BERLIN: Harry Kane scored two goals in the second-half, including an injury time winner, to snatch Bayern Munich a 2-1 home win over RB Leipzig on Saturday, ending the side’s worst run since 2015.
Bayern had lost three matches in a row for the first time in nine years before the club announced this week that coach Thomas Tuchel would leave in the summer.
Bayern captain Manuel Neuer told Sky “it might seem a bit like the good old Bayern luck, but we deserved to win today.”
The win reduced the gap to leaders Bayer Leverkusen to eight points with 11 games left.
Neuer said Tuchel’s exit “cast a bad light on us as players, that we weren’t able to make it work with a top coach like Thomas Tuchel.
“It’s our mistake. We want to keep things going professionally until the end.”
Kane broke the deadlock midway through the first half but Leipzig hit back with 20 remaining minutes, Benjamin Sesko equalising for the visitors.
With Bayern in danger of conceding further ground to Leverkusen in the title race, Kane stepped up and scored in the first minute of injury time, his 27th league goal of the season.
Kane had a golden chance to release the pressure on the home side just five minutes in but his point-blank header was pushed onto the post by Janis Blaswich.
The England captain went close once more just before half-time but a bicycle kick was directed straight at Blaswich.
Kane finally broke through after 56 minutes, slamming a low shot into the Leipzig goal, his 26th strike in 23 games.
Leipzig, who had not lost to Bayern in the league in two years, pressured the German champions, breaking through after 70 minutes through Sesko.
Sesko collected a short Dani Olmo pass and drove his shot low, with the ball deflected by Leon Goretzka and rolling into the net.
The match looked set for a stalemate until Kane latched onto a pass from Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, before volleying past Blaswich to seize a valuable win.
Stuttgart were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Cologne.
Stuttgart were without injured Brighton loanee Deniz Undav, who had scored five goals in his past four league games, picking up the slack from striker Serhou Guirassy, who has only recently returned to club action after the Africa Cup of Nations.
Stuttgart took the lead in the 53rd minute, Enzo Millot finishing off the type of well-worked team move which has become the hallmark of Sebastian Hoeness’ side this season.
Cologne drew level nine minutes later, though, Eric Martel tapping in after being left unmarked at the far post from a free-kick.
After needing to win a two-legged relegation play-off to stay in the top division last campaign, Stuttgart have been this season’s Bundesliga surprise packages and stay third as they bid to return to the Champions League for the first time since 2010.
A disappointed Stuttgart captain Waldemar Anton said: “If you want to play international football you have to come out on top in games like this.”
Elsewhere, Union Berlin drew 2-2 at home to Heidenheim.
The visitors forged ahead through Nikola Dovedan on just three minutes thanks to a defensive blunder.
Germany left-back Robin Gosens drew Union level in the 44th minute, sending an ungainly shot across the face of goal and into the net, moments before Andras Schafer gave the hosts the lead.
Heidenheim, who are surprisingly within touching distance of the European placings in their first top-flight season, equalized through Jan-Niklas Beste, who chipped the ball home after a counter-attack.
Borussia Moenchengladbach thumped Bochum 5-2 at home, picking up a crucial three points to move eight clear of the relegation play-off spot.
Darmstadt went within inches of a third win of the season, having two goals chalked off in the dying stages for offside and handball in a 1-1 draw at Werder Bremen.
The result keeps Darmstadt last on 13 points.
Kane’s injury time goal saves Bayern against Leipzig
https://arab.news/j7yg5
Kane’s injury time goal saves Bayern against Leipzig
- Bayern had lost three matches in a row for the first time in nine years
- The win reduced the gap to leaders Bayer Leverkusen to eight points with 11 games left
Tammy Abraham says it would mean everything to win first trophy for AC Milan in Saudi Arabia
- AC Milan play city rivals Inter in Riyadh on Monday night in Italian Super Cup final
- Abraham says victory would be ‘amazing’
RIYADH: Tammy Abraham said it “would mean everything” to win his first trophy for AC Milan.
The former Chelsea striker, on loan at the San Siro from Roma, played a key role in AC Milan qualifying for the Italian Super Cup final against city rivals Inter in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Monday night.
England striker Abraham came off the bench for the final half-hour against Juventus in Thursday’s semifinal with AC Milan 1-0 down. But his forward play helped the Rossoneri overturn the deficit to win 2-1, with the equalizer netted by fellow former Chelsea player Christian Pulisic.
Having won trophies at both Stamford Bridge and Roma — who loaned him out to AC Milan at the start of the season — the 27-year-old, 11-times capped England striker dearly wants to add to his medal collection in Riyadh.
“It would mean everything to me to win my first trophy in a Milan shirt. I’m a player who always wants to win. I’ve won a few trophies in the past, and I want to keep building the cabinet. It would be amazing to lift my first trophy for Milan,” Abraham said.
“I’m a player that always wants to win. I want to help my team as much as possible. Against Juventus in the second half, I had to bring my energy and bring some belief to my team. I’m proud of my team but the job is not finished, and we have a really big job in the final.
“We played Inter earlier in the season and we won. We are ready and we have to be ready. They had a day extra to recover and prepare, but that’s no excuse for us. We want to go back home with the trophy.”
Inter beat Atalanta 2-0 on Thursday with a double from Dutch defender Denzel Dumfries to qualify for the final. All matches are taking place at Al-Awwal Park — the home of Cristiano Ronaldo and his Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr. Inter are going for three Super Cups in a row in Riyadh and a record four wins in succession.
The Italian Super Cup is being staged in Saudi Arabia — where some 80 percent of the population either play, attend, or follow football — for the fifth time.
Dembélé scores last-gasp winner as PSG wins Champions Trophy
- The match was played at Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar, with PSG owned by Qatar-based QSI since 2011
PARIS: Ousmane Dembélé scored a stoppage-time winner as Paris Saint-Germain beat Monaco 1-0 to win the Champions Trophy on Sunday.
The France winger was unmarked at the back post to meet a low cross from the left by Fabian Ruiz in the second minute of added time.
PSG won the trophy, also known as the super cup, for the third straight time and a record-extending 13th overall. PSG won the league and cup double last season, with Monaco finishing second in the league.
The match was played at Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar, with PSG owned by Qatar-based QSI since 2011.
Désiré Doué hit the crossbar early on for PSG and Monaco goalkeeper Philipp Köhn made several saves.
Monaco improved after the break and hit the post through Eliesse Ben Seghir and Brazilian defender Vanderson.
Although Köhn made a fine save to deny Achraf Hakimi in the 74th minute, he failed to properly read Ruiz’s cross and Monaco missed out on winning the trophy for the first time since 2000.
Later Sunday, Marseille looked to strengthen its grip on second place in Ligue 1 with a home win against lowly Le Havre.
French league
Marseille looks to strengthen its grip on second place in Ligue 1 with a home win against lowly Le Havre later Sunday.
Toulouse climbed up to eighth place with a 1-0 win at seventh-place Lens, which leads Toulouse on goal difference.
Striker Zakaria Aboukhlal scored a penalty in the 73rd.
The goal came shortly after Lens midfielder David Pereira da Costa was shown a second yellow card following a video review and was sent off.
Angers beat Brest 2-0, and Strasbourg rallied to win 3-1 at home to Auxerre and move into 10th spot.
Esteban Lepaul scored early on for Angers and fellow striker Ibrahima Niane, who replaced Lepaul in the 75th, wrapped up the win in stoppage time.
Strasbourg’s goals came from captain Habib Diarra, Félix Lemarechal and forward Emanuel Emegha, after Hamed Traore gave Burgundy side Auxerre an early lead in Alsace.
Manchester United hold Liverpool in Premier League thriller to end losing streak
- United broke their six-year goal drought at Anfield to open the scoring in spectacular fashion through Lisandro Martinez
- Liverpool boss Slot warned that United were “much better” than their shocking league position suggested
LIVERPOOL: Manchester United rallied to snap a four-game losing streak and halt Liverpool’s romp toward the Premier League title in a thrilling 2-2 draw at Anfield on Sunday.
Liverpool move six points clear at the top of the table, with a game in hand to come, over second-placed Arsenal.
But this was an opportunity lost for Arne Slot’s men after they came from behind to lead 2-1 through Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah’s penalty.
United broke their six-year goal drought at Anfield to open the scoring in spectacular fashion through Lisandro Martinez and got the point a much-improved performance deserved when Amad Diallo levelled on 80 minutes.
A point edges the Red Devils up to 13th in the table and seven clear of the relegation zone.
Liverpool boss Slot warned that United were “much better” than their shocking league position suggested ahead of the game and so it proved.
United had been carved open at will by Newcastle in a dismal 2-0 defeat on Monday that left manager Ruben Amorim declaring they were in a relegation battle.
Amorim’s hand was strengthened by the return of captain Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte from suspension, while Kobbie Mainoo also returned to the starting line-up.
The Portuguese’s plan to frustrate Liverpool worked but the home side did have the chances early on to make the breakthrough.
Gakpo prodded past the far post from Ryan Gravenberch’s through ball.
Moments later Salah picked out Alexis Mac Allister with a sumptuous pass that the Argentine caught flush and forced Andre Onana into a fine save with his feet.
United took time to begin to impose themselves as an attacking threat but should have been in front before the break.
Diallo miscued his header with the goal gaping from Diogo Dalot’s cross.
Rasmus Hojlund then had the best chance of the first half when he raced in behind the Liverpool defense but could not beat Alisson Becker.
However, confidence was suddenly coursing back into United players who have looked bereft in recent weeks.
The visitors’ breakthrough came from an unlikely source as Martinez showed his strikers how to finish with a blistering hit in off the underside of the bar for just his second goal for the club.
The Anfield crowd were beginning to get restless as the league leaders were briefly at sixes and sevens.
However, Liverpool’s position at the top of the table owes much to the depth of firepower they possess.
Even on a quiet day for Salah, they had an in-form forward to come up with the moment of magic required to turn the game.
Gakpo turned inside his Dutch international colleague Matthijs de Ligt and blasted high past Onana for his 10th goal in 15 games on the hour mark.
Despite the equalizer Slot immediately made two offensive changes, as Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez were introduced, and got his reward.
MacAllister’s header flicked off De Ligt’s outstretched arm inside the penalty area and a VAR review resulted in the awarding of a spot-kick.
Salah smashed low and hard beyond Onana for his 18th Premier League goal in 19 games.
However, United’s spirited display got the point it merited to halt an alarming losing streak for Amorim so early in his reign.
Alejandro Garnacho’s attitude has been questioned by his new boss but the Argentine came off the bench to make the equalizer as his low cross was turned in by Diallo.
And it should have been even better for United when Harry Maguire spooned Joshua Zirkzee’s pass over the bar with the goal gaping deep into stoppage time.
Inter Milan eye historic Italian Super Cup triumph in Riyadh showdown with rivals AC Milan
- Both sides aiming to secure early-season silverware
RIYADH: Inter Milan and AC Milan meet on Monday in the Italian Super Cup final at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh, with both sides aiming to secure early-season silverware in what promises to be a competitive Milan derby.
Inter head into the match looking to extend their recent dominance in the competition, having won the past three Super Cups, including two in Riyadh.
Victory would see them claim a record fourth consecutive title. AC Milan, however, are seeking to end their own trophy drought and derail Inter’s impressive run.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference on Sunday, Inter captain Lautaro Martinez highlighted the significance of playing in Saudi Arabia, where he scored in both of his team’s previous Super Cup finals in Riyadh.
He said: “For us, playing here has been important in the past finals because we won the trophy and because I scored.
“This is a derby and a final, and we all know how important it is. The goal is to win and bring the trophy home.”
Inter secured their place in the final with a 2-0 victory over Atalanta on Thursday, thanks to two goals from Denzel Dumfries.
Manager Simone Inzaghi, who has overseen all of Inter’s recent Super Cup wins, acknowledged the challenge of competing in a derby final.
He said: “It would be very special to win the Super Cup for the fourth time with Inter.
“We face a strong opponent with the same hunger to win. We need to stay focused and deliver a strong performance.”
AC Milan earned their spot in the final by defeating Juventus 2-1 in their semifinal. New manager Sergio Conceicao, who took charge only last week, faces a significant test in his second match with the club.
He said: “The match will be difficult, but we have to focus on ourselves.
“My goal is to prepare the team as best as possible and ensure we approach the game with ambition and hunger to win.”
Conceicao’s plans could hinge on the fitness of key forward Rafael Leao, who is being assessed after missing the semifinal.
Midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, who joined the club in the summer, is eager to seize the opportunity to win his first trophy.
He said: “It’s a great chance for us as a group to win something. We have to play with confidence and take this opportunity.”
Monday’s match marks the fifth time the Italian Super Cup has been staged in Saudi Arabia, with Riyadh hosting for the fourth time.
Inter’s previous successes in Riyadh have given them an edge in the tournament, but AC will be determined to change the narrative and claim their first Super Cup since 2016.
5 things we learned from 26th Gulf Cup in Kuwait
- Bahrain are an emerging force, but Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar will hope to move on from disappointing campaigns when World Cup qualification returns
LONDON: The 26th Arabian Gulf Cup ended on Saturday with Bahrain coming from behind to defeat Oman 2-1 in the final in Kuwait City. Here are five takeaways from the latest edition of the biennial tournament.
More questions than answers for Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s semi-final exit after a 2-1 loss to Oman ended a disappointing 10 days or so. The positives were that the team managed to score in all four games, which will be welcome after four World Cup qualifiers without a goal in October and November.
But Herve Renard’s men were deservedly beaten by Bahrain, needed a last-minute goal to defeat Yemen in a game they could easily have lost and, a good spell against Iraq apart, struggled to find rhythm and fluency. At least they made it to the semi-finals but then losing to Oman, who played with 10 men for two-thirds of the game, was a poor way to end the competition.
The coach may now know more about what his team needs but does not look any closer to finding the solutions, especially when star Salem Al-Dawsari does not provide them. Renard, less than three months back in the job, starts 2025 under more pressure with a team that is low on confidence and looking leaky at the back.
Bahrain, an emerging force
The Reds had a good 2024 and 2025 has started perfectly. As Croatian coach Dragan Talajic comes up to his first anniversary in Manama, he has helped to fashion a tough-to-beat Bahrain that have real team spirit, work hard and are growing in confidence going forward. They deserved to win their group and then dug deep in the knockout stage. Mohamed Marhoon sums it all up. The midfielder scored the only goal against Kuwait in the last-four clash and then in the final against Oman, his energy, skill and willingness to run at defenders created both goals and delivered the trophy.
There is a resilience about this Bahrain team and the champions can look forward to 2025 with confidence and even dreams of a first World Cup appearance.
No new-coach bounce for Qatar, UAE inconsistent
Go back a year and Qatar were just about to start a successful, and slightly surprising, defence of the Asian Cup. As they lifted the trophy and celebrated, it was assumed that the Maroons were going to qualify for the World Cup for the first time. But a poor start to the third round cost “Tintin” Marquez his job in December and he was replaced by fellow Spaniard Luis Garcia. There was no new-coach bounce however as Qatar ended up bottom of Group A without a win. Garcia and his men will look back at missed chances proving costly.
Although the UAE had exactly the same record, goals scored and conceded, coach Paulo Bento will be a little happier. There were some new faces who made the trip to Kuwait but the Portuguese boss needs to get to grips with the team’s inconsistency.
Iraq the biggest losers
The holders made the short trip to Kuwait in decent form. They were the only one of the seven teams involved in World Cup qualification to be sitting in the automatic spots in their group. A win at the Gulf Cup would really have put a spring in their step. Yet, it all went wrong and coach Jesus Casas, linked with the vacant South Korea job in the summer, is under pressure.
The Spanish boss talked of having the chance to look at some young players but there were few positives. Star striker Aymen Hussein scored to give a hard-fought win over Yemen in the opening game. It was not great but a potential platform to challenge for the trophy. It didn’t happen. There was a 2-0 loss to Bahrain when the Lions of Mesopotamia were outfought and outthought by the eventual winners. It was followed by a 3-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia. The usually strong backline looked flimsy, which is a problem when there is a lack of creativity going forward.
Bigger challenges await
Even when the celebrations die down in Manama, fans, players and media in Bahrain would swap it all for a place at the 2026 World Cup. Seven of the eight teams had an eye or more on the resumption of qualification in March and with four of the 10 games remaining in the third round, this really is a crucial time.
For the likes of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Iraq, their disappointing results will quickly be forgotten if they hit the ground running in the coming months and get the wins to take them to North America. If so, they will point out that the Gulf Cup counted as vital preparation that was more important than results. Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait will be looking to build on their positive performances and results to make strides towards North America.
It remains to be seen what the legacy of this tournament turns out to be.
