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Bayern Munich agree to sign Borussia Monchengladbach's €4.6m Dante at end of the season - report
The Brazilian has been at the heart of an impressive back line for Lucien Favre's side this term and the Bavarian giants are ready to meet the defender's release clause
Mario Gotze representative: Links to Manchester United and Juventus are unfounded
The Germany international, seen as one of Europe's brightest prospects, had been reported to have had contact from other clubs but those close to him say that he will stay
Leverkusen's Michael Ballack close to signing with Major League Soccer team
Sources have told Goal.com that the former Germany captain and ex-Chelsea star would like to conclude his career in North America and is in deep discussions with MLS
Bundesliga preview: Leverkusen look to bounce back 16 February 2012
Bayer Leverkusen will look to bounce back from two defeats in a row when they take on Augsburg on Saturday in the Bundesliga.Leverkusen have not won in four matches, including a 3-1 loss to Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday and a 1-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.
Leverkusen's main weakness this season has been in front of goal, having only hit the back of the net 28 times in 21 games, which is worse than 12th-placed Cologne and 13th-placed Mainz.Swiss striker Eren Derdiyok is the club's top scorer in the Bundesliga with just six goals, while Stefan Kiebling, Bayer's main forward, has scored only four goals in 15 games.
Bayer are sixth on the Bundesliga table and have 31 points, but need a win to ensure they are still in the European places at the end of the weekend, with Hannover just behind on goal difference.Augsburg, Leverkusen's visitors on Saturday, are second-bottom with 18 points, including only one win on the road this season.
A victory for Augsburg could take them above the relegation spots if Hertha Berlin lose and Kaiserslautern fail to win. Hertha host league leaders Dortmund, while Kaiserslautern are also at home where they will face third-placed Borussia Moenchengladbach. Dortmund lost to Hertha when the Berlin-based club travelled west on September 10, but the reigning champions have won five straight in the Bundesliga heading into this weekend's fixture.
Moenchengladbach, who have not lost in seven games, could draw level at the top of the table if they win and Dortmund lose, although that hypothetical would open the door for Bayern Munich who are just two points behind the top team and take on bottom-placed Freiburg on Saturday. Schalke, the other club still within touching distance of Dortmund, host Wolfsburg on Sunday.
It is the first of two evenly-matched games on Sunday, with ninth-placed Stuttgart travelling north to take on Hannover, who are seventh. In other matches this week, Hamburg host Bremen and Cologne will play Nurnberg.
Bundesliga wrap: Dortmund streak continues, Bayern held 19 February 2012
Borussia Dortmund made it 11 straight wins in all competitions with a 1-0 Bundesliga triumph at Hertha Berlin, as Bayern Munich stumbled in Freiburg.A 63rd-minute strike from Dortmund's Kevin Grosskreutz proved to be the difference between the two teams at Berlin's Olympic Stadium on Saturday.Patrick Ebert missed two good chances for the home side, and they were made to pay midway through the second half.
Hertha goalkeeper Thomas Kraft pushed Robert Lewandowski's header onto the bar, and Grosskreutz produced an acrobatic finish to give Dortmund the lead.The hosts' best opportunity to equalise fell to Raffael 10 minutes after they fell behind, but the Brazilian saw his shot blocked by Neven Subotic.Hertha, who sacked coach Michael Skibbe last week, have now lost four league matches in succession.
Bayern Munich were held to a goalless draw at Freiburg, meaning Borussia Moenchengladbach climbed to second place courtesy of their 2-1 away win over Kaiserslautern.Patrick Herrmann and Juan Arango each scored within the first 13 minutes for Moenchengladbach at the Fritz-Walter-Stadion.Leon Jessen got a goal back for Kaiserslautern on 62 minutes, but it was not enough for the home side.
Saturday's results see Dortmund leading the Bundesliga standings by three points from Moenchengladbach, with Bayern dropping to third place, a further point behind.A Stefan Kiessling brace helped Bayer Leverkusen dispatch Augsburg 4-1 at home.Kiessling opened the scoring 25 minutes into the match at the BayArena, with Koo Ja-Cheol levelling for Augsburg four minutes into the second half.
The visitors had no answer to three Leverkusen goals in the space of 10 minutes, as Gonzalo Castro, Kiessling again, and Andre Schuerrle put the outcome beyond doubt.Werder Bremen came away from their trip to Hamburg with all three points, courtesy of a 3-1 victory. Marko Marin and Tom Trybull struck to give Bremen a 2-0 half-time lead. Mladen Petric got one back for Hamburg on 76 minutes, but Marko Arnautovic made the result safe for the away side when he scored with five minutes to go.
Finally, Nuremberg left it late to secure a 2-1 victory at home to Cologne.The hosts led through Alexander Esswein's 28th-minute strike, with Milivoje Novakovic equalising for visitors Cologne in the 65th minute.Tomas Pekhart scored on 85 minutes to help his Nuremberg side across the line.
Bundesliga wrap: Huntelaar double fires Schalke to victory 20 February 2012
Schalke defeated Wolfsburg 4-0 at home on Sunday to keep pace with the Bundesliga leaders, as Hannover held off Stuttgart to win 4-2.Spanish veteran Raul opened the scoring for home side Schalke 10 minutes into the match at the Veltins-Arena, tapping home from close range following Jefferson Farfan's corner. Netherlands international Klaas-Jan Huntelaar made it 2-0 just five later, guiding home a shot after being played in by Christian Fuchs.
Joel Matip claimed Schalke's third goal four minutes into the second half, collecting Kyriakos Papadopoulos' flicked header from a corner and back-heeling the ball into the back of the net.Huntelaar made it 4-0 with his second goal in 72nd minute, heading home from a Fuchs delivery. Victory leaves Schalke fourth on the table, five points back from leaders Borussia Dortmund.Wolfsburg meanwhile are eighth, seven points outside the Europa League qualification places.
Also on Sunday, Hannover beat Stuttgart 4-2 at home.Hosts Hannover led by half-time at the AWD-Arena thanks to goals from Karim Haggui and Mame Biram Diouf.Christian Pander made it 3-0 less than 60 seconds into the second half, with Lars Stindl adding a fourth on 73 minutes. Martin Harnik got one back for Stuttgart a minute after Stindl's goal, and Shinji Okazaki bagged another for the visitors to make it 4-2 with 12 minutes still to play.
Despite the quick-fire goals, Stuttgart proved unable to mount a comeback in the time remaining.Defeat leaves Stuttgart ninth, eight points and two places back from Hannover, who are seventh.
Bayern Munich to sign Monchengladbach's Dante - report
According to Bild, the Bavarians have agreed to meet the player's buy-out clause of €4.7 million and will land the Brazilian on a four-year contract in the summer
Andre Schurrle expresses concern over unrest at Bayer Leverkusen
The Germany international has stressed that things have to calm down at the club in order to allow the team to focus on football again
Philipp Lahm: Bayern Munich failed to show up against Freiburg
The Germany international was less than impressed with the Bavarians' display versus the Bundesliga minnows on Saturday evening
'Sluggish' Bayern Munich frustrate Heynckes after Freiburg draw
The Bavarians' coach says that the team did not do enough to match the intensity of the Bundesliga's basement club in their goalless draw at the Badenova Stadion on Saturday
Christian Nerlinger admits Bundesliga title 'is no longer in Bayern Munich's hands' following Freiburg draw
The former midfielder conceded the Bavarians will have to hope their rivals drop points going into the business end of the season, but was disappointed by his side's lack of hunger
Otto Rehhagel to be appointed new Hertha Berlin coach
The experienced trainer is expected to join the capital club until the end of the season as they look to fight their way up the table and away from the relegation zone
Mario Gomez to sign €45 million contract extension at Bayern Munich - report
The Germany international forward is reportedly close to agreeing a new deal with the Bavarian giants that will see him become one of the club's top earners
Christian Nerlinger admits Bundesliga title 'is no longer in Bayern Munich's hands' following Freiburg draw The former midfielder conceded the Bavarians will have to hope their rivals drop points going into the business end of the season, but was disappointed by his side's lack of hunger
Feb 18, 2012 9:10:00 PM
By Livio Caferoglu
Bayern Munich general manager Christian Nerlinger has confessed his team are no longer in control of their own destiny after Saturday's 0-0 draw with Freiburg in the Bundesliga.
The German giants laboured to a stalemate against the strugglers, and despite his insistence that the title remains a feasible target for the rest of the campaign, the 38-year-old admits they must now live in the hope that their league rivals give them a helping hand.
"Of course, the championship is not lost, but it is no longer in our hands," claimed Nerlinger after the match.
Nerlinger also expressed his frustration at the performances of some players, whom he chose to not name, claiming they were oblivious to the importance of the fixture in Freiburg and did not give their all to the Bayern cause.
"This match was a big mystery to me - especially the first half, it made me very pensive," mused Nerlinger. "It seemed as if some of our players have not understood what is at stake.
"There were basic team elements such as aggression, a positive attitude and a willingness to win which were missing."
Santana eyeing exit door at Dortmund, Leverkusen and Gladbach interested - agent
The Brazilian defender has spent a large chunk of the season on the bench and is now keen to move on, with Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Monchengladbach both said to be interested
Watzke admits Dortmund team will split up as Kagawa talks reach a halt
With negotiations with the Japanese playmaker having broken down, the executive has conceded that the Bundesliga champions will not remain the same in the long-term
Monchengladbach interested in signing Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku on loan - report
The Bundesliga side are looking to bring in reinforcements as they prepare for Champions League football next season, and have allegedly set their sights on the Belgian striker
Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Rene Adler set to sign four-year deal with Hamburg - report
The Germany international has an expiring contract with his current club, and will reportedly continue his career at the Imtech Arena next season after falling out of favour
You get what you pay for - Rafinha is not good enough for Bayern Munich, and neither is Dante
The right-back was exposed against Basel on Wednesday, and his alarming inadequacy should send a clear signal to Uli Hoeness that the Gladbach man is a similarly risky investment
Neuer: Bayern Munich are gutted about Basel defeat
The Germany international feels that the Swiss outfit deserved their victory on Wednesday evening, and admitted that FCB are going through a difficult period of late
Uli Hoeness angry after Ribery incident: 'Just stop with your f***ing handshake questions'
The German club's official lashed out with profanity when being interviewed and stated that it is normal that a player does not want to shake hands after a match like Wednesday's
Borussia Dortmund chief Watzke: Lewandowski would be foolish to join Bayern Munich
There has been mounting speculation that the Poland international, who has been in fine goal-scoring form this season, could make a big-money move to the Allianz Arena
Low: Germany success is as much an achievement for society as sport
The trainer believes his team's success speaks well not only for athletics, but culture, although he feels much is left to do. He also revealed he will experiment against France
Huntelaar determined to beat Bayern hot-shot Mario Gomez to the Golden Boot
The Netherlands striker is currently the joint leading scorer in Germany and wants to finish ahead of the Bayern Munich forward in the race for the Golden Boot
Better than Shaqiri - the teenage Basel star who Bayern Munich must stop tonight
The winger has been in the limelight since confirming his move to Bavaria, but he is not the only Switzerland starlet who could upset the German record champions on Wednesday
Cacau confident of Germany call-up for Euro 2012
The Stuttgart attacker acknowledges that he faces stiff competition, but feels he still can prove his worth to Joachim Low before the end of the Bundesliga season
Borussia Dortmund star Shinji Kagawa set for a return to Bundesliga action following return to training after ankle injury
The Japan international injured his ankle during training last week but has returned to training and could be set for a return to Bundesliga action on Sunday against Hannover
Borussia Dortmund's Kehl pens contract extension
The 32-year-old midfielder, who has 31 Germany caps to his name, has committed himself to the Bundesliga champions until the summer of 2013, with an option for a further 12 months
Zorc bites back at Bayern: Dortmund did not give up on Champions League
Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge recently claimed in an interview with Kicker that their Bundesliga rivals had gotten knocked out in order to focus on the Bundesliga
Palmeiras remain confident of signing Werder Bremen's Wesley The deal appeared to have collapsed after the Brazilians failed to meet certain financial demands sought by their German rivals but the midfielder could yet secure a return home
Jupp Heynckes: Schweinsteiger is at the same level as Xavi & Iniesta The German coach says that Schweinsteiger is on par with the Catalan club's midfielders, while indicating that Robben will start Wedneday's match on the bench
Bastian Schweinsteiger almost played for Bayern Munich's basketball team The Germany international footballer considered taking on a new sport to help the Bavarians achieve promotion to the Basketball-Bundesliga, but injury fears prevented his debut
Rummenigge: Bayern Munich need the selfish Arjen Robben back
The Bavarian chief says that the Dutch attacker must improve as the club have moved down to third in the Bundesliga
Germany boss Joachim Low tempted by club coaching role
The 52-year-old has been involved with the national team since 2004, but refused to rule out a return to club duty in the future
Kevin Pezzoni suffers broken nose in nightclub attack
The 22-year-old was attacked on Sunday evening and was forced to spend the night in hospital after blacking out following the assault
Lukasz Piszczek dreams of winning the double with Dortmund
The full-back realises that it won't be easy to win two trophies this term, but is nonetheless hopeful that BVB can do just that
Lukas Podolski set to return to Koln training, but questionable for derby with Leverkusen
The prolific forward has recovered from ankle ligament damage and will join his club on Tuesday, but his Bundesliga comeback may have to wait until after Saturday's Rhine derby
Mats Hummels thanks Borussia Dortmund team-mates for bailing him out against Hertha Berlin
The 23-year-old had a poor game at the weekend for the Bundesliga champions, but Jurgen Klopp has now revealed that the player fell ill during the course of the game
Dante: Bayern Munich are a great team, but no transfer is in place
A number of recent reports suggested that the Bavarians have already reached an agreement about a summer move, but the centre-half has denied any such rumours
Schalke goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall out 'for several weeks' with shoulder injury
The 21-year-old went down under a heavy challenge from Wolfsburg's Mario Mandzukic on Sunday, and the club have now confirmed that he will miss a hefty chunk of the season
Rummenigge feels Bayern Munich star Schweinsteiger is on par with Barcelona duo Xavi & Iniesta
The Bavarians' CEO stated that the 27-year-old is of the same level as the two Spaniards, and added that winning the Champions League could be a bridge too far for his club
Bundesliga preview: Bayern aim to find form in a hurry
23 February 2012
Borussia Dortmund will hope to extend their Bundesliga lead this weekend, with out-of-form Bayern Munich liable to slip up against Schalke.Defending champions Dortmund sit three points clear of second-placed Borussia Moenchengladbach in the standings, and are four points ahead of title rivals Bayern.
Gladbach are in action first this week, and can draw level on points with Dortmund - at least temporarily - if they defeat mid-table Hamburg at home in Friday's curtain raiser.Jurgen Klopp's titleholders must wait until Sunday for their chance to impress, when they host seventh-placed Hannover at the Westfalenstadion.
Something has to give in a clash between two teams that have proven hard to beat.Hannover have lost only once in their past 10 league matches, while Dortmund are unbeaten in the Bundesliga since September 18.It was Mirko Slomka's Hannover side who inflicted that defeat, winning 2-1 in the reverse fixture, and Dortmund are likely to be out for revenge as they seek to record their seventh successive league victory.
Would-be title challengers Bayern have lost ground in the championship battle due to their inconsistent form early in 2012.Since the German season resumed in January, Bayern have won two, drawn two and lost in the Bundesliga.They were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw at Freiburg last week, and followed it up on Wednesday with a surprise 1-0 loss away to Basel in the Champions League round-of-16 first leg.
Jupp Heynckes knows his team need to rediscover their winning touch, but they may find doing so difficult at home to fierce rivals Schalke, who thrashed Wolfsburg 4-0 in their last league outing.In other matches, the teams chasing Europa League qualification, fifth-placed Werder Bremen and sixth-placed Bayern Leverkusen, are at home to Nuremburg and away to Cologne respectively.
Veteran coach Otto Rehhagel will take charge of Hertha Berlin for the first time when they visit fellow promoted side Augsburg, who are second-from-last on the table.Third-from-bottom Kaiserslautern will hope to pick up valuable points in their battle to avoid the drop and are away to 13th-placed Mainz.
And bottom side Freiburg will look to build on last week's morale-boasting draw with Bayern when they make the trip to face Stuttgart.
Augsburg thrashed Hertha Berlin 3-0 in the Bundesliga on Saturday, in Otto Rehhagel's first game in charge of the capital club.The German coaching legend, who has won the Bundesliga three times, joined Hertha this week to try and save the club from relegation.
The Berlin-based club went into Saturday's game just above the relegation zone, but Rehhagel got a good look at how tough his job will be as Augsburg destroyed the visitors with three goals in the second half.Torsten Oehrl was the match-winner for Augsburg with two goals in two minutes.
The 26-year-old pounced in the box for his first after 61 minutes, before dribbling past three Hertha defenders to blast home his second.Marcel Ndjeng finished the scoring with a goal in injury time, to hand Hertha their 11th defeat of the season.The result sees Augsburg move out of the relegation zone, being replaced by Hertha.
In Mainz, the home side thumped relegation-threatened Kaiserslautern 4-0.Former Borussia Dortmund striker Mohamed Zidan got Mainz going with a goal after just two minutes, while Adam Szalai, Nicolai Muller and Maxim Choupo-Moting also got on the score-sheet for the home side.
Freiburg, the only team below Kaiserslautern, also suffered a big defeat, going down 4-1 in Stuttgart, with Martin Harnik scoring twice for the home side.Bayer Leverkusen strengthened their chances of playing European football next season with a 2-0 triumph over Cologne.
Midfielder Lars Bender was the hero for Leverkusen with a goal in each half.The 22-year-old tapped in after a corner in the 16th minute and then completed the win with a calm finish five minutes after half-time.Elsewhere on Saturday, Hoffenheim defeated Wolfsburg 2-1 away, with Sven Schipplock's late goal the difference between the two sides.
Stuttgart's Shinji Okazaki hopes goals and defending boosts Bruno Labbadia's evaluation of him The Japanese striker continued his recent goalscoring form in the victory over Freiburg but said his defensive work deserved recognition too
Schalke's Huntelaar targets Bayern Munich scalp The Dutchman is looking forward to facing the Bavarian outfit this weekend as the side's director confirms the forward is playing too well to be given a new deal
Jupp Heynckes: Criticism of Bayern is justified The 66-year-old trainer has acknowledged his side's poor form of late and has taken responsibility for the team ahead of Sunday's meeting with Schalke in the Bundesliga
Dortmund announce record €101m revenue & €17m profit for first half of season
The Bundesliga champions have revealed their best-ever turnover in a half-season, and CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has confirmed Marco Reus' signing will not hurt the club financially
Arjen Robben admits to frustration with life at Bayern Munich
The Dutchman feels that he has been unfairly treated in recent times from the press, and feels Jupp Heynckes dropping him was counter-productive
Beckenbauer to Bayern players: Do you want to be second class, or do you want to be one of the greats?
In an interview, the legendary retired sweeper urged the Bavarians to find their form, voiced his support for coach Jupp Heynckes, and criticised the team's lack of leadership
Heynckes confirms dressing-room dispute between Thomas Muller and Badstuber following Bayern Munich loss to Basel
The two stars clashed in the wake of their side's 1-0 loss to the Swiss outfit, with both parties believing the other shirked key defensive duties in the lead up to the goal
Beckenbauer to Bayern players: Do you want to be second class, or do you want to be one of the greats?
In an interview, the legendary retired sweeper urged the Bavarians to find their form, voiced his support for coach Jupp Heynckes, and criticised the team's lack of leadership
Feb 24, 2012 2:00:00 PM
By Clark Whitney
German legend Franz Beckenbauer has issued a rally call to crisis-stricken Bayern Munich, urging players to step up and achieve their potential.
After failing to win their last two competitive matches the Bavarians stand four points behind leaders Dortmund in the Bundesliga, and are in serious danger of being eliminated from the Champions League. Speaking to Bild, Beckenbauer addressed the trouble in Munich.
"The players must have it hammered home right now: do you want to be second-class internationals or become some of the greats?"
Many among Bayern's current team competed in the Champions League, European Championship and World Cup finals. But unlike Beckenbauer, who won each of the above at least once, none have won a major international tournament.
Beckenbauer continued, asserting that the Bavarian management must explicitly warn the players what is at stake if they do not soon find their form. But he also stood behind coach Jupp Heynckes.
"[Christian] Nerlinger, [Karl-Heinz] Rummenigge, [Uli] Hoeness and Heynckes must come together and make the seriousness of the situation clear to the players.
"The sporting responsibility belongs to Jupp Heynckes, but in him I have no doubt."
Beckenbauer was more critical of the Bayern players, and blamed a lack of leadership within the squad for the team's inability to recover from a poor start in Wednesday's 1-0 Champions League loss away to Basel on Wednesday.
"[Former captain Oliver] Kahn would have immediately intervened, brought together the players and driven the team forward."
Bayern's next match is scheduled for Sunday, when they play host to Schalke in the Bundesliga. Kick-off from the Allianz Arena is scheduled for 15.30CET.
Philipp Lahm could return from injury to face Leverkusen - report The 28-year-old was forced to withdraw from the Germany squad to face France on Wednesday but could make his return to action as soon as next weekend
Uli Hoeness: Robben would have scored a hat-trick against Schalke if not for media 'witch-hunt' The Bavarian giants' president is angry that recent criticism of the Dutch winger in the press altered his display at the weekend as he shifted from his natural game
Blaszczykowski: Portugal match is Poland's dress rehearsal for Euro 2012 The BVB man is looking forward to his country's match against the Iberian side, while team-mate Robert Lewandowski cannot wait to play in his first match in the National Stadium
Schalke offer to double Podolski's wages - report
The Germany international is out of contract in June 2013 and has reportedly attracted interest from a host of top clubs, including Arsenal and Lazio
Lewis Holtby: Franck Ribery was brilliant & Bayern Munich deserved to beat Schalke
The Germany international hailed the tricky winger for his fine performance and admitted his side did not do enough to earn the points as the Bavarians picked up a 2-0 win
Uli Hoeness: Bayern Munich can win the treble
The Bavarians are currently second in the Bundesliga and 1-0 down after the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie against Basel but the former striker is remaining upbeat
Lucien Favre rues thin Monchengladbach squad
The 54-year-old trainer has bemoaned the lack of depth available to him this season after his side's draw at home to Hamburg on Friday
Ashkan Dejagah looking forward to Iran debut
The 25-year-old striker has been uncapped for Team Melli for a variety of reasons but looks set to finally make his international bow after flying into the country
Dortmund's Gotze to return to training in two weeks as Sven Bender withdraws from Germany squad
The positive news about the fast recovery of the attacker has been dampened by the loss of the holding midfielder for his country's midweek friendly with France
Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery: 2010 was the darkest year of my life, but I am happy again
The French attacker is glad that he has overcome his recent off-the-field problems and has vowed to regain trust from Les Bleus' fans after the World Cup fiasco
Dortmund's Jurgen Klopp: It's too early to be talking about consecutive Bundesliga titles
BVB made it seven wins on the trot with victory over Hannover 96 but the trainer believes there is still a long way to go for his side
Two-goal Ribery after Bayern win over Schalke: We are back in business
The Frenchman was delighted that the Bavarians managed to pick up the three points at the Allianz Arena, and made clear that Jupp Heynckes' men cannot afford any more slip-ups
'We only lost 2-0 because of him' - Schalke's Huub Stevens thanks resilient Timo Hildebrand after Bayern loss
The Dutch coach dismissed the notion that the keeper was to blame for the result and insisted that Bayern deserved to win the match
Guangzhou Evergrande ready €15m summer bid for Borussia Dortmund's Barrios - report
The Paraguay international striker almost moved to Fulham during the January transfer window, but could yet leave Germany as the Super League side hope to bring him to China
Japanese in Europe: Okazaki nets third in a row, while Miyaichi earns first Premier League start
The Stuttgart attacker had another productive outing with countryman Gotoku Sakai, while Shinji Kagawa returned to action for Dortmund after a brief injury scare last week
Feb 27, 2012 2:30:00 AM
By Gyo Araiwa & Dan Orlowitz
In Germany‚ VfB Stuttgart's Shinji Okazaki made it three in as many games when he slid into a cross by Martin Harnik in the 21st minute of the rather flattering 4-1 home win against bottom side SC Freiburg on Saturday afternoon.
The former S-Pulse man who had a fairly good game on the Swabians' left side was as always engaged to defensive duties but took his chance and has now seven league goals to his name this season.
Gotoku Sakai, 20, also started for Stuttgart and put on a solid performance‚ crowned by providing the assist for his side's opening goal.
Stuttgart's boss Bruno Labbadia will have something to think about as the Japanese-German youngster's recent outings would justify claims for a starting spot.
STAR OF THE WEEKEND
Shinji Okazaki
Okazaki notched three goals in February, all of which have come when Gotoku Sakai joined him on the pitch
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The Bundesliga matchday was concluded on Sunday evening by a convincing Dortmund side sending home Hannover with a 3-1 win. Despite not being involved in the goals Shinji Kagawa had a fine game until taken off in the 87th minute‚ creating numerous chances with defence-splitting passes for the champions‚ most notably when he sent the ball through into the run of Jakub Blaszczykowski shortly before the break.
The 22-year old didn't look like he missed match action due to his minor injury the other week as he looked sharp throughout the game.
Kagawa only narrowly missed out on assists as the referee somewhat controversially didn't award the attacker a penalty when he seemed to have been fouled in the area in the second half.
The league's leaders are now unbeaten in 17 games and have recorded seven straight league wins.
After being handed his first Premier League start‚ Bolton's Ryo Miyaichi made the most of it despite an overwhelming display by Chelsea resulting in a 3-0 loss.
The teenager's runs down the left side were some of the few attacking chances that the Wanderers had all game‚ and he would go on to play the full 90 minutes in his last match before joining the Japan national team for his first call-up.
In the Championship‚ Tadanari Lee had another fulfilling match in Southampton's 3-0 win at Watford. Lee drew a penalty in the box that allowed Rickie Lambert to complete his hat-trick and put in a full 90 minutes.
In a rare display of scoring prowess‚ VVV Venlo's Robert Cullen came off the bench in the 75th minute to score his second goal of the season in his team's 3-1 win against a woeful Heracles.
Cullen was left completely unmarked as the game headed into additional time and gently tapped in the pass from Yannick Wildschut to ensure his team would take the full three points.
Italy
Yuto Nagatomo (Inter): Played a full 90 minutes in the 1-0 loss at Napoli. Was the first of five Inter players to see a caution in a tempestuous affair‚ but managed to play the full game and served up some fine chances that unfortunately went unused. Takayuki Morimoto (Novara): Left off roster for 3-1 loss at Catania.
Germany
Yuki Otsu (Borussia Monchengladbach): Entered from the bench in the 79th minute in the 1-1 home draw to Hamburg. It was the former Reysol youngster's third league match for the high-flying Foals but he didn't have too many touches. Makoto Hasebe (Wolfsburg): Was not selected in the Wolves' 2-1 home loss against Hoffenheim. Wolves boss Magath dropped a number of players from the matchday squad including the 28-year-old as well as the team's most prolific player Mario Mandzukic. Atsuto Uchida (Schalke): Came on in the 84th minute for his club's 2-0 loss away to Bayern. The right-back came on for an injured team-mate with the Knappen already two goals behind‚ and performed solidly for the time remaining. Takashi Usami (Bayern Munich): Not included as Bayern Munich defeated Schalke 2-0 at home. Hajime Hosogai (Augsburg): Full appearance in Augsburg's 3-0 home win over Hertha Berlin. The defensive midfielder was not involved in the goals but once more proved his importance for the team with his work rate and an amazing passing accuracy. Takashi Inui (Bochum): Played a full 90 minutes in Bochum's 6-2 loss at Greuther Furth. The 23-year-old playmaker started brightly‚ scoring the opener - his sixth goal - early in the game‚ but like his team-mates had an afternoon to forget otherwise.
Netherlands
Maya Yoshida (VVV Venlo): Played a full 90 minutes in the 3-1 home win against Heracles. Was shown a caution‚ his third of the season‚ in the 67th minute. Michihiro Yasuda (Vitesse): Played a full game in Vitesse's 1-0 loss away to RKC. Mike Havenaar (Vitesse): Entered from the bench in the 66th minute in his club's 1-0 loss at RKC. Yoshiaki Takagi (Utrecht): Came on in the 71st minute in his club's 1-0 loss at Twente.
Belgium
Eiji Kawashima (Lierse): Played a full 90 minutes in the 0-0 home draw to Anderlecht.
Bierhoff backs Podolski's potential Arsenal move The former Germany international maintains Arsene Wenger would be able to get the most out of the Koln striker, who is reportedly close to a move to the Premier League
Bayern Munich's Breno facing 10-year prison term after being indicted for arson The stopper could face several years behind bars after a judicial survey revealed his villa had been deliberately burnt down, with a court hearing scheduled for March or April
Huub Stevens resigned to losing Raul and Farfan in summer The Dutch coach says that the attacking duo may not sign new contracts at the end of the season, which will see them leave the club in the summer
Reus: I have always dreamed of costing as much as Zidane & Ronaldinho The attacker has revealed his ambition to be one of football's most valued stars and that he chose to move to Dortmund due to the quality of coach Jurgen Klopp
Solbakken: Podolski free to decide on Arsenal transfer The trainer insists that his side must respect the striker's potential decision to leave the RheinEnergieStadion and added that he knows details he cannot share with reporters
Patrick Battiston: I've forgiven Harald Schumacher but don't want to meet him The former Bordeaux man was knocked unconscious and subsequently went into a coma after colliding with the goalkeeper during the semi-finals of the 1982 World Cup
Bayern Munich's Jerome Boateng: Borussia Dortmund will not lose many more games
The former Manchester City reckons that Jupp Heynckes' men will have a hard time tipping the reigning German champions to the Bundesliga crown this season
Lukas Podolski agrees personal terms with Arsenal - report
The 26-year-old is said to have reached an accord with the Gunners about a summer move that would see him join fellow Germany international Per Mertesacker at the Emirates
Lukas Podolski agrees personal terms with Arsenal - report
The 26-year-old is said to have reached an accord with the Gunners about a summer move that would see him join fellow Germany international Per Mertesacker at the Emirates
Feb 28, 2012 7:54:00 PM
Koln striker Lukas Podolski has agreed to join Arsenal at the end of the season, according to a report from Bild.
The Germany international's contract with the Billy Goats expires in 2013, and has repeatedly expressed his love for his hometown club. However, he has admitted frustration with the team's lack of progress in recent years, and earlier this year turned down the prospect of negotiations for a contract extension.
Amid reports that Koln are willing to offer to double his wages to €5 million per year, the player has stood with his previous pledge to wait until after Euro 2012 - and the opening of the transfer window - to decide on his future.
Arsene Wenger is a long-term admirer of the German international and the Gunners reportedly had two bids for the 26-year-old rejected last summer. But with his contract set to expire in just over a year, Koln will have little choice other than to sell their prized asset should he decline a contract extension.
However, German publication Express claim that Podolski has yet to put pen to paper, but that an agreement is only a matter of time and that the Gunners are aiming to tie up the deal as quickly as possible in order to avoid competition for his signature.
Podolski is believed to be on the wishlist of Schalke, who are said to be willing to offer him €6m per year, but now it seems that the Arsenal are leading the chase for the former Bayern Munich man.
The 26-year-old Germany international has been in blistering form for Koln in the Bundesliga this season, scoring 15 goals and giving four assists in 19 appearances.
Former Leverkusen manager Reiner Calmund: '90% chance' Podolski will go to Arsenal
With speculation rife that the Germany international could join the London club, an ex-official from Koln's rivals has backed claims that the transfer may go through
Heynckes accepts media pressure on Bayern Munich
The veteran coach is pleased with the way his players are handling criticism, and stated that it is important for him that the team "is allowed to have ups and downs in form"
Robin Dutt happy with Bayer Leverkusen progress
The trained is pleased with the positive attitude within the squad and relished the opportunity of besting Bayern Munich at the BayArena on Saturday afternoon
Huntelaar: My brain still feels like it's shaking after Smalling collision
The Schalke striker was left unconscious - and with a tuft of grass in his mouth - after collapsing to the floor during the second half of his country's friendly outing at Wembley
Heynckes demands more goals from Bayern Munich
The veteran coach urged his players to be more efficient in attack, and revealed that it is very unlikely that Franck Ribery and Holger Badstuber will feature on Sunday
Rafinha: It is every player's dream to join Real Madrid
The Brazilian defender only arrived at the Allianz Arena from Genoa last summer but revealed that he would jump at the opportunity to join los Blancos
Ze Roberto confident Bayern Munich will win domestic double
The Brazilian says that his former club are capable of winning the Bundesliga title and DFB-Pokal, but played down their chances of lifting the Champions League trophy
Van Marwijk: I never doubted Robben
The Bayern Munich winger has come in for some criticism of late but he looked back to his very best during his scintillating second-half showing at Wembley
Olivier Giroud flattered by Bayern Munich interest
The France international, who scored on his full debut for his country against Germany on Wednesday, has revealed that he would be open to moving to the Allianz Arena
Dortmund CEO criticises Joachim Low's selection policy for Germany
Only one BVB player featured for die Mannschaft in Wednesday's 2-1 loss to France, with Kevin Grosskreutz left out of the squad altogether
Arjen Robben admits that he is considering options away from Bayern Munich
The Dutchman revealed that he is considering a potential exit from the Allianz Arena and also stated that it was a relief to be able to work with a coach other than Heynckes
Arsenal could sign Podolski for €10m due to contract clause - report
Should Stale Solbakken's men be relegated from the Bundesliga, a stipulation in the striker's deal which allows him to leave for a reduced fee will become active
Agent downplays Marc-Andre ter Stegen link with Barcelona
The 19-year-old is just one of a number of players the Catalans are looking at, according to his representative, who says he has no reason to leave Borussia Monchengladbach
Why a move to Arsenal is perfect for Germany star Lukas Podolski
As hard as it is for all ‘Effzeh’ fans, the fact remains: a move to London is the best career choice for ‘Prinz Poldi’
Borussia Monchengladbach scouted Basel's Xhaka during Bayern Munich match - report
Speculation is rife that the top brass of the Foals closely watched the promising talent in his side's 1-0 win over the Bavarians in the Champions League
Schalke send Raul a contract extension proposal
The Royal Blues have faxed a new deal tender to the Real Madrid legend's agent, and are now waiting for a response from the player and his representative
Bayern Munich set to sign Drobny and send Petersen on loan to Hamburg
The Czech goalkeeper is set to replace Hans-Jorg Butt at the Allianz Arena, with the striker reportedly going the other way, although he denies speaking to HSV
Inter and AC Milan join race for Podolski - report
The Serie A duo are reportedly also vying for the 26-year-old striker, but will face stiff competition from Arsenal and Schalke for the services of the Germany international
Bayern Munich to profit from Podolski's potential sale to Arsenal - report
The Bavarians could net a small profit if the forward moves to north London after reportedly including a 10 per cent sell-on clause in the deal to take him back to Koln
Agent: Mario Gomez is closing in on three-year extension with Bayern Munich
The 26-year-old and his club are nearing an agreement over a new deal that will see the player remain in Bavaria until 2016, according to his representative
Why a move to Arsenal is perfect for Germany star Lukas Podolski
As hard as it is for all ‘Effzeh’ fans, the fact remains: a move to London is the best career choice for ‘Prinz Poldi’
Mar 2, 2012 8:30:00 AM
By Francois Duchateau | Chief Editor Germany
Over the last week or so, Arsenal have stepped up their efforts to sign Koln striker Lukas Podolski. Reports from Germany are conflicted as to how advanced negotiations are with the player, but everyone seems to agree that it is only a matter of time before a deal is completed. And should he make his move to London, it would be the right step for Podolski’s career.
In making an early dash to secure the Germany international’s signing, the Gunners are aiming not only to bring an affordable, quality star to convince Robin van Persie to stay, but also to avoid a potential bidding war for the 27-year-old. Having been named the Best Young Player ahead of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo at the 2006 World Cup, Podolski has a reputation for performing at big international tournaments, and the Gunners are eager to secure him now, rather than wait for his value to increase after Euro 2012.
Podolski has long been on Arsenal’s radar, but Arsene Wenger could not have picked a better time to finally make a move. The London side may be struggling in the Premier League, but now more than ever, the Koln hotshot is ready to leave his hometown club, albeit with a tear in his eye.
"For Podolski, Arsenal would be a good place because Arsene Wenger is an outstanding coach who could bring Lukas to the next level" - Oliver Bierhoff to Express
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Ever since the Bundesliga resumed in January, all arrows for Podolski have pointed away from Koln. Club icon and president Wolfgang Overath was driven out of his office, and the Billy Goats have since slipped from 10th place to 14th, just two spots above the relegation zone.
While sidelined with an ankle injury from late January until last week, 'Poldi' vented his frustration in the media, claiming unrest and an uncertain long-term future for the club. As his side dropped in the table during his absence, he had a clear vision of Koln’s potential, and the burden upon his shoulders.
Because he failed to impose himself at Bayern Munich and was forced to return to the RheinEnergieStadion in 2009, Podolski now bears the unsavoury label of a player who can only perform in his hometown and who needs to be coddled by Germany coach Joachim Low in order to be at his best. The national team trainer has given him support in moving abroad, and Podolski is expected to seek a new challenge overseas. His rivals for a starting berth in the Germany squad, Marco Reus, Mario Gotze and Andre Schurrle, are all likely to play in the Champions League or Europa League next season.
LUKAS PODOLSKI
STRIKER | KOLN
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2011-12 BUNDESLIGA STATS
Appearances
19
Goals
15
Assists
5
INTERNATIONAL FILE
Senior debut
June 6, 2004
Caps
95
Goals
43
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In moving to a top European club, Podolski stands to not only strengthen his position internationally, but to finally show the football world that he can succeed anywhere. Even if they do not compete in the Champions League next season, Arsenal are a prestigious address, and will undoubtedly return to the top, especially if Podolski can impose himself.
For Koln, the possibility of Podolski leaving is a tragedy that no one will talk about. Naturally, his sale would result in a mighty ring from the cash register, but money is no substitute for class. And as the club’s marketing figurehead, who sells far more shirts than any other, Podolski’s departure will be a financial blow overall.
Koln could spend some of the estimated €15-20 million raised from his transfer to sign new players, but their problems are widespread and in an inflated market, Podolski’s value will not be recouped in players. In addition, it is unclear as to what portion of his sale will go to Koln, and what will go to investors who helped the club sign him back from Bayern in 2009.
But for Podolski, the future is bright. His pace, creativity, and powerful left foot would be ideal for the Gunners’ attacking style of play. In Per Mertesacker, he will join a colleague from the German national team, and in Wojciech Szczesny, he has a team-mate with whom he can speak Polish. He will be away from home, but the flight back to the Rhineland is only one hour.
And dear FC fans: if 'Poldi' fails in London again as he did in Munich, he leaves with a return address.
Bundesliga preview: Bayern to test Leverkusen mettle
1 March 2012
Bayer Leverkusen's Bundesliga resurgence will be tested when they tackle Bayern Munich on Saturday, while Borussia Dortmund host Mainz.Leverkusen exceeded all expectations to finish second last season, securing qualification for the UEFA Champions League.
They have thus far failed to replicate that success this term, and sit fifth on the table, seven points outside the qualification places for Europe's elite club competition.Part of Leverkusen's struggles can be attributed to the loss of coach Jupp Heynckes, who was lured away to Bayern, and will be on the away team's bench when he returns to the BayArena this weekend.
Under his replacement Robin Dutt, Leverkusen have managed two successive victories in their last two outings, beating Augsburg 2-1 at home and winning 2-0 away to Cologne.Striker Stefan Keissling claims those positive results were nothing special, and the real examination of their credentials will arrive with the visit of Bayern.
"The wins against Augsburg and Cologne were pretty much obligatory given the standards expected of Bayer Leverkusen," Kiessling said."Now we're facing the make-or-break games and we aim to come out of them on a positive note. We all have to pull together to keep this mini-run going."Bayern are second in the standings, four points behind leaders Dortmund.
They suffered a shock 1-0 loss away to Basel in the Champions League round-of-16 last week, and also failed to beat struggling Freiburg on February 18, before dispatching Schalke 2-0 last time out."I don't think the fact that they (Bayern) maybe haven't being playing so well lately will be important," Keissling said."They're always dangerous, and they will be on Saturday."
"We need to be on our game, and if we are, there could be something in it for us." If Leverkusen can prevent Bayern from collecting all three points, Dortmund will have an opportunity to extend their advantage further when they host mid-table Mainz, unbeaten in five, at the Westfalenstadion.
In other matches on Saturday, bottom side Freiburg face a difficult assignment at home to fourth-placed Schalke.Augsburg, precariously placed one point outside the relegation zone, could well struggle away to seventh-placed Hannover.Hertha Berlin, who are third from bottom, will look for their first win under new coach Otto Rehhagel away to sixth-placed Werder Bremen.
Also, second-to-last Kaiserslautern play host to Wolfsburg, while Hamburg await the visit Stuttgart.On Sunday, third-placed Borussia Moenchengladbach go to Nuremburg, who are 10th on the table following victories in their past two outings.Later in the day, Hoffenheim are at home to Cologne in the final match of the round.
