Gravity-defying try hailed as Storm beat the Warriors in a last-minute thriller
Brett Lackey reports for Daily Mail Australiaand the Australian Associated Press that the Storm have secured a nail-biting victory over the Auckland Warriors in Melbourne, courtesy of a last-minute try hailed as one of the best of all time.
Melbourne winger Xavier Coates scored the miracle try with 25 seconds left to rob the Warriors of victory in a pulsating Round 2 NRL clash at AAMI Park.
Coates took flight from almost five meters out and somehow managed to plant the ball from his vertical position before taking out the corner post or going into touch.
Fox Sports commentator Mick Ennis dubbed the four-pointer ‘the best toy I’ve ever seen.’
‘That is ridiculous what he has just done.’
The try put the Storm back in front, with Nick Meaney converting for a final score of 30-26.
Fox commentator and former player Mick Ennis dubbed the try the best he’d ever seen
‘To be fair, I don’t know [how I did that],’ Coates said after the siren.
‘It was a bit of adrenaline going. I didn’t even know if I got the ball down.
‘That came down to the last sorta five minutes. It was collectively a team effort to get ourselves back into the game.’
Melbourne scored twice in the final three minutes of the game – until then, the Warriors looked certain to have finally taken down their bogey team after dominating the home side in the second half.
The victory extends the Storm’s winning run to 15 over the Warriors, who haven’t been victorious against the men in purple since 2015.
Melbourne led 18-6 at halftime, but the visitors scored three second-half tries to take control of the match.
The 23-year-old is a Papua New Guinea international who previously played for the Broncos Image credit: Daily MailCooper Cronk praised the Superman effort, saying he doesn’t ‘fathom’ how Coates pulled it off. Image credit: Daily MailCoates said after the game, he didn’t even realize he got the ball down and was running on adrenaline Image credit: Daily Mail
Nothing appeared to be going the Storm’s way, with Ryan Papenhuyzen and skipper Harry Grant giving away four points with dumb penalties in front of the goalposts.
After being pinged for an illegal steal, Papenhuyzen made amends with his second try of the night, coming in the 77th minute, with Meaney making it a two-point game.
Winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak scored a try in each half, and Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson marshaled his backline in style.
The try and conversion secured the Storm’s Round 2 clash after the Warriors looked to have it in the bag
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, playing in the centers, was also a constant danger as he transitioned back to the NRL after two years in rugby.
The first half was all Melbourne, with halfback Jahrome Hughes starring with two try assists, two line breaks, and six tackle busts.
Meaney’s galloping try came off a Hughes break, but the No.7 was equally important on defense, stopping a confident Marcelo Montoya try with a ball-and-all tackle.
Some behind the scenes at WWE reportedly aren’t thrilled with this story, Jamie Kennedy reports for What Culture.
Fightful Select reports that some behind the scenes at WWE are frustrated with Booker T for discussing an apparent non-story on his podcast. The legend discussed a seemingly fabricated backstage altercation with CM Punk at NXT this past Tuesday.
The site reports that Punk has been on his best behavior since returning to the company last November and was cheery when he stopped by to check out the third brand midweek. Nobody in WWE knows what incident Booker was referring to, but he told co-host Brad Gilmore that the pair almost “got into it.”
Later, Book laughed off the chatter amongst fans on social media.
Of course, Punk had several well-known backstage scuffles during his time in AEW, and he’s never been one to shy away from controversy throughout his entire pro wrestling career. It looks like Booker was creating drama where there was none, though, and no one’s quite sure why he’d bother.
This wasn’t in Fightful’s writeup on the situation, but it’s hard to imagine WWE chief Triple H would be happy with his fellow legend for stirring the pot over nothing.
FA Cup quarter-final tie: £89m blow & double injury doubt as nine players ruled out
Image credit: Newcastle World
Manchester City v Newcastle United: Early team news ahead of the FA Cup quarter-final tie at the Etihad Stadium. Jordan Cronin reports for Newcastle World.
Pep Guardiola‘s men have recorded a Premier League double over the Magpies this season. In August, they won 1-0 at the Etihad Stadium before Oscar Bobb’s stoppage-time winner claimed a dramatic victory at St James’ Park in January.
While City has the upper hand over United in the league, Eddie Howe’s men did dump them out of the Carabao Cup at the third round stage in September, with Alexander Isak scoring the game’s only goal.
But facing last season’s triple winners remains one of the most challenging assignments in world football, and Newcastle will need to be at its best to advance into the last four of the FA Cup for the first time in 20 years.
The Magpies may be boosted by the news that Kevin De Bruyne and Ederson won’t be involved after they picked up injuries away to Liverpool last time out.
However, Newcastle have injuries, as they have done all season. Anthony Gordon is the latest injury scare after a knee injury forced the winger to withdraw in the first half against Chelsea on Monday.
We examine the latest injury news from both camps before this evening’s 5:30 pm kick-off.
‘I won’t’ – Anthony Gordon issues Newcastle United injury update ahead of Man City FA Cup clash
Image credit: Newcastle World
Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon issues injury update ahead of the FA Cup clash away to Manchester City.
Newcastle United star Anthony Gordon says he’ll do everything possible to be involved against Manchester City on Saturday evening (kick-off 5:30 pm).
The 23-year-old was forced off with a knee injury during the first half of the Magpies’ 3-2 defeat at Chelsea on Monday. It was feared the issue was severe, with Eddie Howe admitting after the game, “It doesn’t look good.” But Gordon, reacting to his first-ever England call-up, has confirmed he feels fine despite initially panicking.
Gordon told NUFCTV: “I was looking forward to that game so much, I knew it was an ample opportunity. Monday night football, two teams that are fighting each other at the moment – it was a big occasion, but in the game, I picked up a slight injury which made me panic a lot at the time with my knee; you don’t mess around with your knees in football so when I had those feelings, I was praying that it was nothing serious, and thankfully for me, it wasn’t.
“The day after the game, I came into training, and it didn’t feel bad. It hadn’t swelled up, and usually, with the knee, if it swells, it could be a bad problem. I know my own body, and I knew at that moment I was fine, but in the game, when you’re getting certain shooting pains, it can offset you, and as I say, it made me panic a lot.”
Gareth Southgate has called up Gordon for England’s friendlies against Bruno Guimaraes’ Brazil and Belgium at Wembley. But before that, the former Everton winger is pushing to return for the visit to Man City in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
“I’ve always said if I’m not injured, I won’t miss games,” Gordon added. “I was fortunate there wasn’t much up with my knee; it was just a bit of pain. I can’t then miss games because of a sore knee; that’s not what I’m about. If I can play, I’ll play. I’ll do everything possible to be in that position from now to the game.”
The Rock holds a Rock Concert and trashes Cody Rhodes and Seth “Freakin” Rollins.
Michin can’t get through to AJ Styles: SmackDown Exclusive, March 15, 2024
Legado del Fantasma is coming for Undisputed gold: SmackDown exclusive, March 15, 2024
Legado del Fantasma def. The LWO – WrestleMania XL Tag Team Championship Qualifying Match
Angel and Berto are one step closer to realizing their WrestleMania dreams as they defeated Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro in a WrestleMania XL Tag Team Championship Qualifying Match.
Angel and Berto brought the fight to The LWO, including exhilaratingly throwing Del Toro off the top rope. Del Toro fought hard and tagged in the high-flying Wilde, which turned the tide in the match for a short time.
Legado del Fantasma isolated Wilde in the ring before hitting him with a stunning press slam into a kick right to the stomach, winning the match.
Randy Orton def. Grayson Waller
With United States Champion Logan Paul sitting in on commentary, Randy Orton dispatched Grayson Waller in a singles match before receiving some big WrestleMania news.
Waller showed a lot of heart, but Orton was his vintage Viper self as he dropped The Aussie Icon on the announce table multiple times before hitting his signature DDT.
After delivering a DDT to Austin Theory, Orton hit an RKO on Waller out of nowhere, giving him the win.
After the match, Theory and Paul attempted to attack Orton, but Kevin Owens ran down to intervene. SmackDown General Manager interrupted the action and announced that Orton and Owens would challenge Logan Paul for the US Title at WrestleMania XL.
Santos Escobar def. Dragon Lee
Legado del Fantasma picked up their second major evening victory as Santos Escobar defeated Dragon Lee in singles action.
Lee started the match with a bang, hitting a fantastic splash over the top rope, but Escobar weathered the early storm and took control.
Despite Lee’s best efforts, Escobar hit a Phantom Driver to secure the victory. After the match, he was confronted by Rey Mysterio, who challenged him to a game on next week’s SmackDown!
New Catch Republic def. Pretty Deadly – WrestleMania XL Tag Team Championship Qualifying Match
Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate of New Catch Republic dominated Elton Prince and Kit Wilson of Pretty Deadly to win the WrestleMania XL Tag Team Championship Qualifying Match, setting up a match with Legado del Fantasma for a spot at WrestleMania 40.
Dunne used his rabid offense to keep Pretty Deadly off guard, and Bate lived up to his moniker as The Big Strong Boi. The duo managed to hit a Burning Hammer to punch their ticket to the Finals of the SmackDown side of the WrestleMania XL Tag Team Qualifying Bracket.
Bayley def. Dakota Kai via disqualification
https://youtu.be/Nh6etbCDFps
The match between 2024 Royal Rumble Winner Bayley and her former friend and Damage CTRL teammate Dakota Kai ended in a disqualification when WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY punched Bayley.
The Role Model controlled the match, but an angered SKY had seen enough and attacked her WrestleMania XL opponent.
After the bell, Naomi attempted to help Bayley, but Asuka, Kairi Sane, and the champion laid out their enemies and stood tall in the ring together.
Cruz Del Toro and Joaquin Wilde of The LWO are one step closer to NXT Stand & Deliver after defeating Bronco Nima and Lucien Price of OTM.
Before the match could begin, OTM jumped their opponents and tossed them into the ring, but thanks to their supreme athleticism, LWO quickly gained the upper hand.
The hulking Nima restored some order for his team, but an unbelievable flying splash from Wilde to the outside, followed by a springboard 450 splash, gave The LWO the impressive win.
Lexis King def. Mr. Stone
https://youtu.be/HTmrhSHlL9g
Mr. Stone didn’t stand a chance against Lexis King as he was dominated from bell to bell by his fierce rival.
After the match, Von Wagner ran down to the ring to help his friend and to stave off a post-match attack from King.
NXT North American Champion Oba Femi def. Brooks Jensen
Brooks Jensen failed to win the NXT North American Championship against Oba Femi, but he may have regained a friend in Josh Briggs.
The champion looked dominant against the challenger, prompting Briggs to leave the backstage watch party and come to ringside to cheer on his former tag team partner.
The support, however, was not enough as Femi overpowered Jensen before finishing him off with a devastating powerbomb.
Arianna Grace def. Gigi Dolin
Gigi Dolin will officially receive a makeover from Arianna Grace after her stunning loss to The Beauty Queen.
Dolin has been looking to get her hands on Grace for weeks and dominated early on, but Grace managed to weather the storm before employing some underhanded tactics.
Grace was determined to put her crown on Dolin’s head during the match, but the referee intervened, allowing Grace to hit a cheap shot. Dolin followed in kind, but she was caught, and the official declared it a disqualification, meaning Dolin was getting a makeover.
Thea Hail found a partner in Fallon Henley, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Kiana James and Izzi Dame in tag team action.
Henley ran down to help Hail after her Kelani Jordan could not compete. Hail’s supposed friends, Jacy Jayne and Jazmyn Nix, arrived shortly after at ringside.
After a flurry of action, Jayne pulled Henley out of the way of a Dame attack, but it allowed the bruiser to hit Hail, which allowed James to hit Deal Breaker to earn the win.
Shawn Spears def. Ridge Holland
Shawn Spears has been looking to prove something against Ridge Holland, and he dared Holland to finally unleash his power by putting Spears through a table.
Holland was a Superstar on a mission, but he couldn’t put away Spears, and his inclusion of a steel chair ended up costing him his life.
Spears gained the upper hand and hit a crushing C-4 onto the steel chair in the corner, allowing him to declare victory in both the match and in baiting Holland’s dark side to come out.
FULL SEGMENT – Trick Williams plants a kiss on Lash Legend: WWE NXT, March 12, 2024
Tony D’Angelo abducts NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov: WWE NXT highlights, March 12, 2024
Roxanne Perez demands to be named the NXT Women’s Champion: WWE NXT highlights, March 12, 2024
https://youtu.be/KgyzfKF6Wy8
The LWO vs. OTM – Triple Threat Tag Match Qualifier: WWE NXT highlights, March 12, 2024
Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro return to NXT to face Bronco Nima and Lucien Price of OTM for a spot in the No. 1 Contenders’ Tag Team Triple Threat Match. Catch WWE action on Peacock, WWE Network, FOX, USA Network, Sony India and more. #WWENXT
Gigi Dolin vs. Arianna Grace: WWE NXT highlights, March 12, 2024
https://youtu.be/vRg_PW_H5pQ
Gigi Dolin and Arianna Grace battle in a high-stakes matchup where if Dolin loses, she will receive a makeover from The Beauty Queen of NXT. Catch WWE action on Peacock, WWE Network, FOX, USA Network, Sony India and more. #WWENXT
Thea Hail & Fallon Henley vs. Kiana James & Izzi Dame: WWE NXT highlights, March 12, 2024
Fallon Henley comes to the aid of Thea Hail in their tag team against Kiana James and Izzi Dame. Catch WWE action on Peacock, WWE Network, FOX, USA Network, Sony India and more. #WWENXT
https://youtu.be/YC5-_TJEqkY
The old Thea Hail is back!: WWE NXT highlights, March 12, 2024
https://youtu.be/qpzD9TWiY6U
Mr. Stone vs. Lexis King: WWE NXT highlights, March 12, 2024
WWE legend hints at coming out of retirement for one more match
wwe-smackdown_w-DAZN
Could there be an in-ring return for one of WWE’s biggest-ever names?
WWE legend The Undertaker has admitted he’s thought about having one more match.
The wrestling icon ended his 30-year career at Survivor Series 2020 and was later inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
Since retirement, the Deadman has made sporadic appearances in WWE, most recently in October last year when he choke-slammed Bron Breakker during an NXT angle.
However, when discussing retirement on a Patreon Q&A on his Six Feet Under podcast, the 58-year-old admitted he has considered returning to the ring for one more match.
“It’s still tough for me. I’m still figuring it out,” he said.
“I may or may not have told my wife recently that I was going to make a comeback. Fortunately, I think I’ve talked myself out of that.
“No, there’s not one more match. It was just like — I just got back from Australia, I was tired, and I knew I had a lot of stuff coming up. And that was me just feeling comfortable saying it… Don’t expect it. There’s not one more match. Don’t even start.”
Chelsea Women taunted their Arsenal counterparts after the Gunners brought the wrong-coloured socks for the WSL clash at Stamford Bridge, Jeorge Bird reports for Mail Online.
Kick-off was delayed by 30 minutes due to the mishap, and to compound Arsenal’s misery, Chelsea ran out 3-1 winners.
Emma Hayes’ side is three points clear at the top of the WSL table, ahead of their closest challengers, Manchester City, who have a game in hand. The Blues are six points ahead of Arsenal.
Chelsea couldn’t resist the opportunity to taunt Arsenal about the incident as they posted on X: ‘London is Blue, and so are your socks.’
Arsenal are understood to have brought white socks instead of red, which resulted in a clash with Chelsea.
Both teams wear white socks as part of their home kits, but with Chelsea, the hosts, Arsenal, were forced to change colors just minutes before kick-off.
The Gunners eventually settled the dispute by wearing Chelsea’s black away socks. However, they had to tape over the Nike logo, with blue tape used in most cases. The Gunners confirmed they have paid for the socks themselves.
Nike’s rivals, Adidas, sponsor Arsenal, so they cannot show the logo of Chelsea’s kit manufacturer.
Chelsea wore blue socks when they played at the Emirates in December.
Also, teams are not allowed to wear the same colored shirts; shorts and socks must also be different.
They initially warmed up wearing their usual white and red socks before being forced to switch
Both teams were forced to come back out for a second warm-up due to the delay.
The game eventually kicked off at 7.30 pm, half an hour after the scheduled start time.
Arsenal women’s official X account refused to reveal the exact cause of the delay but explained the match had been delayed due to a ‘kit issue.’
Meanwhile, Chelsea’s official social media account posted a cryptic tweet, adding: ‘Ready to work our socks off.’
Ian Wright was among the high-profile names who hit out at the gaffe. He fumed over the delay as thousands of supporters waited for the game to begin.
The Arsenal men’s legend described the saga as ’embarrassing,’ posting on his X profile: ‘Embarrassing this. Ridiculous.’ about the delay.
Furious supporters also fumed at the incident, with one user posting online: ‘Quite agree. It was the season’s biggest WSL match, and someone in the kit department messed up badly. How on earth could that have happened?’
Another similar post stated: ‘Never in a million years would I expect something like socks to be a big deal.’
The delay did little to help Arsenal’s preparation as they conceded three goals against their cross-city rivals in the opening 30 minutes of the match.
Lauren James gave Chelsea the lead, with Sjoeke Nusken proceeding to score a brace. Macario scored a late own goal as Arsenal reduced the deficit, but Chelsea still took all three points.
In the build-up to her debut at “Big Business” this past Wednesday (Mar. 13), Mercedes Moné interviewed Evan Mack’s The Kick Rocks Wrestling Podcast, which generated a lot of headlines, Sean Rueter reports for Cageside Seat.
When the former Sasha Banks spoke to Mack, she was still playing it coy about her next move as AEW employed the same “open secret” promotional approach they’d used for CM Punk’s arrival in 2021 for Moné’s first appearance. That could help explain why Mercedes told the Kick Rocks host she was sure she’ll return to WWE someday:
“I know I’m going to be back there [WWE] one day. It’s not over. I have a lot of unfinished business in wrestling in many places.”
Mercedes Moné shows her appreciation for her hometown crowd in Bo$$ton!
But whether that was designed to create doubt about her next move or is a real indication of her future plans*, it apparently didn’t play well at AEW.
In the newest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer wrote about Moné, saying she knows she’ll eventually return to WWE…
Boy, did this one rub a lot of people the wrong way. Time will tell, and quite frankly, she should always consider the possibility of going to WWE but saying so days before she starts in AEW wouldn’t be the right time politically.
Within AEW, Meltzer says there are those who really want to be with the company and those who see it as a place to get paid until they get another opportunity with WWE. The latter group is seen as responsible for many of AEW’s behind-the-scenes problems, which is why Moné’s quote upset those in the former.
Meltzer hypothetically asks what the response at WWE would have been if Cody Rhodes or Jade Cargill had said they were sure they’d eventually be back in AEW before WWE announced their signings. He then closes out the item by writing:
This will play out as it does in time, but the skeptical people are now more skeptical. In the end, nobody will remember this statement if she’s a long-term valuable asset to the company. And if not, everyone will remember this statement.
Relishing the responsibility of being an athlete and activist
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 15: Madison Hammond #99 of Angel City FC reacts after Angel City FC’s first goal in the first half of a game against the Portland Thorns at BMO Stadium on October 15, 2023, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images)
After becoming the first Native American to play in the NWSL, Madison Hammond wants to make even more history.
“When you’re the first, you don’t have a blueprint of how you’re supposed to do it.”
Those are the words of football player Madison Hammond, who knows exactly what it means to be the first to do something.
When the 26-year-old made her league debut in 2020, she became the first Native American to play in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
Since then, she has become a role model for young girls across North America, growing into the responsibility that came with it.
“I wasn’t equipped with the ways to handle that. I didn’t know what it meant to be a role model, but I’ve always wanted to lead by example.”
In 2022, she realized what her presence at this level meant to fans, noting one particular experience with a young girl from the Navajo Nation—the same reservation her mother was born on—who traveled from Ohio to see her.
Madison was not selected to play in that game, but she knew from that moment what kind of legacy she would have.
“It all just puts it into perspective,” she said. “I could never step on a soccer field ever again, and the impact I have had and the inspiration I leave with people don’t feel real.”
Hammond doesn’t just want to stop there, though.
The Angel City defender has her sights set on leaving football in a better place than she came into it, making more history along the way.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 05: Madison Hammond #99 of Angel City FC plays the ball from Kenti Robles of Mexico #2 during the first half in the Copa Angelina 2022 at Banc of California Stadium on September 05, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Madison Hammond: I’m ready to evolve into the next thing
Hammond made history four years ago and wants to do it again.
“I’ve gotten to do many cool things because of who I am, and I would never want to change that,” she continued. “Now I’m ready to evolve into the next thing.
“I don’t just want to be the first Native American to play in the NWSL; I want to be the first Native American to make the NWSL’s Best XI First Team and get called to the national team.”
But her journey at the top has not been without its challenges.
After being a starting defender for OL Reign, she moved to Angel City in 2021, but her minutes with the Los Angeles outfit were limited. She found herself alternating between defense and midfield.
“I learned a lot about myself as an athlete [in that year] and as a person,” Hammond told the LA Times.
“It’s the first time in my life I experienced things like anxiety, especially related to sports performance.
“I was raised to rub dirt in it – you grind through it. I always thought going to therapy and talking about mental health made you weak.
“But then I found an excellent therapist, and I’ve truly changed in so many ways. I can give myself a lot more grace to make mistakes and to fail; it’s not going to be the end of the world.”
With a fresh mindset, the Phoenix-born defender is ready to overcome any barriers in her way, whether in football or beyond.
“Sport is something that [has] a time limit. There’s a clock on it.
“I can be fully committed to sports now, but career 2 or 3 could look completely different – and then I’ll just bust those doors down when I get there.”
Growing into the role of athlete and activist
When Hammond began her professional career in the NWSL, being in the spotlight was unnatural.
Fast forward to the start of the 2024 season, and this history-making footballer has adopted a new motto.
“It felt like all eyes were on me, and the word ‘responsibility’ had a negative connotation,” she told Medscape. “Since then, I have become an athlete and activist.
“My new motto is to live as authentically as possible, which comes back to how I carry myself with the values that have made me who I am.”
Part of that is about lending her voice to causes that not only mean something to her but also rely on allyship to be seen and heard in the U.S.
“Having people of color in front offices who influence decision-making is crucial for creating spaces where diversity is championed,” she adds.
“That’s how we will achieve teams that reflect those who want to play soccer. Soccer is a worldwide sport everyone plays—not just white people—and I would love for the league to reflect that.”
Hammond is not the first, and will not be the last, player who wants to help the sport reflect the times.
But one thing is for sure: she is ready to do the work to ensure everyone feels like there is a place for them in football, an experience she wasn’t always afforded while growing up playing the game.
“I want anyone who wants to play soccer to know there’s a place for them no matter what they look like, where they come from, or their background.
“I want to help create a sports world where Black girls, Native girls, and nonbinary and trans people are fervently advocated for. It’s a tall task in this climate, but I’m ready to do the work.”
After enjoying one of their best weeks of the season, can Bayern Munich continue the momentum as they travel to bottom side Darmstadt on matchday 26 of the Bundesliga?
Bayern Munich erased any doubts of a Champions League hangover the last time we saw the squad perform. Coming off an impressed 3-0 victory against Lazio in the Champions League Round of 16, Bayern pummeled struggling Mainz at the Allianz Arena on matchday 25 of the Bundesliga. A Harry Kane hat trick and Leon Goretzka brace were enough to keep the momentum for De Roten; Jonathan Britt reports for Bayern Strikes.
While the Bundesliga title chase is all but over for the Bavarians as Bayern Leverkusen look to be likely winners, the squad still have one last shot at a trophy as they remain in the Champions League. Thomas Tuchel seems to have finally found the right combination within his team. The German coach wants to maintain continuity in results and form ahead of big knockout games in the Champions League. While the game against Darmstadt would usually allow Tuchel to rest players, he may instead look for consistency. Let’s look at the Bayern side ahead of their trip to Darmstadt.
Bayern Munich
Any doubt that Manuel Neuer may struggle to return to form after his leg break over a year ago has been put to rest. The German continues to deliver consistent performances every weekend. He will look to keep a clean sheet on Saturday to extend his excellent run of form.
During the last three games, Joshua Kimmich has been solid in the right-back position. He continues to pick out his trademark passes from deep. He is expected to start in the same role against Darmstadt. With all four center backs available to Tuchel, I find it hard to imagine he will change from the Eric Dier-Matthijs de Ligt combination that works so well. Alphonso Davies got the start against Mainz and was taken off after a shot to the face, which caused a trip to the dentist. I expect him to start on Saturday if he is cleared to play.
Tuchel seems to have finally found a midfield pairing that gives him balance on the pitch. Leon Goretzka and soon-to-be German international Aleksandar Pavlovic complement each other in the park’s center. Pavlovic can operate within the midfield and roam, while Goretzka is a makeshift defender, allowing the full-backs to venture forward. I see no reason why Tuchel would break this combination. Thomas Muller should again get the start as he continues to chase down Sepp Maier’s Bayern Munich appearance record.
Leroy Sane has struggled in front of goal and has continued his long goalless drought. While I understand the need to keep momentum, I would love for Tuchel to make a change and give Mathys Tel a start against Darmstadt. However, I don’t see it happening. Jamal Musiala has found a home on the left wing in Kingsley Coman’s absence, and I’m sure we will continue to see the young German thrive there. Harry Kane will undoubtedly lead the attack on Saturday.
Bayern Munich Predicted Starting XI
Neuer Kimmich-de Ligt-Dier-Davies Pavlovic-Goretzka Sane-Muller-Musiala Kane
Darmstadt
Darmstadt certainly has not found life comfortable in the Bundesliga. After leading Darmstadt to the 2. Bundesliga title just last season, manager Torsten Lieberknecht finds his side sitting bottom of the table, 12 points away from safety. After a humiliating 6-0 defeat at home to Augsburg, Darmstadt players were made to listen to the fans’ concerns. While the result was not as bad, Darmstadt still suffered another defeat last weekend, losing 2-0 to RB Leipzig.
SV Werder Bremen v SV Darmstadt 98 – Bundesliga / Jürgen Fromme – firo sportphoto/GettyImages/Bayern Strikes
Marcel Schuhen should start in goal for Darmstadt, with Christoph Klarer and former Bayern academy player Thomas Isherwood starting in front of him. On the right side of the defense, expect Bartol Franjic to get the start, with Emir Karic starting on the left.
I think Darmstadt will come out with a box midfield. I look for club captain Fabian Holland to start in the defensive midfield position, with Tobias Kempe giving him company in midfield. Gerrit Holtmann and Julian Justvan should start as the two attacking midfielders.
The young Swedish striker Oscar Vilhelmsson should start as the lone center forward, with Tim Starke just behind him. Skarke typically starts upfront when Darmstadt plays a back three and a broader option in the back four. With Darmstadt looking to hurt Bayern on the counter, he plays a free role and drifts into the areas the Bayern full-backs will leave open.
Despite Darmstadt’s poor results, they are a team that loves to attack and push numbers forward. I can see them getting a goal, but Bayern Munich is now playing much more confidently, and Tuchel seems to have figured out the ideal system and lineup. Nothing but a comfortable win for Bayern will be one of the biggest upsets of the Bundesliga season.
