Football: Bayern down Dortmund to win 10th straight Bundesliga title

BERLIN, Germany -- Bayern Munich were crowned Bundesliga champions for the 10th consecutive season on Saturday after a 3-1 home win over second-placed Borussia Dortmund.

First-half goals by Serge Gnabry and Robert Lewandowski put Bayern in control at a sold-out Allianz Arena before Emre Can converted a penalty after the break for Dortmund.

But teenager Jamal Musiala fired in a late goal to spark early celebrations in the home crowd.

This is the first time a club has won 10 straight titles in one of Europe's top five leagues.

"The year wasn't that easy. That's why I'm happy that we crowned it with the championship title," said Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann, who was drenched in beer by his players.

The Bavarian giants' eighth successive win over Dortmund leaves Bayern an unassailable 12 points clear with three games left.

The title capped an up-and-down season for Bayern, who were dumped out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals by Villarreal earlier this month.

"It was important that we finished things off after being knocked out by Villarreal," said Bayern captain Manuel Neuer.

"Everyone wanted it, that's what's special in our team."

Thomas Mueller, who claimed a record-breaking 11th Bundesliga winner's medal, said: "We were able to get a few things off our chest. Now it's wonderful."

Bayern dominated the opening half and Gnabry fired a magnificent volley into the top corner from the edge of the box to give them a 15th-minute lead.

Gnabry had a second effort disallowed before Lewandowski doubled the advantage 11 minutes before half-time.

It was the Poland striker's 27th goal in 26 matches against Dortmund, who he left for Bayern in 2014.

But his future is in doubt, with Lewandowski's contract up next year and Barcelona reportedly interested in taking him to the Camp Nou.

"Something will happen soon. The only thing I know is that there will be a meeting (with Bayern)", he told Sky.

Dortmund responded early in the second half as Can converted a penalty after Marco Reus was brought down in the area.

The visitors had their appeals for another spot-kick waved away with 30 minutes left when Lucas Hernandez brought Jude Bellingham down in the area.

Lewandowski won the battle of the Bundesliga's star strikers as Erling Haaland, who has been linked with big-money move to Manchester City, failed to score despite forcing Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer into two late saves.

Musiala put the result beyond doubt when he slotted home seconds after his initial shot was saved by Dortmund keeper Marwin Hitz.

- Late Union goals stun Leipzig -

Earlier, Union Berlin scored two late goals to poach a 2-1 win at RB Leipzig, which kept alive their Champions League qualification hopes.

Bayer Leverkusen thumped bottom club Greuther Fuerth 4-1 to take third place from Leipzig and move three points clear of fifth-placed Freiburg in the race for the top four.

Freiburg missed the chance to draw level on points with Leipzig, conceding a late equalizer in a 3-3 draw with Borussia Moenchengladbach.

Union are just two points further back in sixth, with five clubs, including seventh-placed Cologne, separated by just six points with three games remaining in the battle to reach next season's Champions League group stage.

Yussuf Poulsen put Leipzig ahead early in the second half to put the hosts on course for their second win in four days over Union, who they beat 2-1 in the German Cup semi-finals on Wednesday.

However, Union avenged the cup defeat as substitutes Sven Michel and then Kevin Behrens scored in the 86th and 88th minutes.

Union are bidding to reach the Champions League for the first time in just their third season since being promoted to the Bundesliga.

Freiburg, also hoping for a maiden appearance in Europe's premier competition, looked set to pile the pressure on Leipzig as they fought back from 2-0 down at half-time to lead Gladbach.

But Lars Stindl struck for the away side in the third minute of injury time.

Fuerth were finally relegated after their loss to Leverkusen, having been last in the table since September.

Agence France-Presse

Ter Stegen saves penalty as Barcelona draws at Dortmund

DORTMUND, Germany — The only thing missing for Borussia Dortmund was a goal.

The German team did everything but score as Barcelona barely held on for a 0-0 draw in their Champions League opening game on Tuesday.


The home side hit the crossbar, missed a penalty, wasted a host of chances and even kept Lionel Messi quiet on the Argentina star’s first appearance of the season.

Messi came on as a substitute for the last 30 minutes but was unable to spark the visitors’ struggling attack, with Dortmund creating the best chances of the game.

Instead Barcelona had goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen to thank for avoiding defeat as he saved a penalty from Dortmund captain Marco Reus in the 57th and denied the home side with a string of saves on his return to his native Germany.

“It was a very difficult game,” ter Stegen said.

Dortmund substitute Julian Brandt struck the crossbar and Paco Alcácer also went close against his former side. It was the first game in which the Spanish striker failed to score this season.

“We had to suffer a lot, especially after the break when we lost control and they were very dangerous,” said Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde, who thanked ter Stegen for “his outstanding saves.”

The 16-year-old Ansu Fati made his Champions League debut to become Barcelona’s youngest player in a UEFA competition, before coming off for Messi in the 59th. Messi hadn’t played since injuring his leg in pre-season.

Defender Mats Hummels showed why Dortmund brought him back from Bayern Munich with several vital interventions, starting with a block to deny Antoine Griezmann’s first effort for Barcelona, then a crucial headed clearance from the lurking Luis Suárez. Griezmann, on his Champions League debut for Barcelona, produced the cross.

Dortmund’s first big chance fell to Reus, who was denied for the first time by ter Stegen in the 25th. Jadon Sancho also missed a good opportunity.


A Barcelona corner caused chaos in the Dortmund defense, with Roman Bürki punching the ball clear and Fati’s effort from the rebound deflected over by Reus.

Dortmund was more aggressive after the break but ultimately couldn’t get past ter Stegen. Messi, meanwhile, looked far from his best.

“I’m going home with the feeling that we dropped two points. We would have put ourselves in a great position in this difficult group,” Hummels said.

Dortmund next faces a trip to Slavia Prague on Oct. 2. The Czech champion held Inter Milan 1-1 after conceding a late equalizer in Italy.

“Then we’ll see how strong we are,” Hummels said.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Sancho leads Dortmund to German Supercup win over Bayern

DORTMUND, Germany—Jadon Sancho starred as Borussia Dortmund beat Bayern Munich 2-0 in the season-opening German Supercup on Saturday.

Sancho scored one goal and brilliantly set up Paco Alcacer for the other as Dortmund secured a morale-boosting victory over its old rival and delivered a statement of intent for the season ahead.


“We know that we still have a tall task ahead of us for the championship,” Dortmund team official Sebastian Kehl said.

Dortmund is bidding to end Bayern’s unprecedented seven-year reign as German champion and significantly boosted its squad with summer signings though only Nico Schulz was able to start as injuries took their toll.

Instead it was left to Sancho to carry on where he left off last season as the 19-year-old England forward produced another sparkling performance.

“All the defenders, even Bayern’s defenders – when he has the ball at his feet, they’re a little bit afraid,” Dortmund midfielder Axel Witsel said. “Jadon has a lot quality. He’s really fast, technically he’s very good. He can score, make passes, so he’s really complete.”


The game, a curtain-raiser for the coming season, was sold out, watched by more than 81,000 fans at the Westfalenstadion.

They were barely given time to settle as the game began with an outstanding save from Bayern captain Manuel Neuer to deny Dortmund counterpart Marco Reus.

The next big chance also fell to Dortmund. Neuer rushed out of goal and Alcacer tried scooping the ball over him toward the unguarded net. Fans stood up and watched as the ball went wide.

Robert Lewandowski replied with Bayern’s first effort, which was deflected away, before Neuer saved again to deny Raphael Guerreiro.

Bayern improved through the half with Niko Kovac’s side looking assured on the ball.


“We didn’t take our chances,” Kovac complained.

Alcacer broke the deadlock after the break, all thanks to Sancho. He eluded three Bayern defenders, then played the ball through Niklas Süle’s legs for Alcacer to sweep it inside the right post.

Bayern sought a response and was only denied through desperate defending with Marwin Hitz saving and Manuel Akanji blocking on the line before the ball was cleared away.

Sancho then struck on a counterattack in the 69th after Guerreiro played the ball over the Bayern defense. The young forward stayed calm before slotting the ball through Neuer’s legs.

Of all Dortmund’s summer signings, only Schulz could play. Mats Hummels was denied a quick reunion with his former Bayern teammates due to muscular problems, Julian Brandt was out with a groin problem, Thorgan Hazard with an ankle injury and Mateu Morey with a shoulder injury. Goalkeeper Roman Bürki was also out.

source: sports.inquirer.net