MUNICH: No one at Bayern Munich is even talking about a potential Bundesliga title win in Saturday’s home game against Mainz 05, coach Vincent Kompany said on Friday.
The Bavarians, eight points clear with four matches left, could seal their 34th league crown with a win over Mainz should second-placed Bayer Leverkusen fail to beat Augsburg.
“I only prepare for the Mainz game. Only the game is important, those 90 minutes,” Kompany told a press conference when asked about planning for potential title celebrations.
“All those scenarios are not yet in my head.
“We lost against Mainz (earlier in the season). The way I know my team is that the motivation is so big for tomorrow,” he said. “We know the qualities of Mainz, but our motivation is so high that we will be look at our own qualities.”
Bayern head of sport Max Eberl echoed the coach’s views, saying it was still too early to celebrate.
“Bayern can earn their 34th German league title,” Eberl said. “It would be my first. But I don’t want to hear anything (about celebration planning). When we achieve it then we will start but I don’t want to hear anything about it now.”
Thomas Mueller, who will be leaving at the end of the season after 25 years at the club, could make his 500th league appearance for the side, though he did not train on Thursday due to illness.
“Thomas was a bit sick. But I hope he is back in training today and will be there tomorrow,” Kompany said.
The Bavarians, who last season saw Leverkusen win the domestic league and Cup double, will also be competing for the title at the 32-team Club World Cup in the United States starting in June.
The winners will earn up to $125 million, according to world soccer’s governing body FIFA.
“The Club World cup is the first time with such a format and both sporting and financially extremely lucrative,” Eberl said.
“We go there to win the title and if we can generate revenues then that is wonderful.”
Bayern Munich keeping title talk to a minimum ahead of Mainz game, coach says
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Bayern Munich keeping title talk to a minimum ahead of Mainz game, coach says
- The Bavarians, eight points clear with four matches left, could seal their 34th league crown with a win over Mainz should second-placed Bayer Leverkusen fail to beat Augsburg
Rodrygo’s winner lifts Real Madrid past Alaves to end losing streak
- The victory keeps Real second in the standings on 39 points, four adrift of Barcelona, while Alaves are 12th on 18 points
VITORIA-GASTEIZ, Spain: Rodrygo secured Real Madrid a crucial 2-1 victory over Deportivo Alaves on Sunday in LaLiga, ending a dismal run of form and keeping them within four points of leaders Barcelona.
Real, under pressure after two straight losses in all competitions, broke the deadlock through Kylian Mbappe’s stunning first-half strike.
However, a resilient Alaves levelled in the 68th minute through Carlos Vicente. The visitors restored their lead eight minutes later, courtesy of a counter-attack led by Vinicius Jr, whose assist was converted by Rodrygo.
The victory keeps Real second in the standings on 39 points, four adrift of Barcelona, while Alaves are 12th on 18 points.
The narrow triumph in the Basque Country provided manager Xabi Alonso with much-needed breathing space after a run of two wins from their previous eight matches across all competitions.
Sunday’s victory demonstrated Real’s resilience and ongoing weaknesses. Despite taking a 24th-minute lead through Mbappe’s spectacular strike, they found themselves outplayed by an Alaves side roared on by a sold-out Mendizorrotza stadium.
Mbappe had opened the scoring in trademark fashion after Jude Bellingham threaded a long pass to the French forward, who ran down the left channel before cutting inside and unleashing a bullet strike into the top corner from the edge of the box.
Despite Real’s early lead, Alaves grew dominant as the first half progressed. The hosts pressured Real’s makeshift defense, which featured 19-year-old academy graduate Victor Valdepenas in his senior debut at left back.
Alaves’ pressure was eventually rewarded in the 68th minute when substitute Vicente, introduced moments earlier, latched onto Antonio Blanco’s long ball and surged past Real’s high defensive line to finish into the top corner.
Initially flagged offside, Vicente’s goal was awarded after a VAR review confirmed the forward had timed his run perfectly.
Real’s winner came as Vinicius wrestled past a defender on the left flank before driving into the penalty area and delivering a low cross, finding Rodrygo, who slid in to steer the ball home from close range.
“It was a tough, very competitive match,” Alonso told a press conference.
“We started well and took the lead, but then we lost control and, as a result, we didn’t finish well. We had chances in the second half, but we conceded from the only mistake Valdepenas made and Carlos Vicente took advantage of that, after a great pass.
“But the team continued to fight hard, battling it out in a difficult stadium against a very intense opponent. That second goal gave us the three points and we’re leaving here very happy.”
