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Bayern Munich concede three early goals but still win 4-3

 

 

 

Champions League finalists Bayern Munich recovered from conceding three goals in the opening 10 minutes to win 4-3 at Borussia Moenchengladbach.

Martin Stranzl and Mike Hanke scored for the hosts before Javi Martinez pulled one back for Bayern.
Havard Nordtveit's effort after 10 minutes restored Moenchengladbach's two-goal advantage before two Franck Ribery strikes hauled them level.
Ribery then set up Arjen Robben to grab the Bundesliga champions' winning goal.

“I saw the players were really happy afterwards that they gave me such a present” Jupp Heynckes

Bayern, who had already wrapped up the German title, fielded a full strength line-up but shipped three goals in the first 10 minutes of a Bundesliga match for the first time in their history.

But, in their final match before playing Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final on 25 May at Wembley, they fought back to earn coach Jupp Heynckes a win in his final league game in charge.
"I think our mind was still at the title celebrations at the start," said Heynckes, who was a member of the West Germany squad which won the 1974 World Cup.
"But we stayed with it and gradually took control of the game.
"I had the feeling my players really wanted to win. I had told them before the game that this was my last Bundesliga game and it was here that I started in 1964.
"I saw they were really happy afterwards that they gave me such a present."
Bayern later revealed that defender Holger Badstuber had torn cruciate ligaments in his right knee while recovering from a similar injury sustained six months previously.
Meanwhile, Dortmund centre-back Mats Hummels will be a doubt for the all-German Wembley showdown after limping off in a 2-1 defeat by Hoffenheim.
"For the Champions League final there are concerns about Hummels," said Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp, who is hoping playmaker Mario Gotze can return from a thigh injury to face his future club.
The midfielder has agreed a transfer, reportedly worth 37m euros (£31.5m), to join Bayern Munich on 1 July.





Rafael Nadal & Roger Federer set up Italian Open final meeting

Roger Federer stands between Rafael Nadal and a seventh Italian Open title after they both won their semi-finals in straight sets.

Nadal, 26, beat Czech Tomas Berdych 6-2 6-4 in Rome to move closer to a second title in eight days following his Madrid Masters triumph last Sunday.

He will face Swiss second seed Roger Federer in Sunday's final after he beat Frenchman Benoit Paire 7-6 6-4.

"I am feeling better physically," Nadal said.

"These are emotional moments for me as I think I have managed to turn around a situation in which, after many months of doubts, I am able to play at a level that I would not have dreamed of four months ago."

Nadal v Federer

Nadal		Federer
19	Head to head wins	10
55	Singles titles	76
11	Grand slam wins	17
5	World ranking	3
614/124	Career won/lost	892/203

Berdych, 27, had ousted world number one Novak Djokovic earlier in the week.

But, despite an improved second set, he was unable to record his first victory on clay against Nadal.

The world number six had previously beaten Nadal only three times in 16 encounters. Only four of those were on clay, and all were won by the Spaniard.

World number five Nadal, who has now reached eight finals in as many events since his return from a seven-month injury lay-off, broke Berdych twice in the opening set, including in the opening game.

The Czech started the second set positively by holding serve, but squandered his first break point in the next and was the broken by a Nadal forehand winner in the ninth game.

"He starts really well and, of course, it's Rafa and we know how he plays on clay," said Berdych.

"It was a good start for him. Yesterday I had one chance that I did take and I won, and today I had one chance that I didn't take and I lost."

Nadal, who will be looking for a 24th Masters title, will meet Federer on Sunday after the world number three saw off Paire, 24, in a tight encounter.

Paire broke Federer twice in the first set before losing the tie-break, with the Swiss just coming out on top in a tight second set.

David Warner: Australia batsman faces hearing over 'abusive' tweets

Australia's Test opening batsman David Warner has been charged with breaching Cricket Australia's code of behaviour after abusive comments were posted on his Twitter account.

The 26-year-old faces a CA hearing over the abusive messages to journalists.

The posts, some containing obscene language, appeared after News Limited's Robert Craddock criticised the Indian Premier League.

Warner is currently appearing in the IPL for Delhi Daredevils.

Australian cricket's governing body said: "Cricket Australia has today advised that David Warner has been reported for breaching CA's Code of Behaviour.

"Warner is alleged to have breached Rule 6: Unbecoming Behaviour, regarding comments posted on his twitter account."

Rule 6 states: "Players and officials must not at any time engage in behaviour unbecoming to a representative player or official that could (a) bring them or the game of cricket into disrepute or (b) be harmful to the interests of cricket. This rule applies at all times where the unbecoming behaviour involves the player being involved in public comment or comment to or in the media."

The time and date of the hearing will be determined by CA on Monday.

David Warner's Australia career

He has made 19 Test Appearances. Averages 39.46 with the bat. He has made three tons and seven fifties.
In ODIs, Warner averages 30.37 from 37 innings with a strike rate of 81.15.
In 44 innings in Twenty20 Internationals he averages 28.71 at a strike rate of 139.26

The other reporter mentioned in the tweets, Malcolm Conn, said he had spoken to the governing body.

Conn said Cricket Australia, which was trying to contact Warner in Delhi, had told him it was "disappointed by the language" used on the social media website.

The journalist added: "I'm all for free speech and strong opinions. I'd be quite happy to let it go. I don't think there's anything untoward about expressing your opinions but I can understand [Cricket Australia's] position.

"They are very concerned about their image. Twitter is followed by a lot of young people.

"It's a very bad look if you've got an international cricketer, particularly one with leadership aspirations, using bad language on social media when he's got 189,000 followers."

Warner was recently named in Australia's squad for the Ashes Test series, which begins at Trent Bridge on 10 July.

Averaging 39.46 with the bat, he has scored three centuries in 19 Tests.

Australia also turn to Warner as an occasional bowler - among the leg spinner's four Test victims are South Africa's Hashim Amla and West Indies' Darren Bravo.