Football

Bayern Munich's resurgence continued on Saturday as they thrashed Stuttgart 4-0 at home, with Harry Kane's hat-trick proving decisive. The victory ended a three-game winless run in all competitions and propelled Bayern back to the top of the Bundesliga on goal difference.Kane, who had not scored in four games for club and country, broke the deadlock in the 57th minute with a stunning long-range effort. He doubled his tally just three minutes later with a clinical finish from inside the box. The England captain completed his hat-trick in the 72nd minute, tapping home from close range.Bayern sporting director Max Eberl hailed Kane's performance, describing him as a "killer." "It was nice with that first goal, and the two afterwards showed what a killer he is," Eberl said.Kane, who has now scored 57 goals in all competitions for Bayern, admitted to feeling relieved after ending his goal drought. "There's always talk when you don't score for a while as a striker," he told Sky Germany. "I always believed in myself, my abilities and my teammates -- that was clear today."Bayern coach Vincent Kompany praised Kane's unwavering hunger for goals. "He's always hungry, even in training," Kompany said. "He's always scored goals and always will -- that will never change."The victory was a timely boost for Bayern ahead of their midweek Champions League clash with Barcelona. Kompany acknowledged the importance of the upcoming match but emphasized the need to celebrate their latest triumph. "We can celebrate a bit, but then it keeps going against Barcelona," he said.

Real Madrid's relentless pursuit of La Liga glory continued on Saturday with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Celta Vigo. Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior emerged as the heroes for the Spanish giants, scoring crucial goals to secure the three points.Mbappe, despite facing allegations of rape, showcased his brilliance on the pitch. The French striker opened the scoring with a stunning long-range effort, leaving Celta goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin helpless. Williot Swedberg equalized for the hosts, but Vinicius restored Madrid's lead with a clinical finish.Madrid's victory was not without its challenges. Celta Vigo played with determination and created several scoring opportunities. However, Thibaut Courtois stood firm in goal, making crucial saves to deny the Galicians.Carlo Ancelotti, Madrid's manager, praised his team's resilience. "I'm happy because we won after the international break, which is not always easy," he said. "When they equalized, our changes gave new energy to the team, and it was a very important win."Ancelotti also highlighted the impact of Luka Modric, who came off the bench to provide the assist for Vinicius's winning goal. "It's a pleasure to coach Modric," he said. "He's a top professional and a great guy."The victory keeps Madrid level on points with Barcelona at the top of La Liga. The two giants will face off in the highly anticipated Clasico next weekend, which promises to be a pivotal moment in the title race.

AC Milan's resilience was tested to the limit as they overcame a numerical disadvantage to secure a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Udinese at the San Siro. The win propelled Milan to within two points of Serie A leaders Napoli, while Udinese remained in third place with 14 points.Milan's triumph was marred by the early dismissal of Tijjani Reijnders in the 29th minute for a reckless foul on Sandi Lovric. Despite the setback, Samuel Chukwueze's 13th-minute strike proved to be the decisive moment.Milan's task became even more daunting as Tammy Abraham missed a golden opportunity to extend their lead with 15 minutes remaining. However, the hosts' resolve was unwavering, and they held on for a crucial victory.Udinese thought they had snatched a late equalizer in stoppage time through Christian Kabasele, but VAR intervened to rule out the goal for offside. The decision sparked jubilation among the Milan faithful, who had endured a tense and emotional match.The victory was overshadowed by the absence of Milan's "ultras" supporters, who staged a silent protest against perceived persecution by law enforcement and the Italian media. The ultras' banners and flags were replaced by a message of support for their arrested allies.Meanwhile, Juventus have the opportunity to join Napoli at the summit of Serie A with a win over Lazio later on Saturday. However, Thiago Motta's side has been hampered by a string of injuries.

Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig emerged victorious in their respective Bundesliga matches, with Leverkusen edging out Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 and Leipzig securing a 2-0 triumph over Mainz.Leverkusen's victory was hard-fought, with Omar Marmoush giving Frankfurt an early lead. However, Robert Andrich equalized for the hosts, and Victor Boniface sealed the win with a second-half header. Boniface had earlier missed a penalty, but redeemed himself with the crucial goal.Leipzig, meanwhile, moved to the top of the table with their victory at Mainz. Xavi Simons opened the scoring with a solo effort, and Willi Orban doubled the lead. Mainz fans protested former coach Jurgen Klopp's decision to join Leipzig's parent company Red Bull, but the visitors remained unfazed.Elsewhere, Freiburg continued their impressive start to the season with a 3-1 home win over Augsburg. Vincenzo Grifo, Philipp Lienhart, and Christian Guenter scored for Freiburg, while Phillip Tietz netted a consolation goal for Augsburg.Borussia Moenchengladbach striker Tim Kleindienst scored a double in a 3-2 home win over former club Heidenheim. Hoffenheim also earned their first win since the season opener, defeating Bochum 3-1 thanks to goals from Andrej Kramaric, Marius Buelter, and Haris Tabakovic.

Mainz fans expressed their disapproval of former coach Jurgen Klopp's decision to join Red Bull by unveiling banners during Saturday's 2-0 home loss to RB Leipzig. The banners, which played on Klopp's last name, questioned his sanity and accused him of forgetting the support he received at Mainz.Klopp, who played for Mainz before coaching them for seven years, led the club to the top flight for the first time. He then moved to Borussia Dortmund and later Liverpool, where he won several titles, including the Premier League and Champions League.In October, Klopp announced he would join energy drink company Red Bull as their global head of football from January 2025. The decision has angered supporters in Germany, particularly at ex-clubs Dortmund and Mainz, who have a long-standing dislike of RB Leipzig.Some fans believe Leipzig, founded in 2009, violates Germany's 50+1 rule, which requires member control of clubs. Others criticize Red Bull's multi-club ownership model.Leipzig's win at Mainz sent them top of the table, at least until Bayern Munich's match against Stuttgart later on Saturday. Leipzig coach Marco Rose, who played under Klopp at Mainz, dismissed the fans' criticism as a minority opinion."There are 35,000 people in the stadium, many of whom have an opinion," said Rose. "I believe that around 34,936 people love Kloppo for the fact that he shaped an era here, that we achieved something great together."Rose added that Klopp "didn't even notice (the banner), so it can't have been that wild."

Mohun Bagan Triumphs Over East Bengal in ISL 2024 ClashIn a highly anticipated Indian Super League (ISL) encounter, Mohun Bagan emerged victorious over arch-rivals East Bengal with a 2-0 scoreline on Saturday. The Mariners' triumph propelled them to second place in the standings, while East Bengal remained winless after five matches and languished at the bottom of the table.The match commenced with both teams eager to assert their dominance. However, it was Mohun Bagan who seized the initiative in the 41st minute when Jamie McLaren capitalized on a defensive lapse to slot home the opening goal. The Mariners maintained their momentum in the second half, and their efforts were rewarded in the 89th minute when Dimitri Petratos converted a penalty to seal the victory.East Bengal, despite their valiant efforts, were unable to find a breakthrough against a resolute Mohun Bagan defense. The Red and Golds' winless streak extended to five games, leaving them in a precarious position at the foot of the table.Mohun Bagan's victory was a testament to their superior quality and tactical acumen. McLaren's clinical finish and Petratos' composure from the spot proved decisive in securing the three points. The Mariners' defense, led by Sandesh Jhingan, was equally impressive, thwarting East Bengal's attacking threats throughout the match.East Bengal, on the other hand, will need to regroup and find a way to turn their fortunes around. Their lack of goals and defensive frailties have been glaring in the early stages of the season. The Red and Golds will be desperate to break their winless streak in their upcoming fixtures and climb out of the relegation zone.The ISL 2024 season promises to be an enthralling affair, with several more exciting matches to come. Mohun Bagan's victory over East Bengal has set the tone for a competitive and unpredictable campaign.

Indian Footballers to Train at Manchester United's Old TraffordThree promising Indian footballers, along with two others from Nepal and Thailand, have earned the opportunity to train at the iconic Old Trafford stadium in Manchester. The players were selected through the fourth edition of United We Play, a grassroots football initiative launched by Manchester United.The event witnessed the participation of over 15,000 aspiring Indian footballers across 18 cities. The grand finale, held in Chandigarh, featured the presence of Manchester United legend Gary Neville.After a series of intense matches, PC Lalchhuanawma (Mizoram), Shreejal Kisku (Bhubaneswar), and Mohd Ayan (Lucknow) emerged as the top Indian players. They were joined by Nepal's Bhakta Bahadur Pariyar and Chanason Chaiyatham from Bangkok.These five young footballers will now embark on a once-in-a-lifetime experience at Old Trafford. They will participate in a match-day experience, receive training from Manchester United Soccer School coaches, and interact with club legends."It's a dream come true," said Lalchhuanawma, who plays as a defender. "I've always wanted to visit Old Trafford and now I'm going to train there. I can't wait to learn from the best."Gary Neville, who won eight English Premier League titles and two UEFA Champions League titles with Manchester United, expressed his delight at the initiative. "I'm thrilled to see the passion and dedication for football among young children in India," he said. "Congratulations to the young players whose hard work has paid off. I'm sure that the experience they will have at Old Trafford will be memories of a lifetime."The launch of the fourth edition of United We Play took place in Kolkata in December 2023, where former Manchester United and French footballer Louis Saha kicked off the program. The initiative aims to promote grassroots football development and provide opportunities for young players to showcase their talent.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has dismissed reports that Kylian Mbappé is being investigated for rape, stating that the allegations have not affected the player's performance.Swedish media outlets had reported that Mbappé was the subject of an investigation following an alleged incident at a Stockholm hotel during the international break. However, Mbappé's representatives have vehemently denied the claims, calling them "false and irresponsible."Ancelotti has defended Mbappé's right to travel during his time off, emphasizing that the player is not affected by the allegations. He also praised Mbappé's fitness and readiness to play, stating that the break has benefited him.Mbappé has been in impressive form for Real Madrid this season, scoring 12 goals in 14 appearances across all competitions. He has played a key role in the team's success, helping them to the top of the La Liga standings and into the knockout stages of the Champions League.Despite the allegations, Mbappé has remained focused on his football. He has trained with Real Madrid this week and is expected to start in Saturday's match against Celta Vigo.The allegations against Mbappé have raised concerns about the handling of sexual assault cases in sports. Critics have argued that the lack of transparency and accountability in such cases can create a culture of silence and impunity.It is important to note that Mbappé has not been charged with any crime and is presumed innocent until proven guilty. However, the allegations have cast a shadow over his reputation and raised questions about the need for greater transparency and accountability in the handling of sexual assault cases in sports.

Gary Neville Inspires Young Footballers in IndiaFormer Manchester United legend Gary Neville recently visited India as part of the United We Play initiative, a collaboration between Apollo Tyres and Manchester United. The initiative aims to provide young footballers with access to world-class coaching and facilities.During his visit, Neville interacted with young players selected from Thailand, Nepal, and 18 cities across India. He shared his insights on the key elements for success in football, emphasizing the importance of skill, work ethic, and determination.Neville also stressed the value of education and personal growth beyond sports. He encouraged the young players to pursue their studies and develop as well-rounded individuals. "There is a life beyond sports," he said. "It's important to have options and to grow as great human beings."The United We Play initiative has grown significantly since its inception, with the number of participating players increasing from 5,000 in the first edition to 12,000 in the fourth edition. The organizers are committed to sustaining their efforts at the grassroots level to strengthen Indian football."We are committed to grow the game of football and help young emerging talent to express themselves," said Rajesh Dahiya, vice president of Apollo Tyres.Five boys selected from the program will have the opportunity to travel to Old Trafford for a match-day experience, training sessions with Manchester United soccer school coaches, and a chance to interact with the legends.Neville's visit and the United We Play initiative are a testament to the growing interest in football in India. By providing young players with access to expert guidance and facilities, these initiatives are helping to nurture the next generation of Indian football stars.