Bayern Munich came out with a strong performance against Slovan Bratislava, beating them 3-1 in the UEFA Champions League. However, their win was not enough to secure a top-eight finish and automatic qualification for the Round of 16. Bayern will now have to fight for a spot in the playoffs in order to continue their journey in the tournament. Harry Kane of Bayern Munich was a key player, scoring a goal that contributed to the team's victory.
Background
Bayern Munich, the German football powerhouse, entered the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League with high hopes of lifting the coveted trophy once again. Led by manager Julian Nagelsmann, the Bavarians boasted a star-studded squad featuring Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Müller, and Manuel Neuer.
Group Stage Performance
Bayern was drawn into a competitive Group C alongside Inter Milan, Barcelona, and Viktoria Plzeň. The German giants started their campaign with a comfortable 2-0 win over Inter. However, they suffered a surprising 2-0 defeat to Barcelona in their second match.
Bayern rebounded with two consecutive wins against Viktoria Plzeň, scoring a total of 10 goals in those matches. A goalless draw against Inter in the penultimate match kept Bayern's qualification hopes alive.
Matchday 6 Drama
On the final matchday, Bayern needed a win against Barcelona to secure automatic qualification for the Round of 16. The Bavarians dominated the match but were unable to find the winning goal. Meanwhile, Inter Milan defeated Viktoria Plzeň, securing a top-eight finish and sending Bayern to the playoffs.
Playoff Round
Bayern will now face Paris Saint-Germain in the playoff round, with the winner advancing to the Round of 16. The first leg will be played on February 14th, 2023, in Paris, while the second leg will take place on March 8th, 2023, in Munich.
Top 5 FAQs
1. Why did Bayern fail to secure automatic qualification? Bayern drew their final match against Barcelona, which allowed Inter Milan to leapfrog them in the group standings.
2. Who is Bayern's top scorer in the Champions League this season? Robert Lewandowski remains Bayern's top scorer with 5 goals, despite leaving the club in the summer.
3. What is the date of Bayern's playoff match against PSG? The first leg will be played on February 14th, 2023, while the second leg will take place on March 8th, 2023.
4. Has Bayern ever won the Champions League before? Yes, Bayern has won the Champions League 6 times, including in 2020.
5. Who is Bayern's manager? Julian Nagelsmann has been Bayern's manager since 2021.
Australia's Usman Khawaja put up an impressive performance in his first test debut against Sri Lanka on Thursday, scoring a marathon 232 runs and forming century-plus partnerships with Steve Smith and Josh Inglis to lead his team to a colossal total of 654/6 before declaring their first innings. This marks Australia's highest test total in Asia and is sure to catch the attention of cricket fans worldwide. Don't miss out on this historic match and be sure to subscribe to catch all the action.
In an exciting Elite Group D match in the Ranji Trophy, Delhi captain Ayush Badoni won the toss and chose to bowl first against Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The match saw a strong performance from Delhi's bowlers, with Railways losing five batters in the first 40 minutes of play. However, Railways' Upendra Yadav's impressive 95 helped his team reach a respectable total of 241. Notably, Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli also made an appearance for Delhi, marking his first Ranji Trophy match since 2012.
Australian batter Josh Inglis made a sensational debut in the first Test against Sri Lanka, scoring a blistering 102 runs off just 93 balls on the second day of the match in Galle. Inglis' milestone made him the second-fastest century scorer on Test debut in cricket history, following Shikhar Dhawan's record of 85 balls in 2013. The 29-year-old's impressive performance added to an intriguing trend in Australian cricket, as the last three batters from the country to score a century on debut were all from Western Australia.
Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc celebrated his birthday in style by reaching a milestone of 700 international wickets. He achieved this feat during the first Test match against Sri Lanka, becoming the sixth-fastest player to do so. Starc's remarkable achievement further solidifies his place in the annals of fast bowling history and puts him alongside other cricketing legends.
In an impressive batting performance, Josh Inglis scored his maiden Test ton on debut for Australia, becoming the third centurion of the innings after Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith. Inglis reached the milestone in just 90 balls, the second fastest by a debutant, before eventually falling for 102 runs. His partnership with Khawaja, who achieved his maiden Test double century, helped Australia reach 600 runs before Tea on Day 2 in Galle. Despite the strong batting display, Sri Lanka's Prabath Jayasuriya stood out with his career-high 60 overs bowled in an innings.
After surpassing former India wicket-keeper Naman Ojha's record, 38-year-old Sheldon Jackson becomes the top six-hitter in Ranji Trophy history. In his 100th Ranji Trophy appearance, Jackson hit his milestone six against Assam, securing his place as one of only six batters to have smashed over 100-plus Ranji Trophy sixes. With over 6600 runs in the Ranji Trophy, Jackson ranks third among Saurashtra batters, behind Cheteshwar Pujara and Sitanshu Kotak. He was also instrumental in Saurashtra's two title wins, including a match-winning century in the semifinal.
Indian cricket star Virat Kohli's return to first-class cricket after eight years drew over 15,000 fans to Delhi's Kotla stadium, with the crowd growing by the minute. Fans packed the Gautam Gambhir stand and broke barricades in order to watch Kohli in action, with some even coming from out of town just to see him play. Despite some chaotic moments at the gates, the excitement and energy of the crowd was palpable as Delhi took on Railways in the Ranji Trophy.
Australia's Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja continue their strong partnership, leading the team to a commanding first-innings score on Day 2 of the opening Test against Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's bowlers will need to utilize their spinners effectively in order to take wickets and mount a comeback against the dominant Australian batsmen. The playing XIs for both teams have been announced, with some notable players taking the field for the first time in the series. As the game reaches the 150 over mark, Starc knocks a single to long on, further adding to Australia's total.
In a thrilling match between Delhi and Railways, Upendra Yadav's fantastic batting display of 95 runs has unfortunately been cut short as he gets caught out in the deep. This impressive performance has kept Railways in the match, with the team currently at 229/8 against Delhi. The match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium promises to be an exciting one for cricket fans.
Despite a relatively quiet January transfer window, Liverpool manager Arne Slot has revealed plans to make key additions to the team in the summer. With the Reds currently leading the Premier League and competing in the Champions League and domestic cups, fans are eager to see who the club will bring in to strengthen their squad. While rumors of Ajax star Jorrel Hato joining Liverpool were quickly dispelled by the player himself, the Reds are still in the market for new talent as they aim to continue their successful run. Share your thoughts on who Liverpool should sign in the comments.