Bayern Munich head coach Thomas Tuchel has warned his players they will need to take a physical approach to match the “intense” style of Bundesliga opponents Bochum.
Bayern return to domestic action on Saturday after opening their Champions League campaign with a 4-3 win over Manchester United in midweek.
The defending champions are unbeaten in the league so far after following three straight wins with a 2-2 at home to Bayer Leverkusen, a result which left the sides separated only by goal difference at the top of the table.
Bochum were thrashed 5-0 at Stuttgart on the opening day of the season but have drawn each of their last three games and Tuchel is taking nothing for granted ahead of the game at the Allianz Arena.
“We need respect for the opponent,” Tuchel said in his pre-tournament press conference. “Bochum are on a good run, three games without defeat, and deservedly so.
“They have a very intense style of play. We need our best line-up for this game. Bochum isn’t a game where we can just do our thing. We have to be ready and be physically involved. There will be a huge amount of sprints and challenges.
“Everyone’s come out of the (Man United) match well. I think we have everyone available. We won’t rotate for rotation’s sake.”
Bayern scored four times against United and could easily have had several more, but Tuchel was unhappy with the manner of the goals his side conceded against their Premier League opponents.
“We have to do everything together,” Tuchel said. “To concede fewer goals, that’s always the goal. The goals we conceded against Man United were a bit strange.”
Teenage striker Mathys Tel scored Bayern’s fourth against United and has now found the back of the net three times already this season, all three goals arriving within minutes of coming off the bench.
“It’s an ideal situation,” Tuchel added. “Mathys is 18 years old and has an important role. The way he accepts the role is fantastic. He has the chance to influence games.
“The important thing is that his mindset is clear. The fact he wants more (minutes) is natural. He has to be ready but also patient. It could be that he starts tomorrow.
“We have a lot of competition. Having someone who accepts the role like him is fantastic.”
Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer remains sidelined with a calf problem but Tuchel will not take any risks with his return and is happy with the performances of replacement Sven Ulreich.
“Sven Ulreich is doing a good job, making good saves and trying to implement things in build-up play,” Tuchel said. “He’s made several important saves for us. We have a good goalkeeping team and are very happy.
“Manuel Neuer is very positive. He’s continuing to do his goalkeeper training, not with the team but individually. It’s not an injury but more issues with his calf. We don’t want to take any risk that an injury can come from it.”
Hurtig the hero after late goal sends Arsenal into Champions League quarters
Lina Hurtig's 89th minute winner ensured Arsenal progressed to the quarter-finals of the Women's Champions League after edging Juventus 1-0 on Thursday.
After being frustrated for large parts of the encounter, Hurtig bundled home from close range after Martina Lenzini's poor clearance to book the Gunners' place in the last eight.
Despite Arsenal dominating the early exchanges, it was Juventus who had the first sight of goal, though Eva Schatzer's effort was easy for Daphne van Domselaar to gather.
In a first half that saw just two shots on target, both coming from the visitors, Renee Slegers' substitutes proved to be the difference for Arsenal.
Slegers introduced Beth Mead, Stina Blackstenius and Hurtig late on, with the latter somehow putting Kim Little's cross over the bar from five yards out.
However, the Swede would atone for her earlier error, combining with fellow substitute Blackstenius to net against her former club and send them out of the competition with two group games remaining.
Meanwhile, in Group D, Barcelona edged closer to the quarter-finals of the competition with a convincing 4-1 victory over St. Polten at the Generali Arena.
The reigning champions are still three points behind Manchester City following their 2-1 win over Hammarby, and know a win against the Swedes next month will see them progress.
Kika Nazareth opened the scoring in the 20th minute after capitalising on a mistake by Kamila Dubcova, notching her second nine minutes later from close range.
Barca found themselves three goals up at the break when Vicky Lopez netted her first goal in the competition to put the result beyond doubt.
There was also a landmark moment for Alexia Putellas, who netted her 200th goal for the club with a well-taken effort into the far corner.
Valentina Madl took some of the shine off an otherwise impressive display from the visitors, who have now taken their tally to 20 goals from their four matches in the competition.
Guardiola agrees two-year contract extension with Man City
Pep Guardiola will be Manchester City manager for at least two more seasons after 2024-25, after he signed a two-year contract extension on Thursday.
The 53-year-old was coming to the end of his City deal, which was due to expire at the end of the current campaign, but he has opted to remain at the Etihad Stadium.
The deal itself will take Guardiola's tenure at the club to over a decade, making him City's longest-serving manager since Les McDowall in 1963.
There had been suggestions that he may leave at the end of the season following the announcement that director of football Txiki Begiristain was on his way out.
Guardiola was strongly linked with the England job after Gareth Southgate resigned in the wake of their Euro 2024 final defeat, but the Football Association appointed Thomas Tuchel last month.
“Manchester City means so much to me," Guardiola said. “This is my ninth season here; we have experienced so many amazing times together. I have a really special feeling for this football club.
“That is why I am so happy to be staying for another two more seasons.
“Thank you to everyone for continuing to trust and support me – The Owner, The Chairman Khaldoon, Ferran, Txiki, the players and, of course, the fans… everyone connected to Manchester City. It has always been an honour, a pleasure and a privilege to be here.
“I have said this many times before, but I have everything a manager could ever wish for, and I appreciate that so much.
“Hopefully, now we can add more trophies to the ones we have already won. That will be my focus.”
Having been appointed in 2016, Guardiola is by some distance Manchester City's most successful manager of all time, having won 18 major trophies during his time at the club.
That list includes their first-ever Champions League triumph in 2023 and six Premier League titles, including an unprecedented four on the spin.
He also boasts a 72.04% win percentage across all competitions, which is unsurprisingly the highest of any full-time City manager in history.
Shaw at the double as Man City progress in Champions League
Khadija Shaw scored twice as Manchester City beat Hammarby 2-1 to seal their place in the Women's Champions League quarter-finals.
Gareth Taylor's team entered Thursday's game with a perfect record in Group D, and their fourth win in as many European matches ensured they finished in the top two.
Shaw—the leading scorer in the Women's Super League this season with eight goals—put them ahead in the 31st minute, driving into the area after taking in Yui Hasegawa's pass before seeing her shot deflect into the top corner.
Shaw was booked for celebrating in front of the home fans despite appearing to have objects thrown at her from the stands, and Hammarby should have levelled when Julia Blakstad fired wide 10 minutes later.
The hosts did draw level three minutes into the second half as Ellen Wangerheim tapped home while City's Laura Blindkilde Brown was down appealing for a free-kick.
That parity was short-lived, though, as Shaw blasted into the top corner from 25 yards out, taking her overall tally for this season to 12 goals in all competitions.
In Group C, meanwhile, Bayern Munich lost their perfect record as they played out a 1-1 draw with Valerenga, boosting Arsenal's hopes of topping the pile.
Jovana Damnjanovic came off the bench to put Bayern ahead 15 minutes from time in Norway, but Elise Thorsnes headed home following an 88th-minute corner to snatch a point for the hosts.
Arsenal could now move within a point of Bayern when they face Juventus in Group C's other match later on Thursday.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
