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
Al-Ahli win again to climb to second in Saudi Pro League table
- The reigning Asian champions continued their recent improved domestic form with a 3-0 win at Neom
DUBAI: Al-Ahli on Saturday night continued their hot streak of form to climb to second in the Saudi Pro League table with a comfortable 3-0 away win against 10-man Neom.
The latest victory means the reigning AFC Champions League winners have now won seven league matches in a row and sit on 40 points from 17 matches, just one point behind leaders Al-Hilal and three ahead of third-placed Al-Nassr. However, the two Riyadh teams are yet to play in Matchday 18.
After a scoreless first half, Al-Ahli took the lead from an Ivan Toney penalty on 55 minutes before Neom were left with a mountain to climb after the defender Khalifa Al-Dawsari was sent off six minutes later.
Riyad Mahrez and Enzo Millot confirmed a dominant win for Al-Ahli with two quick-fire strikes in the 64th and 67th minutes. Neom’s defeat sees them drop to 10th in the standings.
Earlier in the day, struggling Al-Shabab’s troubles continued when they could only manage a 0-0 draw against 10-man Khaleej Club, leaving the clubs in 14th and eighth respectively in the table.
In Saturday’s other fixture, two second-half goals by Khalid Al-Ghannam helped Ettifaq to a 2-1 win against Al-Kholood in Ar Rass, after Ramiro Enrique had given the home team a 16th-minute lead.
The win sees Ettifaq rise to sixth in the table while Al-Kholood remain in 12th.
