KOMPANY’S MIND GAMES: IS MANUEL NEUER ACTUALLY FIT OR IS IT KLASSIKER PRE-MATCH BLUSTER?
Manuel Neuer injury update: Read about his "lightning speed" recovery and Vincent Kompany’s plans for Der Klassiker against Dortmund.
Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany sounded upbeat about Manuel Neuer’s chances of returning for Der Klassiker. Neuer, 39 and still the club’s rock in goal, bounced back from a calf injury much faster than anyone expected. Now, he’s in the mix to start Saturday against Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park, a huge lift for Bayern as they push to stay clear at the top.
Neuer picked up his injury two weeks ago in a 3-0 win over Werder Bremen. At the time, most people figured he’d miss the trip to Dortmund. But he’s moved through rehab at lightning speed. Kompany admitted in Friday’s press conference that Neuer caught the staff by surprise with how quickly he’s healed. They’ll make a final call after the last training session before heading to Dortmund.
Kompany didn’t hide his optimism. “Manu looks pretty good, actually. We thought he’d be out longer. He’s doing well and might even train today,” he said. Still, nothing’s guaranteed until that last fitness check. If Neuer doesn’t make it, Kompany said 22-year-old Jonas Urbig is ready to step in. “If it’s not enough for tomorrow, then we’ll go with Jonas Urbig,” he added, sounding confident that the young keeper can handle the pressure even if that means filling the gloves of a legend with 26 wins in 44 games against Dortmund.
This Klassiker comes with extra weight. Bayern are locked in at the top, and Dortmund, just dumped out of the Champions League 4-1 by Atalanta, are licking their wounds. Kompany isn’t reading too much into Dortmund’s midweek collapse, though. He knows a big loss can light a fire under a team. “It can do anything. Obviously, it’s a setback. It was a game where Dortmund could’ve gone through, too. Mentally, it always does something. What happens next can go either way,” Kompany told reporters, expecting a scrap on Saturday.
Instead of fixating on Dortmund’s struggles, Kompany focused on the mood in his own camp. He talked about the energy and aggression he’s seen in training, the kind of edge that makes a difference in tough away games. “We control how we approach this match. We’ve had a good week,” he said, giving his squad credit for their hunger. “There was this healthy aggression in training, which I love.” It’s that competitive fire, he believes, that sets title-winning teams apart, especially when they’re headed into the heart of enemy territory.
SCOUT’S REPORT: INSIDE THE SKILLS MAKING MURILLO A £70M TARGET FOR BAYERN MUNICH
Nottingham Forest transfer shock! Get the latest on Murillo's record fee and the Europa League last-16 push at the City Ground.
Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has put a huge price tag on Murillo, and it’s got everyone talking. Bayern Munich are circling, and if this deal goes through, it’ll smash Forest’s transfer record.
Tonight’s a big one at the City Ground. Forest face Fenerbahçe in the Europa League play-offs, and it feels surreal. Not long ago, nobody would’ve believed Forest would be back in Europe, hosting a club as big as Fenerbahçe in front of a packed, buzzing stadium.
Forest comes into the game flying after a 3-0 win away last week. Murillo, Igor Jesus, and Morgan Gibbs-White all scored, so they’ve got a strong lead. Unless something goes horribly wrong, Forest are heading for the last 16.
Sure, the Premier League table is still a bit grim. Forest are only two points clear of the relegation zone, but this European run has given the fans a lift that money just can’t buy. Nights like this one remind everyone what Forest can do when everything clicks.
Right in the middle of all this is Murillo. Week after week, he’s stood out. The 23-year-old Brazilian centre-back has brought calm, class, and a bit of flair to Forest’s defence. He’s comfortable on the ball, never seems rattled, and reads the game like someone much older. It’s no wonder clubs all over Europe have their eyes on him.
Chelsea and Liverpool have been tracking him for a while. Chelsea nearly made a move last summer after sending scouts to watch him over and over. Liverpool is in the mix too, especially with questions over their defence and Ibrahima Konate’s future up in the air. Murillo fits exactly what they need.
Manchester United, Arsenal, and Tottenham are all interested. Even Real Madrid and Barcelona have been watching him. But here’s the real twist: Bayern Munich, fresh off another Bundesliga title under Vincent Kompany, is pushing hard. They’re serious about bringing Murillo to Germany and think they can beat the Premier League giants to his signature.
Forest has Murillo under contract until 2029, and Marinakis wants between £60 and £70 million more than they got for Anthony Elanga when he left for Newcastle. Forest isn’t about to let him go on the cheap, but with so many heavyweights circling, it’s going to be tough to keep him at the City Ground much longer.
THE KANE ERA: HARRY KANE HITS 28 LEAGUE GOALS AFTER THIRD CONSECUTIVE BUNDESLIGA BRACE
Harry Kane can't stop scoring! Discover how his brace beat Frankfurt and the latest on Alphonso Davies' devastating injury blow.
Harry Kane just can’t stop scoring. He bagged another two goals, his third Bundesliga brace in a row, helping Bayern Munich squeeze past Eintracht Frankfurt 3-2 on Saturday. With this win, Bayern now sit nine points clear at the top, looking down at Borussia Dortmund. Of course, Dortmund have been on fire lately, winning six in a row, and they still had their game against RB Leipzig later that evening.
Aleksandar Pavlovic got things rolling for Bayern with a low drive to open the scoring. Kane then struck on both sides of halftime, but it wasn’t all smooth sailing. He gave away a penalty late on, which Jonathan Burkardt tucked away for Frankfurt with just 13 minutes left. Bayern’s captain, Joshua Kimmich, also had a rough moment; his poor pass handed Arnaud Kalimuendo a goal to pull Frankfurt even closer. Still, Bayern managed to hold their nerve and saw it out.
Jamal Musiala, finally back in the starting lineup after a long spell out, summed it up pretty well: “I was satisfied until the 75th minute,” he said. “We need to learn from that. We can’t have moments like that. Luckily we have the three points, but we need to stay 100 per cent focused and energised, no matter who we’re playing.”
Kane’s numbers this season are just ridiculous: 28 goals in 23 Bundesliga games, 43 in all competitions. He’s scored more than one goal in a match 13 times this season. The only major downside for Bayern? Alphonso Davies went off injured in the second half, clutching his ankle after a tackle. He looked pretty devastated as he left the pitch, not what Bayern wanted, especially after he just come back from a long ACL layoff.
Bayern started strong, with Pavlovic pouncing on a loose ball after a failed clearance and firing a shot that slipped through Frankfurt keeper Kaua Santos’s hands. Four minutes later, Kane doubled the lead, nodding in a corner from close range. He added his second midway through the second half, sliding the ball just inside the post with his left foot.
Burkardt’s penalty looked like nothing more than a consolation, but then Kimmich’s mistake set up Kalimuendo to make it 3-2 with just four minutes left. Bayern held on, though, keeping Frankfurt from finding a late equaliser.
Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen came crashing back to earth after their Champions League heroics. They lost 1-0 at Union Berlin, with Rani Khedira smashing in the winner after bullying Robert Andrich off the ball in the 28th minute. That loss leaves Leverkusen in sixth place, three points off the Champions League spots.
Hoffenheim, sitting third, had to settle for a 2-2 draw at Cologne, just their second time dropping points in eight matches. Cologne went ahead first with a stunning bicycle kick from Ragnar Ache, but Hoffenheim bounced back, with Ozan Kabak and Andrej Kramaric scoring on either side of halftime. Then teenage winger Said El Mala pulled Cologne level with a brilliant solo effort, and the home side dug in to earn a hard-fought point.
Augsburg had to come from behind twice at Wolfsburg, but they pulled off a dramatic 3-2 win when Elvis Rexhbecaj scored deep into stoppage time. That victory gives them a comfortable cushion nine points clear of the relegation play-off zone.
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