BVB Dortmund v Liverpool - Preview

Juergen Klopp - Getty Images

Jurgen Klopp said the attention he is receiving on his return to former club Borussia Dortmund is better than being in North Korea.

The Reds play at the Westfalenstadion on Thursday in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final.

"A lot has been said but it is easy for me as I just have friends here," said Klopp, Dortmund coach for seven years.

"It's better to be here than North Korea or something. I don't think about my situation, not for one second."

It is reported 20 television crews, twice as many photographers and about 100 journalists were present to listen to Klopp, who won two Bundesliga titles at Dortmund.

Klopp said his former club - second in the Bundesliga, five points behind leaders Bayern Munich - were favourites and admitted Liverpool had the "highest mountain to climb" over the two legs.

"We have looked at the way Dortmund play but my players haven't travelled here without any hope we will get a result," added the German.

"If we are not good it will be easy for Dortmund but why should I think about this?"

Liverpool are yet to lose in the Europa League this season, and knocked out Manchester United in the last round.

"Manchester United was the biggest game and biggest pressure so we are prepared for this," said Klopp. "And you need a bit of luck."

Dortmund counterpart Thomas Tuchel warned his players Klopp would show no mercy.

"From the moment the whistle goes Jurgen Klopp will want nothing else than a win. And we too," said the 42-year-old.

But he added "no-one has forgotten" what Klopp achieved at Dortmund.

"Anything else but a warm welcome for Jurgen Klopp will be a surprise," said Tuchel. "We are now where we are because of our history with Jurgen."

Dortmund trio Mats Hummels, Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Ilkay Gundogan took part in training on Tuesday after missing the 3-2 Bundesliga win over Werder Bremen at the weekend.

Forward Roberto Firmino, who has missed Liverpool's past two matches because of a hamstring injury, has travelled with the squad to Germany.

Related articles

• A classic Pep talk: Don't mistake Guardiola's passion for anger
• Scouting Report: All you need to know about reported Huddersfield Town signing Chris Löwe
• Premier League transfer rumours: Chelsea's huge kitty; Zlatan Ibrahimovic for £250k a week; Christian Benteke in demand
• Germany to make Euro 2016 statement of intent vs England , says Thomas Muller
• Christian Benteke, Divock Origi out for Belgium; Kevin Mirallas brought in
• Liverpool Transfer News: Mario Gotze Latest, Jonas Hector Comments on Rumours

Demichelis Charged by FA

Martin Demichelis has been charged by the Football Association over alleged betting offences.

The Argentine, 35, is accused of committing 12 breaches relating to matches between 22 and 28 January 2016.

Demichelis has until 17:00 BST on 5 April to respond to the charge.

However, there is no suggestion that the charge relates to any of the 25 league and cup games in which he has featured for City this season.

New rules that came into force for the 2014-15 season mean players and coaches are prevented from betting on any worldwide footballing activity.

The FA has the power to fine or suspend any person found guilty of a rule breach.

"It is alleged the player committed 12 breaches of FA Rule E8 concerning football matches between 22 January 2016 and 28 January 2016. He has until 5pm on 5 April 2016 to respond to the charge," said an FA statement:

Rule E8 states: "A Participant shall not bet, either directly or indirectly, or instruct, permit, cause or enable any person to bet on - (i) the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of, or occurrence in, a football match or competition; or (ii) any other matter concerning or related to football anywhere in the world, including, for example and without limitation, the transfer of players, employment of managers, team selection or disciplinary matters."

There is no suggestion that Demichelis was involved in match fixing nor that he bet on games in which he was involved.

Demichelis is not the first professional football player to have been charged by the FA over betting offenses.

Newcastle and England winger Andros Townsend was fined £18,000 ($26,000) and banned for four months in 2013 -- a punishment which prevented him from playing at the European Under-21 Championship.

Dan Gosling, the Bournemouth midfielder, was fined £30,000 ($43,000) after breaching the rules in March 2014 while at former club Newcastle.

The misconduct charge is the latest blow for Demichelis, whose performances and that of his fellow teammates have dipped in recent weeks, with City falling out of contention in the Premier League title race after losing a number of crucial fixtures over the past couple of months.

City manager Manuel Pellegrini, who announced he will leave the club at the end of the season last month, has presided over defeats to rivals Tottenham, Leicester and Manchester United with his team 15 points off the pace and now fighting to qualify for next season's Champions League.

Pep Guardiola, currently at Bayern Munich, will replace Pellegrini at the end of the campaign -- an announcement that was made on February 1.

Related articles

• Man City Determined To Beat Man Utd, Arsenal For Aymeric Laporte
• Chelsea, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Arsenal and Granit Xhaka - today's top transfer stories
• Man City pray Guardiola can build a dynasty out of disaster
• US Sports Camps to Host Three New Football Camps in Maryland
• Football Friends Craft from Crayola.com
• Manchester City target Paul Pogba's summer plans revealed

Bayern Hit by Broomstick Robber

A convicted German criminal known as the “broomstick robber” has been charged with blackmail for allegedly trying to force Bayern Munich to part with millions in cash and diamonds by using bomb threats.

Police said on Tuesday the Bundesliga leaders were sent two letters on 9 and 15 February containing threats involving bombs and drones and said that demands for €1m in cash and €2m worth of diamonds were made.

Police in Munich arrested a 63-year-old man, saying he is a former bank robber who was sentenced to over 13 years in prison in 1999 on 17 counts of bank robbery and who was freed on parole in 2009.

During the 1990s the robber made millions when he carried out a string of thefts in which he held hostages and locked bank doors with a broomstick before escaping with the money

The suspect appeared before a judge in court on Tuesday.

Related articles

• Police foil bid to blackmail Bayern Munich
• Ex-Bank Robber Charged In Bayern Munich Plot
• Former bank robber charged with trying to blackmail Bayern Munich for millions in cash and diamonds
• Bayern's Guardiola short at the back as Juve loom
• Watch Bayern Munich-Bayer Leverkusen Bundesliga Online (Live Stream)
• the richest german football clubs in German bundesliga league : 2011 to 2015

Juventus v Bayern Munich - Preview

Getty Images

Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola is not concerned by a host of defensive injuries ahead of their Champions League last-16 tie at in-form Juventus.

Guardiola is without centre-backs Javi Martínez (knee), Jerome Boateng (groin) and Holger Badstuber (ankle).

It means that midfielder Joshua Kimmich and full-back David Alaba could form a makeshift partnership.

"We don't have any central defenders, that's how it is. We've got to avoid conceding set-pieces," Guardiola said.

"They are maybe the best team in Europe from set-pieces."

Guardiola won the Champions League twice as a manager at Barcelona, and is seeking to lift the trophy for the first time with Bayern before he heads to Manchester City next season.

He takes his team to face a Juventus side who reached last season's final and who had won 13 consecutive games in all competitions before a Serie A draw at Bologna last Friday.

Gianluigi Buffon says Juve are a lot more assured than when they last lost to Bayern at home in 2013

Massimiliano Allegri's team are also on a 16-game unbeaten run at home in the Champions League.

They will be without Giorgio Chiellini (calf) and Alex Sandro (thigh), who were left out of their squad, but Mario Mandzukic has shaken off a calf problem with Allegri saying that the former Bayern forward and midfielder Sami Khedira would start.

Juventus suffered a rare home defeat by Bayern in 2013 but goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon said: "We'll be up against a very strong team with very few, if any, weaknesses. But we're also on the up. We're a lot more self-assured than we were three years ago."

Bayern are eight points clear at the top of the Bundesliga and are unbeaten in 10 games.

Guardiola added: "Juventus didn't start the season well, but things are working well now with their style of play so it's going to be an interesting game.

"We'll try to play well and score a few goals, which won't be easy because they have not been conceding."

Related articles

• Bayern short at the back as Juve match looms
• Bayern's Guardiola short at the back as Juve loom
• Bayern Munich's injury list is 'no accident,' claims expert
• Arturo Vidal Rejected Manchester United to Join Bayern Munich
• Manchester City Signs Pep Guardiola to a Three-Year Deal
• Guardiola makes Suarez top target ahead of Manchester City move

Lahm Considers Bayern Back Office

Bayern Munich defender Philipp Lahm has admitted he has given some consideration to ending his career before his contract runs out.

The 32-year-old retired from international football immediately after captaining Germany to World Cup glory in 2014.

He has previously suggested his current contract, which expires in 2018, will be his last, but has now told Germany's Bild newspaper he may even call it a day before then.

"My current contract runs up to the summer of 2018 and of course I am not getting any younger, but rather older, and you've always got to ask yourself questions as a professional sportsman," he said.

"If somebody were to come along who could play my role better than me, or if I notice that I can no longer keep up, then I would certainly have to deal with perhaps having to call it a day sooner."

When Lahm does pin his boots to the wall, he intends to remain part of the Bayern Munich family in some capacity.

"I certainly want a long-term bond to remain with this club," he added.

Lahm has played for Bayern since 2005, after a two-year loan spell with Stuttgart. He joined the Bavarian club in 1995 and has played almost 300 Bundesliga fixtures for the record German champions.

Related articles

• Muller looking forward to Mandzukic & Juventus test
• Premier League is yearning for a shot of Pep Guardiola's charisma and revivalist magic
• Mueller, Boateng, Martinez and Alonso all sign contract extensions with Bayern Munich
• Re: Germany League - Bundesliga Prediction Thread
• Bayern extends deals of 4 players including Alonso, Mueller
• Thomas Muller signs new Bayern Munich contract: World Cup winner ends Manchester Untied transfer speculation

Aubameyang Non Plussed About Yaya

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has said he is nonplussed as to why Yaya Touré was so angry about the Borussia Dortmund player being voted the Africa player of the year last week. Touré hit out at the decision, saying it was “pathetic”, “indecent” and brought “shame to Africa”.

Aubameyang is back with Dortmund now as they prepare for the restart of the Bundesliga and, talking to Sport Bild, he said: “I really don’t know why he said that at all. I am not going to get angry about it and for me it is already an old story, gone. It simply does not interest me.”

The Gabon striker received 143 points to Touré’s 136 with Swansea’s André Ayew finishing third with 112. Touré appeared to congratulate his rivals on stage, saying he was “disappointed” but adding that Aubameyang had “been doing brilliantly well this year”.

However, the Manchester City midfielder later seemed to suggest the voting had been unfair given his country’s success at the Nations Cup. “I’m very disappointed. It’s sad to see Africa react this way, that they don’t think African achievements are important,” he told the French radio station RFI.

“I think this is what brings shame to Africa, because to act in that way is indecent. But what can we do about it? Us Africans, we don’t show that Africa is important in our eyes. We favour more what’s abroad than our own continent. That is pathetic.”

Aubameyang wants to focus on Dortmund and the Bundesliga, with his side second, eight points behind Bayern Munich. “We will certainly not give up without a fight and all is not lost yet. We know that it will be very difficult to stop Bayern winning the league but nothing is impossible,” he said.

For their part, Dortmund have said they intend to hold on to all their key players in the winter transfer window.

The chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke said: “I can rule out transfer of any of our top performers now. That’s definitely not on our agenda.“

Speculation regarding the future of Aubameyang and the playmaker Ilkay Gündogan has been mounting in recent weeks with the Germany midfielder recently saying that he had not yet decided whether to extend his 2017 contract with the club, who are currently second in the standings.

Related articles

• Andre Ayew To Vie For 2015 CAF Footballer Of The Year Award
• Tactical Analysis: Wolfsburg 1-2 Dortmund | Tuchel's men exploit Wolfsburg's structural issues
• Yaya Toure wins BBC African Footballer of the Year award 2015
• Aubameyang nets 27th goal of the season as Dortmund reach the German Cup quarterfinals
• Real Madrid told to forget about Robert Lewandowski as Bayern Munich chief insists striker will stay beyond current deal
• FC Augsburg vs. Borussia Dortmund: Winners and Losers from DFB-Pokal

Bayern Munich Top for Christmas

Bayern Munich made sure they will go into the Bundesliga winter break in top spot after beating promoted Ingolstadt to bounce back from their first league defeat.

Second-half goals from Robert Lewandowski and Philipp Lahm lifted Bayern, who lost to Borussia Mönchengladbach last week, on to 43 points, eight ahead of Borussia Dortmund, who play Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday, with one more match left before the one-month break. The Bavarians, who won the league 17 times out of the previous 20 they had finished top at the halfway mark, struggled for more than an hour against the gutsy visitors.

Without the injured wingers Franck Ribéry and Arjen Robben it was captain Lahm who went close, failing to beat Ramazan Ozcan in a one-on-one early in the second-half as Bayern upped the tempo. Lewandowski was also denied by Ozcan, but the Poland forward latched on to a defence-splitting pass from Jérôme Boateng in the 65th minute and flicked the ball past the keeper and in off the post for his 15th goal of the season.

Lahm made amends for his earlier miss, drilling in Bayern’s second goal from a Thomas Müller assist 10 minutes later.

Related articles

• Watch Bundesliga 2015/16 live: Bayern Munich vs Wolfsburg live streaming & TV information
• FIFA 16 review: PS4 and Xbox One release date arrives... from addictive Ultimate Team to finessed features
• Bayern Munich vs Wolfsburg : Preview, Team News and Starting Lineups - Bundesliga
• Bayern confident of injured Ribery's comeback this year
• Bayern Munich vs. Darmstadt 2015 live stream: Start time, TV schedule and how to watch Bundesliga online
• Guardiola warns Bayern to raise game at Olympiakos

Borussia Glad to beat Bayern

Borussia Mönchengladbach struck three times in 14 minutes in the second half to floor Bayern Munich 3-1 and inflict the champions’ first Bundesliga defeat of the season.

Oscar Wendt put the hosts ahead in the 54th minute and quick goals from Lars Stindl and Fabian Johnson knocked out Bayern, who looked stunned after winning 13 of their 14 league games in a record-breaking start to the campaign.

Franck Ribéry scored on his comeback after an eight-month injury break but the Frenchman’s 81st-minute goal came too late to turn the game around.

Gladbach stretched their unbeaten run under André Schubert to 10 league games and climbed to third on 26 points. Bayern are top on 40, eight ahead of Borussia Dortmund, who take on VfL Wolfsburg later on Saturday.

Bayern, repeatedly caught napping at the back and lacking their usual pace on the wings with Arjen Robben and Douglas Costa out injured, were still the better side in the first half. Robert Lewandowski connected with a superb Philipp Lahm through ball in the 18th minute and Thomas Müller had a shot on goal but Yann Sommer was well placed to save both efforts.

Pep Guardiola’s side kept up the pressure and Kingsley Coman hit the post with a low drive in the 25th minute.

Gladbach, however – in sensational form under Schubert since a five-game losing start – refused to buckle and hit the champions on the break, Raffael combining beautifully with Wendt and the Swede curling a low shot past Manuel Neuer.

Julian Korb came agonisingly close to a second goal but Neuer, at full stretch, kicked the ball on to the bar. Stindl, however, was given far too much space in the box and he volleyed in on 66 minutes as the game tipped firmly in the hosts’ favour.

Johnson beat the offside trap, with defender Jérôme Boateng caught out, two minutes later before Ribéry scored a consolation for Bayern.

Related articles

• Bayern Munich substitute Robert Lewandowski breaks record with five goals in nine minutes
• Bayern Munich substitute Robert Lewandowski breaks record with five goals in nine minutes
• How Lewandowski Made History With Five Goals In Nine Minutes
• Bayern's Robert Lewandowski scores five goals in nine minutes. And, yes, that's a record.
• Half-Time Report: Olympiakos hold Bayern Munich at break
• 'What a special moment': Robert Lewandowski scores five goals in nine minutes for Bayern Munich