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Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola is a "genius", according to Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu.
Guardiola led Bayern to a fourth-straight Bundesliga title thanks to a 2-1 win over Ingolstadt on Saturday.
The Spaniard will join Premier League outfit Manchester City next season and Bartomeu lauded the 45-year-old, who led Barca to three La Liga titles and two Champions League crowns before heading to Germany.
"Pep is a genius who wants to safely change many things in Manchester," he told the Hamburger Abendblatt earlier in the day.
"Carlo [Ancelotti, incoming Bayern coach], however, is an intelligent coach and clever enough to keep the good things and add his own elements."
Guardiola's move to the Premier League has led to suggestions he may try and convince some of his former players to join him.
But Bartomeu is unconcerned by City potentially going after multiple Barca stars.
"We don’t have any fear at all. Our players are very happy to be here," he said.
"I am delighted for [City sporting director] Txiki Begiristain who was with us for many years. He and Guardiola will form a strong duo."
RB Leipzig confirmed their place in next season's Bundesliga on Sunday to complete their stunning rise through the German leagues.
Financially backed by energy drink company Red Bull, at odds with the fan-ownership model prevalent in Germany, Lepizig have dominated divisions on their way to the 2.Bundesliga, and Sunday's 2-0 win over Karlsruher secured their first taste of top-flight football.
Emil Forsberg's second-half strike set them on their way against Karlsruher before a Rene Vollath own goal secured three points, enough to seal second place behind 2.Bundesliga champions Freiburg.
Bayern Munich v Hannover: Champions to receive trophy in Guardiola´s Allianz farewell
12 May 2016
Bayern Munich will receive the Bundesliga trophy after rounding off their league campaign against relegated Hannover as Pep Guardiola takes charge of his final game at the Allianz Arena.
The former Barcelona head coach will manage Bayern - who were crowned champions for a record fourth consecutive year after last week's win at Ingolstadt - for the last time in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
The league winners will then be presented with the trophy before turning their attention to next Saturday's DFB-Pokal final against Borussia Dortmund in Berlin, after which Guardiola will join Manchester City.
Following their title win, Bayern's week got even better as they confirmed the signings of Benfica midfielder Renato Sanches and Dortmund captain Mats Hummels for next season, where they will try to make it five titles in succession.
Striker Robert Lewandowski believes a title party in Munich followed by DFB-Pokal glory would make Guardiola's third and final campaign in Germany a success despite losing out in a third straight Champions League semi-final, this time to Atletico Madrid.
"We are champions for the fourth time in a row, which is amazing and it is my fourth title personally as well," the Poland international said.
"We will have a party in Munich and celebrate with our fans. After that it is the cup final. If we win the cup, it will be a truly good season."
Bayern will be expecting to give Guardiola a fine Allianz send-off as they sit an astonishing 60 points clear of bottom-of-the table Hannover and have won nine-in-a-row against them since their last defeat in October 2011, with the visitors scoring only four goals in that run.
Bayern have won their last home game of the season for nine consecutive years, keeping clean sheets in each of the last four.
So the omens are not good for Hannover, who lost 1-0 at home to Bayern in December's reverse fixture and have been in the relegation places ever since, failing to get off the bottom at all in 2016, while Bayern have been constants at the top.
Daniel Stendel's men beat Hoffenheim 1-0 in their last outing, but have only picked up five points from their last 10 away matches.
Bayern midfielder Arturo Vidal is back after an illness, while Xabi Alonso (ribs) and Arjen Robben (hamstring) are working to be fit for next week's Pokal final. Holger Badstuber has been training separately as he continues to recover from a broken ankle.
Key Opta stats:
- Hannover have suffered 36 Bundesliga defeats against Bayern - they have not lost more than 29 games against any other side. Their current run of eight consecutive league defeats against the champions is a club record.
- The bottom side have beaten the leaders just once in Bundesliga history when, after four matchdays had passed, Cologne were beaten 3-1 by Saarbrucken in January 1964.
- Bayern have not conceded against a team sitting bottom of the table in over 10 and a half hours (642 minutes).
- The champions have not faced a relegated side on the final matchday since 2010-11 (when Borussia Dortmund beat Eintracht Frankfurt 3-1).
- The side bottom of the table has not claimed a point on the final matchday in each of the last six seasons. In contrast, the league leaders have won the last game in each of the previous nine campaigns.
- Robert Lewandowski has scored 29 goals this term, making him the league's highest scoring overseas player in a campaign (same as Klaas-Jan Huntelaar in 2011-12). He could become the first since Dieter Muller to net 30 in a top-flight campaign (34, 1976-77).
Borussia Dortmund v Cologne: Stoger´s men seek to topple Pokal finalists
12 May 2016
Peter Stoger is eyeing a final-day upset against Borussia Dortmund as Cologne seek to clinch a first top-half Bundesliga finish since the 1991-92 campaign.
Dortmund's title bid was finally ended last weekend as Thomas Tuchel's men were beaten 1-0 at lowly Eintracht Frankfurt, while Bayern Munich were crowned champions again following a 2-1 win at Ingolstadt.
That result did Cologne a favour as it helped them move two points clear of Ingolstadt in ninth and coach Stoger now wants to finish the season in style on Saturday against a Dortmund side who may have an eye on the DFB-Pokal final, where they face Bayern.
"The match against Dortmund is the ideal way to close the season," he said.
"There are not too many games on the road that are as interesting and attractive to play than being able to play in Dortmund.
"We want to try and stay unbeaten for the fifth game in a row. It will not be an easy task, but we have put in some solid performances in recent weeks.
"The team is in good spirits and we want to make another statement. We are going to prepare in a way that makes us an interesting opponent for them."
Cologne have a surprisingly good recent record against BVB, having taken seven points from their last three meetings, with Stoger yet to experience defeat against them in his tenure.
They are seeking to become the only side to do the double over Tuchel's charges this term, but they have not won at Dortmund since April 1992.
In addition, they have failed to find the net in any of their last four visits to Signal Iduna Park.
December's reverse fixture ended in dramatic fashion as Simon Zoller and Anthony Modeste scored in the final eight minutes to wipe out Sokratis Papastathopoulos' 18th-minute effort.
The hosts have had a mixed week on the transfer front, with Mats Hummels set to join rivals Bayern Munich, while Ousmane Dembele will bolster their forward line after agreeing a move from Rennes for next season.
Tuchel could factor the Pokal final against Bayern into his selection process, with Dortmund assured of a second-placed finish, although they are putting their season-long unbeaten home record on the line.
The 1-0 loss to Frankfurt may have had him considering changes anyway, with his side beaten by Stefan Aigner's goal despite enjoying the overwhelming majority of possession at the Commerzbank-Arena.
Dortmund will be without Neven Subotic (thrombosis) and Ilkay Gundogan (knee), while Henrikh Mkhitaryan is suspended. Cologne's Matthias Lehmann is back from a ban.
Key Opta Facts:
- Cologne have 42 points to their name – their highest tally at this stage of a season since 2000-01 (45).
- Borussia Dortmund have already equalled their club record for home points won within a season: 44 (same as 2011-12 and 1998-99).
- Cologne have lost just one of their last 11 away league games (W3 D7), including none of the most recent five (W2 D3).
- Dortmund have scored a league high 80 goals this term. They could set a new club record for goals scored in a season this weekend (81 in 2012-13).
Guardiola rules out Bayern return after title celebrations
14 May 2016
Pep Guardiola does not believe he will return to coach Bayern Munich after the Bundesliga champions celebrated their third straight league title under his leadership with a 3-1 victory over already-relegated Hannover.
Mario Gotze hit a brace and Robert Lewandowski struck his 30th league goal of the season to cement his status as the German top flight's leading scorer.
Guardiola will take charge of Bayern for the last time in next Saturday's DFB-Pokal final against Borussia Dortmund and the coach, who will take over at Manchester City next season, ruled out a return to Bavaria.
"I don't think [I will be back]," Guardiola said. "Bayern need a new coach, to fight on another level."
Spirits were high at the Allianz Arena despite heavy rain during the trophy presentation, with Guardiola and his players showered with beer as part of the celebrations.
Asked how being covered in beer felt, Guardiola said: "Cold! And it stinks. But it's very good - a great tradition. In Barcelona this does not happen.
"I am me. The first [Bayern title], I was still somewhat shy. Today it was better. Defending the league title is outstanding and a great compliment to these players.
"I learned a lot, it was completely different than in Barcelona. A great experience. I'm a better coach, a little bit. It was very good for me, for my development."
Guardiola added that he wishes he could have won the Champions League with Bayern after being knocked out in the semi-finals in each of his three years in charge.
"I could not win the Champions League for my players," he said. "I'm sorry for the fans and especially for the players.
"From the bottom of my heart, I hope that Carlo [Ancelotti, his successor] can get to the final!"
Schalke have secured the services of experienced defender Naldo from Wolfsburg on a free transfer.
The 33-year-old has signed a contract with the Gelsenkirchen side until June 2018 with an option for an additional season.
"We immediately looked into it when we heard Naldo was available," Schalke's sporting director Christian Heidel commented on the capture of the centre-back.
"It was very important to add such an experienced player to our young and talented team."
Naldo enjoyed a seven-year spell with Werder Bremen before joining Wolfsburg in 2012. He has since made over 100 Bundesliga appearances for the club, while also winning the DFB-Pokal in 2015, but is looking forward to a new challenge.
"I had a great time at Wolfsburg with plenty of success," the defender stated.
"I will always have a place in my heart for Wolfsburg, but I am really looking forward to the challenge at Schalke."
