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Wolfsburg’s Kovac Returns to Bayern Munich with a Point to Prove

Pointing the way: Niko Kovac guided Wolfsburg to a 2-2 draw with Bremen in his first Bundesliga game in charge and now leads them to Munich Ronny Hartmann AFP
Pointing the way: Niko Kovac guided Wolfsburg to a 2-2 draw with Bremen in his first Bundesliga game in charge and now leads them to Munich Ronny Hartmann AFP
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Wolfsburg’s Kovac Returns to Bayern Munich with a Point to Prove

Pointing the way: Niko Kovac guided Wolfsburg to a 2-2 draw with Bremen in his first Bundesliga game in charge and now leads them to Munich Ronny Hartmann AFP
Pointing the way: Niko Kovac guided Wolfsburg to a 2-2 draw with Bremen in his first Bundesliga game in charge and now leads them to Munich Ronny Hartmann AFP

When new Wolfsburg coach Niko Kovac makes his return to the Allianz Arena to take on Bayern this Sunday, he is unlikely to receive the warm welcome former double winners would usually be afforded.

Kovac coached Bayern to a Bundesliga and German Cup double in 2018-19, but was forced out of the club midway through 2019-20 with his side fourth after a 5-1 loss to Eintracht Frankfurt, AFP said.

He was replaced by former mentor and current Germany manager Hansi Flick who guided Bayern to an eighth straight Bundesliga title as well as the 2020 Champions League

Now coached by Julian Nagelsmann, Bayern romped to a 6-1 opening day win over Frankfurt and again look among the best teams in Europe.

Wolfsburg opened their season with a 2-2 home draw against promoted Werder Bremen.

Kovac's road back to the Allianz has been rockier, although he has at times demonstrated the quality that attracted Bayern in the first place.

In an 18-month spell in Ligue 1, he took Monaco from relegation candidates to a chance at winning the title on the final matchday of the 2020-21 season, beating Paris Saint-German twice along the way.

Although he was sacked early in the following season after a disappointing exit from the Champions League qualifying rounds, every member of Monaco's young side improved under Kovac, something Wolves fans will hope he emulates in Lower Saxony.

Kovac said on Thursday his side "will have our chances (against Bayern), although there certainly won't be too many".

He encouraged his team to keep focused even if they fall behind against the 31-time German champions.

"If you fall apart against Bayern, it will be hefty. But we have ideas to withstand the Bayern pressing" he told Germany's SID.

With 11 goals in two competitive games since Robert Lewandowski's departure Bayern are far from enduring a goal drought.

Speaking about his side's potency without the Polish striker so far in 2022-23, Nagelsmann told Bild "it's been interesting for us to see how we can do it without Lewandowski."

"The successes with Lewandowski are in the past, this team is the future."

- One to watch: Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund) -New Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck, 22, returns to former club Freiburg on Friday, where he made 56 appearances and was named man of the match in their 2-1 home win over Dortmund last season.

Dortmund's leaky defense has held them back in recent years – they conceded more goals than any other team in the top eight of the Bundesliga last year despite finishing second – but they've kept two clean sheets in two games with Schlotterbeck.

Schlotterbeck has also demonstrated the toughness Dortmund has lacked, playing on in his side's 1-0 win over Leverkusen on Saturday despite dislocating his shoulder.

In a midweek appearance on German TV, he endeared himself to Dortmund fans by throwing some shade at derby rivals Schalke. With presenters discussing the weekend's 'top game' between Borussia Moenchengladbach and Schalke, he asked "they have top games at Schalke?"

Key statsZero from 25 – Wolfsburg have played 25 times at Bayern and have lost 23 times, with two draws. No Bundesliga team has played so many away games against one opponent without managing to win at least once.

60 percent – Werder Bremen forwards Niclas Fuellkrug and Marvin Ducksch scored 39 of their side's 65 goals in the Bundesliga 2 in 2021-22, assisting each other on ten occasions. Fuellkrug already has one goal and Ducksch one assist from one game in 2022-23.

90 goals in 156 appearances – That's Timo Werner's goalscoring record at Leipzig (he's also contributed 40 assists), making him their all-time top scorer. Werner returned from Chelsea on a permanent deal this week and is on track to play against Cologne on Saturday.

Fixtures (all times 1330 GMT unless stated)Friday

SC Freiburg v Borussia Dortmund (1830)

Saturday

Hoffenheim v VfL Bochum, Werder Bremen v VfB Stuttgart, RB Leipzig v Cologne, Bayer Leverkusen v Augsburg, Hertha v Eintracht Frankfurt (1330), Schalke v Borussia Moenchengladbach (1630)

Sunday

Mainz v Union Berlin (1330), Bayern v Wolfsburg (1530)

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Morocco Expects as Hosts Face Senegal in Cup of Nations Final

Soccer Football - CAF Africa Cup of Nations - Morocco 2025 - Semi Final - Nigeria v Morocco - Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat, Morocco - January 14, 2026 Morocco coach Walid Regragui before the match REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko
Soccer Football - CAF Africa Cup of Nations - Morocco 2025 - Semi Final - Nigeria v Morocco - Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat, Morocco - January 14, 2026 Morocco coach Walid Regragui before the match REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko
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Morocco Expects as Hosts Face Senegal in Cup of Nations Final

Soccer Football - CAF Africa Cup of Nations - Morocco 2025 - Semi Final - Nigeria v Morocco - Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat, Morocco - January 14, 2026 Morocco coach Walid Regragui before the match REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko
Soccer Football - CAF Africa Cup of Nations - Morocco 2025 - Semi Final - Nigeria v Morocco - Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat, Morocco - January 14, 2026 Morocco coach Walid Regragui before the match REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

Morocco are hoping the backing of a fervent home support can help them overcome Sadio Mane's Senegal in Sunday's Africa Cup of Nations final as the hosts and favorites close in on the continental title for the first time in 50 years.

The Moroccans came into the competition on home soil having emerged as Africa's leading national team since becoming the first side from the continent to reach the World Cup semi-finals in Qatar in 2022.

Ranked 11th in the world, above Italy, the Atlas Lions have not lost since going out of the 2024 Cup of Nations to South Africa in the last 16 and are captained by the current African footballer of the year, Paris Saint-Germain full-back Achraf Hakimi.

However, all of that means there has been enormous pressure on Morocco to deliver since the beginning of this tournament, the first AFCON to start in one year and end in another.

Morocco have played all of their matches at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in the capital Rabat.

After the commanding win over Cameroon in the quarter-finals and a nerve-jangling triumph on penalties against Nigeria in Wednesday's semi-final, close to 70,000 Moroccan fans will fill the stadium hoping to see their team take the trophy.

"I think we deserve to be in the final. We have played top teams like Mali, Cameroon and Nigeria, and now we will be facing another of the best teams," said coach Walid Regragui, who has faced regular criticism from an expectant public.

"Eventually people are going to accept that Morocco are actually a major football nation. But to go to the next step we have to win titles, so Sunday's match is really important in terms of our history."

Regragui is mindful of the country's underwhelming record in the tournament.

The French-born coach played in the last Morocco side to come this far, when they lost to hosts Tunisia in 2004, and this time wants to go one better.

If he does not, then the chances are he will no longer be in charge by the time the World Cup starts in June.

"Even if we had been knocked out in the first round, that would not have prevented me believing in myself and telling myself I am a good coach," Regragui said when asked about the criticism.

"What I have done in the past cannot be taken away from me. I am not expecting people to give me anything. I am not claiming to be the best. The most important thing is that Morocco are in the final."

However, the hosts could not have asked for a tougher opponent than Senegal, who are Africa's second-best side in the rankings and are into their third final in four editions of AFCON.

After losing to Algeria in Cairo in 2019, the Lions of Teranga won the title for the first time in Yaounde in 2022 when they defeated Egypt on penalties.

Knocked out by Ivory Coast in the last 16 in 2024, they bounced back to qualify for the World Cup and have now reached the final here -- a Mane strike saw them defeat Egypt in the last four.

It is a vastly experienced Senegal side, but therefore an aging one -- Mane, goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, skipper Kalidou Koulibaly and midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye are all aged between 33 and 36.

Former Liverpool star Mane even said after the Egypt game that the final would be his last Cup of Nations match.

"I am a soldier of the nation, and I try to give my all every day, whether in training or in matches," Mane said.

"But that's not the most important thing for me. The most important thing is to bring this cup to Dakar."

Center-back Koulibaly will miss the game through suspension, which is a big blow for Senegal in a final between two outstanding defenses -- they have let in three goals between them at the tournament.

It may not be an open, high-scoring final, but it will be tense, and how Morocco handle the pressure will be key.

Sports

Crystal Palace, Fiorentina Will Head East after Conference League Knockout Playoffs Draw

William Gallas, former French international player shows a ticket of Crystal Palace FC during the UEFA Conference League 2025/26 Knockout play-offs round draw, at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, 16 January 2026. EPA/MARTIAL TREZZINI
William Gallas, former French international player shows a ticket of Crystal Palace FC during the UEFA Conference League 2025/26 Knockout play-offs round draw, at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, 16 January 2026. EPA/MARTIAL TREZZINI
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Crystal Palace, Fiorentina Will Head East after Conference League Knockout Playoffs Draw

William Gallas, former French international player shows a ticket of Crystal Palace FC during the UEFA Conference League 2025/26 Knockout play-offs round draw, at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, 16 January 2026. EPA/MARTIAL TREZZINI
William Gallas, former French international player shows a ticket of Crystal Palace FC during the UEFA Conference League 2025/26 Knockout play-offs round draw, at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, 16 January 2026. EPA/MARTIAL TREZZINI

Crystal Palace and Fiorentina face trips to eastern Europe in the Conference League after both preseason favorites found the opening phase tough and landed in the knockout playoffs round draw Friday.

Palace is away in the first leg against Bosnian champion Zrinjski Mostar while Fiorentina — a two-time beaten finalist — will go to Poland to face Jagiellonia Bialystok.

Teams in the knockout playoffs placed ninth to 24th in the 36-team league standings that finished in December. The top eight, led by Strasbourg, advanced direct to the round of 16 which is drawn Feb. 28.

Palace and Fiorentina might have expected trips east with nine teams from former Iron Curtain countries in Friday's draw, and 10 in total in the 24-team knockout phase, The Associated Press reported.

That’s the most yet in the fifth season of UEFA’s third-tier competition that was created to give lower-ranked clubs more chances to play — and win prize money — into the second half of the season. The total Conference League prize fund is about 285 million euros ($331 million).

Kosovo is represented in a knockout phase for the first time in its nine seasons playing in UEFA club competitions: Drita is at home first against Celje of Slovenia.

North Macedonia’s Shkendija was paired with Samsunspor of Türkiye, and Armenian champion Noah will first host AZ Alkmaar of the Netherlands.

First-leg games are played Feb. 19 and the returns are one week later.

Teams already in the round of 16 also include Shakhtar Donetsk, Rayo Vallecano and Mainz.

The Conference League final is in Leipzig, Germany on May 27.

Sports

Arteta: Arsenal Building Momentum in Every Competition

14 January 2026, United Kingdom, London: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta Applauds the fans after the English Carabao Cup semi-final first leg soccer match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. Photo: Nick Potts/PA Wire/dpa
14 January 2026, United Kingdom, London: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta Applauds the fans after the English Carabao Cup semi-final first leg soccer match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. Photo: Nick Potts/PA Wire/dpa
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Arteta: Arsenal Building Momentum in Every Competition

14 January 2026, United Kingdom, London: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta Applauds the fans after the English Carabao Cup semi-final first leg soccer match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. Photo: Nick Potts/PA Wire/dpa
14 January 2026, United Kingdom, London: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta Applauds the fans after the English Carabao Cup semi-final first leg soccer match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. Photo: Nick Potts/PA Wire/dpa

Arsenal's consistent performance should convince the players that they can achieve something historic this season, manager Mikel Arteta said on Friday, with the club in contention for four trophies.

Arteta's men, who finished second in the English top-flight in the past three seasons, have a six-point lead at the top of the standings and have not lost any of their last 10 matches in all competitions.

They are also top of the table in the Champions League with six wins from six matches, have reached ⁠the FA Cup fourth round and clinched a 3-2 win at Chelsea in the first leg of the League Cup semi-finals on Wednesday.

"We are building very good momentum and belief comes from performances and the level of consistency we have shown throughout 32 games this season," Arteta told ⁠reporters before Saturday's Premier League trip to Nottingham Forest.

"What we did the other day at Stamford Bridge should help us to be very convinced that we have the ability to do that.

"But the reality is you have to show it in every game. There is still so much to happen. But we are glad that we are still alive in the four competitions."

Arsenal drew with champions Liverpool in their previous league game, and Arteta ⁠was wary of Forest, who are 17th in the standings but have recovered from a terrible start to the season since they appointed manager Sean Dyche in October.

"A top coach. Really good at what he does. You can see straight away his fingerprints, the way they play, some of the results they got against big teams as well, how difficult they make it," Reuters quoted Arteta as saying.

"With Sean, they are different. Very efficient in what they do with a clear identity. That is what makes them dangerous."