BERLIN: Bayer Leverkusen cut Bayern Munich’s lead in the Bundesliga back to eight points ahead of the sides’ Champions League last 16 clash, with a 4-1 win at Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.
Bayern’s comeback win over Stuttgart on Friday had sent them 11 points clear of champions Leverkusen.
Wanting to keep their slim hopes of defending the Bundesliga title alive, Leverkusen did not blink against third-placed Frankfurt, scoring three goals in a seven-minute blitz to grab hold of the game.
Nathan Tella latched onto a defense-splitting Granit Xhaka pass and slotted home after 26 minutes.
Nordi Mukiele scored Leverkusen’s second three minutes later, prodding a loose ball into the goal through a crowded penalty area.
Patrik Schick scored four minutes later, sliding in an Alex Grimaldo pass, his 16th goal in his past 14 games.
Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike took advantage of a poor pass from Mukiele to score in the 37th minute.
Despite the hosts starting the second half brightly, a cracking long-range effort from Aleix Garcia with 63 minutes gone sealed a crucial win for Xabi Alonso’s side, who go to Bayern in Europe on Wednesday.
“It’s easy to talk, but to show it on the pitch is harder. We want to show once more that we can take the fight to Bayern,” Alonso told DAZN.
Xhaka felt it was the perfect preparation for the all-German showdown.
“We’re strong enough to aggravate Bayern next week. There’s still plenty in it for us in the Champions League,” said Xhaka.
The loss continued Frankfurt’s slide, having lost 4-0 at Bayern last week and only won once in six league matches since Omar Marmoush departed for Manchester City.
Serhou Guirassy scored as Borussia Dortmund boosted their faint top-four hopes with a 2-0 win at St. Pauli.
Fresh from scoring four goals in a 6-0 demolition of Union Berlin last time out, Guirassy put Dortmund in front five minutes into the second half, tapping in a Karim Adeyemi pass.
Adeyemi put Dortmund in control with an excellent solo goal eight minutes later.
The 23-year-old Adeyemi, one of the smallest players on the pitch, latched onto a long ball and used his strength to grapple past two defenders before slotting home.
It is the first time Dortmund have won two in a row in the league this season.
Dortmund, who host Lille in the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday, sit 10th, six points off fourth with 10 games remaining.
Guirassy has 24 goals in all competitions for Dortmund since arriving from Stuttgart in July, more than St. Pauli have managed in the league all season.
Leipzig let a one-goal lead slip to lose 2-1 at home against Mainz, who moved into fourth spot.
Xavi Simons gave Leipzig the best possible start, tucking in a rebound from close range after one minute.
Mainz turned the game on its head in six second-half minutes.
One-time Germany midfielder Nadiem Amiri cut in from close range after 52 minutes and current national team striker Jonathan Burkhardt added a second soon after.
Leipzig have won just one of their past eight games in the league and are in danger of missing out on Champions League qualification for the first time since 2017-18.
Elsewhere, Wolfsburg kept their hopes of European qualification on track with a 2-1 win at Werder Bremen, thanks to a double from Patrick Wimmer.
Wolfsburg are seventh, one point and one place behind Leipzig, who occupy the UEFA Conference League qualification spot.
A Robin Hack double and a Nathan Ngoumou goal took Borussia Moenchengladbach to a 3-0 win at Heidenheim, drawing them level with Wolfsburg on 37 points.
Heidenheim picked up a crucial win in their bid to avoid the drop, beating lowly Bochum 1-0 with Bayern-bound Tom Bischof scoring the only goal.
Leverkusen stay in sight of Bayern before Champions League showdown
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Leverkusen stay in sight of Bayern before Champions League showdown
- Nathan Tella latched onto a defense-splitting Granit Xhaka pass and slotted home after 26 minutes
- Nordi Mukiele scored Leverkusen’s second three minutes later, prodding a loose ball into the goal through a crowded penalty area
Brad Pitt’s F1 The Movie to premiere in Abu Dhabi this June
ABU DHABI: Brad Pitt’s Formula 1 film will return to Abu Dhabi for its regional premiere on June 25, ahead of its official Middle East release on June 26.
Directed by Joseph Kosinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton, F1 The Movie was partly shot at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year.
The Apple Original Films production follows fictional former driver Sonny Hayes (Pitt) as he returns to Formula 1 decades after a career-ending crash, teaming up with a struggling race team and a hotshot rookie played by Damson Idris.
The cast and crew will return to Abu Dhabi for the red-carpet premiere after filming 29 days across the emirate, including at Yas Marina Circuit and Zayed International Airport. The production involved 284 local crew members and 15 interns, supported by local partner Epic Films and the Abu Dhabi Film Commission’s rebate scheme.
Mohamed Dobay, of the Creative Media Authority, called the return “a fitting closing moment” to a project that has made a significant impact on Abu Dhabi’s creative economy. The film is one of 180 major productions supported by the Abu Dhabi Film Commission since 2013.
Coach Edwards set to introduce minimum fitness standard for England players
- Former batter Edwards, who captained England in more than 200 matches, replaced coach Jon Lewis last month amid England’s efforts to revive their form ahead of this year’s 50-over World Cup in India
England coach Charlotte Edwards is rolling out a “minimum fitness standard” and calling for more accountability in the area from players after a 16-0 whitewash in the multi-format Women’s Ashes earlier this year.
Former batter Edwards, who captained England in more than 200 matches, replaced coach Jon Lewis last month amid England’s efforts to revive their form ahead of this year’s 50-over World Cup in India.
“The players are very aware there will be minimum fitness standards come this time next year... there has to be more accountability in the area,” Edwards said on Tuesday, a day before her first match as England coach.
“Before the World Cup it is about individuals improving as much as they can in that time... I am not going to set fitness standards (now) because there haven’t been any standards in place.”
Edwards said the players had spent the last few weeks working hard to improve their fielding, an aspect of the game that came under heavy criticism during their dismal Ashes campaign.
“Physically they are in a really good place as well and we have some great fielders within our T20 squad. It’s a big part of the game and we know that,” Edwards added.
England host West Indies in three T20 matches and three One-Day Internationals between May 21-June 7, with India visiting for a limited-overs tour later next month.
Djokovic to carry on without a coach after parting ways with Murray
- The high-profile partnership with three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray lasted only six months
- Djokovic is winless on clay this year after exiting the Monte Carlo Masters and Madrid Open with straight-sets losses
Novak Djokovic said he would carry on without a coach for now after parting ways with Andy Murray last week, as the Serbian prepares for his latest bid to win a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title at the French Open.
The high-profile partnership with three-time Grand Slam champion Murray lasted only six months but Djokovic said his respect for the Scot had only grown in that time.
“At the moment, I’m not in need of a coach. I don’t need to rush in any context. I feel comfortable with the people around me,” Djokovic told reporters on Tuesday, a day before facing Marton Fucsovics at the Geneva Open.
“In the next few tournaments, we’ll see what happens.”
Djokovic, 38, is winless on clay this year after exiting the Monte Carlo Masters and Madrid Open with straight-sets losses last month, and his form is a concern heading into Roland Garros, which kicks off on Sunday.
He had appointed fellow former world number one Murray ahead of this year’s Australian Open and said in February he would continue working with him for an indefinite period.
“We felt like we couldn’t get more out of that partnership on the court, and that’s all there is to it,” added Djokovic.
“My respect toward Andy remains the same, even more actually, I got to know him as a person.”
Manchester City’s Guardiola demands slimmer squad for next season
- City have 28 players in the first team, not counting four who are out on loan, and have one of the most valuable squads in the world
- Guardiola, who extended his contract with City until 2027 in November, will lead the club as they defend their Club World Cup title next month
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has told the club he wants to work with a tighter squad next season as it troubles his “soul” to leave so many players in the stands when everyone is fit.
Regular internationals Savinho, Abdukodir Khusanov and Claudio Echeverri were all unable to find a place in the squad on Tuesday as City beat Bournemouth 3-1. England’s James McAtee and Rico Lewis also missed out.
City have 28 players in the first team, not counting four who are out on loan, and have one of the most valuable squads in the world with some media reports valuing it at over 1.3 billion euros ($1.47 billion).
“I said to the club ... I don’t want to leave five or six players in the freezer,” Guardiola told reporters after City moved up to third with one match left in the campaign.
“I don’t want that. I will quit. Make a shorter squad, I will stay.”
Despite their huge squad City faced an injury crisis late last year, with the side going on a five-match losing streak in all competitions between October-November.
They brought in Omar Marmoush, Vitor Reis, Khusanov and Nico Gonzalez at a cost of more than $224 million in the January transfer window to help address the problem.
But with defenders John Stones and Nathan Ake the only two players currently out with injury, Guardiola said it was “impossible” for his “soul” to keep telling so many players they would be watching the match from the stands.
“It is a question for the club. I don’t want to have 24, 25, 26 players when everyone is fit. If I have injuries, unlucky, we have some players (from) the academy and we do it,” the manager added.
Guardiola, who extended his contract with City until 2027 in November, will lead the club as they defend their Club World Cup title next month.
Suryavanshi ends dream debut IPL season with impressive half-century
- The left-handed batter finished his campaign with 252 runs from seven matches with a strike rate of 206.55, the highest by any batter this season
NEW DELHI: Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s fairytale debut season began with a first-ball six last month and ended with a scintillating half-century on Tuesday as the 14-year-old continues to justify the hype around him in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Rajasthan Royals were unable to make the playoffs but finished their campaign on a winning note against Chennai Super Kings thanks to Suryavanshi’s 57 off 33 balls.
The left-handed batter finished his campaign with 252 runs from seven matches with a strike rate of 206.55, the highest by any batter this season.
“I don’t have words for him,” Rajasthan captain Sanju Samson said.
“Today in the middle overs, he smartly picked his scoring options. He did not swing at every ball. He was waiting for the left-arm spinners. It shows how smart he is.”
Suryavanshi’s talent and ability to read the game make him a long-term prospect for an India side heading into an era without stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma following their test retirements.
“It’s an absolutely stunning combination... There’s something special for Indian cricket in the coming years,” Samson said.
Eyebrows were raised when Rajasthan signed Suryavanshi last year, with many even fearing for his safety facing some of the world’s most dreaded fast bowlers.
Wrapped in cotton wool for the first half of the tournament, Suryavanshi announced his arrival by hitting the first ball he faced, from India international Shardul Thakur, for a flat six in an April 19 match against Lucknow Super Giants.
However, it was his breathtaking 101 off 38 balls against Gujarat Titans that sparked talk about the arrival of a generation talent.
Rajasthan coach Rahul Dravid has warned that the youngster would need help to deal with his overnight fame and, after Tuesday’s match, said the player needs to keep improving.
“Remember, the bowlers will come better prepared against you next time,” Dravid told Suryavanshi in a video posted on the IPL website on Wednesday. “To dominate them, you need to develop your skills and be even better next season.”
