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Hasan Salihamidzic does not foresee Bayern Munich coming to an agreement with David Alaba to extend his contract beyond June.

Bayern Munich must assume that David Alaba will leave the club with sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic unable to see a successful resolution to his contract saga.

Austria international Alaba's deal is due to expire at the end of June and he said on Monday he was "disappointed and hurt" by the way the club had treated him.

Bayern revealed at the weekend they had taken a proposal for an extension off the table after the defender failed to provide an answer by an October 31 deadline.

Alaba insisted he had not been given enough time to make a decision and had only found out about the offer being withdrawn via the media.

Speaking prior to the 6-2 win over Salzburg in the Champions League on Tuesday, Salihamidzic appeared to confirm that Alaba will soon be leaving the club.

"I can tell you what happened. We negotiated and made David an offer. He refused it. Ten days ago we sat down again and submitted another offer – with a deadline," Salihamidzic told Sky.

"We informed David and his agent that we would withdraw the offer when the deadline expired. We did that. I spoke to his agent again on Saturday and tried to talk to David again on Sunday because I wanted to know what was going on, but not much happened.

"I don't know anymore how we will find a way back together. We made an offer and it was rejected. Now we have to assume that David will leave us.

"At some point we wanted to have planning security and know how things would go from here. Then we all made that decision as a club. With Jerome Boateng, Lucas Hernandez, Niklas Sule, Benjamin Pavard – we are well-stocked in this position."

Alaba played the full 90 minutes as Bayern made it three wins from three in Champions League Group A.

Mergim Berisha put Salzburg ahead but a Robert Lewandowski penalty and an own goal from Rasmus Kristensen sent the Bavarian giants into half-time ahead.

Masaya Okugawa equalised for Jesse Marsch's side but Boateng, Leroy Sane, Lewandowski and Hernandez all scored in a 13-minute flurry to end the match with a resounding victory.

Asked about Salihamidzic's remarks about Alaba, head coach Hansi Flick said: "It is important to me that we have calm in the team and in our environment.

"We have a very, very important game against [Borussia] Dortmund on Saturday. I am not interested in anything else. I won't say anything more about it. I didn't see Hasan's interview, so I don't want to comment on it."

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Belgium goalkeeper Courtois slams 'pointless' Nations League third-place game vs Italy

Koke and Angel Correa hit the bar, while Luis Suarez and Joao Felix were constant pests, but Atleti could only draw in Russia

Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone rued the lack of a clinical final touch but found much to enjoy as his team were held 1-1 by Lokomotiv Moscow in the Champions League.

Atletico's performance at RZD Arena arguably did not get the reward it deserved, given the Spanish visitors led the shot count 14-4 and had 64.9 per cent of possession on Tuesday.

But after Jose Gimenez's excellent 18th-minute header was cancelled out by an Anton Miranchuk penalty seven minutes later, Atletico were unable to find another goal despite having a host of opportunities.

Simeone's Atletico hit the crossbar twice, had a goal disallowed, and Lokomotiv goalkeeper Guilherme was outstanding, the captain leading his Russian team by example.

Atletico's overall performance delighted boss Simeone, who has twice led Atletico to Champions League finals.

"I leave with a very good image of the team," Simeone said.

"The Lokomotiv goalkeeper had a great performance, he took very important balls. We were very good against a team who defend very well and counter-attack very well, as was seen against Bayern and Salzburg.

"It's a pity we did not have the forcefulness on goal but I think this is the way to go to win games."

Atletico played an entertaining game, catching the eye as they went forward and created a stack of chances, with Luis Suarez and Joao Felix both going close.

Koke's header and Angel Correa's 20-yard strike hit the Lokomotiv bar, but a winning goal would not come.

Suarez put the ball in the net after Koke rattled the Lokomotiv goal frame, but he had stepped offside.

Atletico attempted 27 crosses in the game from open play, with right-back Kieran Trippier responsible for eight of those.

The England defender got forward regularly and had his delivery been a touch more accurate at times, Atletico may have cashed in.

Captain Koke agreed with his coach that Atletico went about the game in the right way.

"It was a game where we were unlucky. We cannot regret it, we have to keep going," Koke said via Marca.

"The team made a great effort to try to take the three points, but it wasn't to be. We had chances: the bar, the goalkeeper, the disallowed goal ... we just have to continue, we are doing a great job."

Atletico are unbeaten after six games in LaLiga this season, and they have come back strongly in the Champions League after a 4-0 defeat to titleholders Bayern Munich in their opening Group A game.

Victory over Salzburg in their second group game could easily have been followed by another three points on Tuesday.

"We have to improve some things, but the team is strong and well," Koke said. "We all compete which is the main thing. Results will come."

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Real Madrid willing to listen to offers for Eden Hazard this summer

Jerome Boateng insisted Bayern Munich's players were behind David Alaba amid uncertainty over the defender's future.

Alaba, 28, looks set to leave the European and Bundesliga champions after failing to agree to a new contract, with his current deal expiring at season's end.

Still, the defender played 90 minutes as Bayern thrashed Salzburg 6-2 in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Boateng said the players backed Alaba, who arrived at Bayern as a youth player in 2008.  

"Of course it's an issue, but not as big as it is done. He focuses on the essentials," he told Sky. 

"It's not an easy situation for him, that is clear. But he played another great game today. We as a team are absolutely behind him."

Speaking prior to the Salzburg match, Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic admitted he assumes Alaba will leave the club as he is unable to see a successful resolution to his contract saga.

"I can tell you what happened. We negotiated and made David an offer. He refused it. Ten days ago we sat down again and submitted another offer – with a deadline," Salihamidzic told Sky.

"We informed David and his agent that we would withdraw the offer when the deadline expired. We did that. I spoke to his agent again on Saturday and tried to talk to David again on Sunday because I wanted to know what was going on, but not much happened.

"I don't know anymore how we will find a way back together. We made an offer and it was rejected. Now we have to assume that David will leave us."

Bayern initially came from behind against Salzburg and the Group A clash was level when Masaya Okugawa equalised for the Austrian giants in the 66th minute.

But Bayern scored four times in 13 minutes, beginning with Boateng in the 79th and completed by Lucas Hernandez in additional time.

The result extended Bayern's unbeaten away run in the Champions League to 15 matches. Only Manchester United (16 between 2007 and 2010) have produced a longer run.

"It was the difficult game we expected," Boateng said. "Salzburg played very well.

"In the end we showed that we really wanted to win. What sets us apart is that we never give up. We went a step further. Salzburg were a bit tired, we took advantage of that."

Bayern improved to three wins from as many games in Group A, sitting five points clear of Atletico Madrid.

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Shelina Zadorsky's new Spurs contract gives hope to other WSL clubs

The Romanian spoke to the media on the eve of his team's showdown with the Catalans at Camp Nou

Dynamo Kiev head coach Mircea Lucescu does not believe Barcelona are at the level to win the Champions League.

Group G leaders and La Liga giants Barcelona will host Ukrainian visitors Dynamo at Camp Nou on Wednesday.

Barca equalled their worst tally of La Liga points after six games since the Spanish competition reverted to three points for a win – Ronald Koeman's side drew 1-1 with Deportivo Alaves on Saturday, meaning they have just eight points so far in the early stages of the 2020-21 campaign.

That is the same total as Barca managed at the start of the 2002-03 campaign when another Dutchman, Louis van Gaal, was in charge. 

Barca were also humiliated 8-2 by Bayern Munich in last season's Champions League quarter-final and, speaking on the eve of the match, Lucescu told reporters: "After the game against Bayern Munich it was understandable that Barcelona were looking to make changes.

"They have a squad with very talented players, but they need time to learn the mechanisms.

"I don't think Barcelona are at the level to win the Champions League at the moment. Bayern Munich, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain have more options.

"In any case, they have a footballer in Lionel Messi, who can be very important. A new coach needs a minimum of six months and in spring they will be another team. Barcelona are a team that are better off playing the Champions League than La Liga, because in the domestic competition the rest of the rivals know them very well."

Lucescu's Dynamo have one point from two games to be third in Group G, five points adrift of unbeaten leaders Barca.

Barca are undefeated in their previous 22 games in the group stage of the Champions League, while they could win five group outings in a row for the first time since October 2017.

Lionel Messi has scored 20 goals in his last 24 appearances for Barca in the Champions League, while he last netted in his first three games of a single campaign in the competition back in 2018-19.

Dynamo are winless in their past 14 games against Spanish opponents in European competition, with their last victory coming back in March 1999 in the European Cup quarter-final second leg against Real Madrid.

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Crystal Palace 0-0 Leeds: Player ratings as Whites pick up ugly point on the road

The talented wide-man called out the messages as his parent club also provided support

Ryan Sessegnon has become the latest footballer to cop racist abuse on social media with Tottenham and Hoffenheim throwing their support behind the winger.

The 20-year-old, who is on loan at Hoffenheim from Spurs this season, shared messages of abuse sent to him on his own Instagram story.

Sessegnon was subjected to profanity in the messages and was called a 'slave' by the fellow Instagram user, who has since deleted their account.

The England under-21 international displayed the abuse on his story with the caption: "Honestly unbelievable. The craziest thing is I'm not even surprised anymore. Disgusting."

Both Tottenham and Hoffenheim used their own social media accounts to denounce the incident, with the Premier League club declaring the racist comments as 'repulsive'.

"Everyone at the club is with you @RyanSessegnon," the tweet from Tottenham's official account read.

"We are proud of the rich ethnic diversity that exists across our communities, fans, staff and players.

"We are driven by inclusion and equality for all and nobody should have to endure such repulsive abuse."

Sessegnon's current club Hoffenheim tweeted yesterday: "Today, our player @RyanSessegnon was the target of horrific online racist abuse.

"#TSG stands for tolerance, integration and respect. We reject all forms of racism, discrimination and exclusion and say #NoToRacism!" 

The left-sided talent, who can play both full-back and winger, has made five appearances for Hoffenheim in all competitions this season, and featured in all 90 minutes during their recent clash against Union Berlin on Monday.

Sessegnon joined Spurs from Fulham for the 2019-20 season but struggled to break into the first team, only managing 12 appearances and one goal throughout the entire campaign.

His breakout season occurred in 2017-18 when he scored 15 goals in the Championship for the Cottagers, including a hat-trick as a 17-year-old.

He ultimately helped Fulham to achieve promotion and went on to enjoy a solid debut campaign in the Premier League with the club in 2018-19, making 38 appearances in all competitions.

Original author: Kieran Francis
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Dynamo Kiev 'only have 13 players available' for Barcelona clash, says manager Lucescu

The Ukrainians will be without nine players who have tested positive for Covid-19, making a difficult task at Camp Nou even more challenging

Dynamo Kiev head coach Mircea Lucescu has said his side will only have 13 players available when they face Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday. 

The Ukranian outfit has recently seen several players and coaches test positive for Covid-19, and will be forced to go into the Group G clash at Camp Nou badly shorthanded. 

On Sunday, Dynamo confirmed that six players had tested positive: Heorhiy Tsytaishvili, Denys Harmash, Mikkel Duelund, Olexandr Karavayev, Tudor Baluta, and Mykola Shaparenko.

Those six were added to three players who had previously been confirmed as positive: Heorhiy Bushchan, Vitaliy Mykolenko and Denys Boyko. In addition, assistant coach Emil Caras and four staff members were also confirmed to have the virus. 

Wednesday's fixture was in danger of being postponed, with UEFA rules stating that teams must have at least 13 players available from their A squad list for a given match. 

After all 13 of Dynamo's players who travelled tested negative on Tuesday, the match will now be allowed to proceed.

In his press conference on Tuesday, Lucescu said that his side would have to make do with what they have against the Liga giants, adding that he would have rather played under different circumstances.

"We only have 13 players available, there's not a lot to change so our tactics will be playing football," Lucescu said.

"The problem will be tomorrow when playing. As a coach it would have been better to play another day but we must play and we will."

Lucescu also offered his opinion on Barcelona's chances in this season's tournament, saying that he believes Ronald Koeman's side is not yet at the level required to win the Champions League. 

"I don't think Barcelona has the level now to win the Champions League," Lucescu said. "Bayern, [Manchester] City or PSG have more options.

"They have a footballer like Leo Messi, who can be very important. A new coach needs a minimum of six months and in the spring it will be a different team."

Speaking about Barca star Messi, Lucescu added: "He is doing incredible things, he doesn't think about himself but about the club.

"He fights, he gives assists and he scores because he wants to help the young players. He sacrifices himself for the collective."

Original author: Goal
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Sources: Chelsea close in on €50m Kounde

The Spain centre-back now boasts 128 competitive strikes in club and international football, a record few defenders can match

Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos brought up a century of goals on Tuesday, as he demonstrated once more his reputation as one of the deadliest defenders in football history in front of goal. 

Real went into their Champions League group stage clash with Inter in dire need of victory, having started their campaign with defeat at home to Shakhtar Donetsk before clawing a late 2-2 draw against Borussia Monchengladbach

After a positive start from the hosts they scored twice in quick succession to put Antonio Conte's charges up against the ropes. Karim Benzema opened the scoring after 25 minutes, while eight minutes later Ramos struck with a trademark towering header from a corner to double the advantage. 

In doing so, the centre-back reached a figure in Madrid colours beyond the wildest dreams of most players in his position. 

Ramos, 34, has now scored 100 competitive goals for his club, a figure he reached in 659 appearances to mark a more than respectable strike-rate of a goal just over every six games. 

Those goals include strikes in two Champions League finals, both against Atletico Madrid, which proved crucial in delivering the trophy to the Blancos, as well as countless crucial efforts across his glittering career.

When including the goals he netted prior to his move from Sevilla and for the Spain national team, the veteran's tally ascends to 128, placing him among the highest-scoring defensive players in the game's history. 

Ronald Koeman leads the all-time list having struck 253 goals for the likes of PSV, Barcelona and the Netherlands national team, aided by his undisputed status as the designated free-kick and penalty taker at those sides. 

Behind the current Barca boss follow the likes of Argentine World Cup winner Daniel Passarella, Ramos' fellow Madrid legend Fernando Hierro and France idol Laurent Blanc - as well as the rather less heralded Graham Alexander. 

The now-retired penalty expert, who represented Burnley, Scunthorpe, Luton and Preston North End as well as Scotland, currently sits in fifth in the rankings with 130, just two clear of Ramos. 

However, given his role as Madrid's spot-kick taker following the exit of Cristiano Ronaldo and his natural eye for goal, it should not be long until the Spain ace overtakes Alexander and continues his rise up into the top five.

Original author: Goal
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Cech's Chelsea exit leaves major void as club reshuffles

The 60-year-old requires an operation on a blood clot found in his brain after going into hospital on Monday

Tottenham, Newell's Old Boys, Napoli and current employers Gimnasia were among the clubs to send their best wishes to Diego Maradona as the Argentina idol prepares for emergency surgery on a blood clot found on his brain.

The 60-year-old coach, who celebrated his birthday on Friday prior to Gimnasia's Copa Liga Profesional clash against Patronato, was hospitalised on Monday in La Plata. 

While at first the star's inner circle assured that the move was routine, the following day his personal physician Leopoldo Luque revealed that tests had discovered a subdural hematoma that would require immediate intervention. 

Maradona was thus moved from the clinic to the Clinica Olivos, located in the north of Buenos Aires, with his ambulance followed by dozens of Gimnasia fans who congregated outside to keep a vigil on the legend's health. 

And as news broke of the procedure, which Luque insisted was "routine", the world of football was quick to wish him the best ahead of this latest health setback - using the hashtag #FuerzaDiego, meaning in Spanish "Stay strong". 

News of Maradona's condition also transcended the world of football, with former President of Bolivia Evo Morales - who received the star's support during the coup d'etat that removed him from office at the end of 2019 - also sending a message. 

"My soul brother Diego Maradona," the former head of state wrote, "all of our solidarity, we hope for your quick recovery."

Original author: Goal
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Orlando Pirates legend Vilakazi insists 'failed' Zinnbauer has 'no choice' but to do exactly what Tshabalala tells him

Liverpool dished out a thrashing to Atalanta, with Diogo Jota impressive once again for Jurgen Klopp's side.

Diogo Jota scored a hat-trick as Liverpool thrashed Atalanta 5-0 in the Champions League.

Picked ahead of the out-of-sorts Roberto Firmino, the Portuguese strengthened his claim to a regular starting berth with three brilliantly taken goals in Bergamo.

Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane also got on the scoresheet as Jurgen Klopp's men took complete control of Group D with a convincing away win over another of their supposed rivals for top spot.

A clash between two of Europe's most free-scoring sides was always going to produce chances, and the start of the first half did not disappoint in that regard.

Just two minutes had elapsed when Jota danced through the Atalanta defence before drawing a smart stop from Marco Sportiello, an opening that was quickly followed by Luis Muriel forcing Alisson Becker into action at the other end with a deflected strike.

The opportunities continued to come thick and fast from there but, crucially, it was the visitors who took one of theirs first.

Played in behind by a beautifully weighted Trent Alexander-Arnold pass, Jota showed the confidence of a man who had scored three times in in the last three games, shrugging off Jose Luis Palomino and dinking the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper.

And adding another goal to that impressive haul appeared to have done his self-belief little harm when he latched onto a ball over the top with half an hour gone, touching it around his man and lashing an effort in at the near post to make it 2-0.

Just two minutes into the second half, Salah's sprint in behind a wide-open Atalanta defence was picked out by Curtis Jones, and the Egyptian was customarily ruthless with the subsequent left-footed finish into the top corner.

Having equalled Steven Gerrard's haul of 21 goals in Europe's elite competition, Salah turned provider two minutes later, playing Mane in behind for a beautiful dinked effort that made a mockery of Sportiello's attempt to close the angle.

It was then that Jota capped a remarkable start to the second period, beating the keeper to a Mane pass to round him and coolly finish from distance. 

To their credit, Atalanta came close to mustering a response, Duvan Zapata hammering the inside of the post after leaving Joe Gomez for dead before drawing a good save from Alisson after driving through the visitors' defence.

But, as had been the case all evening, Liverpool's supremacy was never in doubt.

What does it mean? Reds in control

With just three games played, Liverpool now boast a handy five-point lead over both Atalanta and Ajax at the top of Group D.

The Reds are now major favourites to not only progress to the knockout stages but to do so as group winners.

Jota keeps up dream start

One of the main question marks over Jota following his move from Wolves was whether he could be transformed from a streaky finisher into a ruthless Liverpool winger.

Three goals from four shots here certainly suggests so, while a pass completion rate of just 68.4 per cent shows there are still plenty of areas for further improvement too.

Toloi sums up difficult night

When Jota skipped past him to get a shot away in just the second minute, it looked like it was going to be a long night for Rafael Toloi.

And so it proved, the defender surrendering possession 15 times, making just two tackles, and completing only 71.1 per cent of his passes.

Key Opta Facts

- Liverpool's 5-0 win was the biggest ever by an English club away to Italian opposition in European competition.

- Atalanta's defeat was the second biggest ever by an Italian side on home soil in European competition, after Roma's 7-1 loss to Bayern Munich in October 2014 in the Champions League.

- Liverpool have won each of their last four away games in the Champions League group stage, after losing four in a row before this between October 2018 and September 2019 (all under Jurgen Klopp).

- Liverpool boss Klopp finally won away in Italy in the Champions League after losing on each of his five previous visits in the competition, courtesy of defeats to Napoli (3), Juventus and Roma.

- This was only the second time in Champions League history that Liverpool started with two teenagers, via Rhys Williams and Curtis Jones (also Danny Guthrie and Lee Peltier versus Galatasaray in December 2006).

What's next?

Klopp's men have an equally crucial Premier League away trip up next, as they visit title rivals Manchester City on Sunday. Atalanta, meanwhile, welcome Inter Milan to Bergamo the same day. 

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Real Madrid 3-2 Inter: Rodrygo rescues Zidane's men late on

Real Madrid beat Inter at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano to pick up their first win in this season's Champions League.

Rodrygo struck 10 minutes from time to earn Real Madrid a 3-2 win and deny Inter after the visitors had battled back from two goals down in Tuesday's Champions League clash.

Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane labelled the Group B match a "final" and his side made a bright start thanks to Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos – the latter scoring his 100th goal for the club.

Inter, who entered the contest one point better off than their opponents, battled back through well-taken strikes from Lautaro Martinez and Ivan Perisic either side of half-time.

But Madrid regained their lead late on when substitutes Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo combined on the counter, making it one win in seven for Inter and under-pressure boss Antonio Conte.

Marco Asensio was denied by a smart Samir Handanovic save and Nicolo Barella scraped the top of the crossbar with a header in a lively and end-to-end start to the showdown.

That set the tone for what was to follow as Benzema pounced on Hakimi's underhit backpass, rounded Inter goalkeeper Handanovic and tucked the ball into an empty net for the 25th-minute opener.

Ramos added a second for Madrid eight minutes later by getting away from his marker to meet Toni Kroos' corner and head in from the edge of the six-yard box.

Inter gave themselves an instant lifeline as Barella superbly flicked the ball into the path of Martinez to pick out the bottom-left corner 10 minutes before the interval.

Conte's Inter, once again without injured striker Romelu Lukaku, initially struggled to get at their opponents in a quieter second half in the Spanish capital.

However, against the run of play, Martinez nodded the ball into the path of Perisic and the makeshift striker held off Lucas Vazquez before rifling across Thibaut Courtois.

Both teams went in search of a winner and it was Madrid who found it – Vinicius leading a break down the left and feeding the ball to fellow Brazilian Rodrygo, who took a touch to set himself and then found the top-right corner to win the match during the closing stages.

 

What does it mean? Madrid off the mark, Inter bottom

This could prove to be a truly massive victory for Madrid, with this first Group B win moving them onto four points from three matches, two more than bottom side Inter.

Borussia Monchengladbach now lead the way after crushing second-placed Shakhtar Donetsk 6-0 earlier on Tuesday, meaning it is very much all to play for in a tight group.

Inter, who were second best in terms of possession (45 per cent) and shots on target (three to Madrid's seven), head into the reverse fixture with Zidane's men knowing that they will surely need a win to keep alive their hopes of progressing.

Ramos reaches a century

Three days after making his 500th LaLiga appearance, Ramos crossed off another milestone with his 100th goal for Madrid in all competitions – 55 of those via his head.

He also won more aerial duels than any other player on the pitch (three) and turned over possession eight times, which was second only to Casemiro among Madrid's players.

Hakimi's horror moment

Madrid's decision to let Hakimi join Inter in the close season raised eyebrows given the full-back's impressive form during his time on loan with Borussia Dortmund.

He topped the charts for tackles (three) and crosses (four) for Inter, highlighting his importance at both ends of the pitch, but his lapse in concentration for Benzema's opener will be the defining moment of his match.

Key Opta Facts

- Real Madrid have won seven of their eight home matches against Inter Milan in European competition (L1), winning each of the last six.

- Madrid have conceded two or more goals in five consecutive Champions League games for just the second time (also in 2001).

- Only Lionel Messi (70) and Cristiano Ronaldo (63) have scored more group-stage goals in the Champions League than Karim Benzema (49).

- Sergio Ramos netted his 100th Real Madrid goal in all competitions, with 55 of those being headed.

- Since the start of last season, only Robert Lewandowski (11) and Serge Gnabry (6) have scored more away goals in the Champions League than Inter Milan's Lautaro Martínez (5).

What's next?

Madrid travel to Valencia on Sunday in their final LaLiga outing before the international break, while Inter make the trip to Atalanta in Serie A on the same day.

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Leroy Sané and Alphonso Davies Are Set to Team Up at Bayern & It's Just Not Fair

Salzburg 2-6 Bayern Munich: Lewandowski nets twice as late flurry keeps champions perfect

Bayern Munich scored four times inside the final 11 minutes to overcome a spirited Salzburg side on Tuesday.

Robert Lewandowski scored twice as Bayern Munich maintained their 100 per cent start in the Champions League with a rollicking 6-2 win at Salzburg despite a scare on Tuesday. 

The holders eased to victory over Atletico Madrid in their opening game and then saw off Lokomotiv Moscow but looked as though they might come unstuck in Austria when Masaya Okugawa levelled matters at 2-2 in the 66th minute - just 54 seconds after he was introduced as a substitute.

Jerome Boateng, Leroy Sane, Lewandowski and Lucas Hernandez all scored inside the final 11 minutes to clinch the points, however, with Bayern earlier bouncing back from Mergim Berisha's opener to lead through a Lewandowski penalty and Rasmus Kristensen's own goal.

The late show leaves Bayern sitting pretty at the summit of Group A with nine points, five ahead of second-placed Atletico Madrid. Salzburg, meanwhile, are bottom having picked up just one point from their opening three games.

Bayern started slowly and fell behind for the first time in 11 Champions League games when Berisha slotted past Manuel Neuer at his near post after Sekou Koita's shot had deflected into his path.

Gnabry had a superb effort disallowed for offside before Lewandowski scored his first Champions League goal of the campaign, slotting home from 12 yards after Thomas Muller had been tripped by Enock Mwepu, having seen an earlier spot-kick award overturned.

Bayern then forged ahead in the 44th minute when Kristensen headed Muller's cross into his own net from close range.

Kingsley Coman clipped the crossbar from 10 yards shortly after the hour mark, but substitute Okugawa equalised for Salzburg with his first touch after Lewandowski had been caught in possession. 

Bayern stormed back in the closing stages, though, Boateng putting the Bundesliga champions back in front with a powerful header from Joshua Kimmich's corner in the 79th minute.

Substitute Sane superbly curled into the top-left corner four minutes later after being teed up by Kimmich, while Lewandowski grabbed his second two minutes from time with a back-post header from Javi Martinez's cross.

The scoreline was then given a final flourish in stoppage time when Hernandez lashed into the roof of the net to cap a third group-stage win in style.
 

What does it mean? Dogged Salzburg crumble at the death 

Despite the emphatic nature of the scoreline, Bayern did not have it all their own against an impressive Salzburg side, who forced Neuer into eight saves from their 18 shots.

Bayern's firepower ultimately proved too strong for Jesse Marsch's men, though, as they stretched their unbeaten away run in the Champions League to 15 games, with only Manchester United (16 between 2007 and 2010) having achieved a longer such streak. 

Kimmich the creator 

Kimmich's superb form in the Champions League continued, with his two assists from five chances created taking his goal involvements in his past six games in the competition to nine (two goals, seven assists). He also completed 92 per cent of his passes - the second-highest rate of any Bayern starter. 

Mwepu's game to forget 

His clumsy foul on Muller led to the penalty for Bayern's first goal and things did not get much better after that for Mwepu. The Zambia international lost possession a team-high of 18 times and won just 30.8 per cent of his 13 duels.

Key Opta Facts

- Salzburg have lost all five of their Champions League matches against the reigning champions by an aggregate scoreline of 16-5.
- There have been seven matches in which a side has scored six or more goals in a Champions League game since the start of last season, with Bayern responsible for four of them.
- Lewandowski has scored all 12 penalties he has taken in the Champions League (two for Borussia Dortmund, 10 for Bayern).
- Okugawa's equaliser came just 54 seconds after he came off the bench - the second-fastest goal from a substitute in the Champions League this season after Vinicius Junior against Shakhtar Donetsk at 11 seconds.
- Only Real Madrid (16) and Barcelona (15) have benefited from more own goals in Champions League history than Bayern (13).

What's next?

Bayern travel to Borussia Dortmund for Der Klassiker on Saturday before the international break, while Salzburg visit Rapid Vienna in domestic action a day later.

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Which clubs will USWNT stars Tobin Heath and Christen Press play for next?

Manchester City extended their 100 per cent record in this season's Champions League with a 3-0 win over Olympiacos at the Etihad Stadium.

Ferran Torres became the third-youngest player in Champions League history to score in four consecutive appearances as he helped Manchester City to a third straight win in this season's competition, a 3-0 success over Olympiacos.

Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are the only players to have netted in four games in a row at a younger age than 20-year-old Spain international Torres, who scored in the 12th minute, adding to his strikes against Porto and Marseille for City this term and against Atalanta for Valencia last season.

City went into this game unbeaten in seven matches in all competitions and could have been out of sight by the time the Greek champions began to put them under pressure in the second half.

But substitutes Gabriel Jesus and Joao Cancelo scored late on to clinch a result that extends City's group stage streak to 14 games without defeat, and manager Pep Guardiola will be pleased with their form as he aims to take City beyond the quarter-finals for the first time in his reign.

Torres met a City corner with a sublime backheeled shot that flew narrowly wide after six minutes.

City's recent signing went one better six minutes later, playing a one-two with Kevin De Bruyne before sliding a low shot through the legs of goalkeeper Jose Sa to put the hosts in front.

Guardiola's men continued to create the better chances and Raheem Sterling put the ball in the net, only to have his close-range effort ruled out for offside.

A poor pass by Phil Foden afforded Mathieu Valbuena a shot at goal early in the second half but he fired narrowly wide under pressure from John Stones.

Youssef El-Arabi tested Ederson with a shot from just inside the box as City found themselves pinned back again, and Jose Holebas later blazed wide.

But De Bruyne played in Jesus nine minutes from time and the Brazilian lashed the ball home from an acute angle, before Cancelo's carefully placed shot found the bottom corner from just outside the box to wrap up the win.
 

What does it mean? Torres filling Aguero's boots

With Sergio Aguero injured, Torres has staked his claim playing as a centre-forward, with three goals in three Champions League appearances for City.

De Bruyne the creator

Only Kylian Mbappe (15) has made more assists than De Bruyne (14) in the Champions League since the start of the 2017-18 season and the Belgium international fed City's forwards from the first whistle here.

Toothless Olympiacos toil again

Olympiacos have just one goal to show for their efforts in three Champions League games this season and wasteful finishing ensured they scored from none of their six shots on goal here.

What's next?

City face Premier League champions Liverpool at home on Sunday, while Olympiacos are away against struggling OFI in the Greek Super League 1 on the same day.

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Xavi reveals Lewandowski talks at Barcelona

In just his third season with the six-time European champions, the Egypt star has matched the club legend's feat with a strike against Atalanta

Mohamed Salah moved level with Steven Gerrard as Liverpool's top goal scorer in European Cup and Champions League history on Tuesday.

Salah netted a stunning breakaway goal early in the second half against Atalanta as the Reds tore the Serie A side apart in a 5-0 victory.

That strike, a composed left-footed finish at the end of a rapid burst forward, was the Egypt international's 21st in the Champions League proper for the team. Salah has therefore tied Gerrard's all-time club benchmark.

Salah, who reached the 2018 final in his first season at Anfield and won the competition the following year, swiftly teed up a fourth Liverpool goal for Sadio Mane.

Diogo Jota had scored twice before the break and completed his hat-trick – his first in Liverpool colours – as Jurgen Klopp's side moved 5-0 up after just 54 minutes.

That would be the end of the scoring as Jurgen Klopp's men cruised to a win that saw them win their third straight match in the Champions League group stage. 

Liverpool are in pole position to qualify for the knockout phase after going top of Group D, five points clear of Ajax and Atalanta who are both on four. 

The five-goal victory on Tuesday means Klopp's side also set the record for the biggest ever win by an English club away to Italian opposition in European competition.

Jota has impressed for the Reds of late, with the Portugal international only the second player to score on his first two starts in the Champions League for Liverpool, following Robbie Keane back in 2008. 

Having also starred for Wolves in the Europa League last term, Jota has now scored three hat-tricks in the Champions League and Europa League combined since the start of last season, the only player to have done so more than once.

He has scored nine goals since the start of last season in European competition - six for Wolves and now three for Liverpool - which is more than any other player for an English side in that period, excluding strikes in qualifying matches.

Following the international break, Liverpool's next Champions League match will be against Atalanta at Anfield on November 25.

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Liverpool hat-trick hero Jota salutes 'world-class' Salah and Mane after Atalanta treble

The Portugal star has six goals in his past four matches, but chose to focus on his team-mates after scoring three in Bergamo

Liverpool star Diogo Jota attempted to brush off the plaudits after netting a sensational hat-trick in the 5-0 win over Atalanta on Tuesday. 

Jota scored twice in the first half and rounded off his treble in the 54th minute as the Reds put last season's quarter-finalists to the sword in Bergamo. 

The win was Liverpool's third in a row in the Champions League group stages and was also the biggest ever win by an English club away to Italian opposition in European competition.

Jota has now scored in four consecutive matches for Liverpool, netting six goals in those four games. 

When asked if he was playing the best football in his career, the £45 million ($57m) summer signing from Wolves attempted to shift the focus to his team-mates.

“I'm playing in the best team in my career so far," Jota replied to BT Sport. "I don't know if it was my best moment but scoring goals is my way of playing football. It is great to win away in the Champions League."

Asked about playing alongside Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, who both also scored on Tuesday, Jota replied: “Two world-class players, we all know their quality so it makes it easier for me to do my job and I think we did a great game today."

Jota was also asked about his favourite of the three goals, replying: “The first one just because it unlocks the game. For any team it is important to get the first one. We scored soon in the game so it was a good moment for me and it meant as a team we could manage the game."

Liverpool will now turn their attention toward the Premier League as they face a massive showdown against Manchester City on Sunday. The Reds finished a point behind title-winners City in the 2018-19 campaign before they rebounded last season to finish top of the league table by 18 points ahead of Pep Guardiola's side. 

Though Liverpool produced an offensive explosion against Atalanta, Jota is more focused on what his side need to do on the defensive side of the ball against City. 

“Five goals doesn't happen so often in one game, the clean sheet as well," Jota said. "If we can do a clean sheet against City I am pretty sure we win the game."

Original author: Goal
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'Good performances never give me a headache!' - Klopp backs Firmino as Jota brilliance raises questions for Liverpool No 9

The summer signing's hat-trick against Atalanta has put the Brazilian's position under threat, however the manager has talked up his main forward

Jurgen Klopp paid tribute to Diogo Jota after he helped Liverpool thrash Atalanta in the Champions League – but denied suggestions that the Portuguese star’s form could be bad news for Reds No 9 Roberto Firmino.

Jota was sensational as Klopp’s side ran riot in Bergamo on Tuesday evening, scoring a hat-trick as Liverpool took complete control of Group D. 

The Reds can secure their passage to the knockout stage with a win over the Serie A side when the teams meet at Anfield later this month.

It was a good night for Klopp, who described his team’s performance as “incredible”.

He had chosen to leave Firmino, usually a staple in big European away matches, on the bench against Gian Piero Gasperini’s side, choosing instead to field Jota who has now scored in his last four matches and has seven in his first 10 games since arriving from Wolves in September.

Afterwards, though, Klopp bristled when asked if Jota’s brilliance had given him a selection headache going into Sunday’s crunch Premier League clash away at Manchester City

“Good performances never give me a headache!” he told his post-match press conference. “Tonight the decision was clear, it made sense first of all to use the good shape Diogo was in, and secondly because of the way Atalanta plays and defends, we should use the skillset of Diogo to help us. 

“The world is sometimes a bad place, that in the moment when somebody is shining we immediately speak about another player who played what feels like 500 games in a row. Without Bobby Firmino, we would not be in the Champions League even.

"He will be in the team, and for a lot of people in the world if you ask them ‘what makes Liverpool special?’ they would say ‘the way Bobby Firmino is playing’. 

“For us it is important that we have more than 11. Tonight, Diogo played a super, super game but that says nothing about Bobby, and has nothing to do with me causing headaches. I am more than happy that the boys played like they played tonight.”

Klopp had suggested, pre-game, that Atalanta represented the biggest test his team had faced in Europe this season, but the Italians were no match for the speed and sharpness of Jota, or of Sadio Mane and Mo Salah, who both joined him on the scoresheet.

“It is about the players,” Klopp said. “I don't want to talk about tactics too much, because the job he [Gasperini] is doing here is incredible, but I don't think any system could have defended Sadio, Mo and Diogo tonight.”

He added: “Everything I said last night before the game is still 100 per cent true. I am in the business long enough to see when another team is playing good football and can cause each team in the world problems. That didn’t change because of the game and the result tonight. 

“We are good as well! We know that but we have to fulfil our potential, and that’s what the boys did tonight. We defended Atalanta on an incredibly high level, and played top football ourselves and scored the goals.

"We scored five goals, could have scored two or three more, but Alisson had to make three world-class saves as well, so you see how big the threat is if you let them do what they are good at. 

“The overall performance of my team was very good tonight, and that’s why we won the game. The result is not that important, we only wanted to win.”

Original author: Neil Jones
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'I was so unhappy' - Manchester City's Jesus delighted to make scoring return from injury

The Brazilian forward has endured a tough time with his fitness but was back among the scorers in the Champions League victory over Olympiacos
Original author: Goal
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'In order to be sh*t in the Champions League, you at least have to qualify!' - Villas-Boas looks on bright side of unwanted Marseille record

The Ligue 1 side lost 3-0 to Porto on Tuesday – their 12th consecutive defeat in Europe's top club competition

Marseille boss Andre Villas-Boas attempted to look on the bright side of his side's miserable run in the Champions League, saying his team at least needed to be good enough to qualify before their admittedly "sh*t" performance in European competition.

Villas-Boas saw his side easily defeated 3-0 by Porto on Tuesday, their third straight defeat to begin Group C play after a seven-year absence from the Champions League.

Marseille have now lost 12 consecutive Champions League matches, tying the record for the longest run in the competition set by Anderlecht

When including European Cup play, only Luxembourg outfit Jeunesse Esch have lost more games consecutively in Europe's top competition (16 games between 1973 and 1987).

Speaking at his press conference after the loss to Porto, Villas-Boas highlighted his side's second-place finish in Ligue 1 last term while also admitting that Marseille have been "sh*t" in European competition.

"In order to be sh*t in the Champions League, you have to at least qualify for the Champions League," the Portuguese said. "We did it and we are being sh*t.

"The record of consecutive defeats? It's a shame that falls upon us."

Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda admitted he was concerned by his team's form in Europe after they also fell to Olympiacos and Man City to begin group play.

“For sure when you see the results you can only be worried," Mandanda told RMC Sport 1. "We are going to measure the words a bit this evening, because there is a lot of anger and disappointment.

"[There are] lots of negative feelings that stand out. We will have to question ourselves because we are not up to par. There are three matches left, we will have to show another face."

When asked if Marseille's record worries him, midfielder Valentin Rongier replied: "No. Frankly, that's not what worries us. What worries us are the results at the moment, especially in the Champions League. It is completely insufficient.

"It's very difficult, we completely understand [supporters'] frustration and their annoyance. We are the first to be reached. It p*sses us off to come here and concede three goals, not score and not take three points."

Marseille are off to a better start in Ligue 1, sitting in fifth place with a game in hand on their rivals. 

Original author: Goal
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'I would have been nervous!' - Klopp praises 'exceptional' Williams as Liverpool shut out Atalanta

The Reds back line managed to keep their lethal Italian opponents at bay away from home in a 5-0 win
Original author: Josh Thomas
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'I really liked the mentality and desire' - Conte remains hopeful of Champions League progression for Inter

The Milan side let a point slip through their grasp in Tuesday's loss to Real Madrid, but their manager is remaining upbeat

Antonio Conte said he is satisfied with Inter's performance in their 3-2 defeat against Real Madrid and remains hopeful of reaching the Champions League last 16.

Inter battled back from two goals down in Tuesday's clash at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano, only for Madrid substitute Rodrygo to score with 10 minutes remaining to snatch the win.

Conte's Inter are bottom of Group B on two points from three matches and face Madrid again at San Siro in their next European outing on November 25.

Despite Inter winning only one of their last seven games in all competitions, Conte remains upbeat on the back of the narrow loss in the Spanish capital.

"Of course the final result leaves a bad taste in the mouth for me and my players," he told Sport Mediaset. "Games like these show that there is still room for growth, but I don't know how many teams come to Madrid and play this type of game. We went down by two goals and managed to pull it back, and then missed chances to go in front.

"In my opinion my side took more steps today. I really liked the mentality and desire we showed. This team is growing but the results are not rewarding our performances."

Karim Benzema profited from a terrible Achraf Hakimi backpass for Madrid's opening goal, and Sergio Ramos nodded in a second after getting away from his marker at a corner.

Hakimi appeared to be fouled by Ferland Mendy in the build-up to the opener, but Conte did not want to make excuses and instead criticised his side's defending.

"There is little explanation behind the backpass, even if there was a slight foul on Hakimi," he said. "The second goal is similar - we have to improve. There is work to be done and at the moment the little details are costing us in games."

Lautaro Martinez – who became the only player born after 1996 to have scored against both Madrid and Barcelona in the Champions League – and Ivan Perisic dragged Inter back on level terms with well-taken strikes either side of half-time, but Rodrygo's winner now leaves Inter in a perilous position.

"There are still three games to go," Conte said. "That means nine points are up for grabs. We knew this was the most difficult group and we will do everything to get through."

Inter matched Madrid in terms of shots - 12 - but only managed to get three on target, compared to seven for their opponents who have conceded two-plus goals in five consecutive Champions League games for just the second time after 2001.

Samir Handanovic accepted Inter can have few complaints about the scoreline after failing to make more of the chances that fell their way at 2-2.

"There is a lot of bitterness about this result," the Inter captain told Sky Sport Italia. "We had got it back on track and wanted to win - that was the sensation we got on the pitch.

"We had two chances and didn't take them, whereas Real Madrid did, and those incidents made the difference. Ultimately, they were more determined.

"In wins and defeats, there is always something positive to take, but we have to become more determined, because we really felt that we could've won it and that is not the first time we've experienced this situation.

"I think we were on a par with Real Madrid, even superior for long periods, but the difference was they were more determined."

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Guardiola delighted with Torres impact after Manchester City makeshift striker's 'brilliant' goal against Olympiacos

The 20-year-old got the Citizens off to a perfect start at Etihad Stadium in the Champions League as he opened the scoring with a fine strike

Pep Guardiola paid tribute to Ferran Torres after the young striker's "brilliant" goal put Manchester City on course for Champions League victory over Olympiacos on Tuesday. 

Torres, 20, moved to Etihad Stadium from Valencia during the summer transfer window. 

Subsequent injuries to Sergio Aguero meant the youngster has been thrown in at the deep end in City's attack, and he started alongside Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling up front in Tuesday's key Group C clash. 

He did not disappoint, scoring the opener after just 12 minutes to put City ahead, while late strikes from Gabriel Jesus and Joao Cancelo sealed a 3-0 win which maintains the club's 100 per cent start to the competition in 2020-21. 

Torres is still waiting for his maiden Premier League goal after four appearances to date, but Pep believes the new signing is on the right track and only improving with every match.

"He played really well again, brilliant goal, moved really well with and without the ball, he’s growing, he’s already scored a lot of goals and we are happy with his performance," he told reporters of the ex-Valencia player, while also stating his delight at seeing Jesus back in the team after injury and back amongst the goals. 

"It was important of course, the fact he’s back is so important, it's good news, especially for the striker to score a brilliant goal but there were good things tonight, delighted with most of the game and happy that Gabriel is back."

City have suffered a disappointing start to their bid to wrest the Premier League title off Liverpool, dropping seven points from their opening six games to lie in 10th place, five points off Jurgen Klopp's pace-setters.

The two sides meet at Anfield on Sunday and Guardiola is pleased to have five days between fixtures in order to let his squad rest and be fully prepared.

"I saw the weather forecast and there is sunshine in Manchester," the manager added. "They’ll have a day off and then two days to prepare. It's time to enjoy the victory, the position in the table and move forward.

"I’m delighted with the situation we have, we struggled at the beginning but we moved forward, we dropped points at West Ham, the rest maybe we deserved.

"Just six or seven games, there's a lot still to play, one more before the break, now is the time to enjoy tonight, nine points and then tomorrow we recover and prepare for the game against Liverpool.”

Original author: Goal
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