Bremer 0-12 Bayern Munich: Choupo-Moting scores four in DFB-Pokal demolition

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored four times as Bayern Munich launched their DFB-Pokal campaign with an emphatic 12-0 rout of Bremer.

Jamal Musiala grabbed a brace while Malik Tillman, Leroy Sane, Michael Cuisance, Bouna Sarr and Corentin Tolisso were also on target as Julian Nagelsmann’s side eased through to the second round of the competition.

On top of his four goals, Choupo-Moting also provided assists for Musiala and Sarr on a miserable day for fifth-tier Bremer, who had Ugo Nobile sent off later on.

For Bayern, it was the second-highest margin of victory in their history after a 16-1 thrashing of Waldberg in 1997.

Though much-changed by Nagelsmann, Bayern never looked in danger of suffering only a second defeat in 24 competitive matches against sid…

Odriozola making instant impact on Bayern Munich boss Flick

Bayern Munich boss Hansi Flick has already been impressed by Alvaro Odriozola, just two days after his arrival from Real Madrid.

The full-back joined the Bundesliga champions this week on loan until the end of the season, having made only five appearances in 2019-20 under Zinedine Zidane.

Flick will have Joshua Kimmich available for Saturday s game against Schalke after the Germany star returned from a ban, but Odriozola appears to be under consideration to make his debut despite having had relatively few training sessions with his new team-mates.

I ll leave it open, Flick said on Friday.  He s making a very good impression, he s a good player. He s an attack-minded defender, he can introduce speed, he s very agile, his crosses are good.

I ll decide at…

Premier League Predictions – Arsenal to maintain their great start?

Blackburn v West Ham

There seems to be a bit of doom and gloom around Blackburn at the moment. Results on the pitch haven’t been good and manager Sam Allardyce is moaning about losing players and not having the money or the glamour of club to attract decent replacements. They haven’t picked up a point yet and their fans must be beginning to wonder if they might just be in a bit of trouble.

West Ham have started OK but they will have been shaken by the dreadful scenes at their midweek game against Millwall. What happened just flies in the face of everything Gianfranco Zola stands for in the game and he will have been left wondering what on earth it is all about.

I think Allardyce will be able to introduce the type of siege mentality amon…

Premier League: Swansea City 3 Stoke City 3

Charlie Adam netted a last-gasp penalty to earn Stoke City a dramatic 3-3 draw against Swansea City on Sunday.

The visitors had surrendered a two-goal lead at the Liberty Stadium and looked set for their fourth defeat in six Premier League games when a controversial call from referee Robert Madley handed Mark Hughes men a lifeline.

Jonathan Walters eighth-minute goal, which came on his 100th consecutive league start, gave Stoke an ideal platform, and Stephen Ireland s first goal in almost two years doubled their advantage before the break.

But a double from Wilfried Bony, sandwiching substitute Nathan Dyer s equaliser, put Swansea on course for a remarkable comeback win.

That was until Wayne Routledge was harshly adjudged to have handled on the line deep into sto…

I am one of the world´s best – Lovren

Dejan Lovren called for more recognition of his talents after he helped Croatia to a World Cup semi-final victory over England, describing himself as one of the best defenders in the world .

The Liverpool centre-back played his part in keeping England striker Harry Kane quiet at Luzhniki Stadium as Zlatko Dalic s side bounced back from Kieran Trippier s fifth-minute opener to win 2-1 in extra time.

With a place in the final secured after a 2017-18 season in which Liverpool reached the Champions League final despite criticisms of their defensive weaknesses, Lovren feels a point had been proven about his quality as a player.

I heard people saying I had a difficult season but I don t agree with that, the 29-year-old told BeIN SPORTS. 

Triumph for Deja…

Guardiola took me to another level – Alaba

David Alaba admits former boss Pep Guardiola had a huge impact on his career during their time together at Bayern Munich. 

Guardiola spent three hugely successful years at the Bundesliga giants, during which time Bayern were the dominant force in domestic football in Germany. 

They won the league title in all three of his seasons at the helm, as well as picking up the DFB-Pokal twice, but the Champions League eluded the Spaniard during his spell in Bavaria. 

Still, Alaba was full of praise for his old head coach, someone he believes is right up there with the best in the world. 

First of all, he meant a lot to me, the Bayern defender said. He took me to another level. 

Under him, I knew I could play a lot of positions. He is …

France coach worried by successor appointment

France coach Raymond Domenech said on Sunday that the decision to name his successor prior to this summer s World Cup could have a disruptive effect on his team.

Everything that comes from outside can disrupt, undermine and create weaknesses that could prove harmful during a long competition, he told French TV station TF1.

For one match, no, but for one month, with substitutes who won t play or who will only play a bit, it could be complicated and it could create tension. But I ve got nothing to say about it, I ll deal with it when it happens.

The World Cup begins on June 11, with the final to take place on July 11.

France, who only qualified after beating the Republic of Ireland in the European zone play-offs, have been drawn in a group alongside Mex…

Marseille lose ground in title race

Marseille, seeking a first championship success in 19 years, lost ground in the French title race on Sunday after Lorient held them to a 1-1 stalemate at the Stade Velodrome.

Senegalese international Mamadou Niang notched his 15th goal of the season two minutes before the break to put the Mediterranean side into a deserved lead.

But instead of the floodgates opening, that was as good as it got for the hosts as Laurent Koscielny nudged in from close range for midtable Brittany side Lorient midway through the second half.

The solitary point left Marseille in fourth place with 49 points from 26 games, one behind Lyon who have played a game more and two behind leaders Bordeaux who have played two games less.

Bordeaux were meeting Montpellier, with whom they …

Roma to bid for Simone Scuffet

La Gazzetta dello Sport is reporting that AS Roma are hot on the trail of Udinese goalkeeper Simone Scuffet.

The Giallorossi are in the market for a new number one given that Wojciech Szczesny, Morgan De Sanctis and Bogdan Lobont could all leave at the end of the season.

And it appears that AS Roma have made Udinese starlet Simone Scuffet their number one target.

The 19-year-old has showed a great deal of potential since he was handed a surprise debut at Friuli a year and a half ago, and he went on to make 16 Serie A appearances during the 2013/2014 season.

But, after struggling for playing time last term, Scuffet was loaned to Como, where he has played on regular basis this season.

The talented shot-stopper is now on the radar of AS Roma, who ar…

Delighted Simeone plays down Atletico´s title hopes

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone offered warm praise for his team s hard-fought 1-0 win over Real Betis in La Liga.

Koke opened the scoring after seven minutes as Atletico were rewarded for making an enterprising start to the contest.

Antoine Griezmann passed up chances to give the visitors a greater margin of victory but Simeone was delighted with a display that lifted Atleti above city rivals Real Madrid in La Liga and into second place.

The team played a great match, he said at a news conference. They were incisive and created goal opportunities.

The important thing is to keep growing and we want to keep the level of football, which was very good.

We re going match-by-match and we ll see how far we can go. The goal is to improve ourselves…