Thomas Muller bags brace as five-goal Bayern Munich ease past lowly Union Berlin

Thomas Muller scored a second-half brace as Bayern Munich ran riot with a 5-1 thrashing of relegation-threatened Union Berlin.

Fresh from their Champions League win over Arsenal in midweek, Bayern looked in the mood to put their disappointing Bundesliga campaign behind them and they did just that when Leon Goretzka put them in front before Harry Kane landed a perfect free-kick on the stroke of half-time.

Muller bagged twice in the second period either side of Mathys Tel’s goal but Union Berlin avoided going four consecutive game without scoring through a late Yorbe Vertessen goal but the results leaves them just three points above the relegation play-off.

Union Berlin almost caught their opponents cold from the start as Christopher Trimmel’s cross was flapped at by Manuel Neuer and Robin Gosens was unable to make any contact to let Bayern off the hook.

The visitors had their first shot on target in the fifth minute as the space opened up for Kane and he let rip from 20 yards but Frederik Ronnow was on hand to deal with the ball easily.

Munich started to work through the gears against a side fighting to stay in the division and next to come close was Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, who glanced an effort narrowly wide from Tel’s teasing cross.

The visitors broke the deadlock just before the half-hour mark – Tel’s pass looked to be heading into the path of Muller but he let it run through to Goretzka, who smashed the ball home emphatically to make it 1-0.

The hosts had their first shot on target three minutes after the opener when Lucas Tousart decided to have a crack from 20 yards with an effort that needed to be put behind for a corner by Neuer.

Union Berlin started to warm into the contest and were inching closer to an equaliser themselves, this time Trimmell delivered a cross for Gosens, who volleyed on target but Neuer was there to deal with it once again.

Munich doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time in superb fashion as Kane bent a wonderful free-kick beyond Ronnow for his 33rd league goal of the campaign.

Bayern went into an unassailable three-goal lead – eight minutes after the break – when Muller volleyed the ball in at the back post from Choupu-Moting’s cross on his 400th start for the club.

Bayern showed no mercy and had a fourth with half-an-hour still to play as they took advantage of some slack possession, Kane played in Tel, who tucked into the far corner.

The defending Bundesliga champions were turning this into a rout and soon celebrated their fifth when Muller glanced home Goretzka’s cross for his second of the night before Vertessen’s consolation at the death.

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Barcelona 'operation' underway to sign €60m Bundesliga star
Barcelona giants long-term admirers of RB Leipzig's Dani Olmo
The 25-year-old understood to have €60m release clause in Leipzig contract
Spanish playmaker has also attracted attention of Man Utd and Bayern Munich

By Joshua Browne
Apr 20, 2024
Dani Olmo (centre) is a long-term target of Barcelona
Dani Olmo (centre) is a long-term target of Barcelona / Stuart Franklin/GettyImages
Barcelona have set the wheels in motion to sign long-term target Dani Olmo from RB Leipzig, according to reports in Spain.

The 25-year-old spent seven years in Barcelona's youth setup before moving to Dinamo Zagreb in July 2014, when he was just 16 years of age.

Olmo stayed in Croatia for the next six years before returning to mainland Europe, joining RB Leipzig on a four-year contract, but Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo report that Barcelona are keen to re-sign him, with contact already made with the Spaniard's representatives about a potential return.

All parties are alleged to have left the meeting satisfied with how talks went, though completing a deal may not be as straightforward as Barcelona would like.

Manchester United and Bayern Munich are said to be 'very interested' in Olmo, who has three years left on his Leipzig contract, but the more pressing issue could be the Bundesliga outfit's unwillingness to sell a player who has contributed eight goals and five assists this season.

Dani Olmo
Dani Olmo has earned 33 caps for Spain / Eurasia Sport Images/GettyImages
Barcelona may end up having to trigger the €60m release clause written into Olmo's contract, circumnavigating the need for Leipzig to give permission for him to move. Whether or not Barcelona can actually afford that kind of deal remains to be seen, though logic would suggest that a number of players would need to leave for the cash-strapped Catalan giants this summer.

Frenkie de Jong has been linked with a big-money move to Bayern, as has teammate Ronald Araujo - who was scolded by Ilkay Gundogan in midweek for his red card in Barcelona's Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain - but neither player has shown an interest in leaving.

There's also the small matter of Barcelona wanting to sign Joao Felix and Joao Cancelo on permanent deals from Atletico Madrid and Manchester City. The Portuguese duo are currently on loan in Catalonia and have proven to be key players for Xavi, who recently hinted for the first time that he may reverse his decision to leave as manager this summer.

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4 key battles that could decide Real Madrid vs Barcelona in El Clasico
Real Madrid face Barcelona in El Clasico on Sunday evening
Carlo Ancelotti's side aiming to close in on the title with victory against their rivals
Both sides have some exceptional talents that can make the difference

By Ewan Ross-Murray
Apr 20, 2024
Real Madrid host Barcelona this weekend in La Liga
Real Madrid host Barcelona this weekend in La Liga / Yasser Bakhsh/GettyImages
Real Madrid can take an enormous stride towards another La Liga title on Sunday evening, but they will have to make it past their fierce rivals Barcelona.

Carlo Ancelotti's Madrid currently lead the table by eight points but defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu this weekend would reduce their advantage to five points with six games to play. While a loss at the hands of their Clasico foes would not be fatal, victory would all but seal their crown.

The race may be out of Barcelona's hands but they will want to put some pressure on the capital side. On a personal level, it will be Xavi's final Clasico as Barca boss - well, at least for the time being.

Here are four key battles that could decide a crucial Clasico.

Vinicius Junior vs Ronaldo Araujo
Vinicius Junior, Ronald Araujo
Ronald Araujo endured a difficult evening midweek / Alex Caparros/GettyImages
There were contrasting fortunes for Madrid and Barcelona midweek. The former booked their spot in the Champions League semi-final, while the latter dropped out of the competition after capitulating against Paris-Saint Germain, and it was Ronald Araujo who was largely to blame for Barca's demise.

The Uruguayan defender's last-man challenge was met with a deserved red card in Catalonia, with Araujo's rashness proving costly for Barca. He was even dug out by teammate Ilkay Gundogan after the match.

Therefore, the prospect of facing an in-form Vinicius Junior will not be too appetising for the Barca man, who will have his hands full with the Brazilian.

Now playing as a centre-forward under Ancelotti, Vinicius Junior will want to be as direct as possible up against a Barcelona defence short on confidence, and he may get some joy out of the hit-and-miss Araujo. Given he scored a hat-trick against Barca earlier this season, he is certainly one to watch on Sunday.

Ferland Mendy vs Lamine Yamal
Lamine Yamal
Lamine Yamal is already so significant for Barca / Quality Sport Images/GettyImages
Despite being just 16, Lamine Yamal has already become integral to Barcelona. The tricky teenager is now a key creator for Xavi's side and his raw speed will make him an almighty threat to Madrid's backline on Sunday.

The man tasked with stifling him will be Ferland Mendy, who was forced into a relentless 120-minute slog with Man City midweek. Yamal will be aiming to exploit any fatigue felt by the Frenchman, but the Real Madrid left-back is usually a man that Ancelotti can rely on during the big occasions.

Jude Bellingham vs Ilkay Gundogan
Jude Bellingham
Jude Bellingham was the match-winner in the last league Clasico / Quality Sport Images/GettyImages
Jude Bellingham was the deciding factor in the first La Liga Clasico of the campaign back in October. An astonishing brace led Madrid to victory and the Englishman will be expected to act as a bridge between attack and midfield on Sunday, looking to capitalise on the lack of an orthodox defensive midfielder for Barca.

Ilkay Gundogan will not only have to act as a playmaker for Barcelona, making positive runs beyond the forward line, he will have to keep an extremely close defensive eye on Bellingham too, with no natural holding player available to keep tabs on the Madrid star.

Toni Kroos vs Pedri
Pedri
It will be experience vs youth when Toni Kroos faces Pedri / Yasser Bakhsh/GettyImages
There will be a battle of two sensational passers at the Bernabeu on Sunday afternoon, as the experience of Madrid's Toni Kroos comes up against the youthful energy of Barca's Pedri. Both players will be key in dictating play for their respective sides, but it may be a battle that only one can win.

Kroos and Pedri both have the capacity to unlock opposition defences with their playmaking qualities and controlling the flow of the game in the centre of the pitch may prove crucial - especially for Barcelona given their midfield struggles this season.

READ THE LATEST LA LIGA NEWS, RUMOURS & GOSSIP
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