Here are the match observations from Bayern Munich’s relaxed, yet adequate performance, winning 2-1 against Stuttgart:

Empoli, located 20 kilometres west of Florence, finished 14th in Italy’s top flight last season. They are coached by Paolo Zanetti, who played for the club from 2003 to 2006, before returning as head coach in 2022.

The first competitive match of the season has been scheduled: TSG Hoffenheim will visit VfB Lübeck in the opening round of the DFB-Pokal on (Monday) 14 August. Kick-off will be at 18:00 CET. Sky will broadcast the game away to the third-tier promoted club live.

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Urs Fischer’s side ran out 2-1 winners in the Bundesliga at home to RB Leipzig last Friday, moving temporarily into the top four positions. Taiwo Awoniyi bundled in the opening goal from a set play, but Christopher Nkunku equalised a few minutes later with a long-range shot. Union’s dominance paid off in the second half as the snow started to come down in Köpenick. A training ground set-piece saw Max Kruse’s shot deflected with Timo Baumgartl following up with a short-distance finish. 

Bartosz Bialek will not be returning to VfL Wolfsburg for the time being. The 21-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Vitesse Arnhem in the Dutch Eredivisie, is set for another loan spell at Belgian top-flight club KAS Eupen. “Bartosz is a big, powerful striker with the right eye for goal. He took a big step in the right direction last season and showed what he’s capable of. We hope he can now gain even more match experience in Belgium and reach the next level,” explained VfL sporting director Sebastian Schindzielorz.

This move did not come to fruition though as De Jong reportedly made it clear throughout the transfer window that he had no intention to leave Barcelona.

As a result, there will be a repeat of the 2009 final at the Bruchwegstadion in Mainz on Sunday (23 April, kick-off 11:00 CET, live on Sky). The men from Rhenish-Hesse beat 1. FC Cologne in the other semi-final (1-0, 0-0). Their coach Benjamin Hoffmann, who led the BVB U19s to the title in 2017 and 2019 before moving to Mainz in summer 2019, watched the Hertha game from the stands at the Youth Stadium. “Borussia will perform very differently in the final,” Hoffmann predicted.

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It was goals from Matthijs de Ligt and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting that secure the points for Bayern, though Juan Jose Perea’s goal in the 88th minute made for a cagey finish for the Rekordmeister with their backs against the wall. Sadio Mane had a chance on the break in stoppage time, but fluffed his lines and the final whistle came just seconds later. All things considered, with the six shots on target Bayern had, Julian Nagelsmann more than likely would’ve expected his side to have scored more than just twice, especially with the control the boasted for the majority of proceedings.