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Young Africans (Yanga SC) will miss the services of three key players when they take on JKT Tanzania in their second match of the Mainland Premier League on Wednesday.

The Jangwani Street-based giants resumed their action with a 1-0 win against Mwadui FC in a match played at Kambarage Stadium in Shinyanga on Saturday.

Ahead of their match against JKT, coach Luc Eymael has confirmed to Goal three players – captain Papy Tshishimbi, Lamine Moro, and Bernard Morrison – will not be involved in the fixture owing to various reasons.

“We will miss the services of our captain [Papy] who is out injured but recovering well and [Morrison] is yet to join the camp and will definitely come back when we return to Dar es Salaam," Eymael told Goal on Wednesday.

“We will see if Molinga makes it to the last 18 while Moro has a bruise on his knee and will not play.”

Asked on his plans for the match, Eymael said: “It is a big match for us, we want to keep the winning run going and will be going for a win, I know JKT will also fight to get a win so it will be a good battle.

“We have also worked on some of the mistakes which cropped up during the match against Mwadui and the players are looking good, I want us to finish as high as possible in the league and so every match is like a final to us.”

Meanwhile, JKT coach Abdallah Mohamed said they have done their homework well and will be out to beat Yanga.

“We have studied how they play and are ready to face, I must say we don’t fear them. I know they are one of the biggest teams in the country, but that will not count for us, all we need is a win.”

Eymael is likely to start underfire striker Gnamien Yikpe in the fixture. The Ivorian striker has received heavy criticism from Yanga fans, who insist he does not deserve to play for the team.

The fans have on many occasions taken to social media calling for the team to do away with the striker with others faulting the officials who were involved in signing the player from Kenyan champions Gor Mahia.

Former goalkeeper and current Fortuna Dusseldorf board member Lutz Pfannenstiel says that Eintracht Frankfurt sporting director Fredi Bobic could return Manchester United to glory.

Bobic has been Eintracht Frankfurt's sporting director since 2016, with the club experiencing a surge under his leadership. After winning the DFB-Pokal in 2017-18, the club finished seventh in the Bundesliga last season to seal a Europa League berth.

Frankfurt sit seventh this season and still remain involved in the Europa League round of 16, although the competition was postponed following a first-leg loss to FC Basel.

During Bobic's tenure, the club has gone on to sign stars like Luka Jovic, Sebastian Haller and Ante Rebic, with the former two making big-money moves away from the club while the latter is currently on loan with Milan.

Bobic has developed a reputation for finding and developing undiscovered talent, and it is that skill that Pfannenstiel says could help him retool a club with big money, like Man Utd.

"I'm very excited to see where Fredi's path leads him. I think there are three options," Pfannenstiel wrote in his column for DAZN . 

"First, he could stay in Frankfurt for a long time, but I personally do not believe that. After all, what more could he achieve after double qualifying for the Europa League and winning the DFB-Pokal? Bayern, Dortmund and Leipzig are currently difficult to reach for Frankfurt.

"Second, he could move to a top European club. Or third, he could do something completely different, something more exotic and work for a club where he can build something structurally.

"I personally would like to see how Fredi works with a bag full of money and which players he would sign. Even if working at a top club is completely different compared to developing and building up a club with limited resources, I am sure that Fredi would be up to the task.

"I am firmly convinced that he could lead a club like Manchester United back to the top. The question is rather whether he wants that. Conversely, top European clubs have long been on the downturn.

"At Man Utd, for example, restructuring with a strong sports director who works in the background of the trainer or manager, as they say on the island, would certainly work very well."

Prior to working with Frankfurt, Bobic served as the director of sport at Stuttgart before being sacked in 2014 after a near four-year stay.

During Bobic's spell with Stuttgart, the club decided to sell Joshua Kimmich, who ended up becoming a star with RB Leipzig and now Bayern Munich.

Additionally, Bobic pushed hard to sign a then-undiscovered Saul Niguez, who now is counted among the world's best midfielders at Atletico Madrid.

"Fredi wanted to keep Joshua Kimmich, for example, but the club was more interested in the quick money that could be made with him after his successful time at RB Leipzig," Pfannenstiel said.

"Another example of how unconventional and long-term Fredi thinks: Saul Niguez was with his father for talks at VfB in Stuttgart. Saul was a rough diamond at the time, 18 years old and just loaned to Rayo Vallecano.

"With VfB everything was already clear. For about €8 million (£7.2m/$9,), he could have been signed. Fredi was convinced of Saul, but did not get his commitment because the amount was too high for others. Today Saul is probably one of the best midfielders in the world and worth many times over."

Hector Bellerin has pledged to plant 3,000 trees for every win Arsenal amass between now and the end of the season.

The Gunners return to action in the Premier League on Wednesday night after a 102-day hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic when they take on Manchester City at Etihad Stadium.

That will be the first of 10 remaining league games for Mikel Arteta’s side, with victories vital as they attempt to earn a spot in next season’s Champions League.

Any wins will now have added significance to Bellerin, who has partnered with global charity One Tree Planted and committed to plant 3,000 trees for every success the Gunners enjoy before the end of the campaign.

“As a child growing up in Barcelona, I spent a lot of my with my grandad in his garden planting trees and playing in forests so it’s an issue very close to my heart,” said Bellerin.

“When I saw the great work that One Tree Planted do, not just the planting of the trees but within the communities as well, I knew it was something that I wanted to get involved in. I hope that by doing this and using my platform, others will see how important it is to look after our world and donate to a cause which really affects us all.”

Bellerin is well known for his stance on environmental issues and has spoken at length about subjects such as single-use plastics and the effects of climate change on society.

His partnership with One Tree Planted aims to draw attention to the fact that, according to a recent study, 4,500 acres of forest are cleared every hour leading to catastrophic effects on wildlife, ecosystems and weather patterns.

Diana Chaplin, Canopy Director of One Tree Planted, said: "It's great to know that there are champions for the environment in the sports world. Hector's passion for nature goes beyond words to make a real impact on the ground and help us plant trees where they're needed most.

“This will have a lasting benefit for people, nature, and wildlife for many years to come." 

Fans are invited to join the campaign and help plant even more trees to make a positive impact for the great outdoors. More details can be found here.

AFC Leopards goalkeeper Benjamin Ochan has revealed he is learning Karate as believes the season was better compared to the previous one.

Ochan joined AFC Leopards at the beginning of the abandoned season and went on to record 13 clean sheets.

The custodian, now in Uganda, said he has had to learn Karate as well as engaging in training regimes which keeps him fit.

“Life without football is tough because we are used to going to training then playing during the weekend but now you wake up and do housework and keep fit,” Ochan said during an interactive session with fans on AFC Leopards Facebook page.

“But anyway, this pandemic is real, life is tough and it feels like being in a prison. You know there is a total lockdown in Uganda and you have nowhere to go.

“I am learning karate by the way. Every morning I get on my bike and ride to the gym where we are working initially, it was just within my neighbourhood but now it is quite far about 20 kilometres.

“I do my karate and exercises that make me fit from Monday to Friday. I cannot say I am very fit but I can say I am 70% fit.”

The Uganda star assessed Ingwe's season which was his debut campaign in the Kenyan Premier League (KPL), revealed aborted targets and where he thinks the team might be next season.

“We had positives and negatives,” said the goalkeeper.

“The negative side of it is that we hoped to win the league but it has not been possible due to a number of factors but we had also aimed at finishing above position, however, but it was also not possible too due to Covid-19.

“The positive side of the season is that I think we have gelled well as a team, there is something to build on with a lot of youngsters coming through and the teamwork.

“There is love in the team and the support from the fans is amazing. We also worked tirelessly in the season as I believe we have something to build on.

“AFC Leopards finished 11th last season and we were number six this season with nine games left to go. I believe from the nine games, a top-three spot was very much possible.

“Climbing up the table is a promising thing and maybe next season we will be number one because AFC Leopards are a big team.”

Ochan's confidence of a better 2020/21 season echoes similar statements made by his head coach Anthony Kimani and the club's chairman Dan Shikanda.

Kenya international Duke Abuya has revealed his happiness at being turned into a midfielder from a defender at Nkana FC.

Abuya, who signed for the Zambian club on a two-year deal in January 2020 from Kariobangi Sharks, has become a regular starter for the side but playing in an unfamiliar role, where he has effectively partnered with another Kenyan player Duncan Otieno.

Abuya has openly confessed he is now enjoying the new role which has seen him score one goal for his side in the Zambian league.

“I’m really enjoying my new role in the team,” Abuya is quoted by Standard Sports. “The transition from the number ten attacking role to a provider has not been difficult for me. That’s an added advantage to me because I can do both of them.

“I was more than relieved to open my goal account at Nkana because I had endured a long goal drought in the Kenyan Premier League.”

Abuya, who featured for the national team Harambee Stars during the African Nations Championship (Chan) qualifier away to Tanzania, has also admitted that his main aim is to cement his place in the team.

“The national team is not like a club; this is a place that you must take your chances whenever given because the competition is too high,” Abuya continued.

“But if you don’t grab it with both hands, you will live to regret. Migne [Sebastien] told me he was impressed with my debut performance against Tanzania and immediately when he left, Kimanzi [Francis] called me up in the team. That means I’m heading in the right direction.”

On his move to play outside Kenya, Abuya said: “I always dreamt of playing outside Kenya, but I never knew it would be at a big club like Nkana.

“The move happened so fast and the positive thing is that I adapted to everything there very quickly. I just feel like I’m living my dream every day but that doesn’t mean I’m going to be complacent here.”

Abuya also praised Kenyan players in Nkana – Musa Mohammed, Harun Shakava, and Otieno – for helping him to settle down quickly in Zambia.

“Honestly, was it not for Musa, Duncan, and Shakava it would have been difficult for me to adapt at Nkana,” Abuya explained.

“They gave me a warm welcome and oriented me to the club. They taught me the ropes of what it takes to be a professional player. But I’m more grateful to Duncan for making things easier for me. I have really had fun in the seven matches we have played together in midfield.”

Bernardo Silva says the debate on who is better between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo is “not debatable” – because people should just enjoy them both.

The Manchester City man is a team-mate of Ronaldo’s for Portugal, with the pair having won last year’s inaugural Nations League tournament together.

Silva says the experience of training and playing alongside the Juventus forward has been a special one, hailing his exemplary work ethic off the pitch.

“It will be something special and unique to tell my kids and grandkids I was able to give him some assists,” Silva told BBC Sport.

“He's an example on and off the pitch. With Portugal, we train in the morning. In the afternoon everyone plays cards or PlayStation, but he goes to the gym.

“In the big moments, when you need him the most, he's always there.”

And, while the Messi v Ronaldo debate has now raged for over a decade, Silva wants no part in it.

“It's a debate that's not debatable,” he added.

“I think we need to feel privileged to be able to watch them at the same time together.

“They are two of the best players ever - if not the two best players ever.”

Silva is currently preparing for the return of the Premier League, with City returning to action on Wednesday night with a fixture against Arsenal.

Coming to the end of his third year in Manchester, the 25-year-old is settled and happy in his surroundings.

Plucked from Monaco at the end of the 2016-17 season, Silva says the feeling of signing for City was “amazing”.

“It was an amazing feeling. When we played Manchester City [with Monaco in the Champions League], the atmosphere was amazing.

“After the game I was talking to my team-mates and we were saying: ‘Wow, the atmosphere in England is really good. One day I'd like to play there.’

“At the end of the season when they contacted me and said they wanted to buy me; it was a pleasure to join the club.

“So far, I've been very happy at the club - so it was a great choice.

“I've been lucky to play for a team like Manchester City. It's a pleasure to be here with such amazing players and staff and be able to win so many trophies.”

Young Africans (Yanga SC) coach Luc Eymael has revealed he will continue to use “unwanted” striker Gnamien Yikpe until the end of the season.

The Ivorian striker, who signed for the Jangwani Street-based giants from Kenyan champions Gor Mahia, has come under heavy criticism especially from Yanga fans who feel he does not deserve to play for the team owing to his poor displays on the pitch.

The fans have on many occasions taken to social media calling for the team to do away with the striker with others faulting the officials who were involved in signing the player from K’Ogalo.

However, the Belgian tactician has distanced himself from the signing of the player saying he found him already playing for Yanga and went further to state he will continue to use him because “I don’t have enough strikers in the team.”

“I don’t want to comment about [Yikpe], it is not me who signed this player but currently we don’t have a lot of choices in the striking area and I have to use him until the end of the season,” Eymael told Goal on Wednesday.

“It seems he was a good player while he was playing for Gor Mahia but I don’t know what happened to him, he was already there when I came, because I found him already playing for Yanga.”

Four days ago, Yikpe revealed he was not affected by the pressure of fans to deliver despite having scored one goal since he signed for Yanga.

“People talk a lot [about me] but I usually don't listen to them,” Yikpe was quoted as saying by Mwanaspoti.

“They will always talk whether you are performing well or not. However, I am a Yanga player and I am contracted to the team. If it is about my performance, the management should be the one talking about it but as it stands, I have heard nothing from them.

“I have to train harder, but regarding playing time, I leave it for the coach to decide.”

Yanga are currently preparing to face JKT Tanzania in their second match after the return of the Mainland Premier League and Yikpe could still feature in the fixture.

AC Milan midfielder Refiloe Jane has signed a contract extension for another season with the Italian Seria A women's giants.

The development is coming on the heels of the premature termination of the 2019-20 season on June 8 without title winners as Maurizio Ganz began plans for the upcoming 2020-21 campaign.

Before the league cancellation, the 27-year-old resumed training with her teammates on May 27 in anticipation of the restart before the subsequent cancellation which was ratified on June 16.

Jane, who joined the Italian outfit last summer after she parted ways with Australian side Canberra United in April 2019, whom she scored twice and provided an assist in eight appearances.

Before signing a one-year contract in Italy, Banyana Banyana deputy captain had arrived from guiding South Africa to retain the Cosafa Women's Cup on their home ground last August.

The former Colchester United, Mamelodi Sundowns and Vaal University of Technology midfielder scored twice in 15 appearances to help AC Milan to third spot with 35 points after 15 games.

Goal understands the Serie A club decided to retain the services of the South Africa international amidst the team's ongoing massive clear out, having parted ways with 10 players.

An Italian source reports that Jane and Dominika Conc were retained while Monica Mendes, Sandra Zigic, Mai Bellucci, Francesca Zanzi and Pamela Begic.

Other players affected in the clear out are Nora Heroum, Patricia Andrade, Marta Carissimi, Martina Capelli and Raffaella Manieri.

As the first South African female to play in the Serie A, she will now hope to help Maurizio Ganz's side to domestic glory next season.

Italy has now become the latest of Europe's top-flight leagues to prematurely declare their season over after the Spanish Primera Iberdrola, French and English Women's Super League.

Indian Super League (ISL) clubs will have a minimum of two developmental players in their matchday squads during 2020-21 season, Goal can confirm. 

In a welcome move to improve the quality of Indian players in the league, ISL has altered its player guidelines to ensure that there must be two, and not one developmental player (born on or after January 1, 2000) in each club's 18-member matchday squads.

As reported earlier, the 2020-21 season of the ISL will see a mandatory Asian player take the field for clubs. The clubs will be allowed to sign a minimum of five and a maximum of seven foreign players in a squad that can have as many as 35 players. There can also be a maximum of 30 and a minimum of 18 Indian players in a squad next season. For comparison, clubs were only allowed to sign at most 18 Indian players in the fourth season of ISL.

While the clubs will have to follow a four foreign player rule in the starting XI from the 2021-22 season, the upcoming season will give all clubs the option to sign a maximum of seven and a minimum of five foreign players. The minor and gradual changes in ISL's policies can be looked at as a step in the right direction, given the need to develop Indian players in all positions in order to improve the competitivenes of the Indian players. 

As for the salary cap for players, there will be no change in the INR 16.5 Cr figure from last season. 

The 2020-21 season of the Indian Super League could face a delayed start due to the Coronavirus pandemic. As it stands, no deadlines have been set for the submission of players' documents.

The summer transfer is from August 1 to October 20, 2020.

Indian Super League (ISL) clubs will be allowed to sign a marquee player for the 2020-21 season if the signing falls into one of two categories specified by the league, Goal has learnt. 

Formerly, the clubs were allowed to sign a marquee player if he is of international repute and the signing had to be approved by league authorities. From next season, the clubs have the option of signing a Veteran' or a 'Prodigy' player and both categories have been well defined. 

A ' Veteran ' has to satisfy three criteria - He should have a minimum of 75 appearances under his belt for clubs playing in the top five leagues - English Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1. He must have represented a club in the UEFA Champions League or Europa League. In international football, he must have played in the FIFA World Cup, Euro Cup or FIFA Confederations Cup (qualification rounds do not count). 

A ' Prodigy ' can be an U-23 player who has at least two senior team appearances in the top five leagues specified above or someone with at least three appearances for a national team that falls in the top 25 FIFA Rankings as of April 9, 2020. The appearances should be in the finals of major tournaments across all age groups (FIFA World Cup, Olympic Games, FIFA Confederations Cup).

However, a marquee player needs to be approved by the ISL before a club can be signed.

As reported earlier , the 2020-21 season of the ISL will see a mandatory Asian player take the field for clubs. The clubs will be allowed to sign a minimum of five and a maximum of seven foreign players in a squad that can have as many as 35 players. 

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) recommends IM Vijayan for the country's fourth-highest civilian award – the Padma Shri, Goal understands.  

Hailing from Thrissur, Vijayan was a gifted striker which catapulted him to stardom. He started off at the very bottom, selling soda and cigarettes during football games in Thrissur's Corporation stadium.

The former striker started his career at the age of 17 with the Kerala Police Football Club. He went on to play for clubs like Mohun Bagan, FC Kochin, JCT Phagwara, Churchill Brothers, and East Bengal. At one point, he was the highest-paid footballer in the country. He led JCT Phagwara to the inaugural National Football League title. 

He made his debut in international football in the year 1989 and went on to make 66 appearances for India. During this period he scored around 40 goals. His most productive season arrived in 1999 when he scored 10 goals in 13 matches for the national team. 

He scored one of the fastest international goals in history when he hit the back of the net after 12 seconds against Bhutan during the  South Asian Football Federation Cup. In the 1999 South Asian Games he netted a hat-trick against Pakistan. He retired playing for the Red and Golds in 2006. 

Vijayan was named AIFF's Player of the Year on three occassions- 1992, 1997, 2000. Whereas, he received the Arjuna award in 2003. His poaching skills were second to none during his playing days and it will be fitting to honour him with the Padma Shri award for his contribution to Indian football. 

David Silva will finish the season with Manchester City and hopefully receive a "proper farewell" later, manager Pep Guardiola said.

Silva was coming out of contract at the end of June, but the playmaker will see out the campaign with City, having confirmed this season would be his last at the Etihad Stadium.

And Guardiola hopes the 34-year-old, who has been at the Premier League club since 2010, can get a proper tribute at some stage, with games resuming behind closed doors.

"Yeah, David will stay until the end of season," he told reporters ahead of City's return to action with a clash against Arsenal on Wednesday.

"He will finish the last games without people, but hopefully he and the club can organise a proper farewell in front of people.

"Big clubs become incredible clubs when they make gestures to incredible players who have been here more than a decade. Like Vincent Kompany, Joe Hart, Yaya Toure … all these players, Pablo Zabaleta. Sorry for the names I forget, but they know who they are.

"The situation is what it is, no-one wants it, David especially. The club will make an agreement with David and do what they have to do."

Former Spain playmaker Silva joined City from Valencia in 2010 and over the subsequent decade established himself as one of the club's finest ever players.

The 34-year-old has won four Premier League titles, five EFL Cups and two FA Cups – the first of which in 2011 ended City's 35-year trophy drought.

Before the start of the current campaign, Silva stated 2019-20 would be his final season in England.

Although his deal will now be extended beyond June 30 under special provisions for clubs to try to finish the schedule despite the Covid-19 pandemic, he told AS that position has not altered.

"I will say one thing, I am moving forward. I am sorry, I have been here 10 years and I have fulfilled what I wanted," Silva said.

"The cycle closes here, but I will always keep this club in mind for everything I have lived. From the first moment people have treated me incredibly.

"Here they have a great respect for you, people give admiration towards you. Now my family and I need another challenge."

City have a game in hand but are 25 points adrift of Premier League leaders Liverpool.

Robert Lewandowski wants to see even more from Bayern Munich in the Champions League after sealing another Bundesliga title.

Lewandowski's first-half goal lifted Bayern to a 1-0 victory over Werder Bremen on Tuesday, securing an eighth straight league title despite Alphonso Davies' late red card.

Hansi Flick's men are on track to reach the Champions League quarter-finals after a 3-0 away win over Chelsea in the last-16 first leg, with the tournament set to be completed in August.

Lewandowski, who has scored 46 goals this season, hopes Bayern can reach another level in Europe's top club competition.

"We are German champions. Of course it is a bit complicated without celebrating fans. That certain extra, this passion is missing," the striker said, via the club's website.

"We are still very satisfied. It was not an easy season, we fought for the title for a long time. I hope that we can celebrate with the fans in the stadium soon.

"Werder played a little more defensively but well in the first half. In the second half we should have scored a goal, then it would have been a little easier.

"We showed that we are the best team in Germany and we want to play even better in the Champions League."

Lewandowski's team-mate Thomas Muller labelled the championship win as one of the most emotional moments in his career.

"We had to fight hard, but that describes a bit the situation of the last few weeks," he told ARD. "We stayed with it.

"The fighting spirit, regardless of the quality, is enormous.

"With this comeback that we started and the way we played in the second half of the season, I have rarely had so many emotional moments in Bundesliga matches, whether at Borussia Dortmund [a 1-0 win last month] or today.

"When I look at the boys, we achieved this common goal and it is one that we achieved with pride."

Bayern's celebrations were dampened slightly by restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic, but Muller was determined to enjoy the triumph.

"We will devote ourselves to the evening in compliance with the rules and let the emotions run wild for the time being," he said.

"During the coronavirus period, everyone has to have a single table, but we will not necessarily give up.

"You can still lift a glass two metres away with a little distance."

Bayern still have two Bundesliga games remaining this season, hosting Freiburg on Saturday before taking on Wolfsburg a week later.

Quique Setien praised Antoine Griezmann for doing a "commendable job" in Barcelona's 2-0 La Liga victory over Leganes on Tuesday.

A goal from Ansu Fati opened the scoring for Barca, with the young Spanish star shining throughout a strong performance.

Lionel Messi's second-half penalty, meanwhile, saw Barca seal the victory while restoring their five-point lead atop the table.

Griezmann, however, again largely struggled, continuing a run of concerning performances dating back to before the coronavirus-caused break.

The forward had an effort ruled out for offside and he has just eight goals in 28 La Liga games in his first season since making the move to Barcelona from Atletico Madrid.

In total, Griezmann has scored 14 goals across 38 matches, leaving him tied with the injury-plagued Luis Suarez for second in goals at the club behind Messi.

It's a drop-off from Griezmann's efforts with Atleti, with the forward having netted at least 20 goals in each of his five seasons with Diego Simeone's side.

But Setien praised the France international for his efforts, telling Movistar: "Griezmann is a boy who does a commendable job.

"He is an extremely important player."

Barcelona are yet to hit top form on the return from the coronavirus-enforced break, but managed to overcome La Liga's bottom side.

Setien said he expected a challenge unless his side found an early goal, with Fati's opener coming three minutes before half-time.

"I knew the game was going to be difficult. Unless you have the fortune of getting it right at the beginning, which opens the game, it will be complicated. It has been so," he said.

"We started very well, but then we lost some balls and gave them life. It happened to us in the cup match [in January]. They could have scored, then we have already controlled the last 20 minutes.

"They close very well and defend very well. It is not easy to find spaces."

Barcelona's busy run of fixtures continues with a trip to Sevilla on Friday, marking the club's third game back from the break.

After that, Messi, Griezmann and co. will jump right back into action four days later for a home match against Athletic Bilbao.

Hansi Flick did not shy away from a potential treble bid after Bayern Munich clinched the Bundesliga title on Tuesday.

Bayern have been in outstanding form since Flick's November appointment, winning 26 of their 29 matches in all competitions, and their first major silverware of the campaign was delivered with two matches to spare as Robert Lewandowski's first-half goal secured a decisive 1-0 win at Werder Bremen.

Bayern's season is far from over however, as they now turn their attention towards the DFB-Pokal final against Bayer Leverkusen, and then the Champions League.

The German champions hold a 3-0 first-leg lead over Chelsea in the last 16 of Europe's elite club competition, with their performance in that match and subsequent fixtures prompting talk of a stunning sweep of the prizes on offer.

"We have now taken the first step and achieved our first big goal by winning the champion," head coach Flick told Sky Sport. "But we still have the DFB-Pokal as our next goal. 

"Of course, there is also the Champions League. It is clear it cannot be planned. It will be difficult enough to come through the game against Chelsea first. Then we'll see what's going to happen. It will be difficult and we have to be fit."

Bayern were below their brilliant best against Werder but held on for the victory following Alphonso Davies' contentious red card with 11 minutes to go.

Flick added: "With the red card, Bremen were a bit braver. We had to defend and did it sensationally. That is why there is no criticism today.

"I am very, very happy and can only say it again and again: you never succeed alone. We are just one unit and I really enjoy being here."

Flick suggested the title-clinching triumph epitomised his team and their spirit.

"The football we have played in the last few months has been sensational," he said. "You can feel the passion, enthusiasm and fighting spirit, even today after the red card."

Lewandowski's sublime 43rd-minute finish proved enough to seal the points and the championship, his 31st goal of the league campaign wrapping up a 30th German title for Bayern.

Mainz forward Taiwo Awoniyi disclosed that he wanted to continue playing despite a nasty head collision with Augsburg’s Felix Uduokhai.

The 22-year-old was stretchered off in the 23rd minute with his neck in a brace before he was rushed to the hospital for further observation. Subsequently, he was replaced by German-Nigerian Karim Onisiwo.

Achim Beierlorzer’s men suffered a 1-0 home defeat to the Fuggerstadter thanks to Florian Niederlechner’s first minute strike and they now sit three places above the relegation zone after accruing 31 points from 31 games.

Now in a stable condition, the Nigeria youth international stated that being in an unconscious state, he still craved to continue with the encounter, while applauding the medics for reviving him as well as the fans for their goodwill messages.

“What I find interesting about this incident is that the doctors and paramedics told me that while they were attending to me at the stadium after the collision I was saying I want to continue playing,” he told Ojbsport.

“I am so thankful and grateful to God for being alive. It happened so fast and I didn’t even know what was going on, but in my mind all I was saying was I wanted to continue playing.

“I regained consciousness in the hospital and was told of what happened in the stadium. To be alive and okay is the greatest gift that anybody can wish for and I am so appreciative.

“I appreciate them for the work they did and I also thank the fans for the well wishes.”

The Liverpool loanee scored his first Mainz goal on May 17 in a 2-2 versus Cologne in a German top-flight clash after replacing Dong-Won Ji.

He is unlikely to feature when Mainz visit the Signal Iduna Park for Wednesday’s tie with Borussia Dortmund.

Awoniyi joined the Reds in 2015 but has since spent his time out on loan, with the club unable to secure a UK work permit for the player.

Spells at FSV Frankfurt, NEC Nijmegen and Gent failed to work out, but the Nigeria U23 star was impressive in two stints with Belgian outfit Mouscron.

The Premier League has finally returned! We are excited to announce to all sport lovers that DStv and GOtv will broadcast all the remaining games of the 2019-20 season, which kicks off on Wednesday, 17th June, live on SuperSport. 

Topflight football in England has been placed on a hiatus owing for over three months following the outbreak of the pandemic which silenced several activities across the globe.

Nevertheless, SuperSport viewers can therefore look forward to a feast of football as the English league resumes. 

Here are some of the top matches you can’t afford to miss. The pick of the midweek matches sees Arsenal head to the Etihad Stadium to face the defending champions, Manchester City on Wednesday at 8:15pm on DStv SuperSport 3.

The Gunners come into the clash placed ninth on the log, but at least looking to build momentum after a 1-0 win over London rivals West Ham United in their last clash before the league suspension.

Meanwhile, Manchester Cityare relatively safe in second spot but will be hoping to claim the three points and ensure that Liverpool does not secure the Premier League title in their first match upon resumption. 

Also, Wednesday marks a crucial clash for relegation-threatened Aston Villa who will host Sheffield United in Birmingham. The match will air live on SuperSport 3 & 10 on DStv at 6pm and GOtv SuperSport Select 2. 

Villa are placed second from bottom and risked a drop to the second tier had the season been cancelled, but this game in hand offers them the chance to rise as high as 16th spot. The first full round of Premier League matches begins on Friday 19th to Monday 23rd June.

The schedule for the weekend includes the match between Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester City, which will air live on DStv SuperSport 3 at 8:15pm. 

On Saturday, Brighton & Hove Albion and Arsenal battle it out on DStv SuperSport 3 & 10 and GOtv SuperSport Select 2 at 3pm. Rounding up the fixture is the Merseyside Derby between Everton and the champions-elect, Liverpool on Sunday.