… It's tough to do better than last year, really tough, but it has to be our goal." Bayern have made two major signings this summer, bringing in Moroccan midfielder Ismael Saibari from PSV Eindhoven and German defender Nathaniel Brown from Eintracht Frankfurt. …
… One to watch: Albert Riera Eintracht Frankfurt coach Albert Riera took over just three months ago but Friday's match at Borussia Dortmund may be his last chance to save his job. …
… Fixtures (1330 GMT unless stated) Saturday Eintracht Frankfurt v Hamburg, Hoffenheim v Stuttgart, Bayern Munich v Heidenheim, Werder Bremen v Augsburg, Union Berlin v Cologne, Bayer Leverkusen v RB Leipzig (1630) Sunday St Pauli v Mainz, Borussia Moenchengladbach v Borussia Dortm …
Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany said he hopes new signings can help the club win the Champions League for the first time since 2020, after the club won the league and cup double last season but lost to Paris Saint-Germain 6-5 on aggregate in the semi-finals.
Omar Marmoush will lead Egypt against New Zealand in Vancouver, seeking Egypt's first World Cup victory in eight games and a chance to step out of Mohamed Salah's shadow. Egypt, a seven-time African continental champion, has never advanced past the group stage at the World Cup.
Jean-Philippe Mateta scored in the 51st minute as Crystal Palace defeated Rayo Vallecano 1-0 in the UEFA Conference League final in Leipzig, securing the club's first European trophy in their history. Coach Oliver Glasner departs after delivering a third trophy in two and a half years.
For the first time in Bundesliga history, Wolfsburg, Heidenheim and St Pauli are level on points heading into the final round of matches, with the 16th-place finisher entering a two-legged relegation play-off and the 17th and 18th automatically sent down.
Wolfsburg, fighting relegation from the Bundesliga after sitting in 16th place, host Bayern Munich on Saturday needing a win to close a six-point gap to safety. Bayern are coming off a Champions League elimination by Paris Saint-Germain.
RB Leipzig, in third place, can secure Champions League qualification with victory over sixth-placed Bayer Leverkusen this Saturday, having missed European competition entirely last season. Leipzig hold a five-point cushion over fourth-placed Stuttgart and Hoffenheim, with Bayern Munich having already clinched the title and Borussia Dortmund securing second-place qualification.
Paris Saint-Germain defeated Bayern Munich 5-4 in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday. PSG coach Luis Enrique said his team will likely need to score at least three goals in next week's return leg at the Allianz Arena to reach the final.