Video referee landmark as Bayern claim opening win
BERLIN: Robert Lewandowski converted a second-half penalty, awarded by a video assistant referee intervention, as champions Bayern Munich opened the 2017/18 Bundesliga season with a 3-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen on Friday.
The video assistant referee is being trialled in the Bundesliga this season and came into play for the first time to spot that Lewandowski was fouled in the area in the second-half.
The Polish striker dutifully slotted home the penalty to put Bayern 3-0 up after new signings Germany defender Niklas Suele and France midfielder Corentin Tolisso scored with first-half headers.
Leverkusen deservedly pulled a goal back at 3-0 down when Swiss striker Admir Mehmedi capped off a bright passage of play with a fierce shot.
"That was a special day for me -- my first game for my new club and my first goal, that was nice," said Suele.
Leverkusen's Germany defender Jonathan Tah was left ruing his side's poor first-half display.
"We were asleep in the first half and conceded stupid goals," said Tah.
On a dramatic opening night, the start of the second half was also delayed by 15 minutes as torrential rain swept the stadium.
Having won last season's German league title -- their fifth in a row -- by 15 points, the thumping win in Munich suggests Bayern are in no mood to relax their irongrip on the Bundesliga title.
The hosts were missing a host of injured stars at Munich's rainlashed Allianz Arena including new club captain Manuel Neuer, defender Jerome Boateng and new-signing James Rodriguez.
Nevertheless, it took just nine minutes for Bayern to go ahead.
Centre-back Suele nodded Sebastian Rudy's free-kick past his Germany teammate, Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
Bayern doubled their lead when the club's record signing Tolisso, who cost 41.5 million euros ($48.6m) from Lyon, headed home on 18 minutes when Arturo Vidal found him in the box.
Tolisso could have scored again soon after when he hit the post.
Torrential rain then forced the start of the second-half to be delayed by 15 minutes.
The stadium briefly emptied in the break as supporters sought shelter before resuming their soaking wet seats.
Leverkusen's new coach Heiko Herrlich responded to his side's woeful defending in the first half with two changes for the second 45 minutes.
Germany winger Julian Brandt replaced Jamaica's Leon Bailey and defender Aleksandar Dragovic replaced new signing Sven Bender at centre-back.
It changed little and when Chile international Charles Aranguiz pulled Lewandowski to the floor as Bayern attacked, the VAR spotted the foul and the Polish striker converted the resulting spot kick on 53 minutes.
Moments later, Neuer's understudy Sven Ulreich proved his worth in the Bayern goal to deny Brandt, then Dominik Kohr in quick succession.
With an hour played, Bayern's stand-in captain Thomas Mueller made way for Arjen Robben.
Leverkusen showed heart when Brandt's pass found Mehmedi unmarked on 65 minutes and the Swiss international slotted home their consolation. - AFP
Matuidi completes move from PSG to Juventus
PARIS: France midfielder Blaise Matuidi has completed a move to Juventus from Paris Saint-Germain, the two clubs confirmed on Friday, ending a successful six-year stint in the French capital.
Matuidi, 30, has signed a three-year deal in Turin with the Italian club saying they had paid 20 million euros ($23.5 million, £18.2 million) plus a potential 10.5 million euros more in bonuses.
Matuidi, capped 58 times by France, had joined PSG from Saint-Etienne in July 2011 right at the start of the Qatari takeover which revolutionised the club.
He played almost 300 times for PSG but has slipped down the pecking order this year. - AFP