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Bayern book Champions League knock-out spot with Lyon win

Goals by Miroslav Klose and Franck Ribery sealed Bayern Munich's 3-2 win at Lyon on Wednesday night which gave the German giants their best-ever start to a Champions League campaign.

Bayern book Champions League knock-out spot with Lyon win
Photo: DPA

Two strikes from forward Klose and a goal from midfielder Ribery put Bayern 3-0 up at half-time before the home side fought back at the Stade de Gerland. And unbeaten Bayern now go into the first knock-out stage next year with 14 points from six matches, the 2001 winners’ best-ever tally at this stage of the competition, with four wins and two draws.

“We’ve deservedly finished top of a difficult group, so we’re delighted and a little bit proud,” said coach Jürgen Klinsmann on the Bayern website, calling the the first half “tremendous.”

“The way we played, with one and two touch football, getting into the box and turning chances into goals, was really first class. It was incredibly enjoyable. It was a fantastic first half, top quality football.”

He admitted, however, in the second half, Bayern shifted down a gear and Lyon hit their stride.

Bayern’s Germany defender Philipp Lahm insists there is still room for improvement as Bayern allowed Lyon to fight-back as second-half goals from Lyon veteran Sidney Govou and striker Karim Benzema slashed the arrears.

“We can live with the result, but not the way we played,” said Lahm. “We let them have far too many chances. We made excellent use of our own chances, but otherwise we made too many mistakes.”

Bastian Schweinsteiger, who has signed a new contract at Bayern which will keep him in Munich until at least 2012, said the Germans were made to work for the win.

“We’re pleased and proud that we’ve won, as it turned into a very tough match,” said Schweinsteiger. “I believe this team can go a long way in the Champions League. We’re improving all the time and we’re winning our matches. It’s a real advantage playing the first leg away from home in the next round.”

POLITICS

France vows to block EU-South America trade deal in current form

France has vowed to prevent a trade deal between the European Union and the South American Mercosur bloc from being signed with its current terms, as the country is rocked by farmer protests.

France vows to block EU-South America trade deal in current form

The trade deal, which would include agricultural powers Argentina and Brazil, is among a litany of complaints by farmers in France and elsewhere in Europe who have been blocking roads to demand better conditions for their sector.

They fear it would further depress their produce prices amid increased competition from exporting nations that are not bound by strict and costly EU environmental laws.

READ ALSO Should I cancel my trip to France because of farmers’ protests?

“This Mercosur deal, as it stands, is not good for our farmers. It cannot be signed as is, it won’t be signed as is,” Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire told broadcasters CNews and Europe 1.

The European Commission acknowledged on Tuesday that the conditions to conclude the deal with Mercosur, which also includes Paraguay and Uruguay, “are not quite there yet”.

The talks, however, are continuing, the commission said.

READ ALSO 5 minutes to understand French farmer protests

President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that France opposes the deal because it “doesn’t make Mercosur farmers and companies abide by the same rules as ours”.

The EU and the South American nations have been negotiating since 2000.

The contours of a deal were agreed in 2019, but a final version still needs to be ratified.

The accord aims to cut import tariffs on – mostly European – industrial and pharmaceutical goods, and on agricultural products.

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