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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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Sports

Roberto Carlos Reportedly Undergoes Heart Surgery While on Vacation in Brazil

Roberto Carlos. (AFP)
Roberto Carlos. (AFP)
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Roberto Carlos Reportedly Undergoes Heart Surgery While on Vacation in Brazil

Roberto Carlos. (AFP)
Roberto Carlos. (AFP)

Former Brazil and Real Madrid defender Roberto Carlos has undergone surgery for a heart problem, Spanish daily sports newspaper Diario AS reported on Wednesday.

The 52-year-old former full-back, who now serves as a Madrid ambassador, was reportedly vacationing in his home country when an examination revealed a heart dysfunction.

According to AS, Roberto Carlos initially sought tests for a small blood clot in his leg. However, a full-body MRI showed his heart was not functioning properly. He was admitted to hospital for surgery to have a catheter inserted.

The procedure, which was expected to last 40 minutes, extended to almost three hours due to a complication, AS said, adding the procedure was successful.

Roberto Carlos is said to be out of danger but remains under close observation and will stay hospitalized for another 48 hours to ensure his recovery continues.

The newspaper said it contacted the former Brazil star and his entourage, quoting him as saying: “I’m fine now.”

Roberto Carlos, one of the most attacked-minded left backs of all time, won 125 Brazil caps and played for 11 years at Madrid.

He was a member of the World Cup squads which reached the final in 1998 and won in 2002. He also helped Brazil win the Copa America in 1997 and 1999 and won the Champions League three times with Madrid.

Roberto Carlos once produced a stunning “banana” free kick that seemed to defy the law of physics and was analyzed by scientists.

In what many people regard as the best free kick in the history of the game, he struck the ball with the outside of his left foot from 35 yards, bending it around France’s three-man wall during an exhibition tournament in Lyon in 1997.

The shot looked way off target, a ball boy standing 10 yards from the goal even ducked his head, but at the last moment it swerved dramatically into the net. The bewildered France goalkeeper, Fabien Barthez, had not even moved.

Roberto Carlos claimed at the time he had done it all before, against Roma when he was playing for Inter Milan, although he never quite managed to repeat his 1997 trick.

Sports

Mbappe Suffers Knee Sprain in Blow for Real Madrid

Real Madrid's French forward #10 Kylian Mbappe sits on the bench during the UEFA Champions League league phase day 6 football match between Real Madrid CF and Manchester City at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on December 10, 2025. (AFP)
Real Madrid's French forward #10 Kylian Mbappe sits on the bench during the UEFA Champions League league phase day 6 football match between Real Madrid CF and Manchester City at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on December 10, 2025. (AFP)
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Mbappe Suffers Knee Sprain in Blow for Real Madrid

Real Madrid's French forward #10 Kylian Mbappe sits on the bench during the UEFA Champions League league phase day 6 football match between Real Madrid CF and Manchester City at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on December 10, 2025. (AFP)
Real Madrid's French forward #10 Kylian Mbappe sits on the bench during the UEFA Champions League league phase day 6 football match between Real Madrid CF and Manchester City at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on December 10, 2025. (AFP)

Real Madrid on Wednesday said that Kylian Mbappe had suffered a knee sprain, delivering a blow to their bid to reel in Liga leaders Barcelona.

"After the tests carried out today on our player Kylian Mbappe by Real Madrid's medical services, he was diagnosed with a sprain in his left knee. Awaiting evolution," the club said in a statement.

Real Madrid did not indicate how long the 27-year-old striker would be out for, but a source close to the France superstar told AFP that he would be absent for at least three weeks.

Mbappe, the leading scorer in La Liga this season with 18 goals, is therefore a major doubt for Sunday's league match at home to Real Betis, Los Merengues' first after the winter break as they trail Barcelona by four points.

He could also miss the Spanish Super Cup semi-final against arch-rivals Atletico Madrid in Saudi Arabia on January 8, as well as a league fixture against Levante and a Champions League clash with former club Monaco.

Real did not say when or how Mbappe was injured, however he had trained with the team on Tuesday.

He underwent an MRI scan on Wednesday.

Mbappe has enjoyed a stellar 2025, equaling Cristiano Ronaldo's club record 59 goals in a calendar year, and has at times carried Real Madrid, relieving some pressure on under-fire coach Xabi Alonso.

He has scored 73 goals in 83 matches for Real since making a free transfer move to the Spanish giants from Paris Saint-Germain 18 months ago.

He finished top scorer in La Liga last season with 31 goals -- four more than Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski -- and is currently seven goals clear of the next best this season, Barca's Ferran Torres.

His absence adds to those of Real defenders Daniel Carvajal, Eder Militao, Trent Alexander-Arnold, midfielder Federico Valverde, and forward Brahim Diaz who is at the Africa Cup of Nations with Morocco.

Sports

Caballero Defends Maresca After Palmer Substitution Sparks Jeers

Football - Premier League - Chelsea v AFC Bournemouth - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - December 30, 2025 Chelsea's Cole Palmer shakes hands with manager Enzo Maresca after being substituted. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Chelsea v AFC Bournemouth - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - December 30, 2025 Chelsea's Cole Palmer shakes hands with manager Enzo Maresca after being substituted. (Action Images via Reuters)
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Caballero Defends Maresca After Palmer Substitution Sparks Jeers

Football - Premier League - Chelsea v AFC Bournemouth - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - December 30, 2025 Chelsea's Cole Palmer shakes hands with manager Enzo Maresca after being substituted. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Chelsea v AFC Bournemouth - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - December 30, 2025 Chelsea's Cole Palmer shakes hands with manager Enzo Maresca after being substituted. (Action Images via Reuters)

Chelsea assistant coach Willy Caballero defended Enzo Maresca's decision to replace Cole Palmer after the controversial substitution sparked jeered from angry fans during the 2-2 draw against Bournemouth on Tuesday.

Maresca was barraged with chants of "you don't know what you're doing" when Palmer was brought off in the 63rd minute as Chelsea chased a winning goal that would have ended their disappointing spell.

The Chelsea manager's move backfired, leaving them with just one win from their last seven league games and sparking more boos at the final whistle.

The pressure is growing on the Italian, with fifth-placed Chelsea having dropped 13 points at home from winning positions.

But Maresca, who was absent from his post-match media duties due to an illness, remains an "example" to everyone at the club according to Caballero.

"Any supporter wants to have the best players on the pitch," he said. "We want to have that as well. But Cole is coming from a long injury.

"In this case we need to find a way to find the right substitutions to go for the game and also to look after the health of our players.

"We want to have them for the rest of the season."

Asked why Maresca didn't face the media to explain his Palmer switch, Caballero said: "He didn't feel well the last two days. He was with a bit of a temperature two days ago.

"He did the last two sessions, he wanted to prepare the team. But after the game he went to the changing room and asked me to replace him because he didn't feel well.

"He's dealing well, he's very professional. He does a lot of hours every single day, even when the last two days feeling bad he was there. He loves to train and to coach. He's an example for me and all of the staff."

Bournemouth went ahead after six minutes when David Brooks finished at the second attempt following a Robert Sanchez save, before Chelsea levelled through Palmer's penalty.

Enzo Fernandez then fired the hosts in front but again the Blues could not hold their lead, Justin Kluivert equalizing before half-time after Chelsea failed to deal with a long throw-in from Antoine Semenyo.

Ghana forward Semenyo is reportedly set to join Manchester City and he appeared to say goodbye to Bournemouth's fans before leaving the pitch.

However, Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is confident he will play against leaders Arsenal on Saturday.

"It's not his last game here with us," Iraola said. "I cannot say a hundred percent but I think he will play."