SV Darmstadt 98 0-1 Bayern Munich Bundesliga Match Results and Highlights (Costa stunner takes Bayern back to summit)

Douglas Costa's winner was his third Bundesliga goal of the season

Douglas Costa's spectacular winner took Bayern Munich top of the Bundesliga on goal difference before Wednesday's meeting with title rivals RB Leipzig.

The Brazilian's 25-yard left-foot shot swerved in off the underside of the bar to send bottom club Darmstadt to a seventh straight defeat.

Bayern laboured for much of the game against spirited opponents.

Peter Niemeyer should have equalised, heading straight at Manuel Neuer, who had parried Jerome Gondorf's free-kick.

Carlo Ancelotti's side regained first place from Leipzig, who had moved three points clear by beating Hertha Berlin 2-0 on Saturday.

Match Highlights

One eye on Wednesday?

Leipzig have supplanted Borussia Dortmund as Bayern's biggest Bundesliga title rivals this season, and Wednesday's meeting between the two side in Munich is keenly anticipated.

There was a sense that Ancelotti and his players may have had one eye on that fixture, as they were far from at their best against Darmstadt.

Bayern captain Philipp Lahm, who was listed on the team sheet, suffered a problem during the warm-up and was not risked - perhaps with Wednesday in mind - as Rafinha was drafted in to replace him.

There was little fluency about Bayern's play, and Robert Lewandowski - who signed a contract extension lasting until 2021 on Tuesday - did not look like continuing the run that had brought him five goals in his previous three matches.

The closest that the Poland striker came to a goal was a free-kick floated just over the bar towards the end of the first half, on a day when Bayern rarely threatened other than from set-pieces.

There was a degree of encouragement in defeat for Darmstadt, who have struggled to recover from the departure of coach Dirk Schuster for Augsburg during the summer.

Norbert Meier, Schuster's replacement, was sacked on 5 December, but interim coach Ramon Berndroth coaxed an energetic performance from his players, and they would have gained a valuable point but for Costa's unstoppable shot.

Bayern Munich 1-0 Atletico Madrid Results & Highlight (Lewandowski stunner sees off Diego Simeone's men)

Robert Lewandowski Celebrates his goal

Last season's runners-up miss out on the chance to end the group stage with a perfect record as Carlo Ancelotti's side win at home again.

Bayern Munich extended their winning home streak in the Champions League after a 1-0 victory denied Atletico Madrid a 100 per cent record in Group D.

Robert Lewandowski dispatched a superb free-kick on 28 minutes to settle the game as Bayern made it 15 wins in a row in the competition at the Allianz Arena, but they go through to the last 16 as runners-up behind Atletico.

Robert Lewandowski  superb free-kick

Bayern, who exited the 2015-16 competition at the hands of  

MATCH HIGHLIGHT

Diego Simeone's team in the semi-finals in April, were forced to settle for second spot and a potentially difficult assignment in the first knockout round, as the Bundesliga title holders continue their search for consistency under Carlo Ancelotti.

Their performance here will at least be of some comfort to the Italian, who watched his players control the contest, albeit against a visiting team likely to have placed more importance on a trip to Villarreal on Monday, as they seek to make up ground on Sevilla, Barcelona and leaders Madrid in LaLiga.

For Bayern, attention will now turn to the visit of Wolfsburg this weekend, with the indignity of trailing surprise league leaders RB Leipzig weighing heavily on German football's dominant force.

Atleti went close twice in the opening 15 minutes, Yannick Carrasco seeing shots well saved by Manuel Neuer after being set up by Antoine Griezmann and Lucas Hernandez respectively.

Douglas Costa issued the hosts' first real warning shot when he called Jan Oblak into action at the goalkeeper's near post following good work from Renato Sanches.

Oblak could do nothing, though, to prevent Bayern taking the lead in the 28th minute, Lewandowski curling home a delightful free-kick after Carrasco clipped the heels of Juan Bernat.

Bayern made all the running after the break, with Stefan Savic called upon to dispossess the goalscorer in a dangerous area soon after the restart, before Arjen Robben had a penalty appeal against the Montenegro defender waved away approaching the hour mark.

Thiago should have scored with 13 minutes to go, somehow contriving to steer his effort over the bar from point-blank range and with the goal gaping after Douglas Costa had reached the byline and cut the ball back.

Ultimately Bayern were not made to regret that miss, with Atleti mustering little threat of note in the closing stages.

Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Bayern Munich Highlight (Early Aubameyang goal sees RB Leipzig take three-point lead in title race).

Aubameyang drew level with Cologne's Anthony Modeste at the top of the Bundesliga scoring charts with 12 goals

➤Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gave Borussia Dortmund the lead after 11 minutes after fine Mario Gotze pass

➤Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery saw his back-heeled second-half goal ruled out after he strayed offside

➤Aubameyang and Andre Schurrle both missed one-on-one chances vs Manuel Neuer in the second-half

➤Xabi Alonso saw a spectacular long-range effort cannon back off the crossbar as Bayern succumb to defeat

➤RB Leipzip now three points clear at the top of the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund moving up to third

See The Full Bundesliga Table Here.

MATCH HIGHLIGHT 

Bundesliga newcomers RB Leipzig will enjoy being at the summit of German football for a little while longer after Bayern Munich succumbed to a narrow defeat against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday night.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang combined with former Bayern star Mario Gotze in the 11th minute to give Thomas Tuchel's side a lead that they would cling on to for the rest of the game.

Franck Ribery would see a second-half effort ruled out for offside while Xabi Alonso also smashed the crossbar with a spectacular but ultimately off-target effort. Manuel Neuer made two fine saves from Andre Schurrle and Aubameyang to keep the score down to one but Dortmund would eventually seal an important win to move back into the title race.

FC Cologne 1-1 Bayern Munich (Bayern Munich held by Cologne after Anthony Modeste equaliser) #FCBKOE.

Cologne became the first team to deny Bayern Munich victory in the Bundesliga this season as they picked up a deserved 1-1 draw at the Allianz Arena.

Joshua Kimmich gave Bayern the lead five minutes before the end of a first half which the hosts dominated.

It was a different story in the second half, though, with Anthony Modeste bringing Cologne level, and they had the record champions on the ropes but failed to land a winning punch despite going close late on.
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Bundesliga Table

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Match Highlights:

Atletico Madrid 1-0 Bayern Munich Highlights (Carrasco’s first half goal is difference between the two sides)

Bayern Munich visited their boggy team Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night for Champions League group stage match and it turned out to be another very closely contested game between the two. Atletico Madrid took the lead through Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco in 35th minute of the game and even though the match was being played at Vicente Caldrone, Atletico decided to sit back and hit Bayern on the counter attacks the move which paid off for most part.

Match Highlights

Atletico Madrid 1-0 Bayern Munich Highlights

[ UEFA Champions League 2016-17 ]

35′ 1 – 0 Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco scored in 35th minute to put Atletico Madrid in lead. Bayern Munich however created several chances but failed to take advantage.

Bayern Munich 2-1 Atletico Match Highlights Including Video

Griezmann’s away goal send Atletico to champions league final

Absolute cracking game at Allianz Arena saw Bayern Munich winning the second leg 2-1 but bowed out of the champions league on aggregate away goals. A frantic game of football, last-ditch defending, two penalty misses great possession play and in the end Atletico qualifying for the final.

German champions Bayern Munich hosted Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their 2016 champions league semifinal. Bayern who dominated the possession took the league through Xabi Alonsi when his freekick deflected off Atletico defended into the back of the net which was quickly followed by a penalty awarded to Bayern but Muller failed to convert and both teams went into the break 1-1 on aggregate. After the halftime Atletico took the lead tottally against the run of play when Antoine Griezmann scored when put through on goal by Torres to make it 1-1 on the night. Lewandowski got Bayern back in the game with a close range header with 15 minutes still to play.

Watch Highlights Below (English, 10 minutes)

Bayern Munich 1-1 Atletico Madrid Highlights

[Champions League semifinal, 2nd Leg ]

31′ 1 – 0 Xabi Alonso, deflected freekick finally broke Atletico’s resilient defense

34′ Thomas Mueller missed the penalty minutes later Bayern got themselves in the lead.

54′ 1 – 1 Antoine Griezmann scored on a typical Atletico counter attack after Bayern dominated the possesion.

74′ 2 – 1 Robert Lewandowski scored with a close range effort to bring Bayern back in the game.

84′ Fernando Torres missed penalty for Atletico but it did not matter in the end as Atletico hold on for a aggregate win

Pep Guardiola started with Ribery and Thomas Muller in the starting lineup at home and it was rewarded as Bayern Munich dominated the first half and took the lead through Alonso’s deflected freekick. But Muller missed the penalty to but Bayern up on aggregate and from than on Atletico looked a bit more in control.

Just after the break Bayern dealt a major blow when Griezmann was sent through on goal one v one agains Manuel Neuer and he made absolutely no mistake in scoring equalizer.

Pep Guardiola to leave Bayern Munich at end of the season

 

Pep Guardiola is to leave Bayern Munich at the end of the season and will be replaced by Carlo Ancelotti.

Guardiola, 44, has been linked with Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal.

The former Barcelona coach has won two league titles and the German Cup since joining Bayern in summer 2013.

Ex-Chelsea boss Ancelotti, 56, has been on a break since being sacked by Real Madrid in May 2015 and has signed a three-year deal with Bayern.

Calm Carlo

The German champions are eight points clear at the top of the Bundesliga and will play Italian club Juventus in the last 16 of the Champions League.

"We are grateful to Pep Guardiola for everything he has given our club since 2013," said Bayern chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

"I am convinced that Pep and our team will now work even more intensively towards achieving our major sporting goals - especially as it is now confirmed that Pep is to leave FC Bayern."

Ancelotti has won the Champions League three times, twice with AC Milan and once at Real Madrid, and guided Chelsea to the Premier League title and FA Cup in 2010.

He recently suggested a preference to return to the English top flight but has instead decided to join Bayern.

"I am very honoured," said Ancelotti." I'll be in next season to coach the great FC Bayern."

Rummenigge added: "Carlo is a calm, balanced expert, who knows how to deal with stars and favours a multifaceted style of play - we were looking for this, and we have found it.

"We are looking forward to working with him."

If Ancelotti wins the Bundesliga with Bayern next season, he will become the second coach to have won league titles in four of Europe's top six leagues.

Jose Mourinho has won league titles in Portugal, England, Italy and Spain.
 

Where next for Guardiola?
The 44-year-old has not revealed where his next destination will be.

Chelsea sacked Mourinho on Thursday and have appointed Guus Hiddink until the end of the season. United boss Louis van Gaal is also under pressure following his side's recent slump in form, which has seen them exit the Champions League at the group stages and lose to Norwich on Saturday.

Guardiola has also been strongly linked with taking over from City boss Manuel Pellegrini in the summer.

Pellegrini's contract has 18 months to run and the Chilean thinks Guardiola might follow him to the Etihad Stadium.

"I hope he will have the option to work at Manchester City," he said. "I say that because I love this club and I hope, in the future, he can work here also.

"Pep Guardiola will work in England, I don't know if it is next season at City or at another club. Some day he'll come here."
 

How good is Guardiola?
The Spaniard was appointed Barcelona boss in 2008 and became the Spanish club's most successful manager as he led the Catalan club to 13 trophies in his four-year tenure.

He won three league titles, two Champions Leagues and a Copa del Rey while at the Nou Camp.

The former Spain international took a year-long sabbatical before taking over at Bayern Munich on the back of the German club winning the Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup under Jupp Heynckes.

As well as the league and cup titles, Bayern have also reached the semi-finals of the Champions League in Guardiola's two seasons in charge, with Real Madrid knocking them out in 2013-14 and Barcelona the following season.