BERLIN: Harry Kane scored two first-half goals as Bayern Munich beat promoted Heidenheim 4-2 on Saturday, sending the Bavarians to the top of the table.
Heidenheim replied with two goals in three second-half minutes to equalize and Bayern needed late goals from Raphael Guerreiro and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting to secure victory.
Bayern finish Saturday atop the table but Bayer Leverkusen — who have won 15 and drawn one of their 16 matches in all competitions this season — can return to the top with a win on Sunday over Union Berlin.
“It was a changing match,” said Thomas Mueller. “At one point we had it in our grip, then we didn’t, then we did again.
“What was nice is that we could react, that we could switch to a higher gear.
“It brought us to the top of the table and I hope that Leverkusen drop points sometime.”
Kane now has 17 goals in 11 league games since joining the German champions from boyhood club Tottenham in the summer.
“I’m enjoying it,” said Kane after the match.
Kane wasted no time in getting on the scoresheet, collecting the ball with his back to goal and scoring on the turn for the opener after 14 minutes.
Kane doubled up shortly before half-time, heading in unmarked from a corner.
With Bayern cruising, manager Thomas Tuchel made three changes shortly after half-time and within ten minutes the visitors were level.
Tim Kleindienst and Jan-Niklas Beste scored in a three-minute period, the latter after a mistake from Kim Min-Jae, bringing the score to 2-2 with 20 minutes remaining.
With Bayern wobbling, former Dortmund defender Guerreiro struck his first goal for the German champions, before Choupo-Moting scored with five minutes remaining to seal the win.
Borussia Dortmund lost 2-1 at Stuttgart, the returning Serhou Guirassy giving the home side victory with a late penalty, his 15th goal of the season to stay hot on Kane’s heels.
Dortmund manager Edin Terzic selected the same XI who managed a hard-fought 2-0 against Newcastle in the Champions League on Tuesday and it showed, with the lethargic visitors struggling to contain the home side.
Visiting ‘keeper Gregor Kobel gave away an early but stopped Chris Fuehrich’s tame effort, becoming the first Dortmund goalie in a decade to save a penalty in the league.
The visitors did open the scoring with their first shot on target, Niclas Fuellkrug tapping in a ball which former Dortmund defender Dan-Axel Zagadou allowed to run through his legs.
Stuttgart struck back shortly before halftime, Jamie Leweling threading the ball perfectly for Brighton loanee Deniz Undav to score.
Guirassy, who missed two league games with a hamstring complaint, came off the bench late and converted the penalty for the win.
Dortmund have lost two and drawn one of their past three league games and sit eight points behind Bayern with just 11 matches played.
Elsewhere, Augsburg held Hoffenheim to a 1-1 draw at home. Ermedin Demirovic’s second-half goal canceled out former Man United forward Wout Weghorst’s early strike.
Darmstadt and Mainz played out a scoreless draw.
In Saturday’s late game, Bochum host fellow strugglers Cologne.
Kane scores brace as Bayern go top, Dortmund lose at Stuttgart
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Kane scores brace as Bayern go top, Dortmund lose at Stuttgart
- Heidenheim replied with two goals in three second-half minutes to equalize
- Bayern needed late goals from Raphael Guerreiro and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting to secure victory
Copa del Rey final referee breaks down over Real Madrid TV pressure
- “When a child of yours goes to school and there are kids telling him that his father is a ‘thief’ and comes home crying, it’s totally messed up,” De Burgos Bengoetxea said
- “What I do is try to educate my son, to say that his father is honest, above all honest”
SEVILLE, Spain: Copa del Rey final referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea welled up on Friday when speaking about pressure officials have faced from Real Madrid TV this season.
Madrid take on rivals Barcelona on Saturday in the Spanish cup final in Seville and this week the club’s television channel launched a video attacking the official, which they have done to various referees this season.
Los Blancos also published an open letter in February claiming Spanish refereeing was “rigged” and “completely discredited.”
“When a child of yours goes to school and there are kids telling him that his father is a ‘thief’ and comes home crying, it’s totally messed up,” De Burgos Bengoetxea told a news conference.
“What I do is try to educate my son, to say that his father is honest, above all honest, who can make mistakes, like any sportsperson,” he continued, becoming emotional.
“This is really messed up... but the day I leave (the job), I want my son to be proud of what his father is, and what refereeing is, it has given us many values.”
Wiping away tears, the 39-year-old called for deeper thought on the issue of referee abuse.
“It’s not right what we are going through, many colleagues, and not just in professional football, but also at grassroots level,” he added.
“Everyone should reflect about where we want to go, about what we want from sport and from football.”
Pablo Gonzalez Fuertes, the referee in charge of VAR for the final, suggested officials could take further action over Real Madrid TV’s broadcasts in the coming weeks.
“Have no doubt that we are going to have to start taking much more serious measures than we are taking,” said Gonzalez Fuertes.
“We will not continue to allow what is happening. Soon, you will hear from us.
“We are going to make history, because we are not going to continue to bear what we are putting up with.”
Eddie Howe ‘not 100 percent’ on Newcastle return after pneumonia
- Newcastle boss went into hospital on April 11 after feeling unwell for several days
- He missed his side’s Premier League fixtures against Manchester United, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa
LONDON: Newcastle boss Eddie Howe admitted he does not feel “100 percent” after returning to work following his serious bout of pneumonia.
Howe went into hospital on April 11 after feeling unwell for several days and missed his side’s Premier League fixtures against Manchester United, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa.
The 47-year-old, who led Newcastle to their first major trophy in 56 years earlier this season, is not completely recovered but was keen to get back to work with the League Cup winners.
“I’m OK. I’m not 100 percent in my body, but I’d like to think I’m very close to 100 percent in my mind, which is the most important thing,” Howe told reporters on Friday.
“I tried to take a positive from every experience, I think that’s really important to try and do that, but this has been a real challenge because your health, you take for granted.
“I certainly have and when you don’t have the luxury of feeling normal, it can be very difficult.
“I certainly have been through a range of emotions, but thankfully I feel like I’m on the road to recovery, which is the most important thing and I’m delighted to be here.”
Assistant coach Jason Tindall filled in for Howe, securing comprehensive wins over United and Palace before last weekend’s 4-1 loss at Villa.
With fifth-placed Newcastle in the midst of a tense battle to qualify for the Champions League via a top five finish, Howe will be back at St. James’ Park for Saturday’s clash with lowly Ipswich.
“For those first two games, I was watching and involved. I wasn’t feeling well enough to probably enjoy the performances, but a big thank you to the players because they gave everything in those two games to get two massive wins for us,” he said.
“The staff behaved and acted absolutely brilliantly so a real tribute to them and now I’m back I hope I can add something to the group as we go into the last five games.”
Asked if his illness could have become life-threatening without quick action, Howe said: “I’m one of those people, probably like most men, that you sort of go through everything, you don’t necessarily offer yourself to doctors and people but think ‘I’ll be ok in a couple of days, I’ll fight through it’.
“So I was very thankful the doctor here, Paul Catterson, acted quickly because without that quick intervention it could possibly have had a different outcome.”
It will be a while before Howe feels able to join in training with his players, but he is relieved to get back to the daily routine.
“I came back in and it was normal service resumed, probably minus running around,” he said.
“A lot more reserved physically and I think I’m gonna be that way for a while, but certainly back to normal service.”
Bologna book final with Milan after cruising past Empoli in Coppa Italia
- Bologna will play in the Coppa Italia final for the first time since their victory in 1974
- Italiano: We dedicate this final to the people of Bologna, who support us tremendously
BOLOGNA, Italy: Bologna eased into the Coppa Italia final following a 2–1 victory over Empoli at home on Thursday, which handed them a resounding 5–1 aggregate win as they set up a showdown with AC Milan.
Bologna strolled into their Coppa Italia semifinal second leg with a comfortable cushion, with Empoli facing an uphill task of overturning a three-goal deficit.
Giovanni Fabbian compounded Empoli’s misery after just seven minutes when the unmarked midfielder headed in a cross to extend Bologna’s aggregate advantage.
While the visitors may have felt their Coppa Italia run was already over, they still responded in the 33rd minute as Ola Solbakken’s angled drive was parried by Federico Ravaglia into the path of Viktor Kovalenko, who slotted in the rebound.
Both sides used the closing stages to express themselves more freely, playing with flair and imagination, but it was Thijs Dallinga who met a cross to head in another Bologna goal four minutes from time, sealing the win.
First final in 51 years
Bologna will play in the Coppa Italia final for the first time since their victory in 1974.
“It was a goal, the dream of this city and the club: we have honored this competition from the start, and when you reach the final stretch, everyone wants to go all the way,” Bologna manager Vincenzo Italiano told Mediaset.
“We dedicate this final to the people of Bologna, who support us tremendously.”
Bologna will face Milan at the Stadio Olimpico on May 14.
“That would upset Milan, but we hope to play a great match, arriving in top condition,” Italiano added.
“Our self-esteem is already sky-high, and we know we’re facing a team of champions, but we’ll try to use our strengths. We can’t wait to get to Rome, and we hope to have those 30,000 fans at the Olimpico.”
Atletico thump Rayo, Valladolid relegated after Betis defeat
MADRID: Atletico Madrid cruised to a 3-0 La Liga win over Rayo Vallecano on Thursday as they bounced back from defeat at Las Palmas last weekend.
Real Betis bolstered their Champions League ambitions with a 5-1 win over Real Valladolid, confirming the visitors’ long-expected relegation.
Atletico have little to play for in the rest of the season with leaders Barcelona 10 points clear with five matches remaining, but produced a solid derby display.
Alexander Sorloth opened the scoring in the third minute after Giuliano Simeone, son of coach Diego, crossed for the Norwegian target man to nod home at the back post.
It was a formula which should have led to more goals for Atletico but the striker wasted several presentable opportunities.
Sorloth headed over a few minutes later and then was denied by Rayo goalkeeper Augusto Batalla.
Atletico were outplaying Rayo but the visitors could have levelled when Isi Palazon drilled toward the far corner and Jan Oblak made a fine save.
Sorloth spurned another headed opportunity before Conor Gallagher struck just before half-time.
Rodrigo de Paul lofted a cross into the area which the former Chelsea midfielder nodded beyond Batalla.
Oblak tipped over a Palazon header as Rayo looked for an equalizer, before Atletico substitute Antoine Griezmann fired narrowly wide after a Julian Alvarez backheel teed him up.
Julian Alvarez rounded off the win in the second half with his 15th La Liga goal of the season after Griezmann sent him through.
Real Betis bolstered their hopes of finishing in the top five as they hammered Valladolid at the Benito Villamarin stadium with playmaker Isco on the scoresheet.
Former Brazil great Ronaldo is the majority shareholder at Valladolid, who were promoted last season but immediately return to the second tier after losing 25 of their 33 games so far.
Betis moved fifth, two points above Villarreal who have a game in hand which they will play on Sunday against Espanyol.
Earlier Osasuna beat Sevilla 1-0 and Leganes grabbed a late 1-1 draw at home against Girona, leaving the Madrid side 19th and four points from safety.
Dortmund’s Gross and Beier doubtful for Hoffenheim clash, says coach
- Dortmund, in seventh place with four games left to play, are desperate for a top-four finish to secure a Champions League spot for next season
- “Gross has knee ligament problems,” Kovac told a press conference
BERLIN: Borussia Dortmund will likely be without the injured Pascal Gross and Maximilian Beier when they travel to Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga on Saturday, coach Niko Kovac said on Thursday.
Dortmund, in seventh place with four games left to play, are desperate for a top-four finish to secure a Champions League spot for next season.
They have won three of their last four league matches and drew against Bayern Munich, as they battle to make up for lost ground earlier in the season.
“Gross has knee ligament problems,” Kovac told a press conference in Dortmund. “I still have some hope but honestly I don’t think he will make it.
“Maxi is a similar case. He did not train. He can walk but running is painful but I also have not yet given up. But obviously we will not take any risks.”
Both players were injured in last week’s 3-2 win over Borussia Moenchengladbach but are not expected to be out too long.
Dortmund are on 45 points in seventh place. Eintracht Frankfurt, third with 52, host fourth-placed RB Leipzig (49) on Saturday. Freiburg (48) are fifth and visit Wolfsburg, while Mainz 05, who travel to Bayern Munich, are sixth with 47.
“The finish is approaching. The feeling I get is during this crunch time everyone player wants to be there, to go beyond any pain,” Kovac said.
“I am happy that the lads recognize the situation. Everyone can read the standings. Everyone knows what is at stake and everyone has to increase their focus,” he added.
“It does not matter thinking what can happen on May 17 (season finale). We have to keep doing our homework and focus only on the next game. We cannot look at the teams in front of us. We just have to keep winning to put pressure on them.”
