Soccer: Mainz vs Bayern

Soccer: After an underwhelming run of performances by Leroy Sané, Mathys Tel might be given the nod by Vincent Kompany to start in the upcoming game against Mainz. Tel looked sharp in his recent cameo against Shakhtar Donetsk in the UCL. Tel is yet to score for Bayern this season, and Saturday’s game could be as good a day as any to finally open his tally.

With Harry Kane still out injured, Thomas Muller is the clear favorite to start as the striker against Mainz. Muller scored Bayern’s second of the night against Shakhtar on Saturday and his performance looked much improved than his previous showings. Following a dazzling man-of-the-match performance against Shakhtar, Michael Olise is certain to once again start at right-wing on Saturday.

On December 2nd 2024, Real Madrid had the table set to move within one point of FC Barcelona and depend on themselves to take the lead in LaLiga. After the unexpected setback at home against Las Palmas, the Merengues could move within one point if they were able to beat Getafe, with one game less. It was worth remembering that the match against Valencia was suspended due to flooding caused by La Dana, so if the Merengues won against the orange team, Carlo Ancelotti’s team will be the new leaders of LaLiga.

All eyes will be on Frenchman Kylian Mbappé, who had been under question because he was not going through his best form and missed a key penalty against Liverpool in the Champions League match.

In the absence of Vinícius, Mbappé would once again be in charge of leading the attack for the Whites, with the return of Rodrygo. In October 2024, Paulo Fonseca explained how Milan was set out in a must-win Champions League match against Club Brugge. Ruben Loftus-Cheek was behind the striker. It kicked off at San Siro and was absolutely a must-win match for the Rossoneri, who started their European campaign with defeats to Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen, leaving them on zero points from two rounds.

These were special games, the Champions League was always special, even more so at home. It was important that Milan played well and win, so it could continue having more of these matches throughout the season. Milan wanted to keep going in the Champions League, but it had to win Club Brugge for that to happen. Theo Hernandez returns to the side after his red card against Fiorentina and missed penalty, but was surprisingly given the captain’s armband nonetheless.

There was some confusion as to whether Tijjani Reijnders or Loftus-Cheek was playing as a trequartista behind Alvaro Morata. The system was the same, Pulisic wider on the right and Loftus-Cheek on the inside, while Reijnders would be closer to Fofana initially, then pushing up to be closer to Loftus and Morata. Francesco Camarda was on the bench, as Luka Jovic and Tammy Abraham were both out injured.

If Camarda came on, he would become the youngest ever Milan player in the Champions League.

Ferencváros versus Tottenham Hotspur, Saldanha had the opportunity to release Traoré down the middle, but overhit the pass. In September 2024, Lionel Messi’s return to soccer action could see the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner play limited minutes during Inter Miami’s match against Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Messi was not in the starting lineup and was listed as a substitute.

Messi’s former Barcelona teammates were also not in action to begin the match. Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba were substitutes, while Sergio Busquets was out due to yellow card accumulations. The Atlanta United match against Inter Miami would be broadcast via Major League Soccer (MLS) Season Pass on Apple TV. It would be Inter Miami’s second of three matches in a week span, which prompted coach Tata Martino to put a potential time limit on the Argentine World Cup champion.

After Inter Miami plays in Atlanta, Messi and the club would face New York City FC at Yankee Stadium. Messi emphatically returned with two goals and an assist in a 3-1 win against Philadelphia, his first game since the July 14th 2024 Copa America final, which Argentina won after he sustained a right ankle ligament injury. Messi scored goals in the 26th and 30th minutes, and assisted Luis Suarez in the 98th minute.

Messi was very eager to come back, it had been a long time away from the field.

Messi’s Inter Miami jersey again topped the MLS list for highest-selling jerseys. Inter Miami had been the front-runner for the Supporters’ Shield, given to the club with the best MLS record, for most of the season. But Messi and Inter Miami would have some stiff competition to win their second title together. Inter Miami led with 59 points, but the second-place LA Galaxy had made up some ground with 55 points.

Soccer new signing Matthijs Ligt grabbed his first goal while Marcus Rashford scored in Manchester United’s 3-0 Premier League victory at Southampton. Alejandro Garnacho added a late goal for Erik ten Hag’s side. Manchester United had six points from four matches while newly promoted Southampton remained without a point. Southampton dominated early on but squandered a chance to take the lead in the 34th minute after United goalkeeper André Onana saved Cameron Archer’s poor penalty, sparking an immediate shift in momentum at St. Mary’s Stadium.

Ligt headed in a sumptuous ball from Bruno Fernandes. Rashford, who had gone 13 games without a goal, ended his drought with a diagonal shot from outside the 18-yard-box to the far corner in the 45th minute. The hosts were reduced to 10 men in the 79th minute when defender Jack Stephens was sent off for a high tackle on Garnacho. In October 2023, Manchester City was at risk of losing Kevin Bruyne, as Saudi Pro League chiefs were reportedly ready to step up their hunt for the attacking midfielder with a jaw-dropping contract offer. Bruyne was targeted by Saudi officials as they looked to take a plethora of top stars from Europe to the Middle East.

While world-class soccer players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Neymar, and Sadio Mane were playing in Saudi Arabia, Bruyne could not be convinced to make the switch.

Bruyne had been fantastic for Manchester City, having notched an incredible 96 goals and 153 assists in 358 matches, helping the team to win a host of trophies. Saudi officials were determined to make Bruyne their latest big-name capture and would try to lure him to the country with a massive contract offer. Should Bruyne leave, he would go as a modern-day Manchester City legend.

There would be jaw-dropping finances on offer. The report did not mention exactly how much Bruyne could earn, or which team in particular was at the front of the queue to complete a deal. But if previous reports were to be believed, then it is Al Nassr who was leading the charge. This could see Bruyne form an unstoppable partnership with five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo.

Bruyne took home £400,000 a week at Manchester City. At Al Nassr, Bruyne could earn way more than this. Ronaldo was an extreme example, but he is picking up a whopping £3.6m per week in Saudi Arabia. It would be a shame if Bruyne departs the Premier League at the end of the season, as many Manchester City fans felt he still had plenty more top performances in him.

Bruyne had helped Manchester City to win one Champions League, five Premier League titles, two FA Cups, five League Cups, and one UEFA Super Cup.

Bruyne was not the only elite Manchester City man who could soon find a new club, as Real Madrid had reportedly drawn up a huge offer for one of his team-mates. As Arsenal fought Manchester City for the title which would eventually fall away from them, allowing Pep Guardiola and his team to once again lift the trophy. The reality however was perhaps even worse for Arsenal.

Questions regarding the 115 alleged breaches that were leveled at their title rivals that were never going to see a resolution within the timeframe. The Premier League called for a harsh penalty for Everton who was accused of breaking Financial Fair Play (FFP) and if found guilty could end up with a 12-point deduction. Naturally, this news had seen attention again switch to Manchester City and the continuing referral by the Premier League to a Commission that continued to work on the situation.

It had been relatively quiet since the news came to light. The sheer volume of allegations that Manchester City were facing means a lengthy process was being undertaken that could take years to fully process. James Carragher made the rather amusing quip online comparing Everton’s potential punishment to what could face Manchester City if they were found to be guilty.

The Premier League wanted a 12-point deduction for Everton for one charge, Manchester City was going to end up in the National League North if the Premier League got their way.

The reality was with the Commission conducting its assessment of the allegations in private and confidential settings, it was unlikely there would be any information regarding when would be a conclusion until its end. Therefore perhaps the anxiousness would emerge from the not knowing. In May 2023, chants of ‘Liverpool, Liverpool’ and loud boos drowned out the anthem, which could only be heard faintly.

“God Save the King” was drowned out by boos and chants at Anfield as it was played ahead of the Reds’ 1-0 win over Brentford to mark the crowning of King Charles III and the Queen Consort. The jeering started immediately after the PA announcer confirmed that the national anthem would be played moments before kick-off. Reds skipper Jordan Henderson appeared to sing along with the anthem from the touchline as a substitute, but most players from multiple nationalities decided to keep silent.

Fans were seen at Anfield with anti-monarchy banners, some of which read ‘not my King’ in reference to legendary Liverpool forward ‘King Kenny’ Dalglish. Clubs were not obliged to play the anthem before kick off, but the Merseyside club announced they would do so as they anticipated failing to do so could lead to national backlash. But the national anthem had been jeered by some of their fans prior to last season’s FA Cup final at Wembley.

Liverpool’s history of booing the national anthem stems from long-held anti-establishment sentiment within the city and a feeling of disconnect with the British government.

The goal, Mohamed Salah’s 100th at Anfield and 30th of the season, moved Liverpool within one point of fourth-place Manchester United, although they had played two more games. Jurgen Klopp’s side followed the anthem controversy with an important if unconvincing 1-0 win over Brentford, as Salah scored the only goal of the game after 13 minutes. Klopp’s men would next be in action when they face relegation-threatened Leicester.

The British national anthem had been met with resounding boos at Anfield, with Liverpool fans drowning out the music with heckles before their fixture against Brentford hours. The club said it was asked to play “God Save the King” by the Premier League to mark the king’s coronation, despite strong opposition. Liverpool said how spectators chose to react to the anthem was a personal choice, while the team’s manager, Klopp, said he did not have an opinion on the subject.

The booing coming from around the entire ground was so loud people did not even know the anthem had started. The Premier League contacted all home clubs and strongly suggested to mark this historic occasion across home matches and provided a list of activity for clubs to get involved in. Before kick-off and in recognition of the Premier League’s request to mark the coronation, players and officials would congregate around the centre circle when the national anthem would be played.

It was, of course, a personal choice how those at Anfield marked this occasion and some supporters had strong views on it.

That was over the whole country. Liverpool fans had been booing the national anthem since the 1980s. Beginning as a protest against the establishment, particularly during then prime minister Margaret Thatcher’s managed decline of the city, and now representing dissatisfaction with the condition of the country. So George Sephton, Anfield’s long-serving stadium announcer, began to explain the National Anthem was about to be played.

Sephton’s tone was as recognizable at Liverpool’s home as the team’s red shirt but it was becoming harder and harder to hear what he was saying. There was shouting and whistling, widespread dissent, and then the drum roll for “God Save the King” began. But Sephton had pressed play too early. And in block 202 and all around the stadium, the reaction everyone outside the city had expected from Liverpool supporters and the marking of the Coronation had come to pass.

Usually this level of animosity was only reserved for when the Manchester clubs were in town but this was different. Half the stadium did not want anything to do with the National Anthem, so they booed and they whistled and they shouted. By the time Sephton had properly started the anthem, you could only make it out if you really listened hard. Those who were not booing showed their true allegiances, hollering the words ‘Liverpool! Liverpool!’ repeatedly.

At the other end of the stadium, Brentford fans, some of whom were dressed in Union Jack hats, joined in but there was nothing from Liverpool, save for Henderson who sang on the bench.

There had been many remarkable moments at Anfield and this, for many reasons, was another that would not be forgotten. Liverpool had been placed in an impossible position by the Premier League, who had issued its members with flimsy guidance, and, as a club, they were angry. Not as angry as the fans, however. This, to be clear again, was not about booing King Charles or any single member of the Royal Family per se.

The long-standing grievance Liverpool supporters held was focused on the establishment. The National Anthem was symbolic of their distrust. It was why the booing and whistling got louder in block 202 until the final note of the anthem, when Sephton instantly flicked a switch and played the first bars of “You’ll Never Walk Alone“. Now there was unity and now a stadium was singing something in which it believed.

Sephton, whose first match doing this particular job was in August 1971, had a feel for the mood of the crowd and there were days when he simply faded out the music and allowed those in the stadium to take over from Gerry Marsden. This was one such occasion. Undoubtedly, there would have been Liverpool fans dotted around Anfield who were uncomfortable with it all.

There were plenty of flags outside homes in districts not far from the ground and many within the city were proud of the Royal Family.

Let us not forget, that Sir Kenny Dalglish was overwhelmed when he received a knighthood in 2018 and Henderson was similarly humbled when he was made an MBE in 2022. But in block 202 nobody was interested in marking the start of the New Carolean era, and that was always going to be the case.