BERLIN: Robert Lewandowski banged in his 35th league goal on the final day of the Bundesliga season Saturday as Bayern Munich contradicted reports their top-scoring striker could join Barcelona this summer.
“’Lewy’ has a contract until June 2023,” Bayern director Hasan Salihamidzic said before Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Wolfsburg.
“There have been no conversations between Bayern Munich and other clubs. Our position is clear.”
Bayern insist Lewandowski will stay, yet German media outlets claim the 33-year-old has refused to sign an extension and wants to join Barcelona for next season.
A crisp Lewandowski header from a Thomas Mueller cross put Bayern 2-0 up after defender Josip Stanisic netted his first Bundesliga goal for the visitors.
Wolfsburg clawed their way back as Danish forward Jonas Wind scored, then veteran striker Max Kruse levelled for the hosts.
Erling Haaland signed off his final appearance for second-placed Borussia Dortmund in a 2-1 home win over Hertha Berlin.
The Norwegian star is set to complete a long-awaited move to Manchester City for next season.
Haaland equalized from the penalty spot in the second half to cancel out Ishak Belfodil’s early goal for Hertha at Signal Iduna Park.
Dortmund’s 17-year-old striker Youssoufa Moukoko came off the bench and grabbed the winner, just seconds after replacing Axel Witsel.
The defeat pushed Hertha into 16th, which means a relegation play-off against the team which finishes third in the second division, currently Hamburg.
There were dramatic scenes in Stuttgart where Japan midfielder Wataru Endo scored a stoppage-time winner to seal a 2-1 win over Cologne.
The win saw Stuttgart claw their way to 15th and guaranteed survival next season.
Stuttgart striker Sasa Kalajdzic made amends for having a first-half penalty saved by heading in the resulting corner 26 seconds later.
Cologne equalized when veteran French striker Anthony Modeste headed in his 20th goal of the season until Endo struck.
Stuttgart fans stormed the pitch at the final whistle to kick off the celebrations.
Cologne finish seventh to qualify for the Europa Conference League.
Union Berlin will play in the Europa League next season after finishing fifth after Nigeria striker Taiwo Awoniyi netted twice to seal a 3-2 win.
Union raced into a 2-0 lead as Grischa Proemel gave the hosts an early lead before Awoniyi converted a penalty.
Bochum roared back as Simon Zoller headed in a goal, then Eduard Loewen levelled before Awoniyi grabbed a late winner.
Freiburg finished sixth and punched their Europa League ticket despite losing 2-1 at Bayer Leverkusen, whose Argentinian defender Exequiel Palacios scored the winner seven minutes into stoppage time.
Arminia Bielefeld joined Greuther Fuerth in being relegated from Germany’s top flight despite a 1-1 draw at RB Leipzig, who finished fourth and qualified for the Champions League.
Germany midfielder Jonas Hofmann scored twice as Borussia Moenchengladbach thrashed Hoffenheim 5-1.
Brazil defender Tutu and Colombia striker Rafael Borre hit the net as Eintracht Frankfurt tuned up for Wednesday’s Europa League final against Rangers with a 2-2 draw at Mainz.
Bayern insists Lewandowski will stay next season
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Bayern insists Lewandowski will stay next season
- Bayern insist Lewandowski will stay, yet German media outlets claim the 33-year-old has refused to sign an extension and wants to join Barcelona for next season
- The win saw Stuttgart claw their way to 15th and guaranteed survival next season
Saudi cricketers hail learning experience during this year’s ILT20 season
- The tournament, which concluded on Jan. 4 with Desert Vipers lifting the title at Dubai International Stadium, saw Saudi players compete in high-performance environments
- Trained under renowned international coaches, experience they say will be taken back home to support the continued growth of cricket in the Kingdom
LONDON: Saudi Arabian cricketers have spoken of the invaluable learning and exposure gained during International League T20 this year, after featuring across six franchises alongside some of the world’s leading players.
The tournament, which concluded on Jan. 4 with Desert Vipers lifting the title at Dubai International Stadium, saw Saudi players compete in high-performance environments and train under renowned international coaches — experience they say will be taken back home to support the continued growth of cricket in the Kingdom.
Desert Vipers’ Faisal Khan, Saudi Arabia’s leading T20I run-scorer with 1,743 runs in 61 matches, said the experience had been a major step forward in his career.
“It is a great opportunity to be part of a franchise like Desert Vipers, and I consider myself lucky to be here. I am learning a lot from the coaches and senior players, and the experience at this level is very different,” he said.
“Playing alongside top players teaches you how to take the game to the next level and how to finish matches. I would also like to thank the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation for this opportunity, and I will continue to work hard and improve.”
Gulf Giants bowler Ishtiaq Ahmed, Saudi Arabia’s leading T20I wicket-taker with 69 wickets in 51 matches, highlighted the impact of working with elite coaches.
“This has been a very good opportunity for me and for players from the region. We are learning a great deal from the coaches and from senior players,” he said.
“Shane Bond is our bowling coach, he has been a fantastic bowler for New Zealand, and I am getting a chance to learn from him, and he helps us in whatever way he can. I also get along very well with Rahmanullah Gurbaz. It has been a good step for us and for Saudi cricket, and a very good experience overall.”
Sharjah Warriorz all-rounder Abdul Salman Khan said the learning environment had delivered immediate results.
“I was very excited from the first day we joined the camp. Experienced figures like JP Duminy (head coach) and Adil Rashid made us feel welcome and helped us learn, and we are already seeing positive changes in our game,” he said.
“Training and competing with Sikandar Raza has been especially enjoyable and challenging. Battling with him pushes you to raise your level, and it’s an experience we hope to pass on to younger players in the future.”
Dubai Capitals’ Usman Najeeb also highlighted the importance of elite mentorship, adding: “I have learned a lot during my time here. I am proud to represent Saudi Arabia here. Training with experienced players has helped me improve, and I am grateful to Munaf Patel (team mentor) for his guidance on how I need to improve.”
He said: “I still have work to do, but I will keep pushing myself and implement everything I have learned to take Saudi Arabian cricket forward.”
MI Emirates’ Zain Abidin said the exposure would benefit domestic cricket back home.
“It has been a wonderful experience, and we are learning many new things that will help us when we return to Saudi Arabia and play our domestic cricket,” he said.
“Bowling to and interacting with the big players in the nets and in the dressing room has been very valuable. We constantly ask questions and take tips from them, and it is something we look forward to sharing with other players back home to help Saudi cricket grow,” he added.
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders wicketkeeper-batter Abdul Manan described working with head coach Dwayne Bravo as his standout moment of the season.
“I am grateful to the franchise and ILT20 for this opportunity, which has been an important step in my career. Training in different match situations has helped me gain valuable experience that will benefit me going forward,” he said.
“Working closely with head coach DJ Bravo has been special. Learning from someone I used to watch on television, and receiving guidance as a wicketkeeper-batter, has been both enjoyable and extremely valuable.”
