Kompany Won't Allow Bayern to Dwell on Champions League Exit

Bayern head coach Vincent Kompany creacts after the Champions League semifinal second leg soccer match between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint Germain in Munich, Germany, Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Bayern head coach Vincent Kompany creacts after the Champions League semifinal second leg soccer match between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint Germain in Munich, Germany, Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
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Kompany Won't Allow Bayern to Dwell on Champions League Exit

Bayern head coach Vincent Kompany creacts after the Champions League semifinal second leg soccer match between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint Germain in Munich, Germany, Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Bayern head coach Vincent Kompany creacts after the Champions League semifinal second leg soccer match between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint Germain in Munich, Germany, Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany will not allow his players to feel sorry for themselves after Wednesday's Champions League semi-final exit to Paris St Germain and has urged them to finish the season strong with the German Cup still up for grabs.

The Bavarians have won the Bundesliga and reached the German Cup final but their 1-1 draw with PSG in Munich saw them eliminated from Europe's elite club competition 6-5 on aggregate.

"It is normal to be disappointed, it was such a big goal and it cost a lot of energy," Kompany told a press conference on Friday. "But from ⁠the next day ⁠it is only about the future.

"My role is to project that and how we must react."

Kompany was criticized for playing too high a line and leaving gaps at the back in the two matches against PSG.

Bayern have conceded 12 goals in their last four games in all competitions but the Belgian said ⁠he would not change the way his team plays as long as they are scoring more goals than the opposition.

Bayern have shattered the record for most goals scored in a Bundesliga season with 116 so far and two matches remaining. The previous record was 101 set in 1971/72.

"We are very pragmatic people in Belgium. If the goal difference (in the Bundesliga) is an all-time record of 81 then you have done quite a lot so as not to lose matches," Reuters quoted Kompany as saying.

"We win the games ⁠and the ⁠goal difference shows that we do it with a great difference against our opponents."

Bayern travel to struggling VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday in the penultimate match of the Bundesliga season before wrapping up their league campaign against Cologne a week later.

They then travel to Berlin to face VfB Stuttgart in the German Cup final on May 23.

Kompany said it was important for the side to show they have moved on from the Champions League exit.

"We want to show that this is already in the past and it is about what we can still achieve, not only in the next weeks but beyond," he added.



Dutch Forward Kluivert Returns from Knee Surgery for Bournemouth Ahead of World Cup

FILE - Justin Kluivert of the Netherlands walks off the pitch after a World Cup qualifying soccer match between the Netherlands and Poland in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)
FILE - Justin Kluivert of the Netherlands walks off the pitch after a World Cup qualifying soccer match between the Netherlands and Poland in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)
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Dutch Forward Kluivert Returns from Knee Surgery for Bournemouth Ahead of World Cup

FILE - Justin Kluivert of the Netherlands walks off the pitch after a World Cup qualifying soccer match between the Netherlands and Poland in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)
FILE - Justin Kluivert of the Netherlands walks off the pitch after a World Cup qualifying soccer match between the Netherlands and Poland in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)

Netherlands forward Justin Kluivert's return for Bournemouth after a four-month absence from knee surgery could boost his hopes of playing in the World Cup.

The 27-year-old Kluivert, who hasn't played since early January, is expected to be in Bournemouth's squad for its Premier League game at Fulham, The Associated Press quoted manager Andoni Iraola as saying on Friday.

The Cherries enter the weekend in sixth place — currently the Europa League spot — with three games left in the season.

Kluivert injured his left knee in Bournemouth's 3-2 loss to Arsenal on Jan. 3 and had surgery a few days later. He had scored two goals this season. He's been training with the team for the past two weeks.

Kluivert, the son of Dutch great Patrick Kluivert, returned to the national team under coach Ronald Koeman in November 2024 after a six-year absence.

The Dutch open their World Cup campaign against Japan on June 14 in Group F. They also face Sweden and Tunisia.


Copa Libertadores Game in Colombia Abandoned Due to Crowd Trouble

Carlos Bacca (R) of Junior reacts during a Copa Libertadores group stage soccer match between Junior and Cerro Porteno at Romelio Martinez Stadium in Cartagena, Colombia, 07 May 2026.  EPA/Ricardo Maldonado Rozo
Carlos Bacca (R) of Junior reacts during a Copa Libertadores group stage soccer match between Junior and Cerro Porteno at Romelio Martinez Stadium in Cartagena, Colombia, 07 May 2026. EPA/Ricardo Maldonado Rozo
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Copa Libertadores Game in Colombia Abandoned Due to Crowd Trouble

Carlos Bacca (R) of Junior reacts during a Copa Libertadores group stage soccer match between Junior and Cerro Porteno at Romelio Martinez Stadium in Cartagena, Colombia, 07 May 2026.  EPA/Ricardo Maldonado Rozo
Carlos Bacca (R) of Junior reacts during a Copa Libertadores group stage soccer match between Junior and Cerro Porteno at Romelio Martinez Stadium in Cartagena, Colombia, 07 May 2026. EPA/Ricardo Maldonado Rozo

A Copa Libertadores match between Colombia's Independiente Medellin and Brazilian side Flamengo in Medellin was abandoned on Thursday after home fans lit flares and threw objects onto the pitch shortly after kick-off.

The teams were sent back to the dressing rooms and the stadium was evacuated before ⁠the game was ⁠called off by South American football governing body CONMEBOL.

Independiente Medellin and CONMEBOL did not immediately respond to an emailed request by Reuters for comment.

Reports in ⁠Colombian media said Independiente Medellin fans were protesting against the club’s management amid a run of poor results.

Flamengo's director of football Jose Boto said the club, who are the defending Copa Libertadores champions, expected to be awarded a victory and three ⁠points ⁠under CONMEBOL regulations.

"The responsibility is not ours, the regulations are clear. The home team failed to guarantee security," Boto said in a video posted on Flamengo's social media.

Flamengo are top of Copa Libertadores Group A, with Independiente Medellin third behind Argentina's Estudiantes.


History-chasing Barca Eye Title Party in Liga Clasico

Barcelona are on the brink of the title and can claim it with a point in the Clasico on Sunday at Camp Nou. ANDER GILLENEA / AFP/File
Barcelona are on the brink of the title and can claim it with a point in the Clasico on Sunday at Camp Nou. ANDER GILLENEA / AFP/File
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History-chasing Barca Eye Title Party in Liga Clasico

Barcelona are on the brink of the title and can claim it with a point in the Clasico on Sunday at Camp Nou. ANDER GILLENEA / AFP/File
Barcelona are on the brink of the title and can claim it with a point in the Clasico on Sunday at Camp Nou. ANDER GILLENEA / AFP/File

With the sting of Champions League disappointment fading but not forgotten, Barcelona are aiming to clinch back-to-back La Liga titles on Sunday when they host bitter rivals Real Madrid.

Leading by 11 points, Hansi Flick's side only need a draw in the Clasico to be crowned champions again, although a victory against a Los Blancos team in crisis would keep them on course to make history -- and celebrate in style, said AFP.

If Barcelona win their last four league games this season, starting with the battle against Alvaro Arbeloa's fracturing Madrid, they will match the all-time league record of 100 points.

That was first achieved by Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid in 2011-12 and followed the season after by Tito Vilanova's Barca.

Barca's 29 wins so far this season are the most of any side at this point, and if they win their last four games they will break the record of 32 victories in a season, shared by the Mourinho and Vilanova sides.

Should Barca beat Madrid and also Real Betis the following weekend, they will become the first team to win all their home matches in a 38-game La Liga season.

However, they are without teenage star Lamine Yamal, who is out for the next few weeks with a hamstring injury.

Brazilian winger Raphinha returned to the bench last weekend after injury but did not appear in the win at Osasuna which moved Barca to the brink of the title.

"I see the team in great shape, very focused -- we're all really looking forward to playing the Clasico," said Barca defender Jules Kounde this week.

"We can win La Liga with a draw, but a win would be the best."

This is the first Clasico at the partially-rebuilt Camp Nou in over three years.

In March 2023, Xavi Hernandez's Barca snatched a late victory with Franck Kessie's goal which helped them open up a 12-point lead on Madrid and made them virtually assured of the title.

Only once before in Clasico history has the title actually been decided by the result of the game, as could happen again this Sunday.

Real Madrid won the first of their record 36 leagues by drawing 2-2 against Barcelona in the 1931-32 season to clinch the title.

Barca are aiming to seal their 29th this weekend, with Madrid keen to postpone those celebrations by scoring a second victory over Flick's team this season.

They are waiting to see if top goalscorer Kylian Mbappe can be involved after a thigh injury, while Vinicius Junior is expected to lead the line for Los Blancos.

"He's the player who has given me the most problems," said Kounde of the Brazil international.

"He's a great player, very fast, and he changes direction constantly."

Madrid face the Clasico in the midst of internal chaos, with Federico Valverde reportedly needing stitches after a training ground bust-up with Aurelien Tchouameni, one of a spate of such incidents.

There is great tension around Arbeloa's side, about to finish a second consecutive season without a major trophy.

Still, for Flick's young side, wounded in Europe but dominant domestically, beating Los Blancos to claim the title would help them finish the season on a high note.

Player to watch: Vinicius Junior

With Mbappe sidelined the Brazilian winger has been at his best. His match-winning brace at Espanyol last week prevented Barcelona clinching the title and saved Madrid having to give the champions a guard of honor on Sunday.