German Clubs

DORTMUND, Germany - Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland scored twice in four minutes on Sunday, ending his seven-game goal drought in all competitions, to help his team to a 4-1 win over Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga and revive their hopes of a top four finish.

Fifth-placed Dortmund, on 49 points, cut the gap to Eintracht Frankfurt, in fourth, to four with five games left. The top four teams qualify for next season's Champions League.

WOLFSBURG, Germany — Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick said on Saturday he had told the team and club bosses that he wanted to leave the German champions at the end of the season despite his contract running until 2023.

The former Germany assistant coach, who initially took over on an interim basis in November 2019, led the club to a spectacular winning run that earned them six domestic and international titles in the following months, including the Champions League and the club World Cup crown.

Borussia Dortmund’s Edin Terzić and Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola promised not to sit on any advantage in Wednesday’s Champions League quarterfinal second leg at Signal Iduna Park, but both were alternately guilty of doing just that in a tumultuous match that was ultimately decided by two second-half goals from the Premier League champion-elect. 

But 40 minutes following Jude Bellingham’s marvelous opener for the home side, Borussia Dortmund genuinely believed. 

Not long ago, Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer appeared to be entering the twilight of his career.

After missing nearly all of the 2017-18 season due to a fractured foot, Neuer returned the next season and played the worst football of his career. The German allowed 5.5 more goals than expected, ranking 32nd out of 37 qualified Bundesliga keepers.

After a pulsating, nerve-wracking, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting defined Champions League quarterfinal second leg between PSG and Bayern Munich, it’s the French side that saunters on in the competition by virtue of away goals since Bayern’s 1-0 victory at the Parc des Princes left the aggregate scoreline at 3-3 on Tuesday. 

Barcelona have leapfrogged Spanish rivals Real Madrid to become the world's most valuable soccer club with a valuation of $4.76 billion, according to a list published by business magazine Forbes on Monday.

Real Madrid, who have topped the list five times in the past, edged Barcelona 2-1 in El Clásico on Saturday but find themselves second best off the pitch with a valuation of $4.75 billion.

BUCHAREST - Romanian assistant referee Octavian Sovre's decision to ask Borussia Dormund striker Erling Haaland to autograph his yellow and red cards raised some eyebrows but the charity that is set to benefit from a cash boost is not complaining.

"The red and yellow-signed cards which my kindergarten classmate Octavian donated to our SOS Autism Bihor center will be used for a noble cause," Simona Zlibut, who oversees a therapy center set up by parents, told Reuters.

Zlibut's own 21-year-old daughter is autistic and she says the center depends on donations.