Late Tel goal takes Bayern past stubborn Gladbach

Bayern's Mathys Tel celebrates with Dayot Upamecano after scoring his side's second goal during their Bundesliga match against Borussia Moenchengladbach in Moenchengladbach on Sept. 2, 2023. (AP)
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Updated 02 September 2023
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Late Tel goal takes Bayern past stubborn Gladbach

  • Tel headed in, sending the visiting fans into raptures and sending Bayern top of the table, at least until Union Berlin host RB Leipzig on Sunday
  • Nigeria striker Victor Boniface scored in each half to help Bayer Leverkusen to a 5-1 victory over promoted Darmstadt

BERLIN: A goal from French teenager Mathys Tel with three minutes remaining took Bayern Munich to a 2-1 win at Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday.
A first-half strike from Kou Itakura had Gladbach looking like keeping their recent hoodoo over Bayern alive, before Leroy Sane pulled one back midway through the second half.
With the clock winding down, Bayern's Joshua Kimmich curled in a corner and Tel found himself unmarked, with Gladbach's defence focusing their energies on Harry Kane.
Tel headed in, sending the visiting fans into raptures and sending Bayern top of the table, at least until Union Berlin host RB Leipzig on Sunday.
Two German giants of the 1970s, Gladbach has become Bayern's bogey side over the past decade, despite the Bavarians winning the last 11 Bundesliga titles.
Bayern had won only one of their past seven against Gladbach, a run which included a 5-0 German Cup thumping in 2021, Bayern's biggest loss since the 1970s.
Despite scoring seven goals in their first two league games, Bayern had few chances early, Gladbach suffocating striker Kane out of the game.
The home side broke the deadlock after 30 minutes, Itakura heading in a rebound from a corner to give his side the lead.
With Kane receiving Gladbach's attention, Sane found space and looked the most likely, rattling the crossbar five minutes from half-time.
The former Man City winger eventually got his side on the board in the second half, pivoting after collecting a Joshua Kimmich chip and sliding the ball into goal with the studs of his boot.
Tel, 18, came from the bench in the 81st minute and scored just six minutes later to snare the three points for Bayern.
Nigeria striker Victor Boniface scored in each half to help Bayer Leverkusen to a 5-1 victory over promoted Darmstadt.
Boniface, 22, who arrived from Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise in the summer, opened the scoring with a superb solo effort, slicing through the Darmstadt defence before elegantly chipping the goalkeeper.
Yet to claim a point in two matches after returning to the top division this season, Darmstadt equalised shortly after, Oscar Vilhelmsson tapping in from close range.
Argentina World Cup winner Exequiel Palacios scored straight after half-time, his shot taking two fortunate deflections on the way to goal.
Leverkusen then put the game to bed with two goals in six minutes -- another for Boniface and one for Germany winger Jonas Hofmann, his first for his new club since moving from Borussia Moenchengladbach.
A late Adam Hlozek goal sealed the clinical victory, which continues Leverkusen's stunning form under manager Xabi Alonso, who took over in October 2022.
After the match, Alonso said the victory was "important for the team, for Boniface, for Jonas and also for me".
"We want to build on that but also stay focused."
Leverkusen's next match after the international break is at Bayern.
Stuttgart continued their good early season home form, beating local rivals Freiburg 5-0, the same scoreline as their opening win over Bochum.
Chris Fuehrich and Serhou Guirassy bagged doubles and Enzo Millot scored a late goal, helping Stuttgart rebound from last week's 5-1 thrashing by Leipzig.
Guirassy now has five goals in three games for a side which needed to win a two-legged playoff against second-division Hamburg last season to avoid relegation.
Elsewhere, Werder Bremen put the departure of star striker Niclas Fuellkrug behind them, putting four goals past a hapless and scoreless Mainz at home.
Goalless in their opening two games, Bremen had four different players on the scoresheet as they claimed their first points of the season.
Hoffenheim came from behind to beat Wolfsburg 3-1 at home, John Brooks, Maximilian Beier and Robert Skov getting on the scoresheet after visiting striker Tiago Tomas opened the scoring.
In central Bavaria, Augsburg led twice but were pegged back both times by goals from Bochum's Takuma Asano as the sides played out a 2-2 draw.


With Mbappe injured, Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Garcia impresses with a hat trick

Updated 05 January 2026
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With Mbappe injured, Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Garcia impresses with a hat trick

  • The win kept second-placed Madrid within four points of Barcelona after the league leaders won 2-0 at Espanyol on Saturday
  • Levante upset Sevilla 3-0 on the road in the debut of new Portuguese coach Luis Castro
  • Real Sociedad made a promising start under new American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo after holding fourth-placed Atletico Madrid to a 1-1 draw

BARCELONA, Spain: Gonzalo Garcia scored his first, second and third goals in La Liga for Real Madrid on Sunday with his hat trick dominating a 5-1 rout of Real Betis.

The 21-year-old forward was making a rare start in place of the injured Kylian Mbappe, the league’s top scorer, who is sidelined with a left knee sprain.

Garcia came up through Madrid’s youth sides before debuting with its first team in November 2023. He has had steady minutes under Xabi Alonso this campaign.

“It was a dream game for him,” Alonso said about García. “Playing at the (Santiago) Bernabeu (stadium), first season with the first team, and to hit a hat trick. He wanted to score here, and I’m happy for him and with how he works every day whether or not he gets the chance to play. He has an unbelievable attitude and he’s a fantastic example of what it means to be a Real Madrid academy graduate.”

Garcia got going in the 20th minute when he headed in a free kick from Rodrygo after getting free of his marker at the far post.

He deftly controlled a pass with his chest before volleying a strike home from the edge of the area to make it 2-0 in the 50th.

After defender Raul Asencio headed in Rodrygo’s corner for a third Madrid goal shortly after, Betis striker Cucho Hernandez pulled one back for the visitors in the 66th.

Garcia got his hat trick in the 82nd with a flick of his heel to turn in a pass by Arda Guler before he was substituted to loud applause.

His replacement, Fran García, rounded off the victory in stoppage time.

“I’ve been a Madrid fan ever since I was a kid, and I’ve spent many years in the academy, so to come off to a standing ovation from these fans is a very special moment that will stay with me forever,” Gonzalo Garcia said. “I hope there are loads more goals, loads more wins to come, and a special year for all of us.”

The win kept second-placed Madrid within four points of Barcelona after the league leaders won 2-0 at Espanyol on Saturday. Third-placed Villarreal trail Madrid by seven points but has played two fewer games than Madrid and Barcelona.

The win came after a two-week winter break for Spanish clubs. Prior to that break, Madrid had been struggling and pressure was building for Alonso to oversee a convincing win like the one his team delivered against Betis.

Madrid’s most convincing victory in a month comes before Alonso’s side heads to Saudi Arabia where it will participate in the Spanish Super Cup. It will have to beat crosstown rival Atletico Madrid in Jeddah on Thursday to face either Barcelona or Athletic Bilbao in the final on Jan. 11.

“It was an important and well-deserved win to start the year at home,” Alonso said. “Getting underway like this is crucial, calmly and with positive feelings around the place ahead of the Super Cup.”

Promising starts

Levante upset Sevilla 3-0 on the road in the debut of new Portuguese coach Luis Castro.

With his team leading 2-0, Levante goalkeeper Mathew Ryan saved a penalty by Isaac Romero and his attempt to head in the rebound in the 90th minute before Levante scored its final goal.

Levante broke a run of eight rounds without a win and moved out of last place.

Oviedo fell to the bottom after a 1-1 draw at Alaves.

Real Sociedad made a promising start under new American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo after holding fourth-placed Atletico Madrid to a 1-1 draw.

Former Sociedad striker Alexander Sorloth put Atletico in front in the 50th, but Goncalo Guedes equalized five minutes later for the hosts.

Girona left the relegation zone with a 2-1 win at Mallorca.