen finishes in the summer

Hummels: Second place and a cup win would be perfect for Borussia Dortmund
The Germany defender is still hoping to emerge from the season with silverware, but accepts that catching up with Bayern Munich in the league is unrealistic

Kahn wary of Guardiola making Bayern play like Barcelona
The former Bavarians goalkeeper has warned there could be significant changes afoot when the Spaniard takes up the reins, claiming the players will have to adapt in a hurry

Blaszczykowski hails 2012 as his best year
The Poland international reflected back on an unprecedented twelve months with Borussia Dortmund, and hinted that he would consider spending his entire career with his club

Muller delight at 'difficult' away victory over Mainz
The Bayern Munich attacker was thrilled with his team's 3-0 victory on Saturday afternoon, in which he scored first before two strikes from Mario Mandzukic clinched the victory

Heynckes: Tuchel is destined to be future Bayern coach
The outgoing Bayern boss praised his Mainz counterpart ahead of the match between the two sides, saying that he will eventually become trainer at the Bavarian side

 

[Huntelaar]

Klopp refusing to be drawn into Lewandowski transfer rumours
The Polish forward has been the target of transfer rumours over recent weeks with Bayern Munich and others keen on the striker, but the Dortmund boss insists there is nothing new

Heynckes says Bayern Munich have no excuses not to perform against Schalke
Die Roten coach has stated that his side have no excuses for not playing well against Schalke this weekend, but believes that Jens Keller's men deserve respect

Neymar: I can imagine playing for Bayern
The Brazil star, who was in Europe this week due to the Selecao’s clash with England on Wednesday, revealed his ambition to play on the continent someday

Badstuber to extend Bayern deal until 2017 on Friday
The versatile defender will ink a contract extension with the Bundesliga leaders later this week as he continues his recovery from a serious knee injury

Robben happy to play as defender for Netherlands
The winger has said that he was so happy to be recalled for Oranje that he does not mind what position he plays, but admitted life on the bench for Bayern Munich is 'difficult'

Dortmund laugh off Lewandowski to Bayern rumours
The Poland international has been widely linked with a move to Bavaria, but his club are keen to hold on to him as the striker refuses to discuss his future

Brazil's towering inferno - Dante peaks after Bayern switch
The Brazilian has had a long road to the top, but the 29-year-old has the chance to establish himself as one of his country's leading defenders in the coming years

Out-of-favour Mario Gomez faces career-defining end to the season for Bayern & Germany
The Bayern Munich star has found it harder to secure his first-team place this season, and will need to assert himself at the Allianz Arena in the next few months

Grosskreutz extends Borussia Dortmund stay until 2016
The attacking midfielder has opted to sign a two-year extension to his previous deal as he is thoroughly enjoying life with the Bundesliga champions

Zorc denies knowledge of Lewandowski exit
The Dortmund chief has refuted claims that Robert Lewandowski is on the verge of joining rivals Bayern Munich with the 24-year-old reportedly topping Guardiola's wishlist

Ribery: Bayern Munich are as good as Real Madrid and Barcelona
The France international believes Pep Guardiola's arrival will put them on a par with the two Spanish sides and says he wants to stay with the club for the rest of his career

Kahn: Wiese needs to bounce back stronger
The former Germany goalkeeper believes the Hoffenheim custodian has been let down by his coaches and has been used as a scapegoat for the club's poor results this season

 

[Huntelaar]

Hamburg's Adler out of Gladbach clash
The Germany international has an abdominal strain which coach Thorsten Fink says he is unwilling to take any chances with heading into Saturday's game against Monchengladbach

Ter Stegen not joining Barcelona, insists agent
The Germany international's representative has moved to deny reports linking the shot-stopper with a move to the Catalans

Badstuber: Bayern can become bigger than Barcelona
The defender is optimistic about Bayern's chances in Europe in the years to come, and is hopeful of making his comeback this season

Kroos defends Schweinsteiger following recent criticism
The Bayern and Germany midfielder has supported his club and international team-mate after question marks over his long-term effectiveness from Olaf Thon and Gunter Netzer

Shakhtar & Dortmund both deserve to qualify for the Champions League quarter-finals
The two teams served up some fantastic attacking football during their 2-2 draw at the Donbass Arena, and can certainly count themselves among the top eight sides in Europe

'There's a good chance he will stay' - Watzke plays down Lewandowski to Bayern rumours
General manager Hans-Joachim Watzke insists that the sought-after Pole striker may yet stay at BVB, while the striker himself refused to be drawn on die Roten rumours

Mandzukic: I always knew I could go on a run
The Croatian striker has claimed that he was confident of making an impact at Bayern Munich, having ousted Mario Gomez from Jupp Heynckes' starting XI

Ribery confronted by fan at Bayern training ground
Police were called after the France forward became embroiled in a heated exchange with the suspect, though club spokesman Markus Horwick confirmed there were no physical threats

Lars Bender: I want to make Germany squad for 2014 World Cup
The holding midfielder is dreaming of next year's tournament in Brazil, and is optimistic about Leverkusen's chances at success

Klopp: Guardiola will find it tougher at Bayern Munich
The 45-year-old believes having the world's best players meant the former Barcelona coach's job was easier at Camp Nou, while likening his side to the Liga leaders

Dutt: Kiessling deserves World Cup place
The sporting director of the Germany national team believes the Bayer Leverkusen forward has the ability to represent die mannschaft at next summer's tournament in Brazil

Huntelaar winning race to face Galatasaray
The former Real Madrid striker has been ruled out with an eye injury but hopes to play some part in Schalke's match against Mainz on Saturday before travelling to Istanbul

Klopp: Bundesliga most attractive league for fans
The Borussia Dortmund head coach concedes the German top flight is not the best league in Europe, but insists it is the most entertaining division for spectators to view

Schalke's Uchida out for several weeks after injury blow
The defender has picked up a thigh problem and will spend the next few weeks on the sidelines due to the knock

Rummenigge hits back at Thon after Schweinsteiger criticism
The Bayern official has voiced his dismay with the 46-year-old's comments, and believes they are the result of frustration about his absence from the game

Iniesta: Guardiola will be great for Bayern
The Spain international is pleased to see his former coach return to the game, and has little doubt he will prove to be a success at the Bundesliga leaders

Neymar denies talking with Dante about Bayern Munich move
The defender revealed he and the Santos star had held a conversation about what playing for the Bundesliga club is like, but the 21-year-old has contradicted his claims

Klopp: I will not leave Dortmund for Madrid or Chelsea
The successful coach has been linked with a number of European giants, but says he is happy to stay at his current club for the foreseeable future

Klose almost joined Barcelona, says agent
The Germany international left Werder Bremen for Bayern Munich in 2007, but his representative has claimed that he may well have gone to Camp Nou

Robben: I'm not a difficult player
The Dutch winger has found playing time hard to come by in recent weeks, but insists that coaches do not have to work hard to handle him

Alaba: I still have to improve in many areas
The Austria international is desperate to keep on improving and believes Bayern are in a good position to win the Bundesliga

Schweinsteiger past his best, says Thon
The experienced midfielder remains a key player for club and country, but the 46-year-old believes he is on the decline and could lose his Germany spot shortly

Gomez: Lewandowski does not worry me
The striker has brushed off reports that his position could be under threat if the Borussia Dortmund star arrives at the Allianz Arena

Hoeness hits back at Matthaus over Lewandowski claims
The Bayern Munich president is unhappy with the Germany legend for suggesting the striker had agreed to move to the Allianz Arena

Van der Vaart admits to Lewandowski 'theatre'
The midfielder has revealed he made the most of a confrontation with the Poland striker so that he was sent off on Saturday

Gundogan can force Schweinsteiger out of the Germany team, says Gunter Netzer
The former Nationalelf star has backed the Dortmund youngster to challenge for a permanent spot in the national team, ahead of the Bayern Munich vice-captain

Future Germany No.1 Ter Stegen better than Neuer, says Stiel
The ex-Foals goalkeeper expects his heir to displace the Bayern Munich glovesman between the Mannschaft posts in the coming years and feels he would not look out of place in Spain

Dante: Neymar enquired about Bayern Munich
The defender admitted to having a conversation with his young compatriot regarding the Bavarian giants, days after the Santos star made public his interest in a move to Germany

Heynckes: Things became easier against Schalke
The 67-year-old praised his charges for breaking down a good defensive team as die Roten stretched their lead at the top of the Bundesliga to 15 points

Matthaus claims Lewandowski to Bayern deal close
The Bavarian legend fueled speculation that the Polish striker could be destined for a switch to the Allianz Arena in the summer during a live television transmission on Saturday

Klopp refuses to blame Dortmund after 'wild' Hamburg defeat
The BVB boss remained calm in the face of a heavy loss to HSV, but conceded that Robert Lewandowski's dismissal gave the visitors a crucial momentum

Ribery: Bayern can cope with busy schedule
The France international is looking forward the next few weeks and has little doubt that the Bavarians will not be troubled by their packed fixture list

Beckenbauer advocates Barca style
The Germany legend feels the Mannschaft should experiment by playing without a recognised striker to mirror the system employed by Barcelona and world champions Spain

Badstuber extends contract with Bayern
The Germany international centre-back has extended his stay with die Roten for a further three years and is confident he can fully recover from a knee injury he sustained last year

Robben: Van Gaal has always supported me
The Dutch winger expressed his admiration for the Netherlands coach, after he was included in the latest Oranje squad despite not starting frequently for Bayern Munich recently

Watzke tips Hamburg to become Bundesliga force
The Borussia Dortmund CEO believes HSV have the economic power to rival the country's three biggest clubs

Schalke confirm Moritz to join Mainz in summer
The former Germany Under-21 midfielder has opted to call time on his career in Gelsenkirchen

 

[Kiessling]

Bundesliga preview: Bayern set sights on history

14 February 2013

Bayern Munich will look to continue their record-breaking ways when they travel to Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga on Friday.

With 17 wins, three draws and a solitary loss, the title is widely considered Bayern's to lose.

After 21 games, the Bavarian club's 15-point lead, total of 54 points and seven goals conceded are all Bundesliga records.

Bayern are on track to break their own record for the earliest confirmed title win after 30 matches, and are due to surpass Borussia Dortmund's record haul of 81 points, set last season.

The record of 25 wins in a season, set by Bayern in 1972/73 and matched by Dortmund last year, is also at risk.

Wolfsburg are 12th on the table, 28 points behind Bayern, who they have not beaten since 2009.

Dieter Hecking's men accounted for bottom-placed Greuther Fuerth last time out, but remain rank outsiders to cause an upset against Bayern.

Meanwhile, fourth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt will aim to leapfrog second-placed Dortmund when the teams meet on Saturday.

Frankfurt have been a revelation since their promotion last year, while Dortmund are back in Germany following a 2-2 draw at Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League.

Elsewhere on Saturday, third-placed Bayer Leverkusen entertain Augsburg, who have gone five games without a loss.

Augsburg are in 17th place, one point adrift of the relegation playoff spot currently occupied by Hoffenheim.

Fifth-placed Freiburg make the trip to Werder Bremen, looking to strengthen their European credentials in front of Mainz and Hamburg.

Mainz are at home to 10th-placed Schalke, while Hamburg welcome eighth-placed Borussia Moenchengladbach.

In other matches, Fortuna Dusseldorf take on Fuerth at home, with Nuremberg hosting Hannover on Sunday.

Stuttgart will look to end their five-match league losing streak when they journey to Hoffenheim.

 

[Huntelaar]

Bundesliga: Wolfsburg 0 Bayern Munich 2

16 February 2013

Bayern Munich kept up their march toward the Bundesliga title after strolling to a 2-0 win over Wolfsburg at the Volkswagen Arena on Friday.

Bayern were always in control but, perhaps with next week's Champions League trip to Arsenal on the agenda, never looked to over-exert themselves against a side with one of the worst home records in the German top flight.

Mario Mandzukic showed no mercy against his former club when firing home a fantastic overhead effort in the first half, with Arjen Robben rounding off matters in injury-time to send the visitors 18 points clear of Borussia Dortmund at the top of the standings.

Bayern typically dominated possession throughout the first half, but despite some promising build-up play, the final ball was lacking, breaking down a number of their attacks.

Wolfsburg were diligent in defence and, through the pace and directness of Marcel Schafer and Ivica Olic, found themselves with a purposeful outlet on the left flank to relieve pressure on their goal.

The first half seemed destined to end in a stalemate, but, nine minutes before the break, a moment of magic from Mandzukic broke the deadlock in stunning fashion.

Toni Kroos pumped a free kick toward the far post and Bastian Schweinsteiger nodded back to the Croatia striker, who connected superbly with an overhead kick that rifled in from 15 yards out.

The home side made a concerted effort to get back into the game in the second half, but were still indebted to Naldo for hacking clear a goalbound Thomas Mueller effort off the line.

Vieirinha blasted off target from 20 yards out, but Wolfsburg's best chance of the match came from Diego, who bent a free kick toward the corner that brought the best out of Manuel Neuer with a quarter of an hour to go.

The hosts' eagerness to get back into the match would cost them at the death as Mueller found Robben peeling away in space, the winger burying a powerful low finish to seal the game.

 

[Huntelaar]

Bundesliga wrap: Nuremberg salvage point

18 February 2013

A 92nd-minute equaliser secured Nuremberg a share of the points in a 2-2 Bundesliga draw with Hannover 96 on Sunday.

Substitute Sebastian Polter delighted the home fans when he buried Timothy Chandler's cross as Nuremberg twice came from behind seal a share of the spoils.

Hungarian midfielder Szabolcs Huszti snatched the lead for Hannover on 41 minutes as he sweetly struck into the corner of the goal from Sergio da Silva Pinto's pass.

The lead lasted until eight minutes after the restart when Nuremberg's Timm Klose headed home Hiroshi Kiyotake's delivery.

Didier Ya Konan re-established the advantage for Hannover in the 68th minute before Polter's late strike secured a deserved draw for Nuremberg.

The result was a missed opportunity for Hannover, who could have established themselves in the top half of the standings while Nuremberg sit in 14th position, 10 points clear of the relegation zone.

In other Bundesliga action, an early goal was enough for Stuttgart to record a 1-0 win at Hoffenheim.

Martin Harnik's third-minute header from Ibrahima Traore's cross ended Stuttgart's run of five consecutive losses and lifted them to 12th in the standings.

Hoffenheim, who had 63 percent of the possession in the loss, remain in the relegation zone, 10 points from safety.

 

[Kiessling]

Rummenigge: Bayern must not show signs of weakness
The Bavarians' CEO is delighted with the way their season has unfolded but warns that the tests will only get tougher as the season enters its most crucial phase

Muller: I want to spend my whole career at Bayern
The 23-year-old has says he is loving life at the Allianz Arena, having secured him self a regular first-team place this season with a string of fine performances

'Schweinsteiger has outstanding abilities' - Low
The Germany boss has praised his experienced playmaker, after Nationalelf legend Gunter Netzer suggested his days as a first-teamer were numbered

Bayern Munich goalkeeper Neuer set to wear four-fingered glove against Arsenal
The Germany international bruised his hand in training on Thursday and sported the special equipment, which allows him to strap two fingers together, against Wolfsburg

Bayern have no plans to sign Lewandowski - Rummenigge
The Bavarians' CEO has moved to deny reports that his side are close to signing the Borussia Dortmund striker, much to the relief of BVB chief Hans-Joachim Watzke

Bayern can break down any team that resists - Heynckes
Die Roten coach has praised his side after their Bundesliga win and feels the impressive manner of the victory proves just how good his current team are

Heldt: Keller's had less time than German Chancellor
Sporting director Horst Heldt has defended his decision to appoint Jens Keller as Schalke coach, branding the lack of patience towards his man as "disrespectful"

Javi Martinez: Let's not talk about Guardiola
The Spain midfielder says the excitement over Bayern Munich's managerial appointment could prove to be an unwelcome distraction for the team

Klopp hails 'outstandingly good' Dortmund
The BVB coach has lauded his players after they comfortably overcame Eintracht Frankfurt despite Julian Schieber's red card, reserving special praise for hat-trick hero Marco Reus

Zorc unsure Lewandowski will extend contract
The Borussia Dortmund sporting director has admitted the Polish striker may leave the club soon, but coach Jurgen Klopp feels the champions will cope

Reus: It's an honour to play with Gotze
The 23-year-old scored a hat-trick in Dortmund's 3-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday, but was quick to praise his team-mate for his role in the victory

Heynckes thrilled with 'great' Bayern Munich side
The German tactician was delighted with his side for once again showcasing their full credentials at the Volkswagen Arena on Friday

Javi Martinez: Bayern Munich do not need to play like Barcelona
The former Athletic Bilbao player is excited by the arrival of the Bavarians' new coach but does not feel a change in style is necessary

Hoffenheim fine Wiese and Weis
The Bundesliga outift have punished two of their players for their conduct at an event in which they were asked to leave

Hitzfeld warns Guardiola: Expectations are high
The former Bayern Munich boss believes there is a "hype" building around the ex-Barcelona coach's arrival which may prove difficult to live up to

Juventus ready to reject €30m Bayern bid for Vidal
The Bundesliga leaders have identified the Chile international as a summer transfer target, but the Bianconeri are unwilling to sell the midfielder at any price

 

[Kiessling]

Van der Vaart urges Son to stay with Hamburg
The former Tottenham midfielder wants the South Korean to stay on at Hamburg, despite several European sides looking to lure him away from Germany

Heynckes would never go to Schalke, says Hoeness
The 61-year-old has laughed off suggestions that his coach could take over from Jens Keller when he departs the Allianz Arena at the end of the current campaign

Buskens dismissed by Greuther Furth
The 44-year-old has lost his job after winning just two games in 22 attempts in the Bundesliga this season

Kiessling surprised at Dortmund name-drop
The Bayer Leverkusen striker insists he has no knowledge of any reported interest from the reigning Bundesliga champions ahead of his side's Europa League clash with Benfica

Petersen empathises with benched Bayern stars
The striker believes the likes of Claudio Pizarro could waltz into any other Bundesliga line-up, and claimed he would like to remain at Werder Bremen beyond his loan

Rumours about Guardiola's targets are false, says Hoeness
The Roten president has said that the Spanish coach, who is taking over at the Allianz Arena at the end of the season, has not spoken to anyone about transfers yet

Hamburg need to improve for Europe, says Van der Vaart
The Dutch playmaker has voiced his pride at his side's high standing in the Bundesliga, but warned his team-mates that they must keep up their form

Reus: Gladbach will always be special to me
The forward joined Borussia Dortmund from Lucien Favre's side last summer and is looking forward to meeting up with his old team-mates on Sunday

Ibrahimovic: I'm the greatest behind Ali!
The Sweden international has joked he is 'the greatest' after the heavyweight boxer, and added he would be open to a move to the Bundesliga at some point in the future

Bayern do not want to weaken Dortmund by buying Lewandowski, says Hoeness
Die Rotens' CEO says the times when his club used to acquire players to undermine the competition are over, and adds there is currently no emergency to sign another striker

Arsenal target summer move for Bayern Munich midfielder Luiz Gustavo
The £15 million-rated Brazilian, who can play in central midfield or defence, is regarded as a proven candidate for the midfield anchorman hole left by Alex Song's departure

Heynckes ignoring Schalke speculation
The veteran coach believes that he is only being linked with the Veltins Arena job because of the good work his staff have put in this season

 

[Kiessling]

Bundesliga preview: European spots up for grabs

21 February 2013

Champions League football will be the underlying focus when Bundesliga surprise packets Freiburg and Eintracht Frankfurt play on Friday.

In the opening game of the Bundesliga's Week 23, fifth-placed Freiburg will host Eintracht, who sit fourth in the standings, with both clubs, much to the surprise of German football fans, in the running to play in the UEFA Champions League next season.

This time last year Eintracht were in the second division in Germany, the third time in the past decade they had dropped out of the Bundesliga.

But having finished runners-up in the second tier, Eintracht were promoted to the Bundesliga for this season and started with a six-game unbeaten run.

Armin Veh's team have not looked back and could take a firm grip on the Champions League playoff position in Germany if they knock off Freiburg this week.

Freiburg only played in the Bundesliga for the first time in the 1993-94 season and have never won a top-level trophy.

Head coach Christian Streich has taken a club used to alternating between the Bundesliga and Germany's second division and has made them very hard to beat with Freiburg boasting the second most frugal defence in the top tier, having only conceded 22 goals in as many games this season.

If Freiburg win at their Mage Solar Stadion they will replace Eintracht in fourth position on goal difference but if the visitors triumph they could open up a six-point gap, as long as sixth-placed Hamburg lose to Hannover on Saturday.

Hamburg will start their short trip south to take on Hannover knowing victory will be a tough ask as their northern rivals are in fine form at home.

Hannover have only lost two games at home this season across all competitions and have claimed victory in their past four matches at the AWD-Arena.

Bundesliga-leaders Bayern Munich will also play on Saturday when they host Werder Bremen, while Nuremburg will travel to Stuttgart, Mainz are up against Wolfsburg, Augsburg face Hoffenheim and Schalke are set to play Fortuna Dusseldorf.

In Sunday's matches, second-placed Borussia Dortmund will travel south-west to face Borussia Moenchengladbach and bottom club Greuther Furth host Bayer Leverkusen.

 

[OAisAfailure]

Nin Na Bei Cheebye!

O$P$. Yesterday your lose one when settle? Fuck you ok no settle cannot place new bets. Poor Fuck. Scram la,,

 

[Kiessling]

Robben in for Ribery, says Heynckes
The 67-year-old has confirmed Robben will come in for Franck Ribery, who sits out through suspension, while Beckenbauer and Lahm added their sentiments ahead of Wednesday's clash

Beckenbauer: Bayern do not need Lewandowski
The 67-year-old has warned his former club against signing the Poland international as they already have enough quality up front

Robben: Small details will decide Borussia Dortmund clash
The Netherlands international has warned that BVB will prove to be tough opponents, but is determined to progress in the DFB Pokal

Lewandowski's agent hints at summer move
The striker has continually being linked with a move away from Signal Iduna Park, and his agent has now suggested that he could leave the club at the end of the campaign

'I love the Bundesliga and I will return', says Manchester City striker Dzeko
The striker has two years left on his contract with Roberto Mancini's men but is keen on a return to Germany, and says he hopes Borussia Dortmund reach the Champions League final

Petersen: I could return to Bayern Munich
The former Energie Cottbus star is willing to go back to the Allianz Arena, but only if he features on a regular basis

Heung-Min Son: I am happy with Hamburg
The 20-year-old Hamburg star has said he is comfortable with life in Germany, despite courting the interest of various clubs on the continent

Dortmund CEO Watzke aiming for €250m revenue
The 53-year-old Dortmund chief believes the club will announce record figures for the full financial year, but says Klopp will still need to work within a sustainable budget

Klopp frustrated by 'unpleasant' Gladbach defending
After watching his side draw, the Dortmund boss spoke of his disappointment at the result and reacted to the methods used to stop his team scoring

I am ready to fight for my place, says Schieber
Amidst speculation about Robert Lewandowski, striking partner Julian Schieber says both he and the team are focused, adding he is determined to secure a first-team place

Gunter Netzer: Bayern titles won’t affect Guardiola
The former Borussia Monchengladbach and Real Madrid midfielder believes the ex-Barcelona boss will be great at die Roten, despite the pressure of his new club’s history

Robben bemoans goal conceded despite Werder Bremen demolition
The winger felt the visitors' consolation was unnecessary, but nevertheless praised his heavily-rotated team for the victory

Heynckes: Bayern want to get better & better
The 67-year-old has called on his players to keep improving as their hunt for silverware intensifies, while Karl-Heinz Rummenigge praised the team's focus against Werder Bremen

Hoeness: I'm a big pyromaniac
The Bayern Munich president says he would be in favour of flares being used in the Allianz Arena, were there legislation ensuring fan safety

Hannover's Franca contracts tuberculosis
The Brazilian is believed to have picked up the disease while travelling, but the club hope that he is the only player infected by the illness

Arnesen: I was right to join Hamburg
The Dane is happy with the way the club have progressed since his arrival at the Imtech Arena in the summer of 2011, and says he does not mind being criticised

Schaaf: Arnautovic will play for a big club
The Werder Bremen coach is certain that the Austrian will have a great career, while general manager Thomas Eichin wants the 23-year-old to sign a new deal

Bayern president rules out big money move for Neymar
After having broken the German transfer record last summer, the Bayern Munich president says it’s improbable that they will be forking out for the Brazilian starlet

 

[Kiessling]

Extra Time: Bayern fan site explains mock Arsenal banner

By Joe Wright

Feb 25, 2013 1:30:00 PM

FC Bayern Worldwide issued a statement on their Facebook account making light of the Emirates Stadium's SMS service which enables fans to report bad behaviour in the stands

A Bayern Munich fan site has claimed responsibility for a banner displayed in their side's Champions League clash with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium - and explained the reason behind it.

During the Bundesliga leaders' 3-1 win over the Gunners, a section of the travelling support was seen holding a sign encouraging the home fans to text a number in order to contact stadium stewards.

Fan site FC Bayern Worldwide has since issued a statement on its Facebook page, explaining that it was intended to mock a system in place at the grounds whereby fans are encouraged to report those behaving badly in the stands.

"We, FC Bayern WorldWide, take responsibility for the banner held up in the first few minutes of the Arsenal-Bayern match last Tuesday. It read: 'Gooners!! Text (67777) the stewards!' the note explained.

"For those of you not quite sure about the meaning, Arsenal offer an SMS system, which enables fans to report other fans demonstrating so-called misbehaviour, such as 'persistent standing' - the suspect is then escorted out of the stadium.

"We were helpful enough to print the number under which the stewards could be contacted (67777), however, we unfortunately do not know how many Arsenal fans did end up complaining about the 'rowdy' Bayern supporters.

"The exaggerated security scares in Germany are troublesome enough for keeping our fan culture alive, but English Premier League clubs demonstrate a whole new level.

"The text messaging service enabling stadium-goers to 'tell' on fellow fans is the pinnacle of recent efforts to solidify the change in demographics in football stands throughout the UK.

"Without wanting to sound like moral preachers, we'd like to remind English fans that complaining about high-priced tickets etc. on internet forums is not enough.

"If you want your atmospheres back, you've got to underline your words with actions! Instead of using an SMS service to grass on other fans, stand together and sing, prevent the stewards from pulling out fellow standing fans and make your discontent at high ticket prices seen and heard live!"

The group ended their statement with an additional jibe at the Gunners crowd, stating: "On a brighter note, the Bayern fans turned the away game into a home game through their fantastic support and with the help of a largely quiet English crowd, which may have been dazzled by the biggest pyro show in the history of English football (as the players walked onto the pitch)."

 

[Kiessling]

Dortmund announce €14.2m net profit

By Shane Callaghan

Feb 25, 2013 8:30:00 PM

Borussia Dortmund have announced a pre-tax profit for the first half of the fiscal year, and BVB chief Watzke believes the profit margin reflects the club's growing strength

Borussia Dortmund have announced a pre-tax profit of €17.5 million for the first six months of the financial year 2012-13.

The German giants recorded a net profit of €14.2m, which illustrates an early €1.4m increase on the previous financial year.

And club CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke believes Monday's figures represent Dortmund's ascension as a financial force in German football.

Speaking to reporters, Watzke said: "The numbers that we announce today are further evidence of the ever-growing economic strength of the BVB."

On Sunday, Watzke outlayed his ambitions for the club to announce a total revenue of €250m for the full financial year.

Dortmund look set to surrender their Bundesliga crown to Bayern Munich this season with Jupp Heynckes' men holding a 17-point lead over the reigning champions.

 

[Kiessling]

Robben included for banned Ribery

26 February 2013

Bayern Munich boss Jupp Heynckes revealed Arjen Robben will replace Franck Ribery for their DFB Pokal quarter-final with Borussia Dortmund.

The France international was dismissed during Bayern's last cup outing away to Augsburg and Heynckes said Robben is available to deputise for the suspended Ribery.

Speaking to FCB.tv, the coach said: "There is no need to be secretive about it. Providing he (Robben) stays fit and trains as normal tomorrow, he will obviously start on Wednesday."

The Netherlands international, along with Philipp Lahm and Dante, did not train on Monday ahead of the fixture, but Heynckes revealed he had simply afforded the trio a day off.

"A day of rest will do them all good in my opinion," Heynckes said.

In the build up to the clash, a host of Bayern affiliates have weighed in on the match.

Franz Beckbenbauer has described the meeting as 'a game of football set to fulfill all expectations', while Lahm has claimed, 'the whole of Germany is looking forward to it'.

The fixture represents Dortmund's last realistic chance of silverware this season with Heynckes' Bayern sitting 17 points above Klopp's charges at the Bundesliga summit.