Bayern Munich has opened an 18-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga after registering its eighth straight league victory with a 2-0 result against Mainz on Saturday, and it was Colombian attacker James Rodriguez again proving the side’s talisman with his second goal in three matches.
Nominated for the Bundesliga’s January Goal of the Month, we’d be surprised if this stunning free kick from Wolfsburg’s Max Arnold doesn’t win — although Bayer Leverkusen’s Leon Bailey scored a couple cracks as well. Watching this goal in real-time, your first instinct is to be absolutely convinced that it took a deflection.
Manchester City winger Leroy Sané is one of the most exciting young players in the world, with the pace, dribbling and finishing to terrify any defense. He could be a breakout star for Germany at the 2018 World Cup, assuming he doesn’t break his leg first. Joe Bennett’s Leroy Sané tackle looked like it might have caused serious damage to the German on Sunday and the German national team’s Twitter account stood up for its player.
I don’t know about you, but a goal like this always brings me back to Thierry Henry’s 2004 effort for Arsenal against Charlton Athletic. It’s the rudest of finishes, and it’s the mark of a true libertine.
Morning all. On this day in 2004 @ThierryHenry scored this goal against Charlton Athletic… http://t.co/z9i0VD7naohttps://t.co/JRJ5SQRpHu
Amidst an influx of impressive young talent coming to Major League Soccer from South America, the Bundesliga is raiding the U.S. for young players. So while American teenagers may not be having any luck breaking into lineups at home, they’re finding more opportunities in the league of the world champions. To steal a line from Taylor Twellman, what are we doing?
Legendary German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has elected to re-sign with Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire for an additional year on a Designated Player contract for the 2018 season. The Fire paid Schweinsteiger $5.4 million last year, but details have yet to be released concerning the new contract.
The fallout to the Jonathan Gonzalez switch from the U.S. to Mexico has been immense. We’ve covered it here and here. Simply put: The U.S. appears to be failing in its pursuit of identifying and recruiting Mexican-Americans to compete for the national team. But the possibility of a Timothy Tillman switch is proof U.S.