If it’s a Benjamin Pavard goal, you know it’s going to be a brilliant volley. The two are becoming synonymous.
The French defender who scored the best goal of the 2018 World Cup was back at it on Saturday, making perfect contact with a half-volley to fire Bayern Munich in front on the way to a 2-1 win over Union Berlin.
Alas, Bastian Schweinsteiger will not win a World Cup for the Chicago Fire.
That much was confirmed when the iconic German midfielder announced his retirement on Tuesday, calling to an end an 18-year professional career that included eight Bundesliga titles, a Champions League and the 2014 World Cup with Germany.
This is, without a doubt, my favorite time of the year. On Sunday, the FC Bayern Munich squad made its annual trip Oktoberfest, which is perhaps the greatest tradition in all of sports. I would play for Bayern Munich just for this reason. I would also drink five steins of Hofbräu Dunkel Weizen, miss practice the next day, get sent to train with the reserves and be the subject of an article on The18 entitled “Whatever Happened To Connor Fleming? A Case Of Too Much Dunkel,” but that’s besides the point.
We’ve all been there at one point or another.
You get all excited about a big game, join a bunch of like-minded fans and get ready for what you hope is an event to remember.
Then your team gets absolutely hammered and you respond by getting absolutely hammered.
Except, only Steve Nash has to go on TV afterward.
This man is simply unstoppable right now. Bayern Munich earned a 7-2 win thanks to a stunning Robert Lewandowski goal vs Spurs on Tuesday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Son Hueng-min and Joshua Kimmich traded early goals in the massive Group B clash, but it was the Polish striker who provided the difference maker just before halftime.
Lewandowski started and finished a wild play in the 45th minute, eventually punishing Tottenham for failing to clear the ball with a smashing effort from the edge of the 18.
You probably know by now, but the man in the above video is not LA Galaxy striker Zlatan Ibrahimović — it's Bayern Munich swingman Nihad Đedović. But Đedović is, without a doubt, Zlatan’s basketball-playing doppelgänger.
Đedović is one inch taller than Zlatan, but he’s got the same professional athlete physique, the same flowing lion’s mane turned man bun, the Zappa beard and the nose.
Uli Hoeneß is acting like a child, threatening to take his toys and go home if he doesn’t get his way: The Bayern Munich president is suggesting a Germany boycott if his players don’t receive preferential treatment.
The German national team has been embroiled in a goalkeeper debate of late. While Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer is the long-term No. 1 keeper, many believe Barcelona’s Marc-André ter Stegen deserves more opportunities.
A UEFA Executive Committee meeting in the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana has hashed out some future Champions League final locations, so we can now confirm sites for 2021, 2022 and 2023. This year’s final will be staged in Istanbul, and then Ol’ Big Ears will travel to Saint Petersburg, Munich and London over the course of the following three competitions.
We all knew it was coming.
After Norwich City upset Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City last week, there was never any doubt Watford would be on the end of a spanking at the Etihad on Saturday.
But this was all a bit much.
Bayern Munich was on its way to an easy victory over Red Star Belgrade to open Champions League Group B play at the Allianz Arena in Munich on Wednesday. Then it decided to pull out one extra little trick to add a bit of goal difference.
After controlling nearly three-quarters of possession and not allowing Red Star a single shot on goal, Thomas Müller scored in the 91st minute to give Bayern Munich a 3-0 win.
The Müller goal vs Red Star was totally unnecessary, but it was fun to watch.