BERLIN: VfB Stuttgart forward Deniz Undav has lost count of how many goals he has scored in recent weeks but he will be hoping his run continues when Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich pay them a visit on Saturday.
The 29-year-old has scored nine times in all competitions this term, with most of the goals coming in the past few weeks after he recovered from a knee ligament injury on the second matchday of the season that kept him out for several weeks.
In November he scored six of Stuttgart’s eight Bundesliga goals to confirm he was back to his best and a serious contender for Germany’s World Cup squad next year.
“I don’t know myself how many I have scored,” Undav said after netting in Wednesday’s 2-0 victory over VfL Bochum in the German Cup round of 16.
“I thought that it was eight goals. What I know is I have to keep going. There will be a phase where I may not be scoring so I must keep at it as long as possible.”
Undav, who has not been called up for Germany duty in recent months, knows full well that his current form has thrust him back into the mix for next year’s squad for the tournament that will be co-hosted by Mexico, Canada and the United States.
“I have been saying it again and again that the road to March is very long,” Undav said in reference to Germany’s next international matches as they prepare for the finals.
Bayern are firmly in control of the title race, sitting in top spot on 34 points, eight ahead of second-placed RB Leipzig, but have shown they are vulnerable at the back.
They lost 3-1 at Arsenal in the Champions League last week before needing late goals to earn a 3-1 comeback win over strugglers St. Pauli. It was the second consecutive Bundesliga game where they had to come from behind to win it.
Bayern were also troubled at Union Berlin before earning a nervous 3-2 victory in Wednesday’s German Cup last-16 tie, with the Berliners pushing for an equalizer in the second half, and Undav hopes to take advantage of that weakness on Saturday.
Leipzig host seventh-placed Eintracht Frankfurt in Saturday’s late game, while Borussia Dortmund, who are third on 25 points, entertain Hoffenheim in fifth on Sunday.
Stuttgart’s Undav poses biggest threat to Bayern amidst scoring run
https://arab.news/bkw83
Stuttgart’s Undav poses biggest threat to Bayern amidst scoring run
- “I don’t know myself how many I have scored,” Undav said
- “I have been saying it again and again that the road to March is very long“
Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia 2026 countdown begins ahead of Jan. 3 start
- * Redesigned course introduces fresh challenges that will raise the intensity of competition
- * Event highlights Kingdom’s aims of becoming a global leader in motorsport, says Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, SAMF chairman
JEDDAH: The countdown for Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia 2026, one of the world’s toughest rally events, has begun with less than a month remaining before the seventh consecutive edition hosted in the Kingdom gets underway.
The rally will take place from Jan. 3-17 under the supervision of the Ministry of Sport. It will be organized by the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation and promoted by the Saudi Motorsport Company.
Global attention will be focused on the rally as competitors prepare for a gruelling test across Saudi Arabia’s vast and varied terrain.
The upcoming edition is set to be one of the most distinctive yet, featuring a new route that will give competitors the chance to experience the Kingdom’s natural beauty, varied landscapes and historic sites.
The redesigned course introduces fresh challenges that will raise the intensity of competition, adding excitement throughout every stage.
Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, chairman of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation and the Saudi Motorsport Company, said: “The Dakar Rally is more than just a race; it is part of the Kingdom’s ambitious journey toward becoming a global leader in motorsport.”
This year’s rally marked a pivotal moment for Saudi motorsport when Yazeed Al-Rajhi became the first Saudi driver to claim the title in the cars category.
“It’s a milestone we are all proud of and hope to see repeated next year,” Prince Khalid said.
The SAMF chairman added: “What makes us especially proud this year is the rising number of Saudi drivers taking part, a clear indication of the success of our talent-development initiatives and next-generation programs. These achievements are the result of national efforts we all take pride in.”
Dakar Saudi Arabia 2026 will welcome 812 competitors representing 69 countries, competing with 433 vehicles across eight categories: Ultimate B, Ultimate, Stock, Challenger, Side-by-Side, Trucks, in addition to motorbikes and quad bikes. The rally will cover a total distance of 7,999 km, including 4,845 km of timed special stages.
Competition begins on Jan. 3, with a 23 km prologue stage in Yanbu, followed by stage 1 on Jan. 4 over 305 km starting and finishing in Yanbu.
Stage 2 will take place on Jan. 5 from Yanbu to AlUla (400 km), with stage 3 held in AlUla on Jan. 6 (422 km). Stage 4 follows on Jan. 7 from AlUla to the Marathon Camp (451 km).
Stage 5 runs on Jan. 8 from the Marathon Camp to Hail (372 km), and stage 6 on Jan. 9 from Hail to Riyadh (336 km).
Jan. 10 will be a rest day for the competitors in Riyadh.
Action continues Jan. 11 with stage 7 from Riyadh to Wadi Al-Dawasir (462 km), followed by stage 8 on Jan. 12 in Wadi Al-Dawasir (481 km). Stage 9 will run on Jan. 13 January toward the Marathon Camp (410 km). The rally moves on to stage 10 on Jan. 14 from the Marathon Camp to Bisha (421 km), then stage 11 on Jan. 15 from Bisha to Al-Hanakiyah (347 km).
Stage 12 follows on Jan. 16 January from Al-Hanakiyah to Yanbu (310 km), before the event concludes with the 13th and final stage in Yanbu on Jan. 17, covering 105 km.
All distances listed refer to timed special stages.
