GERMANY
Mueller hat-trick lifts Bayern
A hat-trick by German international Thomas Mueller inspired holders Bayern Munich to a 5-0 win over fifth-tier BSV Schwarz-Weiss Rehden on Monday in their first-round German Cup clash. Mueller’s hat-trick — one a penalty — and goals by Swiss Brendan Shaqiri and Dutch veteran Arjen Robben saw them dispose of their hosts and move into Saturday’s second-round draw. It gave Bayern and their coach Pep Guardiola an ideal lead in to the opening match of the defense of their league title on Friday at home to Borussia Moenchengladbach, who exited the Cup on Sunday beaten on penalties by third-tier SV Darmstadt 98. Guardiola, whose first competitive match in charge on July 27 saw his side beaten 4-2 by Borussia Dortmund, the side they beat in the Champions League final last season, allowed himself the luxury of not starting several first-choice regulars such as Franck Ribery and captain Philipp Lahm, while new signing from his former club Thiago Alcantara also had to be content with a place on the bench. Earlier on Monday, Schalke 04 had made hard work of beating another fifth-tier outfit Noettingen 2-0, with Dutch ace Klaas-Jan Huntelaar giving them a 30th-minute lead, but they had to wait until the fourth minute of extra-time to double their lead when new signing Leon Goretzka netted.
ENGLAND
Magpies sign French striker
Newcastle United have signed French striker Loic Remy on a season-long loan from Queens Park Rangers, strengthening their attack ahead of the Premier League season. Remy joined QPR in the January transfer window and scored six goals in 14 appearances, but could not prevent the London club from being relegated to the Championship. Remy said he wanted to keep playing in the Premier League to boost his chances of making the France squad for next year’s World Cup. Newcastle manager Alan Pardew said Remy will be “a great addition to the squad, he gives us strength and pace up front and I’m sure he’ll bring plenty of goals.”
ENGLAND
Horse hospitalizes steward
A steward was taken to hospital with a shoulder injury on Monday after being trampled by a police horse following a pitch invasion at the end of a League Cup tie between Preston North End and Blackpool. The BBC said that after Preston beat Blackpool 1-0, the steward was trying to clear fans off the playing area at Deepdale when he was knocked down by a police horse and he was clipped again while lying on the ground by another horse.
ARGENTINA
Pope pays religiously
Pope Francis, a card-carrying fan of the San Lorenzo soccer club in his native Buenos Aires, is not letting his new global responsibilities distract him from paying his club dues on time, the team’s vice president, Marcelo Tinelli, said on Monday. “His payment is there, bang on time, every month. He pays his dues religiously,” Tinelli told Fox Sports in a televised interview. Jorge Mario Bergoglio, a former archbishop of Buenos Aires who took the name Francis when he was elected pope in March, was known for his modest lifestyle when he lived in Argentina. He often talked soccer with his fellow commuters while riding the bus to work as archbishop, celebrating San Lorenzo’s wins and lamenting their losses. Club Atletico San Lorenzo de Almagro, founded in 1908 by a priest named Lorenzo Massa, is an “A” league team whose stadium is in Bajo Flores, one of the city’s poorest neighborhoods.
Twelve days after winning her second Grand Slam title at the French Open, Coco Gauff fell at the first hurdle on grass in Berlin on Thursday as beaten Paris finalist Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the quarter-finals. Recipient of a first round bye, American Gauff lost 6-3, 6-3 to Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu as world number one Sabalenka beat Rebeka Masarova 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) in her second round tie. Winner of 10 main tour titles, including the US Open in 2023 and the WTA Finals last year, Gauff has yet to lift a trophy in a grass-court tournament. “After I won the first
Sergio Ramos on Tuesday outfoxed two Inter players and artfully headed home the first goal for Monterrey at the FIFA Club World Cup. The 39-year-old Ramos slipped through the penalty area for the score just as he did for so many years in the shirts of Real Madrid and Spain’s national team, with whom he combined smarts, timing and physicality. Ramos’ clever goal and his overall defensive play at the Rose Bowl were major factors in Monterrey’s impressive 1-1 draw against the UEFA Champions League finalists in the clubs’ first match of the tournament. “There is always a joy to contribute to the
Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka staged a “crazy comeback,” saving four match points before beating Elena Rybakina 7-6 (6), 3-6, 7-6 (6) in the quarter-finals of the Berlin Open on Friday. Sabalenka was 6-2 down in the final-set tie-breaker, but won six straight points to reach her eighth semi-final of the season. “Elena is a great player and we’ve had a lot of tough battles,” Sabalenka said. “I have no idea how I was able to win those last points. I think I just got lucky.” “I remember a long time ago when I was just starting, I won a lot of matches being down
While British star Jack Draper spent the past week trying to find rhythm and comfort in his first grass tournament of the season at the Queen’s Club Championships in London, Jiri Lehecka on Saturday bulldozed everything in his path. After more than two furious hours of battle, their form was reflected in the final scoreline as Lehecka toppled a frustrated Draper, the second seed, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 to reach the biggest final of his career, against Carlos Alcaraz. Lehecka is also the first Czech to reach the men’s title match at Queen’s since Ivan Lendl lifted the trophy in 1990. Draper, who
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