Former PE teacher will be available from start of Championship on April 8
ESPNcricinfo staff31-Mar-2021Warwickshire’s off-spinning allrounder Alex Thomson has been farmed out to Durham on a two-month loan.Thomson, who put a career as a PE teacher on hold to try to make it in county cricket, faced limited first-team opportunities in the Championship following Warwickshire’s signing of Danny Briggs from Sussex.He will return to Edgbaston at the end of May and, as well as contesting a place in the Vitality T20 Blast, he can be expected to step in during the Royal London Cup when Briggs joins a tranche of county professionals committed to the inaugural season in The Hundred.Warwickshire’s spin resources have also been strengthened by the arrival of left-arm wrist spinner Jake Lintott, who formerly had stints with Somerset and Hampshire, after Lintott made a positive impression for the county during last year’s T20 Blast campaign.Paul Farbrace, Director of Cricket at Warwickshire CCC, said: “We think a lot of Alex and this loan move represents the best opportunity for him to get first team cricket during this early part of the season, with Danny Briggs confirmed as our starting spinner.”This loan move gives Alex an excellent opportunity at Durham to play some competitive games and to continue his development at Durham after starting all five First Class fixtures last year. We will certainly be closely monitoring his progress.Thomson, a former Cardiff MCCU graduate, and product of Minor Counties side Staffordshire, made his red ball debut for Warwickshire in 2018 against Yorkshire at Headingley.Since then, he has made 14 First-Class appearances, claiming 20 wickets with a best of 6 for 138 against Hampshire. He has taken 43 wickets across all formats.Thomson will be available for Durham’s opening Championship match against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge on April 8.
With just a few weeks remaining of the transfer window, Newcastle United have reportedly submitted a bid to sign what would be their biggest signing of the summer for Eddie Howe.
Newcastle transfer news
The Magpies were on course to endure a fairly subdued summer before things came to life in the last two weeks, starting with the arrival of William Osula from Sheffield United. The forward arrived to end Newcastle's recent drought of signings and hands Howe further backup for Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson this season.
Welcoming Osula, Howe told Newcastle's official website: "William is a talented young forward with all the attributes to be an exciting player for Newcastle United.
"We have watched his development closely and we are delighted to have the opportunity to work with him in this next step in his career. I know our supporters will join me in giving William a very warm welcome to the club and the city."
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Not enough to necessarily steal the headlines, however, those at St James' Park are still in pursuit of what would be their marquee signing of the summer. According to Sky Sports' Keith Downie, Newcastle have submitted a second bid worth £50m to sign Marc Guehi, but have already seen that offer rejected with Crystal Palace valuing their defender at a hefty £65m this summer.
A second unsuccessful bid, Newcastle will hope to make it a third time lucky if they do decide to launch another attempt to sign the England international in a deal that would see them finally spend big again.
"Great" Guehi has earned big move
Some may have been fairly apprehensive about the prospect of Guehi stepping into England's starting side at Euro 2024 this summer, but by the end of the tournament, he was arguably the Three Lions' standout player. Now, after showing the rest of Europe what Crystal Palace are already aware of, he deserves to seal a big move before the end of the window, with Newcastle seemingly the option.
John Stones was one of many to praise the Palace star at the Euros, telling BBC Radio Five Live when asked about his centre-back partner: "So good, so good. For him to come in, not having felt the feelings around tournament football before or these kind of games, all kinds of different emotions that come with it that you’ve never experienced before. He’s handled [it] so well, his performances have been great.
"I said to him when we’re in this, or whoever’s playing or whoever I’m playing with, I’m your right arm, you are my left. We do this together. I’ve got your back and he’s bought into that so well."
Both forwards netted twice at Old Trafford to show they might still have futures with the Red Devils
Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee showed they have plenty to offer new Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim as they each scored twice each in a 4-0 win against Everton on Sunday. The forwards have been under fire for worrying performances of late, but Zirkzee's composed finishes and Rashford's apparent revitalisation will have delighted Amorim as he picked up his first Premier League win.
The Portuguese coach will have some complaints about his team's slow and at times worrying start, as Everton managed to poke through their defence, only to fall apart in the final third. The game needed a lucky break to open it up, and it came in the 34th minute when Bruno Fernandes' corner was met by Rashford on the edge of the box, whose shot was deflected in by Jarrad Branthwaite.
Red Devils transfer target Branthwaite had a fantastic start to the game, but his audition in front of Amorim quickly turned into a disaster when Amad Diallo caught him in possession and found Fernandes to square for Zirkzee to fire in his second goal of the season.
United had the game dead and buried 22 seconds into the second half. Everton's kick-off made it all the way back to Jordan Pickford, whose punt up field was won by United and a quick burst forward ended with Amad feeding Rashford through to poke it into the net. The England international has now scored in both of Amorim's league matches in charge and struck twice in the same Premier League match for the first time since February 2023.
The home side didn't stop there, though. Amad was crucial once again in driving into Everton's half, and it was he who won the ball back and made his way into the box before squaring for a simple Zirkzee finish.
GOAL rates United's players from Old Trafford…
Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defence
Andre Onana (6/10):
Reacted well when he needed to with a couple of strong saves to preserve a clean sheet.
Noussair Mazraoui (6/10):
Put in a good defensive display and used the ball well.
Matthijs de Ligt (7/10):
Made some crucial stops and his distribution was sound.
Lisandro Martinez (7/10):
His quick reactions cut out a few promising Everton attacks in a solid display. Did pick up a costly booking that rules him out Wednesday's trip to Arsenal.
AdvertisementAFPMidfield
Amad Diallo (8/10):
A lively threat who was key to United's pressing game, and timed his passes perfectly for both assists.
Kobbie Mainoo (7/10):
Sensible with his passes and looked comfortable in midfield in his first game since early-October. Also suspended for the Arsenal game after being yellow carded.
Casemiro (6/10):
Made some important tackles but gave away a lot of space and his passing was poor.
Diogo Dalot (6/10):
Got up and down the left side, but still had some shaky moments.
Getty Images SportAttack
Bruno Fernandes (8/10):
Smart passes and dangerous deliveries saw him nab two assists.
Joshua Zirkzee (7/10):
Just couldn't keep hold of the ball in open play, but got into the right place to score much-needed goals.
Marcus Rashford (8/10):
Was challenged to "want it" by Amorim in midweek and showed that he's fired up. Lucky with his first goal but the run and finish for his second were class.
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Getty Images SportSubs & Manager
Harry Maguire (6/10):
Still allowed Everton to get through after replacing De Ligt, but not a bad 30 minutes.
Luke Shaw (6/10):
A decent run out as he continues to work his way back to full fitness.
Alejandro Garnacho (6/10):
Managed one shot but it was blocked, fine on the ball overall.
Manuel Ugarte (6/10):
Good with his passing but didn't see a lot of the ball.
Mason Mount (N/A):
Only on for the last 10 minutes.
Ruben Amorim (8/10):
Will be pleased with the improvement from his team and the way certain players flourished as he made it two wins from his first three games.
Aston Villa kick off their 2024/25 campaign on Saturday afternoon, as they travel to the London Stadium and face West Ham United.
It will be a tough first game of the season against a Hammers side, now led by Julen Lopetegui, who have strengthened well during the summer transfer window.
However, Unai Emery’s side have also added great depth to their squad, having signed eight players so far over the summer. They are hoping to build on last term, an impressive campaign which saw them finish fourth in the Premier League and qualify for the Champions League after an absence that spanned several decades.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery
Their marquee signing over the past few months has been Belgium international midfielder Amadou Onana.
The 22-year-old joined the Villans for £50m from Everton, an impressive piece of business from both clubs. The Midlands side brought in a great player to strengthen in midfield, and the Toffees made a good profit on one of their best players.
With Villa looking to maintain their impressive levels and push for top four again, it makes sense that they have made so many moves in the transfer window. However, they might not be done there just yet, and have recently been linked with another player who was Premier League bound until just days ago.
Villa target La Liga striker
The player in question here is Atletico Madrid and Spain youth international striker Samu Omorodion. The 20-year-old attacker, who recently won the gold medal at the Olympics with Spain, came very close to a move to Chelsea before a deal fell through.
However, he still seems destined to leave the Wanda Metropolitano this summer, and according to journalist Ben Jacobs, has been offered to several clubs as the transfer window comes to a close, with just over two weeks remaining.
Indeed, one of those clubs is Villa, who have been offered the services of Omorodion along with fellow Premier League side Bournemouth, and invincible German champions Bayer Leverkusen. Perhaps it is just a coincidence, but should the youngster join any of these clubs, he will play under the tutelage of a Spanish manager.
Jacobs reports that, at this stage, there has been no offer from Villa Park, meaning Emery could lose out on the signing to one of his countrymen, Andoni Iraola and Xabi Alonso. However, should Villa pursue a move, he could cost around £34.5m, the price Chelsea had agreed with Atleti, as per Sky Sports.
Why Omorodion would be a good signing
Last season was a successful campaign for the 20-year-old striker, who was on loan at Deportive Alaves from Atleti. In his first La Liga season, Omorodion played 35 times, scoring nine goals and grabbing one assist. He also got himself on the scoresheet at the Olympics, scoring in a 2-1 defeat to Egypt.
The Atleti striker is a “beast”, as football analyst Antonio Mango described him. He has a tall frame, standing at 6 foot 3, which he uses to his advantage well. The 20-year-old is physical, holds the ball up superbly well, and is deadly in the box.
Samu Omorodion for Alaves
Omorodion has a classic striker instinct in the penalty area, able to score from tight angles and likes to shoot across the goalkeeper’s body. It is unsurprising that, given his height, the youngster is also deadly in the air, making him a very dangerous player when crosses come into the box.
That is certainly shown by the impressive goal in the clip below, where he gets on the end of a cross slightly behind him and uses sheer power from a standing start thanks to a powerful base, which was used to help guide the ball home.
Indeed, this is reflected in his FBref stats from the 2023/24 campaign. For example, last term, he won 2.75 of his aerial duels per 90 minutes, ranking him in the top 30% of strikers in La Liga. He takes plenty of shots each game, too, showing that he gets into good positions. He averaged 3.02 shots, which ranked him in the top 18% of La Liga centre-forwards.
Should Villa get a deal over the line for the Olympic gold medalist, he could form a superb partnership with Ollie Watkins, one of the Premier League’s outstanding players from the 2023/24 campaign.
The England international, who scored the winner for his nation in the Euro 2024 semi-final against the Netherlands, scored 32 goals last term, one of only three players to register 30 or more top-flight goal involvements, as per FBref, along with Cole Palmer who got 33, and Erling Haaland who matched Watkins’ 32.
Harry Kane
32
44
Kylian Mbappe
29
34
Cole Palmer
33
33
Artem Dovbyk
36
32
Erling Haaland
31
32
Ollie Watkins
37
32
Serhou Guirassy
28
31
Lois Openda
34
31
The 28-year-old centre-forward scored 19 goals and registered 13 assists. The latter tally helped him to win the Premier League’s playmaker award, fending off the likes of Kevin De Bruyne to claim the illustrious prize.
He could form a deadly partnership with Villa’s potential new Spanish striker, therefore. Given Omorodion’s hold-up ability, and the England international’s tendency to make runs in behind, that could be profitable for the Villans.
This was pointed out by Sky Sports analyst Adam Bate, who explained how, last season, Watkins was “testing the offside trap and stretching the opposition defence” much more often.
The Atleti striker could hold the ball up as the Villa number 11 constantly makes runs in behind, eventually being found by a searching pass from the Spaniard or a teammate to whom he has laid the ball off.
Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins
The Spain U21 international could also profit off Watkins’ incredible assist tally last term. Given his ability to make runs in the penalty box and pick up unpredictable positions, he may be able to get on the end of a few passes from the England international and find the back of the net.
For a fee in the region of £34.5m, signing Omorodion could be superb business from the Villans this summer. Emery has been hunting for a new centre-forward to compliment Watkins, but he may have to look no further should he decide to recruit the Olympic gold medalist this summer.
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The team had an ‘honest’ debrief after being skittled for 32 but a spot in the Shield final remains in their hands
Andrew McGlashan02-Apr-2021New South Wales are determined to have left their 32 all out in Tasmania. The defending Sheffield Shield champions were bundled out for their lowest first-class score in the previous round to leave them in a three-way race to reach the final later this month.However, at the start of the final round which begins on Saturday things are still in their own hands when they face Queensland in Wollongong. The visitors were denied the chance to put some daylight between them when their previous game against South Australia in Brisbane was abandoned without a ball bowled.”We were certainly quite honest with each other after the match which I thought was fantastic,” Kurtis Patterson, who will captain New South Wales in place of Peter Nevill, said. “I’ve been in some dressing rooms before where you probably don’t quite address those sorts of innings and you try and move on a little too quickly.”I thought the way Phil Jaques and Pete Nevill handled it post-game was really professional and really honest from the playing group. Once we got on that flight back from Hobart we know there was a big job to do so there hasn’t been any more reflection on it.Related
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“Think it’s quite simple, it’s about trying to absorb that pressure for longer periods of time and that’s what we didn’t do. How that looks for every individual is different but we have to find a way to absorb that pressure early. Queensland is a very good bowling attack so it will present a nice opportunity for us.”There have, though, been ramifications from the record low which was the second time this season New South Wales had been skittled by Tasmania having been bowled out for 64 during the first part of the campaign – although on that occasion they responded to secure a remarkable victory.Nick Larkin and Daniel Solway have been dropped which could open the way for a first-class debut for Lachlan Hearne, while young wicketkeepers Matthew Gilkes and Baxter Holt are both in the squad. Queensland’s attack with include Michael Neser and the fit-again legspinner Mitchell Swepson.The home side will also be without their two leading run-scorers with Moises Henriques at the IPL and Sean Abbott ruled out with the split webbing he picked up against Tasmania although they still have an impressive bowling line-up including Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon.Patterson, who has captained New South Wales once before in a Shield match, urged his younger players to savour the occasion.”I know from experience that sometimes it comes from within that you need to be someone difference or do something else because you are playing at a higher level, but it will be a pretty simple message from me that we’ve picked you all for a reason and we don’t need any more from you for this game. On top of that I really just want everyone to enjoy themselves…stay calm, be yourself and enjoy the opportunity.”
GOAL counts down the finest footballers to have lined out for the Catalan club since 2000 – based on talent, trophies, longevity and impact
Few clubs have experienced as many glorious highs and devastating lows as Barcelona since the turn of the century. The Catalans have enjoyed an era of unprecedented success, with four of their five European Cup wins coming between 2006 and 2015 thanks primarily to a group of exceptional academy graduates led by the greatest player of all time, Lionel Messi.
However, the Argentine's departure in 2021 came during one of the darkest periods in the club's history, with Messi's exit made a necessity because of gross mismanagement and reckless spending that left the Blaugrana on the verge of bankruptcy.
So, to say the past 25 years have been eventful would be a colossal understatement, particularly as Barca have always managed to put outstanding talents on the field no matter what was going on off it – as underlined by the strength of the current squad.
But who are the best players to have played for the Catalans since 2000? GOAL counts down its top 25 below and, as always, we'd encourage you let us know your thoughts – and gripes – in the comments section!
Getty25Eric Abidal
One of the most inspirational figures in Barcelona's history, Eric Abidal played all 90 minutes of the 2011 Champions League final just three months after undergoing surgery to remove a tumour in his liver. In a touching gesture, captain Carles Puyol allowed the Frenchman to be the first to lift the trophy at Wembley, with Abidal admitting, "It was an incredible moment."
Abidal, who was a versatile, intelligent and imposing defender, was subsequently forced to undergo a liver transplant, but showed even more of the remarkable resolve he had demonstrated previously by returning to the field shortly before the expiration of his Barca contract in 2013. "Abidal has been with us for six years and he is a very special person," then-president Sandro Rosell said. "He has won our hearts."
AdvertisementGetty24Ivan Rakitic
Ivan Rakitic was treated shamefully during his final year at Barcelona, who tried desperately to force him out of the club. "I'm not a sack of potatoes who you can do anything with,” he fumed in April 2020. The Blaugrana's desire to remove him from the wage bill was understandable, given their financial situation and the arrival of Frenkie de Jong, but Rakitic deserved far better treatment and much more respect.
The all-action midfielder featured in at least 50 games for five of his six seasons at Camp Nou and was a key member of Luis Enrique's treble-winning team, even scoring the opener in the Champions League final win over Juventus. Jose Mourinho had a point, then, when labelled him "one of the most underrated players in the world" in 2019.
Getty Images23Robert Lewandowski
Robert Lewandowski is only approaching the midway point of his third year at Barcelona and it's fair to say that he was nowhere near his very best during the 2023-24 campaign. The striker still netted 26 times during his 'off' season, though, and he now has 79 goals in just 113 games.
Lewandowski still has some way to go to become a true Barca legend, but he's already got one Pichichi award for firing the Catalans to the Spanish title in 2022-23, and he's now perfectly placed to repeat the feat, after scoring 15 goals in 14 Liga games to start the current campaign.
"It's amazing to have such a period where you're always scoring," Blaugrana boss Hansi Flick said, "but, for me, he's the best there is in front of goal."
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Getty22Patrick Kluivert
Patrick Kluivert helped Barcelona win La Liga in his first season after joining from AC Milan in the summer of 1998, but a painful period of underachievement followed for the Catalan club – despite the best efforts of the Dutch striker.
As a player schooled in the Ajax academy, Kluivert was a technically excellent centre-forward who was also blessed with height and strength, which he used to both score goals, and create them. The Netherlands international also formed a productive partnership with Rivaldo during his time at Camp Nou and hit 81 goals between the start of the 2000-01 season and his departure four years later.
Glasgow Rangers delivered yet another subpar performance, this time in the League Cup, but the Ibrox side secured a victory which took them through to the quarter-finals.
In front of a sparse crowd at Hampden, St Johnstone more than matched the Light Blues throughout the first half, as the ‘home’ side failed to impose themselves during the tie.
Cyriel Dessers came on for Danilo at half-time, and he opened the scoring not long after joining the game, albeit in controversial circumstances.
Cyriel Dessers
The Nigerian had the ball in the net, but the whistle had originally blown for an apparent foul he committed in the buildup. After a VAR review, the referee awarded the goal.
Ross McCausland scored a second late on with a nice finish as the club secured a spot in the last eight.
Several players underperformed yet again, however, with captain James Tavernier continuing to look uninspired throughout the match.
How James Tavernier has performed this season
The Englishman hasn’t quite enjoyed the start to 2024/25 as he would have anticipated, registering just one assist in five matches so far.
Following a campaign which saw the defender score 24 times in all competitions, Tavernier would have looked to have bagged a few times at least at this stage of the season.
Goals
0
Assists
1
Key passes per game
2.5
Big chances created
1
Total duels won per game
4
Possession lost per game
25
Via Sofascore
Is this a sign of things to come? Tavernier failed to offer anything positive against the Saints on Saturday evening either, delivering a few crosses into the box without any success.
Journalist Michael McEwan criticised the right-back for his display, saying: “James Tavernier really does have the look of a guy who's going through the motions. Absolutely not a leader.”
Tavernier was given a match rating of just 6/10 by Glasgow World for his performance against the Saints at Hampden.
The £30k-per-week captain saw his bottle collapse towards the end of last term as the Light Blues lost both the Premiership title and Scottish Cup final against Celtic, without putting up much of a fight.
As a result, is it time for Philippe Clement to finally drop the player?
The candidates to replace James Tavernier
The most obvious player in the squad at present is Dujon Sterling. Last season, the former Chelsea youngster showcased his positional flexibility by playing across six positions, including stints at right-back, right-wing and the centre of the midfield for Clement.
While Sterling may not provide as much of an attacking threat in front of goal, his defensive abilities would more than make up for this.
Rangers midfielder Dujon Sterling.
Last season, the 24-year-old won 50% of his ground duels while averaging one tackle per game, despite averaging only 53 minutes each outing.
Another option could be unleashing Adam Devine, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Motherwell.
Again, he isn’t much of a force going forward, but considering he won 70% of his ground duels while losing possession just 5.4 times per game for the Steelmen, suggests he should perhaps be given a chance under Clement.
Rangers defender Adam Devine.
Tavernier has built up a reputation during his time at Ibrox, but this season could see that being unravelled if these poor displays become a regular occurrence.
Rangers line up swoop for Yilmaz replacement with 47 PL appearances
The Light Blues might need cover for the left-back area…
Manchester United have suffered a major setback in their pursuit of Juventus wonderkid Kenan Yildiz, according to a report.
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Man Utd are scouting YildizAttacking midfielder at the top of their wishlistHowever, the player is reluctant to leave JuventusFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Sky Germany journalist revealed that United are closely monitoring Yildiz’s development at Juventus. The 19-year-old forward has scored four goals in 19 appearances this season, making him one of the standout young talents in Europe. He features at the top of United’s shortlist for a potential attacking midfield signing in the summer transfer window, showcasing the Red Devils’ intention to bolster their creative options.
AdvertisementGOALTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Despite this interest, Yildiz reportedly has no plans to depart Juventus. The player is content to stay at the club, happens to enjoy immense support from fans, and is fully committed to continuing his journey with the Turin-based side. His current contract ties him to Juventus until 2029, further solidifying his future with the Bianconeri.
DID YOU KNOW?
Born in Germany, Yildiz began his footballing journey with Regensburg before being scouted and signed by Bayern Munich at the tender age of seven. He progressed through Bayern’s youth system but made a surprising move to Juventus in the summer of 2022 as a free agent.
His rapid progression through the club’s youth system saw him integrated into the senior squad and entrusted with the coveted Number 10 jersey – a testament to the club’s faith in his potential. Yildiz idolises Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero and has even emulated the 2006 World Cup winner's signature tongue-out celebration, endearing himself further to Juventus supporters. With his recent strike against PSV Eindhoven, he became the youngest Juventus player to score a Champions League goal at the age of 19 years and 136 days, breaking Del Piero's record (20 years and 308 days).
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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR YILDIZ?
It seems United will have to look elsewhere in their pursuit of attacking reinforcements, with Yildiz remaining focused on his development at Juventus. He is expected to feature in Juventus’ upcoming Serie A clash against Bologna on Saturday, as he continues to impress under Thiago Motta’s management.
Her multiple positions attracted scrutiny under PCB’s new ethics code
ESPNcricinfo staff19-May-2021Urooj Mumtaz has left her position as PCB’s head of women’s cricket, with the board set to begin their search for a replacement. Mumtaz had not been engaged in the role full-time, with the former cricketer holding multiple positions, including that of the chief selector of the women’s team apart from having a place in PCB’s cricket committee. She was also a commentator at the Pakistan Super League.The multiple roles that Mumtaz held began to come under increasing scrutiny, especially with the board’s new ethics code looking to clamp down on any potential conflicts of interest. The code had effectively ended Misbah-ul-Haq’s triple role as head coach and chief selector of the men’s side as well as coach of Islamabad United, while Wasim Akram’s dual role as member of the PCB cricket committee as well as president of the Karachi Kings franchise also drew to a close.Mumtaz, who held the role since September 2019, said her time as interim head coach had been “an absolute pleasure”.”Being a former player and captain of the national women’s team, I am extremely passionate about the women’s game and have served the role with utmost dedication with an aim to positively impact and drive a change in women’s cricket in the country,” she was quoted as saying in a PCB media release.”Overall, Pakistan women’s cricket has made significant strides in the right direction and I look forward to work in unison with the upcoming head of women’s cricket, in my role as a chief selector, to further enhance and uplift the sport. I will continue to inspire and encourage more sport participation, whereby increasing our player pool and providing opportunities at the international and domestic level to deserving cricketers.”The PCB said in a statement her replacement would undergo a robust recruitment process, but no date was set for when a replacement would be announced.
Bayern Munich were handed their first Bundesliga defeat under Vincent Kompany, losing on the road to Mainz.
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Bayern Munich suffer first Bundesliga loss of seasonBeaten 2-1 by impressive Mainz Bavarians toothless without Kane in attackFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱TELL ME MORE
Bayern have been prolific in their last two outings, scoring nine goals and conceding three. But they looked like they missed star striker Harry Kane today. The visitors started the match as the stronger side, going about their business as usual and dominating the ball. Michael Olise proved to be the main conductor for Bayern's attacks, striking the post on one occasion and narrowly missing the target on another.
But Vincent Kompany's men were sucker-punched soon before half-time. Having fought back into the contest and been the better side for much of the first half, Mainz grabbed their opener through Jae-Sung Lee. After failing to deal with a counter attack from the hosts, Armindo Sieb delivered a cross that scuffed off Olise and into the path of Lee, who calmly slotted the ball past Manuel Neuer.
Things did not get much better for them in the second half. Despite yet more possession, Bayern struggled to break down Mainz, and their worst fears were confirmed when Lee bagged his second half of the game. It was Sieb with the assist again who got in behind the defence before cutting back to the 32-year-old. With his back to goal, Lee turned and fired towards the net, seeing his shot deflected up and over Neuer in the process.
As they pushed on in the latter stages of the match, Bayern grabbed a late consolation through Leroy Sane, who mustered his side's only shot on target. They boasted nearly 70% possession but were toothless in attack without their No.9. It was a humbling first Bundesliga defeat for Kompany who will likely have some harsh words for his players back in the dressing room.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportDID YOU KNOW?
The defeat marks Bayern's first in the Bundesliga since May, when they lost 4-2 to Hoffenheim on the final day of the 2023-24 season.
THE MVP
Without a doubt, the plaudits will go to Lee. If Mainz were to get any points against Bayern, they were going to need their stars to be clinical in front of goal. Lee was certainly that. His brace came from his only two shots on goal, which were also half of the efforts Mainz had on target across the entire game.
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AFPTHE BIG LOSER
Vincent Kompany finally met his match in the German top flight and it was another Bayern performance that raised some serious questions. Die Roten mustered just a single shot on target across the 90 minutes, highlighting the significance of Kane's absence. If Bayern are to win back their Bundesliga crown, Kompany will need to find a way of adapting without the England captain if he picks up any more injuries.