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Bayern need to play more aggressively against Hannover, says Heynckes
After unexpectedly drawing at Nurnberg on Saturday, the Bavarians' boss believes that his side needs to show more strength going into their next fixture against Mirko Slomka's men
Arnesen: Son a key player for the future
The Hamburg sporting is determined to keep the South Korean star at the Imtech Arena, but the player is remaining coy over signing a new deal with the club
Schweinsteiger: Bayern should not underestimate Hannover
The Germany international has urged the Bavarians to remain focused as he feels Mirko Slomka's men could pose a stern test for the Bundesliga leaders
Javi Martinez: Bayern will return to winning ways
The Spain international is not too worried about the Roten's recent draws, and has little doubt that they will soon start winning once more
Klopp demands focus ahead of weekend clash with Mainz
The BVB trainer was quick to make clear that his team should forget their exploits in Europe's elite tournament and concentrate on their match with the Oh-Fives
Mandzukic: My celebration was not political
The Croatia international has revealed that the salute he made after scoring last Saturday was just a meaningless gesture and had no hidden meaning
Reus: Gotze is an exceptional player
The Germany international has hailed his team-mate following his sparkling performance in Borussia Dortmund's 4-1 Champions League win over Ajax on Wednesday night
Schalke general manager dismisses Huntelaar Arsenal link
As speculation continues linking the Dutchman to a move to the Emirates, the Konigsblauen are keen to reject any move for the striker away from the Veltins Arena
Diego wants new Wolfsburg contract
The Brazilian playmaker is hoping for a fresh deal with die Wolfe providing the campaign is a successful one, whilst he dedicated the Hoffenheim win to their new sporting director
Rummenigge: It is time for Bayern Munich to hit the gas
The Bavarians' CEO was satisfied with the outcome of their clash with Valencia, but was not impressed with an underwhelming display
Kahn backs German sides to triumph in Europe
The ex-Bayern Munich shot-stopper believes that teams in the country have a good chance of bringing a European trophy back to Germany for the first time since 2001
Bayern need Ribery, admits Rummenigge
The France international has been one of the Roten's undisputed star players this term, and the chairman has acknowledged he is a key figure
Bayern Munich suffer Luiz Gustavo injury blow
The holding midfielder faces a spell on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on a groin injury that has kept him out of action in recent weeks
Recovering Vukcevic only allowed family visits
The Hoffenheim midfielder is finally on the road to recovery after he was involved in a horrific car crash almost eight weeks ago
After back-to-back draws, Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich return to domestic action ahead of a heavy load of fixtures.
Jupp Heynckes' side faced Valencia in the Champions League on Tuesday and did enough to secure qualification to the knockout stages with a draw at the Mestalla.
Bayern remain eight points clear at the top of the league with 10 wins from 12 matches, but the Valencia result was their second consecutive stalemate after they were held to a surprise 1-1 draw by lowly Nuremberg last Saturday.
Memories of the same eight-point lead they squandered last year will be at the forefront of Heynckes' mind with games against Mainz (Saturday), Freiburg and last season's eventual champions Borussia Dortmund falling in the next seven days.
Juergen Klopp's Dortmund safely secured Champions League qualification on Tuesday and sit atop the illustrious Group D and can keep up the pressure on Bayern with a third consecutive win in the league at eighth-placed Mainz on Saturday.
After struggling early in the season, Dortmund appear to have returned to peak form and were unstoppable on the break against Ajax on Wednesday in a 4-1 win.
Marco Reus and Mario Gotze produced a master class and striker Robert Lewandowski scored a brace with goals either side of half-time.
Both Bayern and Dortmund can rest easy with European progressions assured, but the same cannot be said in the league where they will lock horns in seven days time either side of other fixtures.
Second and third - Schalke and Frankfurt - meet on Saturday and could slip behind Dortmund if they play out a draw.
Schalke became the third German side to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday courtesy of Christian Fuch's sublime 30-yard strike in a 1-0 win over Olympiakos.
Fortuna Dusseldorf are at home to Hamburg on Friday looking for a first league win in eight games and Wolfsburg will go searching for a third consecutive win at home to Werder Bremen on Saturday.
Lowly Greuther Furth host Nuremberg while on Sunday Freiburg are in action against Stuttgart and Hoffenheim entertain fifth-placed Bayer Leverkusen.
Rock-bottom Augsburg host Borussia Moenchengladbach and will look to avoid a fifth straight defeat.
Fortuna Dusseldorf recorded an important 2-0 win over Hamburg to move two points clear of the relegation zone in the Bundesliga on Friday.
The home side opened the scoring in first-half injury time, Robbie Kruse finishing from inside the penalty area after being found by Andreas Lambertz.
Kruse then turned provider in the 63rd minute, with the Australian teeing-up Stefan Reisinger to double Dusseldorf's lead.
The win sees Norbert Meier's side move to 13th place on the table, just three points behind Hamburg, whose loss was compounded by an injury to star midfielder Rafael van der Vaart in the first half that required the former Tottenham man to be substituted.
The Bayern Munich juggernaut rolls on after they hammered Hannover 5-0, while Borussia Dortmund overcame Mainz on Saturday.
Javi Martinez, Toni Kroos, Frank Ribery, Dante and Mario Gomez got themselves on the scoresheet as league-leading Bayern maintained their advantage atop the Bundesliga.
Bayern wasted no time applying early pressure and took the lead with only three minutes played through Martinez, who converted an overhead effort.
Hannover grew into the game as the first half wore on but Bayern eventually doubled their lead when Kroos latched onto Philip Lahm's cross in the 24th minute.
French international Ribery extended the lead on 37 minutes with a powerful finish past Ron Zieler.
Bayern began the second half in similar fashion and it was not long before they made it 4-0 as Dante headed home on the hour mark and Gomez completed his return from injury with a curling effort four minutes later.
Jupp Heynckes' men are nine points clear at the summit following Dortmund's come from behind 2-1 victory at Mainz.
Mainz midfielder Marco Caligiuri opened the scoring with less than five minutes on the clock, propelling a terrific half-volley into the top corner from outside the area.
But less than 10 minutes later Marco Reus equalised when his cross nestled untouched in the bottom corner of the net, before Robert Lewandowski lobbed the visitors into the lead just before half-time.
The defending champions move up to second in the table as a result of Schalke's 1-1 draw at home to Eintracht Frankfurt.
In other Bundesliga results on Saturday, the 10-men of Werder Bremen held on for a 1-1 stalemate with Wolfsburg, while lowly Greuther Fuerth and fellow strugglers Nuernberg shared the spoils in a goalless draw.
Bundesliga wrap: Wins for Leverkusen, Freiburg as Gladbach held
26 November 2012
Bayer Leverkusen kept pace with the chasing pack in the Bundesliga courtesy of a 2-1 victory over struggling Hoffenheim on Sunday.
Goals from Lars Bender and Daniel Carvajal opened a two-goal lead in the first half before Fabian Johnson pulled a goal back for the hosts.
Hoffenheim pushed for an equaliser but Leverkusen held on for their ninth win in 10 league games.
Sami Hyypia's team hit the front after 15 minutes, with Bender finding the back of the net from close range before Carvajal finished off a flowing move to double the visitors' lead.
American international Fabian Johnson curled a shot past goalkeeper Bernd Leno to offer Markus Babbel's team some hope but they were unable to find the all-important equaliser.
Leverkusen's win leaves them fifth, level on points with Schalke and Eintracht Frankfurt, and one point adrift of defending champions Borussia Dortmund, who are second.
Elsewhere on Sunday, sixth-placed Freiburg extended their unbeaten run to four games by defeating rivals Stuttgart 3-0.
Jan Rosenthal broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute, guiding his effort inside the left post.
Freiburg moved two goals clear courtesy of Pavel Krmas' 67th-minute rebound before Max Kruse put the result beyond doubt six minutes later.
Meanwhile, Patrick Herrmann levelled proceedings late on as Borussia Moenchengladbach salvaged a 1-1 draw at bottom side Augsburg.
Javi Martinez: I am enjoying life at Bayern
The ex-Athletic Bilbao midfielder reveals that he is enjoying playing for his new club and that he wants to thank his team-mates for helping him to settle in Germany
Carvajal: I want to succeed with Leverkusen
The former Real Madrid player has denied that he would be interested in playing for los Blancos again and is determined to win something at his new club
Ozil, Iniesta, Pirlo & Ribery among midfielders shortlisted for World XI
The two La Liga stars are joined on the Fifa/FifPro list by the Bianconeri veteran and the France Winger, with Yaya Toure being the only non-European player on the list
Lewandowski could stay at Borussia Dortmund, hints Watzke
Die Schwarzgelben's CEO has stressed that his club is under no pressure to let the striker leave anytime soon, insisting that holding on to him could be economically smarter
Robben nearing Bayern Munich comeback
The Netherlands international will not feature against Freiburg in midweek, but could make the squad for the clash with Borussia Dortmund
Gomez: Bayern Munich must win the Bundesliga
The Germany international is desperate for silverware, and feels the current league leaders are on the right track at the moment
Javi Martinez: My first Bayern goal feels special
The former Athletic Bilbao midfielder opened his account with his new club with an acrobatic over-head kick, and he has revealed that he will keep the matchball as a souvenir
Rafael van der Vaart expects to be out until 2013
Hamburg's Dutch midfielder limped out of his side's 2-0 defeat at Fortuna Dusseldorf on Friday night with a hamstring injury, and he does not believe he will play again this year
I should be fit to face Bayern Munich, says Ilkay Gundogan
The Germany international lasted half an hour against Mainz before having to be replaced but he is confident he will be back to face the league leaders next week
Froehlich: Klopp's behaviour towards officials is too aggressive
The DFB head of referees criticises the Borussia Dortmund coach's vociferous conduct on the touchline and warns that it risks encouraging violence against officials
Dortmund boss Klopp delighted to pass Mainz 'test'
The champions were forced to dig deep for the three points after going a goal down early on, and their boss was enthused by the resolve they showed at his former ground
Bundesliga wrap: Dortmund held, Schalke suffer surprise loss
28 November 2012
Borussia Dortmund blew an opportunity to close within six points of Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich after a 1-1 draw with Fortuna Dusseldorf.
Jakub Blaszczykowski gave the champions the lead in spectacular fashion at Signal Iduna Park on Tuesday moments before half-time but Stefan Reisinger deservedly drew the visitors level on 78 minutes.
Kevin Grosskreutz then missed a glorious chance to win it for Dortmund but, in truth, the hosts did not deserve all three points with their disjointed display.
The unavailability of Mario Goetze, who was watching on from the stands, was notable for Dortmund, who put in a largely subdued performance.
Marco Reus fashioned one of few first-half chances for the home side before Lukasz Piszczek swung in a cross for Blaszczykowski, who combined with Kevin Grosskreutz before neatly tucking home.
Robbie Kruse sprung the offside trap down the left-hand side for Dusseldorf before driving infield, but the Australian dwelled on the opportunity and saw team-mate Reisinger's tame effort blocked.
Stung into action, Grosskreutz fired just over the bar for Dortmund soon after but Kruse again found space and whipped in a delightful ball for Reisinger to head home on 78 minutes.
Juergen Klopp's men threw everything they had left at Dusseldorf during a frantic finale in which Ivan Paurevic was harshly sent off for a second yellow, but they were unable to find a way through.
Bayern can now put 11 points between the two sides ahead of Saturday's clash at the Allianz Arena with a win at Freiburg on Wednesday.
Third-placed Schalke suffered a 3-1 defeat at Hamburg that leaves them 10 points behind leaders Bayern.
Strikes from Maximilian Beister and Artoms Rudnevs in the second half put Hamburg 2-0 up.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar pegged one back for Schalke, who are into the Champions League last 16, but Milan Badelj sealed the points for Hamburg from the penalty spot in the 90th minute.
Fourth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt suffered another setback with a 3-1 loss at home to Mainz, their second loss in four games.
Julian Baumgartlinger was sent off for Mainz two minutes from time but the points had already been assured.
In the other clash, Hannover arrested a two-game losing streak with a 2-0 win at home to lowly Greuther Furth to stay sixth.
Bundesliga wrap: Bayern extend gap at the top, Leverkusen second
29 November 2012
Bayern Munich extended their lead at the top of the Bundesliga to 10 points with a comfortable 2-0 win over Freiburg on Wednesday.
A Thomas Mueller penalty gave the visitors an early lead at the Mage Solar Stadion, and although the hosts were soon reduced to 10 men, Jupp Heynckes' side failed to add to their lead until the last 10 minutes, when Anatoliy Tymoshchuk capped the victory.
Freiburg registered the first shot of the match, with Julian Schuster finding space and curling a shot into Manuel Neuer's palms.
Bayern won a penalty when the ball was spread by Franck Ribery on the left-hand side of the box.
The Frenchman played it against Oliver Sorg's arm, and the referee flagged for a penalty, which Mueller duly converted on 10 minutes.
Two minutes later, things got a whole lot worse for the hosts when Fallou Diagne pulled down Xherdan Shaqiri just outside the box and received a straight red card.
Despite their numerical advantage, Bayern were not able to keep up their wave of attacks and did little with a majority of possession.
The win was finally wrapped up when Tymoshchuk sprung the offside trap to latch on toPhilipp Lahm's ball and rounded the keeper to slot it into the empty net 11 minutes from time.
Meanwhile, Gonzalo Castro scored a brace as Bayer Leverkusen beat Werder Bremen 4-1 to lift them into second place ahead of Borussia Dortmund.
Strikes from Simon Rolfes and Jens Hegler in the second half wrapped up a third straight win for Leverkusen after Nils Petersen had made it 2-1 for the home side.
Vedad Ibisevic scored late in the second half to seal a 2-1 win for Stuttgart over Augsburg while Nuremberg heaped more pressure on relegation-threatened Hoffenheim with a 4-2 win.
Borussia Moenchengladbach scored twice in the first half to see off struggling Wolfsburg 2-0.
Muller: Freiburg win very important for Bayern
The versatile attacker was very pleased with the Bavarians' victory as he stressed that their opponents have proven in the past that they are no push-overs
Lahm stresses importance of spending winter break on top
The Germany national team captain believes the Bavarians will benefit from the fact that they are going to end the first half of the season at the league's summit
Gotze: Dortmund can still catch Bayern
The Germany international is refusing to give up on the title race, insisting that his team can reach the summit of the Bundesliga if they start a winning run
Heynckes: Bayern Munich not thinking about Borussia Dortmund
The Bundesliga leaders lock horns with the reigning champions on Saturday, but their coach has urged them concentrate on their latest domestic test first
Klopp: Dortmund lacking against Dusseldorf
The German coach was disappointed with his side's result, as they drew 1-1 at home, but conceded that he could not have asked for much more from his players
No concrete new investor for Bayern Munich, insists Rummenigge
Die Roten's chief is coy on the possibility of a new financier, after rumours that the club is searching for a new partner alongside Audi and Adidas came to light
Badstuber: We are nine points ahead & it should stay that way
The defender is enjoying being top of the Bundesliga, and has urged his team-mates to keep going until the end of the season as they look to take the title from Borussia Dortmund
Ribery ecstatic over Alaba return
The French winger is delighted with the way he has been linking up with the Austrian, who missed the start of the season with a broken foot, and hopes to end his career at Bayern
Westermann: It would be great to play at the 2014 World Cup
The Hamburg defender is dreaming of representing his country in Brazil in two years' time, and feels his side must keep on working hard in the Bundesliga
Lahm: Bayern Munich have plenty of defensive options
The full-back feels the club's strength in depth is a plus for the Bavarians, while Jerome Boateng and Holger Badstuber are also pleased with their current situation
Bundesliga preview: Title defence on the line for Dortmund
30 November 2012
Borussia Dortmund will head to Munich to take on the Bundesliga leaders knowing anything but a win could end their title chase before Christmas.
Bayern Munich lead the Bundesliga by 10 points over second-placed Bayer Leverkusen with just 14 rounds gone, while reigning champions Dortmund are a further point behind.
While there are plenty of games left this season, Dortmund head coach Juergen Klopp will know Saturday's game will be one of the clear opportunities his side will get to eat into Bayern's lead.
One positive for Klopp is that Dortmund have won four of their past five meetings with Bayern, although the latter did claim the German Super Cup earlier this season.
But with Bayern having only conceded five goals so far this season, Dortmund will be up against it at Allianz Arena.
If Dortmund do win, however, Leverkusen should take advantage of Bayern's slip-up as they host 13th-placed Nuremburg this weekend.
Stefan Kiessling, Leverkusen's leading goal-scorer this term, heads into the game hoping to break a three-match scoring drought.
However, having hit the back of the net 10 times in 20 matches across all competitions this season, Kiessling will be expected to score again sooner rather than later.
In what looms as one of the games of the weekend, Hannover head to Mainz in a battle of sixth versus seventh.
Both sides bounced back from consecutive defeats to win midweek with Hannover knocking off Greuther Furth 2-0 and Mainz triumphing 3-1 away to Eintracht Frankfurt.
In a bad sign for Mainz, they have not kept a clean-sheet yet this season and will come up against one of the top scoring sides in the Bundesliga, with only Bayern and Dortmund having found the net more times than Hannover this campaign.
In other matches on Saturday, Schalke host Borussia Moenchengladbach, Stuttgart travel to Greuther Furth and bottom club Augsburg take on Freiburg.
Eintracht will head to Dusseldorf to take on Fortuna on Friday with the home side having grabbed an impressive 1-1 draw against Dortmund in their last match.
On Sunday, Werder Bremen will travel to Hoffenheim and Wolfsburg are up against Hamburg.
I do not give a damn about Bayern Munich anymore, says Mats Hummels
Die Borussen defender has said that he has no sentimental thoughts left about his former club, and claims to be fully committed to Jurgen Klopp's side
Ribery: Bayern Munich will definitely win Bundesliga title
The France international has added a little spice to this weekend's encounter with holders Borussia Dortmund by insisting he has no doubt that Bayern will be champions come May
Badstuber: Details will decide Dortmund clash
The Germany international is looking forward to Saturday's game, and believes FCB could be in for a difficult encounter against the Bundesliga champions
Klopp wants Dortmund to 'cause Bayern trouble'
The Bundesliga champions' boss has conceded that his side face a tough task away to the German giants, but he is confident of making life hard for the league leaders
Muller: Bayern Munich will respect Borussia Dortmund
The Germany international says there is no chance the Bavarians will take their next domestic test lightly, highlighting the quality of the reigning Bundesliga champions
Title race over if Bayern Munich beat Borussia Dortmund, says Hitzfeld
The 63-year old believes the race for the Bundesliga will be all but over if his former club see off the reigning champions in their next league fixture
Lucio: I am unhappy at Juventus
The Brazil international is frustrated with his lack of playing time at the Serie A leaders, and would be open to a return to Germany
Fortuna Dusseldorf fully exploited their numerical advantage by beating high-flying Eintracht Frankfurt 4-0 in the Bundesliga on Friday.
Eintracht forward Karim Matmour saw red in the first half and it proved costly for the visitors as Fortuna claimed victory courtesy of goals to Stefan Reisinger, Oliver Fink, Nando Rafael and Axel Bellinghausen.
Fortuna were full of confidence heading into Friday's battle of the promoted sides having earned a point at defending champions Borussia Dortmund last week, while Eintracht were coming off six defeats in their past seven Bundesliga outings.
The hosts received a boost in the 34th minute when Matmour was dismissed for a second bookable offence.
And Norbert Meier's side made the most of the situation as Reisinger netted the opening goal just four minutes later - his third goal in as many games.
Fortuna doubled their lead three minutes before the half-time interval, as Fink unleashed a curling long-range shot past a helpless Kevin Trapp.
Rafael, who was a late replacement for Australia international striker Robbie Kruse, added a third on the hour mark after finding himself free in the penalty area.
The rout was completed within five minutes of the final whistle as Bellinghausen squeezed the ball through Trapp's legs.
As a result, Fortuna moves up to 13th in the table, while Eintracht remains fifth behind league leaders Bayern Munich.
Bundesliga wrap: Goetze rescues point for champions
2 December 2012
Bayern Munich held champions Borussia Dortmund to a 1-1 draw in the Bundesliga on Saturday to maintain their cushion atop the league table.
Mario Goetze struck a brilliant equaliser for Dortmund after Toni Kroos put Bayern ahead in the second half, but despite maintaining their 11-point lead over Juergen Klopp's side, the match was soured by a serious knee injury to Holger Badstuber.
Having defeated Bayern on all five occasions last season on their way to back-to-back titles, Dortmund again started at a frantic pace, but it was the home side who registered the first chance.
Franck Ribery's volley came close but a suicidal Badstuber back-pass almost put Marco Reus in for the opener.
Badstuber soon came off with what is believed to be an anterior cruciate ligament injury that could see the German international miss six months.
A double chance for Dortmund either side of half-time saw Reus' ferocious volley parried away by Manuel Neuer ,while former Bayern defender Mats Hummels was denied shortly after the interval from close range.
Dortmund began to seize the initiative with Goetze and Reus particularly prominent but Bayern would go ahead shortly after Thomas Mueller was denied a penalty appeal.
It was the 23-year-old who fed Kroos with the playmaker side-stepping both Hummels and Nevan Subotic to fire a crisp strike past Roman Weidenfeller into the bottom right corner.
The lead did not last long with Goetze neatly taking down Jakub Blaszczykowski's corner delivery and volleying past Neuer and a sea of Bayern bodies to make it 1-1 in the 74th minute.
Bayern had the better of the final exchanges with Mueller almost finding the net on two occasions but Dortmund, for all their invention, will feel they dropped two crucial points after an intriguing battle.
Earlier, Bayer Leverkusen took advantage of Bayern's draw to move within eight points of the leaders with a 1-0 triumph over Nuremburg, their third successive Bundesliga victory.
Andre Schurrle created the only goal of the game, setting up Stefan Kiessling in the 37th minute as Bayer moved to 30 points.
Mainz survived a 49th-minute red card to goalkeeper Christian Wetklo to defeat Hannover 2-1.
Having trailed 1-0 through Nicolai Muller's 10th-minute strike for Mainz, Hannover ensured the scores were level at half-time thanks to Christian Schulz's goal in the 28th minute.
Just four minutes into the second half, Mainz's hopes of victory were dealt a severe blow when Wetklo handled the ball outside the box to receive his second yellow card of the match.
But despite having more shots on goal, Hannover failed to score again and it was Mainz's Hungarian striker Adam Szalai who made the difference, hitting the back of the net in the 89th minute to clinch an impressive victory.
In other results, Schalke needed an 85th-minute goal from Julian Draxler to earn a 1-1 draw at home against Borussia Moenchengladbach, Stuttgart defeated Greuther Furth 1-0 and Augsburg versus Freiburg finished 1-1.
A hat-trick from Austrian winger Marko Arnautovic has inspired Werder Bremen to a 4-1 win over Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga.
Arnautovic's international team-mate Sebastian Prodl got Bremen going in the 21st minute of Sunday's game, heading Kevin De Bruyne's free-kick over Hoffenheim goalkeeper Koen Casteels.
De Bruyne's through-ball eight minutes later set up Arnautovic for his opening goal of the game as he burst into the box from his right wing to score.
Hoffenheim got back into the contest briefly in the second half when Sejad Salihovic scored five minutes after the break but Arnautovic restored Bremen's two-goal cushion with a fine curling free-kick in the 73rd minute.
The 23-year-old Austrian attacker completed his hat-trick in brilliant fashion when he sprinted into the penalty area in the 79th minute, stopped and dragged the ball back onto his left foot, before curling his shot inside the fast post.
Bremen moved up to eight with the victory, while Hoffenheim, who have lost their past four matches, are 16th.
In the other Bundesliga match, Wolfsburg had Danish defender Simon Kjaer to thank for their 1-1 draw against Hamburg.
Maximilian Beister gave Hamburg the lead in the 26th minute thanks to an assist from striker partner Artoms Rudnevs but Kjaer's header from Marcel Schafer's cross with just over 20 minutes left ensured Wolfsburg grabbed a point at home.
Schweinsteiger: Badstuber injury a huge blow
The influential midfielder has made it clear that the Germany international will be missed, and is confident his side can go far in the Champions League
Bayern Munich confirm Holger Badstuber will undergo surgery on Monday
The Bundesliga leaders have revealed their key defender will require an operation after severely injuring himself in the 1-1 stalemate against Borussia Dortmund
Gomez has 'mixed feelings' after Dortmund draw
The 27-year-old rued his side's inability to preserve their lead, but insisted that the team can be content with a point against the reigning German champions
Dortmund prove themselves against the best yet again but Bundesliga remains a distant dream
The champions' title challenge may have all but ended on Saturday, but they once again showed that they are capable of competing with Europe's finest teams
Huntelaar acknowledges fans' discontent as Schalke draw with Gladbach
The striker was honest in his evaluation that his team are struggling after the stalemate on Saturday saw them fail to win in the league for a fourth consecutive time
Bayern draw a fair result, says Hummels
The Germany defender is adamant that Borussia Dortmund deserved to leave the Allianz Arena with a point, while Roman Weidenfeller believes they are a match for the Bavarians
Heynckes: Weidenfeller key to Dortmund draw
The veteran coach believes the champions' goalkeeper ensured that his side left the Allianz Arena with a share of the spoils, but Toni Kroos is unhappy with a point
Bayern's Badstuber suffers cruciate ligament rupture
The Germany international could be out for up to six months after sustaining the injury just 37 minutes into the action at the Allianz Arena on Saturday evening
Beckenbauer: Gotze and Reus world's best midfield duo
The Bayern Munich legend believes the Borussia Dortmund pairing are a force to be reckoned after watching them tear Ajax apart in the Champions League
'Football is more than a business' - Dortmund chief Watzke takes aim at oligarch-owned EPL teams
The BVB director believes English football is losing its soul due to the influx of overseas benefactors, while praising the Germans' insistence on cheap tickets and standing areas
Dec 2, 2012 10:50:00 PM
By Livio Caferoglu
Hans-Joachim Watzke has accused foreign-owned Premier League clubs of valuing business over football, as Borussia Dortmund prepare to face Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday.
German football rules stipulate that at least 50% of a Bundesliga club must be owned by its members, whilst having the backing of one vote of a holding company, therefore ruling out the possibility of overseas takeovers.
Bayer Leverkusen, Wolfsburg and Hoffenheim are exceptions to the '50 plus one' model due to their long-standing affiliations with their present owners, but the legislation was recently challenged by Hannover president Martin Kind.
"I was the biggest opponent of changing the rule," Watzke told The Guardian.
"Germans want to have that sense of belonging. When you give [the supporters] the feeling that they are your customers, you have lost.
"In Germany, we want everybody to feel it is their club, and that is really important."
Bar the three clubs who abstain from the rule and Kind's vote, the other 32 clubs in the German Football League agreed to keep the '50 plus one' model, which has been in existence since the turn of the millennium.
Twenty-five thousand Dortmund fans pay just €190 for a season ticket in the affectionately-named Yellow Wall standing area in the south stand of the Signal Iduna Park, and Watzke believes putting the fans first is vital to the successful running of the club.
"In former times in England I think the relationship between the club and supporters was very strong," Watzke added.
"Our people come to the stadium like they are going to their family. Here, the supporters say: it's ours, it's my club."
"Here, it is our way to have cheap tickets, so young people can come. We would make €5m more a season if we had seats, but there was no question to do it, because it is our culture.
"In England it is a lot more expensive. Football is more than a business. Everybody told me you cannot play in the Champions League against clubs like Manchester, they have more money.
"We are trying to do it ourselves, in our way. There are a lot of ways to Rome. Chelsea have won the Champions League, but what happens after [Roman] Abramovich?"
Dortmund drew 1-1 with Bayern Munich on Saturday which keeps the Bavarians 11 points clear of the reigning champions - and Watzke admits his side's rivals are runaway leaders.
"Bayern are unstoppable this season," he told Bild. "You would have to hope that they go through a soft patch, but this is not very likely."
Following a disappointing start to the 2012-13 season, the officials in charge of the Bundesliga side have announced they have parted ways with their trainer
Dec 3, 2012 4:40:00 PM
By Chris Kvesa
Hoffenheim sporting director Andreas Muller has confirmed the departure of coach Markus Babbel.
The German side currently sit 16th in the Bundesliga with only 12 points from 15 matches, and the boss believes that a change is necessary in order to escape the relegation zone.
"Our increasingly threatening situation and the negative trend have left me no choice," the 49-year-old explained to reporters at a press conference.
"It is important to make a cut," he continued. "We have to hit the re-set switch and start a new beginning."
Under-23 boss Frank Kramer, who will initially take over the coaching role for the next two matches, is seemingly not happy about his assignment but said he is ready to take up the challenge.
"Of course, having to step [up] was not my desire," he said. "But I will confidently face this upcoming, difficult challenge."
And Muller is adamant that the decision to name Kramer as an interim coach was the right choice.
"He will initially take over for the next two matches, but possibly even beyond that," Hoffenheim's sporting director said.
"In this constellation we will have the necessary calmness to think about our next steps," he added.
Bayer Leverkusen's match-up at Hannover pits two sides whose fortunes are moving in opposite directions in the German top flight.
Sami Hyypia's Bayer are in fine fettle heading into the 16th round of the season, with the former Liverpool defender leading his chargers to second place on the back of four consecutive Bundesliga wins.
Though they trail leaders Bayern Munich by eight points, Hyypia's men will be confident of at least maintaining that gap when they head to the AWD-Arena to face Mirko Slomka's struggling side on Sunday.
Following three defeats in their last four encounters, including a 5-1 rout at the hands of Bayern a fortnight earlier, Hoffenheim linger in 12th place and too close to the relegation places for comfort.
With their nearest rivals favoured to pick up another three points, Bayern will be out to do likewise at another struggling side, Augsburg.
Jupp Heynckes' men, fresh from finishing on top of their Champions League group after a 4-1 defeat of BATE in midweek, head to the SGL Arena to face a side who are winless in eight Bundesliga games and sit 17th in the standings.
Third-placed Borussia Dortmund find themselves 11 points behind the leaders and must account for Wolfsburg to keep their title defence alive with Juergen Klopp's side in serious danger of falling out of the title race before Christmas.
Should Dortmund slip up at home, Schalke could pounce and move into third, but Huub Stevens' side will have to arrest a winless run of four matches if they are to claim three points at eighth-placed Stuttgart.
Eintracht Frankfurt are another team within striking range of the top places but will also need to arrest a slump in order to break through.
Werder Bremen will be looking to inflict a third straight defeat on Armin Veh's men, who could move into fourth by the end of the round.
In other matches, Mainz head to Borussia Moenchengladbach seeking a third consecutive win and possible foray into the top four, while Hamburger host lowly Hoffenheim to kick off the round on Friday.
Freiburg await the visit of Greuther Fuerth, who prop up the table on eight points and have not won since a second-round win over Mainz, and Nuernberg welcome Fortuna Duesseldorf in a battle between two struggling sides.
Hamburg piled more pressure on lowly Hoffenheim with a 2-0 win in the Bundesliga on Friday.
Latvian striker Artjoms Rudnevs bagged a brace, with goals in either half at the Imtech Arena, leaving Hoffenheim languishing in the relegation spots.
The appointment of new boss Frank Kramer after Markus Babbel's sacking did little to lift Hoffenheim's spirits with the defence still a major concern.
The visitors, who sacked Babbel on Monday after just nine months in charge, fell behind in the 27th minute when Rudnevs headed home Dennis Diekmeier's cross despite a hand from the goalkeeper.
Tolgay Arslan hit the crossbar before half-time for Hamburg, who continued to dominate after the interval.
The second goal finally came on 74 minutes when Rudnevs was on hand in the area to score after a free kick.
Hoffenheim have conceded a league-worst 38 goals and sit in 16th on 12 points while Hamburg move up to sixth on 24 points.
Derby against Augsburg a tough test, warns Gomez
The Germany international is aware of the danger his side could face against Markus Weinzierl's men, who are aiming to cause an upset against the Bavarians
I want to coach a team in Germany, says Schuster
The former Los Blancos trainer has expressed his desire to take over a Bundesliga outfit in the near future, and took time to criticise the condition of Spanish stadiums
Fan riots a problem of society, says Watzke
The BVB boss believes that acts of violence from supporters are not an issue of the game itself, and he is satisfied with his side's development during the campaign so far
Rummenigge: Europe fears German teams
The 57-year-old has voiced his delight with the success of the Bundesliga in the Champions League, and believes no club will want to face the nation's top sides
Klopp not taking anything for granted against Wolfsburg
Despite their lowly position, the Borussia Dortmund boss has issued a warning to his team as they prepare to welcome Lorenz-Gunther Kostner's men to Signal Iduna Park
Sammer: German dominance in group stage no reason for euphoria
The sporting director believes that the Bundesliga sides' success so far in Europe's elite tournament should not hyped up and that the clubs should keep their feet on the ground
Bayern not interested in Sneijder, insists Heynckes
The Dutchman was recently linked with a move to the Bundesliga leaders, but their head coach has insisted such a move for the Inter midfielder is out of the question
De Bruyne uncertain over Chelsea return
The Belgium youngster, currently on loan at Werder Bremen, has stressed his summer switch back to the club is far from certain, adding that he does not wish to sit on the bench
Neuer: Bayern proud to finish top of the group
The Germany international was very pleased with his side's success in the group stages, while Xherdan Shaqiri is looking forward to the draw for the round of 16
Gomez: Bundesliga is the best league
The prolific attacker has voiced his opinion that the German top flight is the strongest there is right now following their success in Europe this term
Heynckes says Dante is Bayern Munich's first-choice defender
The German coach says that the Brazilian defender is now one of the first names on his team sheet following an impressive start to his career with Die Roten
Juventus make Lewandowski enquiry
The Italian powerhouse have no intention to slow down in their attempts to lure the striker to Turin, and have made an official inquiry for the Poland international
Bayern & Dortmund among Champions League favourites, says Witeczek
The ex-Roten midfielder believes that Jupp Heynckes' side will be competing for Europe's top title come May, but admits their loss in the final last season could still affect them
Robben endures recovery setback
The Netherlands international has been sidelined due to injury for a number of weeks now, but a Bayern Munich comeback still seems to be far away at this point
Sammer: I have total confidence in Heynckes
The German side's director reveals that he has spoken to the club's coach about what the future holds for the Bundesliga side and which players they could sign next season
