Bundesliga
Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany wants nothing more than a good night's sleep after his team won the Bundesliga title last week with two matches left to play.
Bayern Leverkusen have signed Algeria international Ibrahim Maza from second-tier Hertha Berlin, with the talented 19-year-old forward penning a five-year deal, the Bundesliga club said on Thursday.
The Bavarians, eight points clear with four matches left, could seal their 34th league crown with a win over Mainz should second-placed Bayer Leverkusen fail to beat Augsburg.
Bayern want to show an instant reaction to Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final 2-1 home loss to Inter Milan, in order to go into next week's return leg with a shot of confidence, the coach said.
The timing of the Bundesliga Klassiker at league leaders Bayern Munich could not have been worse for struggling Borussia Dortmund, with their entire season seemingly resting on Saturday's result.
With 65 points from 27 games, Bayern hold a six-point lead over holders Bayer Leverkusen. They have won one of their last three Bundesliga matches, losing to lowly visitors VfL Bochum and drawing at Union Berlin before a 3-2 home win over St Pauli.
Reigning champions Bayer Leverkusen will put as much pressure as they can on league leaders Bayern Munich as they battle to keep their title hopes alive, coach Xabi Alonso said ahead of Friday's home game against strugglers VfL Bochum.
Bayern Munich rallied from a goal down to beat VfB Stuttgart 3-1 on Friday and consolidate their position at the top of the Bundesliga, with coach Vincent Kompany praising his side's resilience, saying it was "a real German top match".
Saturday's Bundesliga big game between leaders Bayern Munich and champions Bayer Leverkusen is not a title-deciding game even though the latter are eight points behind the Bavarians, Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso said on Friday.
Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich must deliver a winning performance at Freiburg on Saturday to bounce back instantly from Wednesday's Champions League loss at Feyenoord, coach Vincent Kompany said on Friday.
Borussia Dortmund slumped to a 2-0 loss at Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday for their third straight Bundesliga defeat that deepened the crisis at the Ruhr Valley club.
Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich are proving they are hungry for success again and are delivering a reaction to their disappointing previous season, coach Vincent Kompany said after his team's 5-0 demolition of Hoffenheim on Wednesday.
Bayer Leverkusen's 3-2 victory at Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga restart on Friday showed the development and discipline of the German champions, coach Xabi Alonso said.
Borussia Dortmund are desperate for a winning start to the new year when they host champions Bayer Leverkusen on Friday in the Bundesliga restart following the three-week winter break.
Leverkusen seemingly had little trouble cruising past Freiburg at home in the Bundesliga clash, with Patrik Schick scoring four times and Florian Wirtz adding another.
Bayern Munich stamped their authority over the Bundesliga in commanding style by hammering fourth-placed RB Leipzig 5-1 on Friday in a game that featured two goals in the opening two minutes for the first time in the league’s history.
Bayer Leverkusen will look to build on their recent good form and end their historic Bundesliga-winning year on a high when they host fifth-placed Freiburg on Saturday, manager Xabi Alonso said.
Bayern Munich will go into the mid-season break as Bundesliga "winter champions" but RB Leipzig will aim to put a dampener on any festive cheer when they face Vincent Kompany's side in their final game of the year on Friday.
The Bavarians, who take on Paris St Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday, are undefeated in the Bundesliga and on 29 points following their fifth consecutive league game without conceding a goal.
Bayer Leverkusen delivered their most complete performance in the Bundesliga this season even though they failed to score after missing a bagful of chances on Friday in their goalless draw against visitors VfB Stuttgart, coach Xabi Alonso said.
