Egypt, France airdrop aid to Gaza amid growing humanitarian crisis, global criticism of Israel    Supply minister discusses strengthening cooperation with ITFC    Egypt launches initiative with traders, manufacturers to reduce prices of essential goods    SCZONE chief discusses strengthening maritime, logistics cooperation with Panama    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Egypt reviews health insurance funding mechanism to ensure long-term sustainability    Gaza on verge of famine as war escalates, ceasefire talks stall    Gaza crisis, trade on agenda as Trump hosts Starmer in Scotland    Egyptian president follows up on initiatives to counter extremist thought    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    Sudan's ambassador to Egypt holds reconstruction talks on with Arab League    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Sisi calls for boosting oil & gas investment to ease import burden    EGX to close Thursday for July 23 Revolution holiday    Egypt welcomes 25-nation statement urging end to Gaza war    Sisi sends letter to Nigerian president affirming strategic ties    Egypt, Senegal sign pharma MoU to unify regulatory standards    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    58 days that exposed IMF's contradictions on Egypt    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Bundesliga: Top Five Talking Points from Matchday 33
Published in Daily News Egypt on 14 - 05 - 2017

RB Leipzig and Bayern have something in common, while Cologne and Leverkusen certainly don't. Plus Mainz's survival, Dortmund's final and what Hamburg can learn from Ingolstadt in this week's Bundesliga talking points.Bayern and Leipzig contrast but also have something in common
It was a thrilling afternoon of contrasts – German football's traditional elite against the energy drink-backed newcomer, the reigning champions against the second-placed challengers, the Bundesliga's oldest squad against the youngest. Yet the two goal-scorers who personify these contrasts the most also have a huge deal in common, and played decisive roles in Saturday's nine-goal thriller.
Aged only 21, RB Leipzig's Timo Werner became the first German striker to score over 20 Bundesliga goals at such a young age since Cologne's Dieter Müller in the 1974/75 season. Werner found the net twice and hit the post in an exceptional performance as the newly-promoted side put four past the champions – but even he was outshone by Arjen Robben.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Bayern's 33-year-old winger is showing no signs of slowing down in the twilight of an astonishing career. It was his shot which came back off the bar for Robert Lewandowski's 84th minute strike, before the Dutchman set off on a solo run, beating Bernado and Stefan Ilsanker to score a sensational 95th-minute winner.
Bayern Munich and RasenBallsport Leipzig may represent different faces of German football, but in Robben and Werner, and a commitment to offensive football, they also have a great deal in common.
Mainz's survival is a testament to unity
"Trust and strategy are more important than chaos and bad energy," said Mainz 05 coach Martin Schmidt after his side secured their Bundesliga status with a 4-2 comeback win over local rivals Eintracht Frankfurt.
The carnival city has come together in recent weeks, united in pursuit of a common goal, and that unity has been reflected in Schmidt and his team. A 1-0 win over Hertha Berlin set the tone before a battling 2-2 draw away at Bayern Munich. Avoiding defeat away to relegation rivals Hamburg was also key before Schmidt's side showed all their character to come from 0-2 down against Frankfurt.
Individual quality from the likes of Yoshinori Muto and winter signing Bojan has been lacking at times this season but they delivered when it mattered this weekend, the former Stoke City man delivering a lovely ball for the Japanese striker to head Mainz into a 3-2 lead.
"100% commitment to our goal" was the motto launched by hardcore supporters in April as they rallied behind their relegation-threatened team. Everybody involved with 1.FSV Mainz 05 has now been richly rewarded.
Cologne and Leverkusen heading in opposite directions
Cologne have earned admirers after completing a transition from a chaotic, financially-stricken yo-yo club to a well-run, professional outfit – and their performances on the pitch have had their fanatical supporters dreaming of Europe.
They could have taken a huge step in Leverkusen after Milos Jojic and local youngster Lukas Klünter fired them into a 2-0 lead, but sloppy defending allowed Leverkusen back into the game as the derby ended 2-2. Assuming Freiburg don't win in Munich, victory over Mainz next week will see Cologne return to European competition for the first time since 1997.
Despite the comeback, Bayer Leverkusen didn't expect to be celebrating Bundesliga survival this season. Their stated aim was to cement a place within Germany's top four but they are heading in the opposite direction. From Jonathan Tah and Benjamin Henrichs at the back to Julian Brandt and 17-year-old sensation Kai Havertz going forward, there is no shortage of talent in the Leverkusen squad, but successive coaches have failed to mould a group of individuals into a team.
The decision to appoint Tayfun Korkut in March was a strange one and the coach has only won one game out of ten (a 2-0 win away at doomed Darmstadt). CEO Michael Schade confirmed post-match that Korkut would indeed be leaving the club at the end of the season and the hunt for a new, long-term coach will begin. They could learn something from a quick glance down the Rhine.
Borussia Dortmund will miss Julian Weigl in Berlin
At the end of a tumultuous season which has seen Borussia Dortmund endure a terrorist attack and a partially-closed stadium, the club was the subject of more negative headlines this week after news of a rift between coach Thomas Tuchel and CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke became public.
Despite serious doubts over his future at the club, Tuchel appeared remarkably upbeat ahead of his team's match against Augsburg, laughing as he declared: "It'd be great if we all worked better together! Let's see what happens at the end of season. I'm not naïve, all I can do is train my team and do my best."
After having automatic Champions League qualification in their own hands after beating Hoffenheim last week, Dortmund were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by the relegation-threatened Bavarians. Tuchel's side also suffered a huge blow as Julian Weigl was stretchered off in tears with a broken ankle. The influential midfielder will now miss the final game of the season against Bremen and the cup final against Frankfurt.
Too little, too late for Ingolstadt but HSV should take heed
When Maik Walpurgis replaced Markus Kauczinski in November, Ingolstadt had yet to win a game. The Schanzer have since racked up eight Bundesliga victories, including three on the bounce against direct relegation rivals Mainz, Augsburg and Darmstadt last month. They also deserved more from games against Hoffenheim, Cologne and Dortmund but it was ultimately too little, too late.
Still, if Ingolstadt proved the value of victories in relegation "six-pointers" against your closest rivals, giving themselves a fighting chance of escaping the drop, it is a lesson which Hamburg have clearly failed to heed. In a favorable run-in including three other relegation candidates, HSV have won none of their last five, although Pierre-Michel Lasogga's late equalizer away at Schalke will have lightened the mood.
Markus Gisdol's side must now beat Wolfsburg next week if they are to avoid a third relegation play-off in four years. The stakes could hardly be higher but is time finally running out for the Bundesliga's only surviving founder member never to have been relegated?


Clic here to read the story from its source.