Bundesliga

It All Goes Wrong When Manuel Neuer Goes In Half-Ass

For years now, Manuel Neuer has been established as the premier sweeper-keeper in the world. The German World Cup winner and Bayern Munich No. 1 essentially redefined the position. But even Neuer gets things wrong from time to time.

A stunning mistake from Manuel Neuer vs Paderborn nearly cost Bayern three points on Friday. The visitors twice pegged back the reigning champions before Robert Lewandowski saved Neuer’s blushes with an 88th-minute winner for a 3-2 victory at Allianz Arena.

This Alexandra Popp Free Kick Is A Nugget Of Joy With The Sauce To Match

While the men’s Champions League Round of 16 begins this week, the women’s competition doesn’t return until the end of March with the staging of the quarterfinals. The question — on the back of four straight titles — is can anyone disrupt Lyon’s recent hegemony of the competition?

One potential answer is Wolfsburg. 

The club won back-to-back European titles in 2013 and 2014, but in the five tournaments since, they’ve been bounced by Lyon four times (twice in the final, twice in the quarters). This season, the two clubs won’t possibly meet until the final. 

Alphonso Davies And Tyler Adams Star In Meeting Of Bundesliga’s Best Teams

The year is 2020. A top-of-the-table Bundesliga clash between Bayern Munich and Leipzig is being dictated by a fascinating duel between a 19-year-old Canadian and a 20-year-old American. Bayern Munich doesn’t win. 

How ‘bout that for a bit of science fiction?! But that’s actually what happened on Sunday during the sort of match that proves a 0-0 scoreline can still be a damn good time. 

Emre Can’s First Goal Back In Germany Was A Giant Middle Finger To Juventus

Welcome back to Germany, Emre Can.

In his first Bundesliga match with Borussia Dortmund, six years removed from his last appearance in the German league, Emre Can reminded his home country what he’s capable of on Saturday.

Playing against his former club Bayer Leverkusen, Can launched a glorious long-range curling effort to score one of the best strikes of 2020. However, the home side at BayArena scored two late goals to record a wild 4-3 win over Dortmund. 

The Next Paul Bunyan: Erling Haaland’s First Dortmund Highlights Are Superhuman

It’s obviously far too early to say that Kylian Mbappé vs. Erling Haaland is the next generation’s version of Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Lionel Messi — and you can absolutely make fun of me for even bringing it up — but these two kids are not normal. 

The 21-year-old Mbappé has already proven that he has no level. With a World Cup winner’s medal to his name and a Champions League strike rate of 19 goals in 30 appearances (to go along with 11 assists), there’s no doubt that Mbappé’s Ligue 1 domination would translate across all European leagues. He’s a phenomenon.

Florian Neuhaus Is Now The King Of The Midfield Lob Shot

There’s a phrase for basketball players with prodigious 3-point shooting ability that says they’re within range as soon as they enter the arena. We may need to coopt that expression for soccer after this insane Florian Neuhaus goal vs Mainz on Saturday.

Borussia Monchengladbach maintained its spot in the top three of the Bundesliga with a 3-1 win over Mainz. Alassane Pléa scored two goals after Robin Quaison opened the scoring for the visitors, but we only care about the Neuhaus goal scored in the 88th minute.

Håland Scores From Impossible Angle For Fifth Goal In 60 Minutes In Bundesliga

Erling Braut Håland is a force of nature. The teenager scored a remarkable hat trick in his 34-minute Borussia Dortmund debut against Augsburg on Saturday. Given 25 minutes against Cologne, the Norwegian striker scored two more, including a ridiculous effort from an absurd angle to cap BVB’s 5-1 victory on Friday.

Once Again, Bayern Munich Makes Life Miserable For Jürgen Klinsmann

Despite forgetting his appropriate coaching certificates in the United States and Mexico, Jürgen Klinsmann had his license renewed in time to be on the bench for Hertha Berlin’s massive clash against Bayern Munich at the Olympiastadion on Sunday. After watching Bayern run rampant in the second half of a 4-0 victory, the former USMNT manager probably wishes that the German Football Association had made a clerical example of him.

Another One Bites The Dust At Schalke

On Jan. 4, Bayern Munich announced the acquisition of Schalke goalkeeper Alexander Nubel for the beginning of next season. Nubel, named club captain by new manager David Wagner ahead of the 2019-20 campaign, will see out his contract with the Royal Blues and sign for Bayern on a free transfer. Nubel's exit represents the latest occurrence of a worrying trend for Schalke, which has seen several players depart for free over the years, leaving the club emptyhanded. 

19-Year-Old Wunderkind Håland Scores Hat Trick 23 Minutes Into Dortmund Debut

It’s not unusual for pundits who haven’t been in the game for ages to proclaim new signings will take time to adjust to a new league. Personally, I think that’s a bit of BS; talent will find a way to shine through regardless. 

Case in point: Erling Braut Håland.

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