Bayern seal top spot as eliminated Barca fail to salvage pride

27.10.2022 - 01:37 guardian.ng

Bayern Munich’s French defender Benjamin Pavard (L) fights for the ball with Barcelona’s Polish forward Robert Lewandowski during the UEFA Champions League 1st round day 5, Group C football match between FC Barcelona and FC Bayern Munich at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on October 26, 2022. (Photo by Pau BARRENA / AFP)Bayern Munich clinched top spot in Champions League Group C with a 3-0 win over eliminated Barcelona, after the Catalans’ fate had been decided before kick-off at Camp Nou on Wednesday.Inter Milan thrashed Viktoria Plzen 4-0 earlier on to guarantee progression to the last 16 and send Barca crashing out in the first round for a second successive season.The Catalans, who drop into the Europa League, had reached the knock-out rounds in the 17 prior editions of the tournament before consecutive early eliminations under coach Xavi Hernandez.The hosts had hoped to salvage some pride before a large and undeterred crowd of over 84,000 fans, but first-half goals from Sadio Mane and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting denied them even that, with Benjamin Pavard adding another late on.A few supporters left at half-time but the majority stayed to the end as their team played their last Champions League game at Camp Nou until at least 2024, with the team set to move to the city’s Olympic Stadium next season during renovations.Barca fans had already mourned their impending, and now confirmed, exit over the past fortnight and despite defeat, the match didn’t become the funeral procession it might threatened to.Xavi selected a similar line-up to the team which convincingly dismantled Athletic Bilbao 4-0 on Sunday, with Pedri operating on the left side but with freedom to float.A cut above Bayern, already through, were without

Barcelona as Bayern Munich Robert Lewandowski Xavi Hernandez Sadio Mane Benjamin Pavard Viktoria Plzen France Poland

Bayern's win ensured they will finish the midweek round of matches in top spot, although a first-half injury which forced Sadio Mane from the field took the shine off the victory.

Choupo-Moting double sends Bayern top of Bundesliga

BERLIN: Two goals in one first-half minute from striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting carried Bayern Munich to a narrow 3-2 victory away at Hertha Berlin in the Bundesliga on Saturday. Bayern, who led 3-0 at one point in the first half, endured a nervy final few minutes in the German capital, with French defender Dayot Upamecano appearing to have handballed in injury time as Hertha pushed for a late equalizer.

Coco Gauff eliminated at WTA Finals after losing to Daria Kasatkina of Russia

FORT WORTH, Texas: Tears gathered in Coco Gauff’s eyes as she sat on the WTA Finals sideline during a changeover Thursday night after giving away a lead in what would become a 7-6 (6), 6-3 round-robin loss to Daria Kasatkina that ended the 18-year-old American’s hopes of reaching the semifinals. Gauff, who is ranked No. 4, fell to 0-4 in her debut at the season-ending tournament for the best in women’s tennis — 0-2 in singles and 0-2 in doubles with Jessica Pegula. The Floridian was the youngest participant in both events at the WTA Finals since Anna Kournikova in 1999. Earlier Thursday, top-ranked Iga Swiatek beat Caroline Garcia 6-3, 6-2 by taking control with an eight-point run that launched a match-ending stretch in which she grabbed nine of 11 games. “Pushed me out of my comfort zone,” Garcia said. Swiatek has won all four sets she’s played so far while dropping a total of just 10 games. “It’s the last tournament of the season, so I have kind of nothing to lose. I don’t have to worry what I’m going to do next,” Swiatek said. “So, yeah, for sure, I’m giving it 100 percent, physically and mentally.” The results mean that Swiatek clinched a semifinal berth and that No. 6 Garcia will face No. 8 Kasatkina on Thursday for the other spot available in their group.

Bayern’s Hernandez back training in French World Cup boost

Bayern Munich’s players warm up as they attend a training session in Munich, southern Germany, on the eve of the UEFA Champions League Group C football match FC Bayern Munich v Inter Milan on October 31, 2022. (Photo by Christof STACHE / AFP)

Lewandowski snatches Barca win at Valencia

The Polish forward managed to divert Raphinha's cross home at the death to pull Barcelona level on 31 points with Real Madrid at the top of the table, before the champions host Girona on Sunday.

6 Bayern players score in Bundesliga rout of Mainz

MUNICH: Bayern Munich are back on top of the Bundesliga, for a day at least, after sweeping aside Mainz 6-2 with six different scorers to continue a run of big wins. Sadio Mané bagged one goal and set up two more as Bayern cruised to their sixth straight win in all competitions, with an impressive 25 goals scored in those games. Bayern needed just five minutes to take the lead as Mané set up Serge Gnabry for the opening goal.