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BAYERN

Ribery’s 100th goal keeps Bayern ahead

Bayern Munich continued their seemingly relentless march towards a 25th German title as Franck Ribery's 100th goal for the Bundesliga leaders secured Saturday's 1-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen.

Ribery's 100th goal keeps Bayern ahead
Photo: DPA

Pep Guardiola's side remain seven points clear of nearest challengers Wolfsburg after defeating Leverkusen, who remain the last team to beat Bayern at the Allianz Arena, back in October 2012.

The visitors threatened after four minutes when Juan Bernat was forced to clear off the line after Karim Bellarabi pounced on a rare mistake.

But Bayern took the lead when winger Ribery volleyed home from a corner on 51 minutes to claim his 100th competitive goal for the club in all competitions on his 186th league appearance — the most for a French player in the Bundesliga.

This was an off-key performance from Bayern, who managed just two first-half shots, as they began a busy period of five matches in 14 days, including Wednesday's final Champions League group game at home to CSKA Moscow.

"It was important for the team to get the win, especially before our Champions League game at home and three Bundesliga games in quick succession," said Ribery.

"It won't be easy, but that was a good start."

Leverkusen, meanwhile, were lucky to finish with 11 men after Bellarabi hacked down Sebastian Rode in the dying stages but was only shown a yellow.

Roger Schmidt's side drop to fourth in the table ahead of Tuesday's Champions League clash at Benfica.

Earlier, second-placed Wolfsburg came from behind to claim a 3-1 win at Lower Saxony rivals Hanover 96 to briefly trim Bayern's lead to four points.

However, Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking gave a grumpy reply when asked about his side's supposed role as 'Bayern hunters'.

"We aren't 'Bayern hunters', I don't have to emphasise that every week, do I?" he said, rejecting the German media's tag for the Volkswagen-backed club.

"Bayern are the superior team and they'd need to play with seven men each week for us to have a chance to catch them."

Belgium's Kevin de Bruyne gave Wolfsburg a fourth-minute lead in the derby before Spaniard Joselu levelled for Hanover with a header, but both Wolfsburg's second-half replacements scored within minutes of coming on to seal the win.

Dutch striker Bas Dost headed home his first goal of the season just two minutes after replacing Ivica Olic and Germany Under-21 forward Maximilian Arnold secured the three points when he netted on 85 minutes.

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BARCELONA

Barcelona stikes Coutinho loan deal with Bayern Munich

Barcelona have an "agreement in principle" to send Philippe Coutinho on loan to Bayern Munich, both clubs confirmed Friday.

Barcelona stikes Coutinho loan deal with Bayern Munich
The Brazilian midfielder joined Barcelona for €120m in January 2018. Photo: Pau Barrena/AFP
Coutinho was left out of the squad for Barca's La Liga opener against Athletic Bilbao on Friday, with club director Guillermo Amor confirming the Brazilian is close to joining Bayern.
   
“We can confirm that there is an agreement in principle for the loan of Coutinho to Bayern and we just have to finalise the deal,” Amor told Movistar, ahead of the game at San Mames.
   
Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic also confirmed the loan deal later on Friday.
   
“I can confirm that we were in Barcelona and have agreed terms with the player and his agent,” Salihamidzic told broadcaster ZDF following Bayern's own league opener, a 2-2 draw with Hertha Berlin.
   
“We have a good relationship with Barcelona. We are still missing a few details such as the signature and the medical, but we are happy to have got a player like him.”
   
Coutinho joined Barcelona from Liverpool in January 2018 for an initial 120 million euros ($133 million), plus another 40 million euros in potential add-ons.
   
But despite huge excitement around Coutinho's arrival, he has struggled to find his place at Camp Nou.
   
Initially tried in midfield, Coutinho was pushed into the front three by Ernesto Valverde last season in a bid to help him rediscover his best form.
   
Yet the 27-year-old was too often a bystander in games and some suggested his style and positioning clashed with Lionel Messi.
   
Gerard Pique was asked earlier this month about the possibility of Coutinho leaving. “I want him (Coutinho) to stay,” Pique said. “But at the end of the day it's what he wants and I want him to be happy.”
   
At Bayern, the Brazilian will provide welcome reinforcement in attack following the departure of Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery at the end of last season.
   
Coutinho's departure to Bayern could also have implications for Barcelona's hopes of re-signing Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain.
   
Barca have already spent around 250 million euros this summer and it had been suggested PSG were keen for Coutinho to be included in any bid.
   
“There is a lot of talk about Neymar at the moment,” Amor added. “He is in the newspapers every day and I don't think we should get into it now.   
 
“Anything can happen while the market is still open but for now there is nothing and Neymar is a PSG player.”
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