Champions League

THOMAS MULLER joked Real Madrid star Aurelien Tchouameni was listening in for tactics after gatecrashing his post-match interview.The Bayern Munich legend made his 150th Champions League appearance in the 2-2 draw with Real Madrid.Thomas Muller cheekily winked at Aurelien Tchouameni during his interviewThe Real Madrid star gatecrashed the interviewThe pair then shook handsMuller, 34, appeared on CBS Sport after the semi-final first leg and was asked if he feels like an old man.But before the German could deliver a proper answer he was interrupted by opponent Tchouameni.Muller laughed in response to the midfielder before winking at him and delivering a cheeky joke.He said: “Tchouameni is listening for the tactics for the next game.”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe France international then appeared in front of the camera and shook hands with Muller before smiling at the camera.Muller started the 2-2 draw which saw Bayern come from behind with goals from Leroy Sane and Harry Kane before Real Madrid equalised.The Germany icon made his Champions League debut against Sporting Lisbon in 2009 and has won the competition twice – in 2013 and 2020.He is now looking to reach the final for a fifth time but Bayern must overcome Real Madrid at the Bernabeu to do so.Most read in Champions LeagueBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSMuller – who has a horse named Dave – is now the sixth-highest appearance maker in Champions League history behind Cristiano Ronaldo, Iker Casillas, Lionel Messi, Karim Benzema and Xavi.He is also closing in on the record appearances for Bayern Munich and needs just seven more games to overtake Sepp Maier. Fans tell Thomas Muller ‘never change’ as madcap Bayern Munich star kisses new horse Kylie Minogue on the nose More

DANIEL STURRIDGE stunned fans with an incredible Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid prediction.The pundit shared his thoughts ahead of the Champions League semi-final clash.Daniel Sturridge stunned fans with his Champions League predicitonCredit: PAThe pundit correctly tipped Leroy Sane and Harry Kane to scoreCredit: EPAHe was specific with his prediction and got it spot on, tipping Leroy Sane and Harry Kane both to score – even adding the striker’s goal would be a penalty.Sane nearly scored in the first minute of the match and was only denied thanks to a brilliant save from Andriy Lunin.He was a thorn in Real Madrid’s side until his 87th-minute substitution, proving Sturridge’s prediction correct.The former Liverpool star tweeted ahead of kick-off: “Sane will be a big problem tonight. Goal for him and a pen for Kane.”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLFans were very impressed with the bold call and began asking Sturridge for other predictions.One joked in response: “Who’s gonna win the league bro?”Another quipped: “Am I getting a girlfriend this year mate?”A third wrote: “Lottery numbers?”Most read in Champions LeagueCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSAnd another replied saying: “Witchcraft 🤣”Sturridge fared a lot better with his guess than Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel, who tipped Serge Gnabry to score yet did not start the injury-fit forward.Sane and Kane weren’t the only goalscorers on the night as Madrid got two themselves in a 2-2 draw.Vinicius Jr opened the scoring in the first half before netting a late pen to pull things level.The sides face off in the second leg next week.Meet Jude Bellingham’s glam new Wag More

HARRY KANE won the first of his two battles with Jude Bellingham. But whether the England captain will get to Wembley remains to be seen.Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham squared off in the Champions League semi-finalsCredit: ReutersKane scored from 12 yards to give Bayern Munich a second half lead over Real MadridCredit: ReutersBut a brace from Vinicius Jr meant the Spanish side will go into the second leg on level termsCredit: AFPWhen he was unveiled as a Bayern player here at the Allianz Stadium back in August, Kane said the plan was to return to London on June 1 and win the Champions League.Despite his team’s spectacular title collapse in the Bundesliga, Kane still has a chance of winning the first trophy of his career.Yet he needs to deliver another fine performance in Madrid next Wednesday and hope – and this is the problem – that his defence does not let him down.Kane won the first of his two battles against Bellingham in an intriguing Champions League semi-final.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLOutstanding throughout, Kane put his team ahead in the tie from the penalty spot for his 43rd goal in 43 games for Bayern.His strike completed a huge turnaround at the start of the second half as it came just four minutes after Leroy Sane, with his first goal since October, cancelled out a first half strike from Real’s Vinicius Junior.But with seven minutes left, Vinicius got his second of the game from the penalty spot after Bayern defender Min-jae Kim fouled RodrygoWhile Kane was impressive, particularly with his build-up play, Bellingham did not enjoy the best of nights. Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSHe put in a shift but playing extremely high up the pitch, at times as a false nine, he did not see much of the ball.He even appeared to try and say something to Kane just before he took the 54th minute spot kick but the youngster was told to go away by French referee Clement Turpin. Bayern Munich’s private training session leaked as Thomas Tuchel appears to plan shock tactical tweak against Arsenal With 15 minutes left, he was replaced by Luka ModricIn his three years at Dortmund, Bellingham faced Bayern eight times and was not on the winning team for any of them and failed to score a goal.Maybe that run will end next Wednesday and he will need to cause Bayern’s defence, which can be rocky at times, a bit more discomfort than last night.But their trump card is the star striker Kane. He has now been directly involved in 11 goals in the Champions League this season – eight goals, three assists – and it is the most ever by an English player in a single campaign in the competition.Apart from his outstanding goals return for Bayern, Kane has also chipped in handsomely with assists, 13 in total, although no14 should have arrived after 40 seconds.Here’s how the teams fared on paperBayern dominated the early on but Madrid proved to be deadly on transitionSane was put clean through by a clever Kane pass but the former Manchester City winger hammered a shot straight at Andriy Lunin when he needed to be a bit more composed.Kane then attempted one of the most outrageous goals of this Champions League season.After Bellingham was caught in possession – and having spotted Lunin off his line – Kane tried his luck from just inside the half but there was too much pace on the shot and it sailed over the bar.Bayern started off impressively and were threatening to overwhelm the Spaniards. Ancelotti stood on the edge of his technical area, hands in pockets, shaking his head in disbelief.Yet just when they were in serious danger, Toni Kroos proved to be a calming and decisive presence for Real.Jude Bellingham had a poor night in MunichBellingham struggled to get into the dangers areas todayKane impressed against Madrid tonightKane’s influence was felt all over the pitchIn February, Kroos announced he was ending his international retirement to feature at Euro 2024 and you can see why German boss Julian Naglesmann was feeling particularly pleased with himself after using his powers of persuasion.After overcoming that early spell of Bayern pressure, Kroos gave a reminder as to why, at the age of 34, he remains such a class act.He spotted a huge gap in Bayern’s defence because Kim had pushed up too high to keep close to Vinicius.Kim was clearly terrified of his opponent’s speed. Kroos sensed that, played a ball behind the South Korean who could not keep up with Real’s lightning-quick No 7 while Eric Dier could not get across.The Brazilian international struck a first-time shot from around the penalty spot past the exposed Manuel Neuer and while that 24th minute goal may have not silenced Bayern’s noisy ultras, it knocked the stuffing out of their team.While Kroos forced a fine-one-handed save from Neuer shortly into the second half, Bayern then hit Real with a proper one-two.Sane collected a pass from Conrad Laimer, carried the ball from the right into the area, cut inside Ferland Mendy and then dispatched an unstoppable shot past Lunin at his near-post.READ MORE SUN STORIESWhen Jamal Musiala burst into the box, he was kicked on the shin by Lucas Vazquez and Kane was never going to miss from the penalty spot – even if Bellingham was trying to put him off.Real were handed a way back when Kim fouled Rodrygo and Vinicius and now, tantalisingly, this huge battle remains in the balance. 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JUDE BELLINGHAM had to be pushed away from Harry Kane by the referee as his England team-mate prepared to take a Bayern Munich penalty.Bellingham’s Real Madrid were facing off against Kane’s Bayern in the Champions League semi-finals at the Allianz Arena.Jude Bellingham was pushed away from the penalty spot by the refereeCredit: xHe was trying to put Harry Kane off his penaltyCredit: X / footballontntKane did not hear what Bellingham was ‘mumbling’Credit: X / footballontntBellingham eventually walked offCredit: X / LaurensJulienMadrid had taken the lead against the run of play through Vinicius Jnr.However, Bayern fought back as Leroy Sane netted the equaliser.And the hosts then won the chance to take the lead after as Jamal Musiala was fouled in the box.England captain Kane stepped up to take it – only for his Three Lions pal to try to put him off.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLKane said: “I’m sure he was saying something to try and put me off but, thankfully, it was OK.“I don’t know what he was saying. I saw him there mumbling something.“I’ll have to ask him what he actually said. Once I’m in my zone I’m trying to block everything out.”Referee Clement Turpin was seen having to push Bellingham away from Kane before the penalty could be taken.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSBellingham eventually walked away to allow the England captain to take his effort.Kane remained composed and slotted home the penalty by sending Andriy Lunin the wrong way.England footie star Jude Bellingham’s new girlfriend is a lads’ mag pin-up in her native NetherlandsKane’s spot kick gave the Germans a 2-1 lead but two goals from Vinicius Jnr, the second also a penalty, set up next week’s  Bernabeu return.The winner will face Paris Saint-Germain or Borussia Dortmund  in the Wembley final next month.Kane, 30, who joined Bayern in a £105million summer deal from Spurs, is still chasing his first major trophy following Bayern’s domestic woes.But he added: “The Champions League is the biggest of them all so if we can somehow get our hands on that one then of course it would be an amazing season. There’s still a long way to go.“These are the big games I want to play in.“This is why I came to the club. The atmosphere was incredible, I’m sure it will be the same at the Bernabeu.“Real are one of the best teams in Europe and can punish you, like they did today.“We’re disappointed we didn’t win but it’s all to play for next week.”READ MORE SUN STORIESBellingham was subbed in the second half but Real boss Carlo Ancelotti confirmed he had been suffering with “cramps” and was “tired.”The Italian added: “We didn’t play our best but the second leg will be exciting, open. You never know what will happen.”This one will have stung Kane the most… what’s the German for schadenfreude?, says Dave KiddBy Dave Kidd
OF all the trophies Harry Kane has missed out on, the Bundesliga will have stung the most.
This was supposed to have been a dead cert. This was nailed-on.
Bayern Munich had won 11 successive Bundesliga titles, so when the England captain signed for the great Bavarian powerhouse last summer, we all said: “Well, at least he’ll finally win something.”
Yet on Sunday evening, there were Bayer Leverkusen — known in Germany as ‘Neverkusen’ because they hadn’t previously won the league thanks to several late implosions — cavorting around, 16 points clear, unbeaten in all competitions and confirmed as champions with five games to spare.
And so the greatest trophy curse in footballing history continues.
And this one really is freakish because Leverkusen’s story is almost as extraordinary as Leicester City’s miracle title in 2015-16 — the season when Kane won his first Premier League Golden Boot and Tottenham ended up ‘third in a two-horse race’ behind Arsenal.
Kane is always the runner-up, always the nearly man, always the fall guy, too often a figure of fun for those taking pleasure in the misfortune of others.
Does anyone know the German word for schadenfreude…?
Read Dave Kidd’s column in full.
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