Harry Kane was the star of the show with a hat-trick and two assists as Bayern Munich maintained their unbeaten run in the Bundesliga after hammering Bochum 7-0.
The hosts ran riot with the England captain scoring just minutes after Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting’s opener and goals from Matthijs de Ligt and Leroy Sane gave them a 4-0 lead at half-time.
Their dominance continued after the break as Kane scored from the spot and assisted Mathys Tel before earning his first hat-trick for Bayern with minutes to go.
A new one for the collection!
What a team performance
— Harry Kane (@HKane)
Kane’s excellent start with Bayern means he has now scored seven goals in five league matches as the defending Bundesliga champions sit top of the table.…
Jan Oblak believes Atletico Madrid have turned a corner after battling to a 3-1 victory at Real Betis on Sunday.
Atleti followed up victories over Osasuna and Celta Vigo in LaLiga with three more points at Estadio Benito Villamarin to move above their opponents into fourth place.
Two goals for in-form Joao Felix, either side of Cristian Tello s equaliser deep in first-half stoppage time, was followed up by a late strike by Thomas Lemar.
After winning three league games in a row for the first time this term, Oblak feels confident his side can hold off the chasing pack and secure a Champions League berth.
This is a different Atletico, we have to continue like this, Oblak told Movistar. Only in this way can we reach the Champions League.
There s …
Eyebrows were raised when media reports began circulating on Tuesday claiming Manchester United were taking no fewer than 14 teenagers to Kazakhstan for their penultimate Europa League group game against Astana.
United have already secured a place in the next phase of the competition, so Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was always likely to include a few extra youngsters in the travelling party.
Nevertheless, an 18-man selection that includes only four senior players is not what most would have expected, though it does provide a little extra intrigue ahead of a game that is by no means vital.
Solskjaer confirmed in his pre-match news conference on Wednesday that Ethan Laird, Dylan Levitt and Di Shon Bernard will all start the match.
Below, we have the lowdown on the …
A prominent supporters group has voiced strong opposition to reported plans to play Premier League fixtures abroad.
The idea of a 39th game was originally suggested in 2008, whereby an extra fixture would be added to the Premier League schedule and staged overseas, but the concept was shelved after fierce criticism.
However, reports in the British media have suggested that the notion of playing one of the regular 38 games outside of Britain is being considered by clubs.
The Football Supporters Federation (FSF) will oppose the new proposals, which are said to be at an early stage, and will consult with other groups on the issue.
As reported [by The Times, BBC, and others], the Premier League is exploring the possibility of holding competitive matches over…
Lorenzo Insigne pledged to return to Napoli after scoring on his final home appearance for the club, having agreed to join Toronto FC at the end of his contract next month.
The 30-year-old scored from the penalty spot as Napoli secured a top-three finish in Serie A with a 3-0 win over Genoa on Sunday, taking his tally to 122 goals in all competitions for the club he joined as a 15-year-old in 2006.
That goal made Insigne the second-highest goalscorer in Napoli s history in his own right, moving him clear of Marek Hamsik s tally of 121. Only team-mate Dries Mertens, with 148, has scored more goals for the club.
Insigne has scored nine penalties in Serie A this season, more than any other player in the top-five European leagues, and has hit double figures for both…
Watching the likes of Tottenham, West Ham and Wolves all pick up their own victories over the weekend, all eyes were firmly on Arsenal as they made the trip to Selhurst Park on Monday night.
However, missing out on a chance to break back into the top-four, Mikel Arteta s side were hit with a woeful 3-0 drumming against a Crystal Palace side who have continued to shine under a former Arsenal icon.
With Patrick Vieira guiding the Eagles into the top-half, Palace certainly laid down their own marker on home soil as goals from Jean-Philippe Mateta, Jordan Ayew and Wilfried Zaha wrapped up a largely routine victory in south London.
On a night that the Gunners will be eager to forget, we have taken a look at the main talking points following Arsenal s 3-0 drumming at …
Genoa have appointed Andrea Mandorlini after sacking Ivan Juric in the wake of a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Serie A s bottom team Pescara.
The Rossoblu have not won since beating Fiorentina 1-0 on December 15, losing seven and drawing two of their subsequent nine league games, as well as bowing out of the Coppa Italia.
That poor run of form has seen them slip to 16th in the table. While they remain 11 points clear of the relegation zone, a disastrous performance away to Pescara a team whose only previous victory this season was awarded to them on a technicality sealed the fate of former Genoa player Juric, who had replaced Gian Piero Gasperini in June last year.
Genoa Cricket and Football Club announces that it has entrusted the technical management of the f…
Alan Irvine will be hoping to keep West Brom clear of the Premier League relegation battle next season
Since West Brom narrowly avoided relegation last season there has been a sense that the Baggies could be in for another season of Premier League struggle next season.
The appointment of Alan Irvine as Pepe Mel’s replacement in the managerial hot seat has not helped.
Boss
The Scot’s managerial experience is unproven in the top-flight, having only managed Preston and Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship.
At Preston it was acknowledged that he had done a very decent job and the fans were unhappy with his dismissal in December 2009, after he had led North End to the play-offs, only to be beaten by Sheffield United in the semi-finals.
…
Bayern Munich have confirmed the resignation of club doctor Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt following their 3-1 UEFA Champions League defeat to Porto.
Muller-Wohlfahrt revealed on Thursday that he had stepped down from his position, citing a break in the bond of trust after feeling his medical team were blamed for injury-ravaged Bayern s quarter-final first-leg reverse at Estadio do Dragao.
And a statement on Bayern s official website read: FC Bayern Munich notes with regret the decision of chief medical officer Dr Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt [72] to resign his medical duties at the club.
Dr Muller-Wohlfahrt in particular, but also his team, have performed first-class work for the club and its players over the years. Our sincere thanks are due for this.
…
West Ham have appointed Mario Husillos as their new director of football.
The 59-year-old has agreed to join the Premier League club on a three-year deal to reunite with manager Manuel Pellegrini, having worked with the Chilean at Malaga.
I am very excited. West Ham United is a club with huge ambition. The challenge to help deliver that ambition is what really attracted me to the role, Husillos told the club s website.
I know the manager well and know he wants to deliver an exciting brand of attacking football. It will be my job to supply him with the tools to do just that.
Malaga famously reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League in the 2012-13 season under Pellegrini, with Husillos having overseen an expensive refit of the squad bankrolled …