Ancelotti aiming to keep momentum
Carlo Ancelotti can evidently mark up his first Munich Oktoberfest visit in the semi-official line of duty as a success.
“I’m perfect,” he said with a twinkle in his eye, asked as to the after-effects on a renowned wine lover of downing a couple of litre-mugs of beer in one of the world-famous festival tents. More generally, the reconnaissance trip with his assistants ahead of the full FC Bayern München squad’s obligatory annual appearance was “a nice moment, with everyone there together.”
The record champions’ new coach had every reason for good cheer at the Wiesn, with his team having made a four-game winning start to the Bundesliga.
They stretched that to five a couple of days later with a 1-0 victory at struggling Hamburger SV – a mighty close-run affair,
If you’re staying in
Football 1.30pm, GO Sports 1, English Premier League, Swansea City-Liverpool (live) 6pm, GO Sports 3, Italian Serie A, Pescara-ChievoVerona (live) 6.15pm, GO Sports 4, English Premier League, West Ham-Middlesbrough decided only by Joshua Kimmich’s 88th-minute strike.
“It was a very difficult game, Hamburg played with a lot of intensity,” said Ancelotti. Come the final whistle, however, as so often, Bayern had made their extra class count: “Thiago’s pass at the end was fantastic. That’s one of his great qualities.”
For defensive linchpin Mats Hummels, subbed off injured early in the second half, Thiago’s volleyed outside-of-the-boot ball to Franck Ribery was “ridiculously good.”
The French wing wizard raced free to tee up Kimmich’s closerange finish, keeping Bayern’s 100 percent league start intact.
The fact that Ancelotti could bring Ribery and double Copa America winner Arturo Vidal off the bench for the final half-hour against a tiring home side serves only to underscore the unrivaled pool of talent available to the battle-hardened Italian tactician.
Next up is a home meeting with early-season surprise package 1. FC Köln, riding the crest of a wave in third place on the back of their best start to a Bundesliga season in almost 40 years.
For the first time since the new coach took over, Bayern are on the rebound from a defeat – 1-0 at Atletico Madrid in their second UEFA Champions League Group D outing.
Should they bounce back in their accustomed style, Ancelotti will savour the first fully official Oktoberfest beer with his players all the more.
Chicharito voted September Player of the Month
Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez has been voted as the Bundesliga Player of the Month.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen’s Mexican striker had a superb September, grabbing four Bundesliga goals in the month as well as another in the Uefa Champions League.
A hat-trick capped by a lastminute winner against 1.FSV Mainz 05 on Matchday 5 was a highlight, but the popular 28year-old has been in fine form all month. Bundesliga
Yesterday Leipzig-Augsburg ............................... 2-1 Today Bay. Munich-Cologne .............................. Hertha BSC-Hamburg ............................. Ingolstadt-Hoffenheim ........................... Darmstadt-W. Bremen ............................ Freiburg-E. Frankfurt .............................. B. Leverkusen-B. Dortmund ................... Tomorrow Wolfsburg-Mainz .................................... Schalke 04-B. M’gladbach ....................... Premiership
Yesterday Motherwell-Hearts ............................ 1-3 Today Dundee-Celtic ......................................... Hamilton-Inverness CT ........................... Kilmarnock-Aberdeen ............................. Rangers-Partick Thistle ........................... Ross County-St Johnstone ...................... Tomorrow Hibs-Dundee ...........................................
GERMANY
Championship
Today Ayr-Dunfermline ..................................... Dumbarton-Queen of Sth ....................... Morton-Raith Rovers .............................. St Mirren-Falkirk .....................................
League One
Today Albion-Queen’s Park ............................... Alloa-Airdrieonians ................................. East Fife-Stenhousemuir ......................... Peterhead-Livingston .............................. Stranraer-Brechin ...................................
League Two
Today Berwick-Clyde ......................................... Cowdenbeath-Stirling ............................. Edinburgh City-Arbroath ......................... Elgin-Annan Athletic ............................... Forfar-Montrose .....................................