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BUY CLAUSE FAILS: NICOLAS JACKSON SET FOR EMBARRASSING CHELSEA RETURN

Nicolas Jackson's obligation to buy at Bayern is set to fail. He needs 40 starts, but AFCON makes it impossible. His agent vows he'll never return to Chelsea.

Buy Clause Fails: Nicolas Jackson Set for Embarrassing Chelsea Return
Jackson Loan Flop Proves Bayern Clause Unmet

Nicolas Jackson's move to Bayern Munich might not become permanent after all.

The 24-year-old forward joined the German champs from Chelsea this summer on loan. He pushed for the move after Chelsea tried to change their minds about letting him go.

Bayern paid a £14.2 million loan fee, with an obligation to buy for £56.2 million if he plays enough games. After Liam Delap's injury, Chelsea tried to cancel the deal, but Jackson refused to return. His agent and Bayern worked hard to smooth things over with Chelsea.

Now, it looks like he'll be back at Chelsea when the season ends because hitting that appearance target seems impossible.

Bayern president Uli Hoeness said Jackson needs to start 40 games. So far, he's only started five.

Bayern has at most 23 league games left and 12 Champions League matches. Even if he starts every game, Jackson will reach 40, but the Africa Cup of Nations is a problem.

Jackson has scored four goals for Vincent Kompany's team, but Senegal will probably call him up for the competition.

Senegal plays their first game on December 23 against Botswana, but Bayern's last game before the winter break is on December 21. Players have to be released before that date, so Jackson will miss at least one more Bayern game.

His club will be back on January 11. Senegal's last group game is December 30, but if they reach the final, they could play as late as January 18.

Also, Bayern Munich would need to play two extra Champions League matches to reach 40 starts for Jackson.

Despite losing to Arsenal, Vincent Kompany's team is third in the standings, with three favourable matches left in the league phase.

Jackson and his adviser, Diomansy Kamara, aren't worried about the appearance terms. As Daily Mail Sport reported before, they think that if Jackson scores enough goals, Bayern will find a way to sign him next summer.

Kamara said a return to Chelsea wasn't happening.

He said his relationship with (Enzo) Maresca isn't the best. Also, Chelsea allowed him to find the European level, so we're never going to bite the hand that feeds us.

He also mentioned that Jackson had a good relationship with Chelsea, but he scored 30 goals in two years, and the red cards complicated it, and Bayern has been a priority for a long time.

On Hoeness' comments, Kamara said it's a war of egos between the two clubs.

He added that it was a loan without an obligation to buy, but they pushed for it because Jackson didn't want to return to Chelsea. The clubs reached an agreement, and they discussed how many matches Jackson would have to play for an obligatory option.

Kamara stated Jackson's goal isn't to play 40 matches because if he scores 15 goals by December, they're not going to say, "Play 40 matches."

Jackson has four goals so far this season.

THE FIRST MEETING: WHY HAVE BAYERN MUNICH AND ATALANTA NEVER PLAYED EACH OTHER BEFORE?

Bayern Munich have drawn Atalanta in the Champions League last 16. Discover the dates, bracket details, and latest injury updates.

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Bayern Munich to face Atalanta; potential Real Madrid/Man City quarter-final awaits

The draw’s done, and Bayern Munich will go up against Atalanta in the Champions League round of 16. The first leg’s in Bergamo, the second's back home at the Allianz Arena in Munich. If Bayern gets past Atalanta, things only get tougher; they’ll have to face either Real Madrid or Manchester City next. Meanwhile, the other side of the bracket looks a bit kinder. If Arsenal beats Bayer Leverkusen, they just have to deal with either Bodo Glimt or Sporting Lisbon.

But that’s the reality now, and Vincent Kompany’s got no choice but to keep his squad locked in, even with the growing injury list. Hiroki Ito’s the latest casualty; he picked up a muscle problem during training on Thursday at Säbener Straße.

Manuel Neuer, Bayern’s captain, has been out too since he left at halftime during the 3-0 win over Werder Bremen earlier this month. He was supposed to be back for the big Bundesliga match against Borussia Dortmund, but his recovery hit a snag. So, Jonas Urbig steps up again in goal.

There’s a real chance Neuer returns in time for the Atalanta matches, maybe even for both legs. Talking about Atalanta, Neuer made it clear: you can’t take them lightly. They just knocked out Dortmund after being down 2-0 from the first leg. He said, “We’ve had time to watch the games now, including Atalanta against Dortmund. Dortmund’s our next league opponent, and now Atalanta’s our Champions League rival. We saw how good Atalanta are at home; they can move mountains on their day. Honestly, it’s probably good we play in Bergamo first; after that, we’ll know exactly what we’re up against. Facing an Italian team in the Champions League just feels bigger than playing a German one like Leverkusen.”

This is actually the first time Bayern and Atalanta will meet. Still, Bayern knows what Italian sides can do. Atalanta recently beat Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, VfB Stuttgart, and Eintracht Frankfurt in Europe. So, nobody’s underestimating them.

TITLE RACE OVER? BAYERN MUNICH OPEN 11-POINT LEAD AFTER 3-2 DER KLASSIKER WIN

Harry Kane’s double and a late Joshua Kimmich volley secured a 3-2 win for Bayern Munich over Dortmund in a wild Der Klassiker.

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Harry Kane scores twice as Bayern beat Dortmund 3-2 in Klassiker

Bayern Munich kept their foot on the gas in the Bundesliga title race with a wild 3–2 win over Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park on Saturday. That’s now an 11-point gap at the top; it's hard to see anyone catching them at this point.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing. Bayern had to come from behind, but Harry Kane did what he does best, scoring twice. Joshua Kimmich chipped in with a beauty, too. That’s five straight wins for Bayern, and honestly, the title looks all but theirs unless they completely implode.

Here’s how it all went down:

First half

The match kicked off at a frantic pace, but it took about 15 minutes before anyone threatened. Michael Olise was the first to test Dortmund, cutting in from the right and whipping a shot toward the bottom corner. Gregor Kobel got down well to keep it out.

Nico Schlotterbeck had a nervous moment after a reckless studs-up challenge on Josip Stanisic, earning himself a yellow card. Not long after, though, he made up for it. Schlotterbeck flicked a header from a free-kick into the bottom corner, putting Dortmund ahead and reminding everyone why so many top clubs are after him, Liverpool included.

Karim Adeyemi looked sharp, setting up Maxi Beier for a dangerous chance, but Jonas Urbig was quick off his line and shut it down.

Second half

Right after halftime, Serge Gnabry tried his luck from a distance but blasted over.

Adeyemi kept causing problems, slipping a clever ball to Felix Nmecha. Nmecha sliced Bayern open with a pass to Daniel Svensson, who looked certain to score, but Jonathan Tah threw himself in the way and blocked it.

Then came Harry Kane. Gnabry worked some magic in the box and squared it to Kane, who finished from close range; he doesn’t miss those.

Dortmund nearly answered right back, but Beier couldn’t quite poke the ball home in a scramble.

At 68 minutes, Schlotterbeck caught Stanišić in the box. It looked soft, but there was enough contact for the ref to point to the spot. Kane stepped up and buried it for his 30th Bundesliga goal and 45th in all comps for Bayern this season. Just ridiculous numbers.

The game kept swinging end to end. Bayern wanted to kill it off. Luis Díaz made space and let fly, but his shot missed the target.

Dortmund’s manager, Niko Kovac, went for broke with some attacking subs. It paid off; Daniel Svensson volleyed in the equaliser in the 82nd minute.

That should’ve rattled Bayern, and Dortmund had chances to take the lead, but Serhou Guirassy dragged his shot wide after a nice cross from Julian Brandt.

Then, just as the game looked set for a draw, Joshua Kimmich stepped up and smashed in a left-footed volley. The away end erupted. Bayern, once again, found a way.

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