║║ Bundesliga Season 2012-13 ║║

[Manuel Neuer]

Bundesliga Preview: Borussia Dortmund v Hoffenheim

17 May 2013

Hoffenheim will travel to the Westfalenstadion on Saturday looking to preserve their Bundesliga status.

A win for Markus Gisdol's men, coupled with favourable results elsewhere, could see second-bottom Hoffenheim finish in either the relegation play-off spot, or completely out of the relegation places.

However, Hoffenheim are in poor form, having won just twice in six games, and come into the match with off the back of a 4-1 defeat against Hamburg.

They also face a Dortmund side who are guaranteed second place in this year's Bundesliga and are unbeaten in eight league matches.

Jurgen Klopp's men were last beaten on March 9 by rivals Schalke but since then they have been in excellent form, even booking a place in the UEFA Champions League final next Saturday against Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.

One crumb of comfort for Hoffenheim is that Dortmund were somewhat fortunate to draw 3-3 last time out against Werder Bremen, having been 3-1 down, while Klopp may choose to rest players ahead of the final at Wembley.

Klopp said in his press conference on Thursday that while Dortmund wanted to win the game, it was not as important to them as it was for their opponents.

"Their goal is a more important one obviously compared to ours," he said.

"Nevertheless we want to take up pace, because last week we didn't really keep our pace. We came back within the game. But before that we had got off to a bad start. So this is something we want to change this time.

"We have a different approach against Hoffenheim (to the UEFA Champions League final). One is a final and the other is a Bundesliga game.

"I usually try to make the players keen on games, but – let me put it this way – this time around there won't be a bonus for the team. It is what it is, so it will be important and also intense."

 

[Manuel Neuer]

Heynckes: The whole world wants me

By Livio Caferoglu
May 17, 2013 10:11:00 PM

The outgoing coach reveals he has been approached by a number of clubs around the globe but insists he remains fully focused on a crucial end to the current campaign

Jupp Heynckes has claimed that "the whole world" has contacted him over prolonging his managerial career once his contract with Bayern Munich expires in the summer.

The 68-year-old will step aside for Pep Guardiola after two years back at the helm of the newly-crowned Bundesliga champions but not without fulfilling one last league match against Borussia Monchengladbach and finals in the DFB-Pokal and Champions League.

Yet Heynckes freely admits that he has been approached by a number of clubs following Bayern's announcement in January that he would be departing the Allianz Arena, but insists he will wait to consider his options.

"The whole world has contacted me and want to take me while I'm still under contract, but I'm just concentrating on the Champions League final and not on any negotiations," he told a press conference ahead of FCB's clash with Gladbach on Saturday.

"It was an honour to work here. It's still great fun."

The former Real Madrid and Schalke boss had been tipped to prolong his managerial career outside of Germany, but he suggested such a commitment would not be the wisest at the age of 68.

"When I was 10, 15 years younger, I might have thought of a very profound commitment abroad. But you must remember that I am no longer the youngest," Heynckes concluded.

 

[Neven Subotic]

Bundesliga: Borussia Monchengladbach 3 Bayern Munich 4

18 May 2013

Jupp Heynckes signed off from Bayern Munich in style as they beat Borussia Monchengladbach 4-3 at Borussia Park on Saturday.

Martin Stranzl, Mike Hanke and Havard Hordtveit netted in the first 11 minutes to give Gladbach a shock lead, with Javi Martinez and Franck Ribery responding for the champions, all before the 20th minute.

Ribery equalised in the second half with a stunning volley before Arjen Robben tapped a winner in to complete a memorable turnaround for the Bundesliga champions.

Chasing a possible top-six finish, Gladbach paired Branimir Hrgota and Hanke in attack, while Bayern stuck with their strongest XI, despite still having the DFB-Pokal and UEFA Champions League finals to play

The hosts snatched a lead in the third minute as Juan Arango's free-kick from the right wing was nodded in by an unmarked Stranzl, who stole past some static Bayern marking to score.

Barely a minute later, the visitors were stunned again as Dante tried to carry the ball out from the back, but presented the ball straight to Hrgota, who slipped a precise through ball into the path of Hanke, who kept his cool to slot past Manuel Neuer.

With just seven minutes on the clock, a third goal went in, and it was a way back for Bayern. Ribery touched the ball into Martinez, the Spaniard racing to the edge of the area before sweeping the ball home.

Less than 10 minutes had gone before Gladbach scored again, this time Arango's magnificent pass released Patrick Hermann on the right flank, with just one defender covering for Bayern, the winger rolled the ball across to the supporting Nordtveit, who tapped past Neuer.

The visitors soon had their second and a way back into the match as Thomas Mueller collected the ball from David Alaba's throw-in and turned the ball to Ribery, who smashed past Marc-Andre ter Stegen at his near post.

Bayern got back on top and had chances to equalise before the break, but Philipp Lahm and Mueller were denied, while Hanke stung the palms of Neuer at the other end with a 25-yard drive.

Heynckes' side were back on level terms eight minutes into the second half in stunning fashion through Ribery. Robben burst down the right before cutting back to Lahm, the skipper's deep cross found the Frenchman on the edge of the box, who lashed a left-footed volley across Ter Stegen and into the corner.

Neuer had to be alert to keep out Arango's swerving 40-yard free-kick and Ter Stegen made a fine reaction stop from Mario Mandzukic's header as both sides sought the lead.

And it was Bayern who got themselves in front for the first time in the 59th minute as Ribery swung a cross over Gladbach's defence from the left to Robben, who side-footed home six yards out.

Ribery had a great chance for a hat-trick after being released by Mueller, rounding Ter Stegen but Stranzl slid in to clear his goalbound effort away for a corner, which saw the ball drop to Bastian Schweinsteiger, whose blast was palmed away.

The 21-year-old was again called into action as Ribery's cross deflected to Mandzukic six yards out but Ter Stegen flicked the Croat's effort away with his right boot.

Bayern cruised through the closing stages to extend their record points total to 91 and give Heynckes the best possible farewell.

 

[Neven Subotic]

Bundesliga: Borussia Dortmund 1 Hoffenheim 2

18 May 2013

Hoffenheim pulled off a miraculous final-day escape from Bundesliga relegation with a 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund on Sunday.

The visitors came into the game needing to win and hoping that Augsburg or Fortuna Dusseldorf lost their fixtures in order to reach the relegation play-off spot. However, Robert Lewandowski's early goal seemed to put paid to that dream.

However, their chances of survival then received a huge boost late in the second half when Sejad Salihovic emphatically dispatched a penalty after Kevin Volland had been tripped. And the Bosnian repeated the trick not long after as Roman Weidenfeller was dismissed for needlessly bringing Sven Schipplock down.

Markus Gisdol's team then survived a late onslaught, including a controversial disallowed Lewandowski strike, to take their fight for Bundesliga survival into a play-off showdown thanks to Dusseldorf's 3-0 defeat to Hannover.

Despite second place already being assured for Dortmund, Juergen Klopp named a strong team, making just two changes, with Felipe Santana making way for Neven Subotic and Nuri Sahin replaced by Jakub Blaszczykowski.

Hoffenheim, meanwhile, made four changes as they looked to recover from a 4-1 defeat to Hamburg in their last outing and make a late dash for survival.

However, those hopes were to receive an early blow as Lewandowski capitalised on some slack defending to give his side the lead in the sixth minute. Blaszczykowski saw his header at the far post parried out by Koen Casteels but his fellow Pole was on hand to tap home from close range.

But Dortmund struggled to capitalise on that early breakthrough as the game descended into a scrappy affair of few chances. Goalscorer Lewandowski was guilty of missing further chances for the hosts which could have put them out of sight before the break.

Hoffenheim did well to hold on, however, and kept their slim hopes of emerging from the drop zone alive into half-time.

Klopp's team instantly set about emphasising their dominance after the restart, but Ilkay Gundogan's long-distance effort only brought an outstanding save from Casteels. Blaszczykowski then also missed an excellent chance for the hosts, blasting over when played in one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

Sebastian Kehl should have done better than to pass into Casteel's body after a lightning counter-attack saw him teed up by Blaszczykowski moments later, with substitute Schipplock's misdirected header the best the visitors could muster in reply.

Hoffenheim were given the helping hand they desperately required in the 76th minute, as a clumsy Mats Hummels challenge invited Volland to hit the deck in the box. The referee did not hesitate to award the spot-kick and Salihovic was equally unerring in finding the top corner to equalise.

And things were about to get even better for the visitors, as Schipplock beat Roman Weidenfeller to a loose ball and tumbled to ground to win a second penalty in a matter of minutes. The Dortmund goalkeeper was subsequently dismissed, with makeshift shot-stopper Grosskreutz getting nowhere near Salihovic's well-struck effort.

Dortmund pushed hard for a late equaliser, and thought they had it when Lewandowski directed a shot from the edge of the box home in the dying seconds. However, following a consultation with his linesman, the referee correctly opted to disallow the goal and ensured Hoffenheim will face a play-off against Kaiserslautern for their top-flight status.

 

[Neven Subotic]

Hummels denies Barcelona contact
The Borussia Dortmund defender has revealed that the Blaugrana have not yet approached him in order to secure his services

Blanc: Bayern are like a steamroller
The former France coach believes the Bavarian club hold the edge on their Bundesliga rivals but feels the Champions League final is finely poised

Lahm: Bayern hungry for success
The Roten star insists there will be no hint of complacency in the Champions League final despite their domestic supremacy this season

Robben desperate to end final curse
The winger has lost a number of big games in the past few seasons, but is confident that things will end better for him this time around

Lewandowski: Hoffenheim defeat will not affect Dortmund ahead of Champions League final
The Poland striker has insisted that BVB's recent performances will not mean anything when they take to the pitch on Saturday

Hummels confident he will be fit for Champions League final
Ther centre-back's coach feared he might not be fit to face Bayern Munich next week but the defender and club doctor have confirmed he is likely to feature

'Champions League is something special' - Beckenbauer
The legendary German defender won the European Cup three times in a row with Bayern Munich in the 1970s and believes the first trophy is the most important

Diego confirms 'concrete offer' from Atletico Madrid
The playmaker has revealed that there has been contact with los Rojiblancos, raising the possibility of him once again leaving to join Diego Simeone's team

Heynckes thanks fans in emotional farewell
The Bavarians coach struggled to hold back tears after his side's final Bundesliga game of the season, which they won 4-3 in dramatic style

Leverkusen attacker Schurrle hints at Chelsea move
The Germany international has long been linked with a summer move to Stamford Bridge and following the conclusion of the Bundesliga, admitted he expects to leave for west London

Hummels doubtful for Champions League final
The BVB defender injured himself when conceding a penalty in the defeat to Hoffenheim on Saturday and there is a chance that he may now miss out on the trip to Wembley

Badstuber suffers second cruciate injury
The Germany international is set to miss the next six months after suffering a recurrence of the significant problem that kept him out for much of this season

Lizarazu: Current Bayern team not best-ever...yet
The Bavarians are on course to claim a historic treble this season but their former left-back believes they are some way off from being regarded as the finest iteration

 

[Neven Subotic]

Bayern Munich are like a James Bond villain, says Klopp

By Stefan Coerts
May 21, 2013 7:59:00 AM

The coach is not impressed with the Bavarians' transfer policy and has revealed that he was in the running for the FCB job back in 2008

Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp has slammed Bayern Munich's big-spending transfer policy and likened the club to a "James Bond villain".

Bayern have already secured the services of Mario Gotze for a fee of €37 million, while they are also keeping tabs on fellow BVB stars such as Mats Hummels and Robert Lewandowski, much to the dismay of Klopp.

"Bayern want a decade of success like Barca. That's OK if you have the money because it increases the possibility of success. But it's not guaranteed," Klopp was quoted as saying by The Guardian ahead of Saturday's Champions League final.

"We are not a supermarket but they want our players because they know we cannot pay them the same money. If that's what Bayern wants... It's like James Bond – except they are the other guy [the villain].

"It could not be our way to do things like Real [Madrid] and Bayern and not think about taxes – and let the next generation pick up our problems. We need to work seriously and sensibly. We have this amount of money so we can pay that amount. But we lose players."

The 45-year-old then went on to reveal that he was close to the Bayern job in the past, but eventually missed out as they opted for Jurgen Klinsmann instead.

"Uli Hoeness [Bayern's president] asked if I would see him. I said: 'Yes sir – I have to ask my mother first but I think it will be fine.' He told me they were thinking of two coaches and I was one of them.

"Later Hoeness decided on Jurgen Klinsmann. It wasn't too disappointing – for a second division manager to be called by Bayern is not the worst thing in the world."

Klopp would eventually leave Mainz for Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2008 and has guided them to two Bundesliga titles since.

He will be looking to add the Champions League to his trophy cabinet at the weekend when they take on Bayern at Wembley.

 

[Neven Subotic]

Dortmund's Hummels should be fit for final

Borussia Dortmund central defender Mats Hummels looks set to be fit for Saturday's Champions League final against German rivals Bayern Munich despite an ankle injury picked up in the Bundesliga season finale.

Reuters – 23 hours ago

"His participation in the Champions League final on Saturday in London is absolutely realistic," Dortmund team doctor Markus Braun said in a club statement.

Hummels hurt an ankle ligament in their 2-1 home defeat by Hoffenheim on Saturday but tests showed he had stretched it rather than tearing it as initially thought.

Dortmund attacking midfielder Mario Goetze, who will join Bayern next season, is also facing a race against time to recover from a muscle injury.

Dortmund are looking to win their first Champions League trophy since 1997 with four-times European champions Bayern aiming to make it five in their third final appearance in four seasons.

 

[Neven Subotic]

Carvajal dreams of Real Madrid return
The full-back has revealed his desire to one day move back to his boyhood club, while believing that his spell in Germany has helped him to fulfill his potential

Kagawa 'inspired' by Dortmund's run to Champions League final
The Japan international is hoping to make a bigger impact in the tournament next season after watching his former club make it to Saturday's big match at Wembley

Low plays down Germany talent pool
The coach of the national team hopes Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund's European success this season will help his cause for next summer's World Cup

'Lewandowski is the complete forward'
Wolfsburg defender Simon Kjaer believes the striker is amongst the very best in the world, a sentiment shared by Polish legend Zbigniew Boniek who suggests he would suit Barcelona

Dortmund sign Sokratis Papastathopoulos from Werder Bremen
The Greek defender's representative has confirmed that his client will join the Champions League finalists next season on a five-year deal for an estimated €9.5 million

Hargreaves expects Bayern Munich to 'steamroller everything' in coming years
The former England midfielder tips his old club to begin a period of dominance in European football, praising their infrastructure and warning that only complacency can stop them

Sousa: Gotze and Lewy exits will derail Dortmund
Double Champions League winner Paulo Sousa tells Goal his former club will struggle to fill the void left by the impending departures of two marquee players

Official: Petersen leaves Bayern for Werder
The former Germany Under-21 international has completed his move away from the Bundesliga champions

Low wishes Euros were this year
The Germany coach admits a Champions League triumph for either Borussia Dortmund or Bayern Munich could have been a huge lift for his side had occurred 12 months ago

Piszczek to undergo hip surgery
The Polish full-back is expected to miss around five months of football when he goes under the knife at the end of the season

Sammer: Klopp can say what he wants
The Bayern Munich sporting director has stressed everyone's right to an opinion after the BVB coach said the Bavarians are like Bond villains

Hannover confident of holding onto Liverpool target Zieler
The goalkeeper's agent insists the Premier League club have been watching the 24-year-old, but multiple sources at the German side say they will not be selling him

Badstuber out of action for 10 months
The Bundesliga champions have announced that the Germany international has gone under the knife and now faces a lengthy recovery process

 

[Neven Subotic]

‘If anyone can improve this Bayern side it’s Guardiola’ - Ballack

By Amar Singh
May 24, 2013 6:35:00 PM

The former Bavarians midfielder is of the opinion that ex-Barcelona coach can step into Jupp Heynckes' shoes and make the Champions League finalists even better

Michael Ballack believes incoming Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola can overcome a unique challenge this summer - how to improve a near-perfect side.

The 36 year-old former Roten and Chelsea midfielder thinks the Champions League finalists are close to flawless but has backed Guardiola - who will replace Jupp Heynckes in mid-June - to make them even better.

He told Goal while speaking to reporters at the adidaslab in London on Friday: "If you see the statistics this year Bayern Munich played an unbelievable season, scoring most goals, conceding less and look at the way they played also - they have been so dominating and balanced from attacking football to counterattack to possession."

"It is difficult to improve a team that is at such a level but then if somebody can do it then maybe it is Guardiola.

"Before he went on his break he proved he was one of the best coaches in the world coaching one of the best teams in the world - Barcelona. They were dominant for a few years so he knows how to improve a team who is already on top."

Ballack won three Bundesliga titles with the Bavarians between 2002 and 2006 and he is backing his former side to beat Borussia Dortmund in Saturday’s Champions League final.

"Bayern have the advantage. They have adapted well to everything Borussia Dortmund have tried this season," he added.

"The injury of Mario Gotze can be critical too. Not playing with your biggest talent behind the striker Robert Lewandowski in that key position is a big loss."

Bayern and Dortmund will kick-off the Champions League final at Wembley at 20:45CET on Saturday.

 

[Neven Subotic]

Now beat that, Pep! Bayern brilliance a hard act to follow for Guardiola

May 25, 2013 11:00:00 PM

The Catalan coach has been hired for next season with a view to getting the best out of the Bavarians' golden generation. But four months on, they are already European champions

COMMENT
By Ben Hayward | Spanish Football Writer

It had seemed the perfect match. A golden generation of players who had under-achieved at the very highest level in Europe, paired with the most successful and decorated coach of the last four years. Pep Guardiola's move to Bayern Munich looked like the final piece in the jigsaw for this exciting team when it was announced in January, but just over four months on, they have conquered Europe before he has even got started. Bundesliga champions by 25 points, likely German cup winners and now Champions League heroes: Jupp Heynckes' brilliant Bayern will be a hard act to follow.

Bayern had lost two of the last three Champions League finals and time was running out for this great group of players to really fulfil their potential on the game's most special stage. Last season's loss to Chelsea at the Allianz Arena in the final raised real doubts over the mental strength of this team and back-to-back Bundesliga titles surrendered to Borussia Dortmund only served to rub salt in the wounds. Pep, they said, would see to all that.

But Bayern have done it without him. The Bavarians brilliant form in 2012-13 has seen them duly dispatch domestic rivals with scandalous scorelines: 9-2, 6-1 several times, 5-0 away from home, and so on. And in the Champions League, the sensational 7-0 aggregate win over Barcelona (the team that Pep built) led to claims the Catalans' era was over, giving way to a Deutsch dynasty. Pep, who was supposed to mastermind said switch in power, watched on from his cosy sabbatical in New York. Now, however, he finds himself in a less comfortable position, stuck between a rock and a hard place: in terms of results, it really is impossible to better Bayern's breathtaking performance in the current campaign; in purely footballing terms, it will be almost impossible too.

Yes, Bayern ceded the ball to BVB in the early stages and looked bellow their brilliant best for the first 25 minutes, but the Bavarians ended the game with 61 per cent of the possession - something similar to the stats in every single one of Guardiola's 247 games as Barcelona boss. And they were up against the team which knows them better than any other. This was a German Clasico.

The Catalan coach is likely to opt for a philosophy more in tune with Barca's pretty passing, yet Bayern are already a top technical team who can spray the ball around the pitch and press like the best, albeit without the individual brilliance of Lionel Messi. And collectively, there is currently no better team around.

So Guardiola has chosen wisely. But have Bayern? Perhaps Pep's arrival gave the players a lift in January and had them on their toes as they looked to impress their new boss. This includes the Wembley hero Arjen Robben, who could be the first out of the door when Guardiola arrives. If, however, Bayern go on to win the DFB Pokal by beating Stuttgart on June 1 (as they will be expected to do), Guardiola will really have a tough task in attempting to better this team.

Mario Gotze will join from Dortmund this summer, while a big transfer kitty awaits the new man. And with his remarkable reputation, the Catalan coach will be expected to make Bayern better. At Barca, he inherited a losing team with all the ingredients to be a winner; at Bayern he takes over the best team around. Now he has to build an era-defining dynasty - nothing else will suffice. It's a colossal challenge.

 

[Neven Subotic]

Bundesliga - Hummels keen to end Dortmund exodus

Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels is desperate to taste Champions League glory at Wembley to remind his team-mates what they will be missing if they quit the club.

PA Sport – Sat, May 25, 2013 09:19 BST

After Shinji Kagawa's exit for Manchester United last summer, Mario Gotze's departure for Dortmund's opponents on Saturday, Bayern Munich, has already been confirmed. Robert Lewandowski looks certain to follow Gotze to the Allianz Arena, underlining the extra financial muscle Bayern boast.

While he expects Bayern will continue to be strong, Hummels insists his club is the place to be over the next few years. "They are not going to get any worse are they?" said Hummels on Friday. "Not if they keep taking our players. Tomorrow we need to show those who would like to go to Munich that they will be missing out on something."

There is a reason Dortmund will not break the bank to keep hold of their best players. In 2005, just eight years after their only Champions League success, they almost went bust. And Jurgen Klopp knows such a near-catastrophe will not be allowed to happen again.

"The club could have ended as a fiasco," he said. "The stadium might have been turned into a monument. Instead, it has risen from the ashes. "Football is a religion in Dortmund. Bayern may have won a lot of fans and a lot of trophies because of the incredible number of good decisions they have made. But now there is another story. Along has come another club that is pretty good as well. "We do have money to get good players. But there are other clubs who can spend more money. We have to take a different position."

Such is the impact Klopp has made following back-to-back titles and a surge to the Champions League final that saw them emerge unbeaten from four encounters with Real Madrid and prove themselves superior to Manchester City he could become a target for Europe's elite as well.

For now though, he is wrapped up in the Dortmund dream. "What we have grown in the last five years has been amazing," he said, recalling his arrival from Mainz after Dortmund's worst league campaign in two decades.

"It could only have been done at this club. That is why things are so emotional for us, compared to other places where success is normal."

 

[Neven Subotic]

Hoeness hails 'insane' season

By SW Lim
May 26, 2013 12:06:00 AM

Speaking after his team's triumphant performance in the Champions League final, the official emphasised that the campaign had exceeded all expectations

Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness has lauded the club's "insane season" after defeating Borussia Dortmund 2-1 on Saturday to clinch a long-awaited Champions League title.

After last lifting the trophy against Valencia in 2001, Mario Mandzukic and Arjen Robben ended die Roten's drought in Europe's elite club competition, compensating for previous heartbreaks in recent finals to Inter and Chelsea.

And Hoeness was swift to pay tribute to the exploits of the club this season, given their opportunity to complete a treble of domestic honours by winning the DFB-Pokal next Saturday.

"For Bayern Munich, it is an incredible story. We have now won this European title after 12 years," the former striker told reporters after the match.

"The championship was fantastic, but the pinnacle is still the Champions League. We have finally recovered. Thus, this season, no matter what happens in Berlin on Saturday, is an insane season."

Jupp Heynckes' men had already lifted the Bundesliga crown earlier this month, seeing off Dortmund by a remarkable 25-point margin.