The curtains closed on a dramatic Bundesliga season with Bayern Munich standing tall once again, clinching their 11th straight title. A fitting end on the final day was decorated by a 3-1 victory over VfL Wolfsburg, while contenders Borussia Dortmund found themselves caught in a 2-2 deadlock with Hertha Berlin. Despite securing the title before this last fixture, the Bavarians showed no signs of complacency, stamping their mark on the match, and the season, in emphatic fashion.

Riding on the Crest of Unwavering Dominance

The Bundesliga, home to a myriad of vibrant and competitive football clubs, has witnessed the persistent dominance of Bayern Munich, an enduring testament to their strength, consistency, and unyielding passion. Dortmund, the primary challenger to the throne in recent years, still grapples with maintaining a sustained title challenge, leaving them thirsting for a strategy to dismantle Bayern’s sturdy fortress.

Bayern’s prowess sets a high bar for entertainment in the Bundesliga. With their consistent success and the simmering challenge from Dortmund and other teams, the German top tier league promises an abundance of nail-biting excitement in the upcoming seasons.

Masterminds Behind the Triumph

Image of Robert Lewandowski, Bayern Munich’s star striker:

Underpinning Bayern’s triumph are several crucial contributors. Spearheading the offense, Robert Lewandowski’s role is paramount. The Polish international, renowned as one of the world’s leading strikers, netted an impressive 35 league goals this season, reinforcing Bayern’s offensive strength. Complementing him at the other end of the pitch, the world-class German goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer, continues to personify reliability.

Breathing new life into Bayern’s strategies is the vibrant young manager, Julian Nagelsmann. He has ingeniously integrated a new style of play into the Bayern system, reaping successful outcomes and further solidifying their position atop the Bundesliga.

A Decade of Unmatched Excellence

A look back at Bayern’s last ten Bundesliga campaigns reveals a relentless force in German football. The perennial Bundesliga toppers have consistently amassed more points than any other side, illustrating their unwavering strength and tenacity.

The German giants’ record over the past decade is nothing short of awe-inspiring:

Bayern’s Triumph: A Fusion of Talent and Tactics

Bayern’s relentless march towards victory after victory is not a result of chance. Beyond the world-class talents of Lewandowski and Neuer, a blend of experienced players and burgeoning talents underlies their successful campaign. An effective squad rotation strategy ensures the players remain fresh, motivated, and ready for tactical adaptations.

Their promising manager, Nagelsmann, has unleashed a new brand of football at Bayern. Built on a foundation of possession and pressing, his tactical acumen has redefined the Bavarians’ gameplay, steering them towards a series of successful campaigns.

Substantial financial backing amplifies Bayern’s might. They can attract top global talents and invest heavily in their infrastructure, cultivating an environment conducive to maintaining dominance in German football.

A Glimpse into the Future

Predicting the future for a powerhouse like Bayern Munich is no straightforward task. Currently, they are the best team in Germany, but resting on their laurels isn’t an option. Challengers like Dortmund and RB Leipzig are on an upward trajectory, seeking opportunities to claim the coveted title.

Rising Challengers: Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig

Image of RB Leipzig, a rising team in the Bundesliga

As we shift our focus from Bayern’s dominance, two clubs in particular, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig, have consistently posed a challenge to Bayern’s reign. Borussia Dortmund has often been a serious contender for the title, but their journey hasn’t been without its roadblocks. Injuries, inconsistent performances, and a lack of squad depth have often prevented them from mounting a sustained title challenge. Yet, they’ve shown glimpses of brilliance, primarily thanks to their young, gifted squad, including standout performers like Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland. Dortmund’s next hurdle? Keeping these rising stars at the club despite interest from larger European clubs and strengthening their squad depth to rival Bayern’s.

RB Leipzig’s narrative is one of remarkable growth and progress. Over the past few years, they’ve defied expectations, securing an impressive second-place finish in the latest season. This feat can be attributed to Leipzig’s excellent scouting network and player development program, consistently unearthing and nurturing promising young talents. They’ve also displayed commendable adaptability to different management styles and tactics, proving themselves a flexible and dynamic team. Leipzig’s significant challenge, however, is their limited experience in high-stakes title races – something they’ll need to build upon to claim the coveted Bundesliga crown.

Bayern Munich’s Challenges

Despite their undeniable superiority, Bayern Munich has not been without challenges. Rising financial power of rivals, particularly Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig, pose a significant threat. These clubs’ growing ability to lure top talents with their financial resources could make it harder for Bayern Munich to maintain their iron grip on the league.

An additional challenge that Bayern faces is their aging squad. Several key players…

A Shifting Landscape in the Bundesliga?

The Bundesliga’s future looks tantalizingly competitive. Bayern’s long reign has seen them face down numerous challengers, but the ever-changing dynamics of German football hint at the potential emergence of new contenders.

Teams such as Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig are expected to continue their title pursuit, but we should also pay close attention to the ascent of teams like VfL Wolfsburg and Bayer Leverkusen. If these clubs can continue their upward trajectory, keep their star players, and add depth to their squads, a power shift in the Bundesliga could be on the horizon.

Bayern’s financial prowess regularly attracts world-class talent, but the departure of Lewandowski, a central figure in their attack, might present a hurdle. However, Bayern’s deep-seated youth academy, their astute transfer strategy, and the stewardship of innovative coach Julian Nagelsmann, ensure that they’re well-prepared for such transitions.

In conclusion, while Bayern Munich remains the team to beat, the promise of heightened competition in the Bundesliga is undeniable. The burgeoning potential of Dortmund and Leipzig, coupled with the emergence of other teams, signals exciting times ahead for Bundesliga fans and neutrals alike. Will we see a new champion on the horizon? Only time will tell. For more in-depth analysis of the Bundesliga and its teams, visit the official Bundesliga website here.

References:

• Bundesliga
• Bayern Munich Official Website
• Borussia Dortmund Official Website

To be a winner, yo achieve, reach heights some could only imagine. There are many competitions and yes not all will want to compete but there are techniques which can be utilized in order to be a winner and achieve more than expected. Firstly thinking positively is the best and most effective step. Thoughts certainly make the difference. Believe that there is greater. There is more than the eyes can see. “Champions are made there is mastery of skills and appropriate ways to adapt.” (Tanikka Paulk).

There has to be confidence the ability to think confidently. The skills obtained in order to remove defeat are easily obtained by thinking properly. The noise has to be removed in order to incur effectiveness. Pursue and be “determined “to reach the goals and levels in which is desired. Strategize. There are many strategies to fulfill become filled with greatness. Making headway can be achieved but there has to be discipline. Search for the greatness reach up high. Think!

Where will the highways lead? One won’t know until there is the decision to begin. Champions are born, they’re discovered, they’re trained to become. Learning occurs only if there is a desire to learn. Gaining in ways some could only dream of. They’re unaware because they’ve doubted their abilities. To be “made” is to be great. There are way too many People lacking “confidence”. perhaps fear has entered into their minds. There has to be the removal of fear. Every person will be afraid at some point but there are many ways to eliminate the fearfulness.

Become an excel there are some searching for perfection there is no need to be a perfectionist but to want to be more than before. Rising up to levels in which some have tired to reach. they’ll wonder how. Look into the most positive outlooks. There are many areas in which have been overlooked. “Keep the eyes where the eyes need to be.” By: Tanikka Paulk. Reach higher than a Major. Become a true leader the truest. Find what will help with being apart of the greatest of circles. Release the negatives.

Champs concentrate on their set goals. The experience is gained but patiently. There should be activeness. The champ knows how to defeat his or her opponent. Champions are fighters almost as if they’re wearing steel. Once the mind is trained to think positively then there will be more conquering occurring. “Achievements are the focus.” Remove the thoughts of defeat there is no room to “become” less there should be more room provided in order to become the best. The best is greater and knows how to achieve in ways some have imagined.

Example Placed

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There are some of the most aggressive champ builders. Perhaps there should be consideration towards when to begin the journey to b ea champ. Starting right now would be a great choice. There is time to grow and there should be more willing to be apart of growth. There are many faces to face. There are so many objectives to adhere to. There is progress whether to big or small. There is the desire to unify minds so that there can be further achievements. To obtain, gain, and to remain “whole.”

There is realness within the confident champions. They’ve obtained hopefulness and are believers in their craft. what is to be discovered will be. There is the ability to increase the line of thinking. The upmost confidence is and shall be. “There are winners in all sorts of areas some are hidden until the competition is set.” by: Tanikka Paulk. There is more but there has to be the decision to get there. Movements need to occur in order to reach the desired levels. Almost as if the person or persons are going up an escalator. “Movements are to be obtained rather quickly or at a slower pace.

“Achieve More”

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Where are the duo headed? There’s been a lot of talk about Lebron James and Dwyane Wade possibly headed to the Los Angeles Lakers. Certainly Lebron seems fitting but what about Wade? It appears as though wherever Lebron goes Wade must tag along. They’re like twins huh? Could there really be extensive talk between Magic Johnson, Dwyane Wade, and Lebron James? Private meetings should be held in order to keep the confidentiality. The contracts would certainly be discussed and yes Wade would more than likely take a pay cut. “DWADE Shouldn’t accepted the contract with the Miami Heat but there must be the moving on.” By: (Tanikka Paulk).

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Imagine the two playing for the Lakers. If an NBA wants to continuing enjoying his craft then he would accept such a deal. Yes Lebron and Wade can bring some hype the L.A. What are fans saying about the talk? Some seem to agree with the duo playing on the Los Angeles court. The Miami rumors were just that. Wade had his opportunity to play once again with the “Miami Heat” but decided to play at Chicago. Wade always wanted to play for the Chicago Bulls and he did had a good contract but is now looking for a new NBA home. Relocation possibilities.

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Dwyane Wade spent 13 seasons with the Miami Heat. Miami was like Wade’s second home or perhaps home. Yes Lebron would fit in with the “Los Angeles Lakers” and once Wade enters the court the two will look smitty (made up word by: (Tanikka Paulk). together. It seems as though the two are like identical twins. Fans would line up to purchase the jerseys. The ticket sales could increase and there could be more traffic in Los Angeles. The purchasing of homes there but once the retirements occur then there could be the sales of the homes.

The fans will have to wait and see what the decisions are. Magic Johnson is a great communicator and knows basketball business and business in general. The organization could flourish with such a decision and DWADE really wants to play want he’s always enjoyed. “Basketball.” The two ballers seem to really enjoy one another’s company. Close friends could be an understatement. Reminds me=Tanikka Paulk of the song by Michael Jackson. “Hold my Hand.”

The two once played together with the Miami Heat there was also Chris Bosh and Udonis Haslem. The continued dreams of basketball. What kind of “shoes” would the duo wear on the court? They’ll be suited up wherever the semi twins arrive to. Fans could be on the edge of their seats awaiting the news regarding where the ballers are headed. Lebron and Wade fans would have to get use to new uniforms if their transformations are to occur.

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Article Written by: Tanikka Paulk

In the wide world of celebrity, professional athletes are a unique breed. They’ve cultivated their fame based on their skill at sport, not based on their ability to move you with music or engage you with an acting performance. They’re really not trying to make you like them the way other celebrities are, even though they can easily attain the same levels of fame and success. This is even more true for the best of the best. Maybe it’s because they’re so into competition and are working to achieve their goals — not usually working to entertain you as an audience, but winning for themselves and their team — that some of them have less refined people skills.
Sure, some athletes are born to be on camera and have a great energy and personality like Charles Barkley or
Shaquille O’Neal . Others are a bit more difficult, and really don’t take a shine to being put on the spot, especially with an interviewer asking them questions they’re not interested in answering. And that leads to some extremely awkward interviews that don’t always go as planned. Which is to say sometimes the interview is over because the athlete has had enough and just walks away. Sometimes it ends even worse.
Tyson Fury wants to forget his past
British boxer Tyson Fury is known chiefly for two things. The first is his remarkable record of 25 wins and zero losses, with 18 wins by knockout. The second is his penchant for saying some of the worst possible things a person can say. He once stated he’d hang his own sister if he found out she was promiscuous because he apparently lives in some kind of 1800s dystopian society. The Guardian had a rundown of some of his more infamous quotes and beliefs, like when he accused two other boxers of being gay lovers. Another time he stated that a woman’s best place was either in the kitchen or on her back . He also equated abortion with homosexuality and pedophilia, the similarity being that they’re all leading us to Armageddon. Suffice it say, Fury has some terrible opinions.
In 2016, Fury was stripped of titles and suspended from professional boxing after testing positive for cocaine. He told Rolling Stone that not only did he do cocaine, he did a lot , something he attributed to his depression.
Fast-forward to 2018 and Fury is all set to make a boxing comeback. During a press junket, a reporter asked Fury about his past, specifically the controversial things he’s said and his drug use. Fury was having none of it and, after repeating “no comment” several times and saying he only wanted to discuss boxing and not politics, he weirdly said “Terminated!” and walked away.
Brandon Marshall isn’t talking about race
Back in 2015, Tom Brady was handed a four-game suspension for what became known as “Deflategate,” a controversy surrounding the New England Patriots and Tom Brady using underinflated balls to help them win games. That suspension was initially overturned and New York Giants wide receiver Brandon Marshall was not amused. He stated on Inside the NFL that “there are a lot of players out there that believe that white players — specifically, at the quarterback position — are treated differently.”
In 2016, Brady’s suspension was eventually upheld, and in 2017 during an interview with WIEE’s Kirk and Callahan, Marshall was asked about black and white
athletes being held to different standards. Marshall shut down the line of questioning right off the bat, stating he wasn’t interested in getting into the race card and that he feels black men, not just black athletes, are treated differently in America.
As Business Insider noted, Marshall initially praised Brady and the Patriots’ culture after the suspension was upheld, but made it clear he didn’t want to rehash the topic. After offering a chance to switch gears and ask him something new, the interview stayed on race relations and Marshall simply dropped his mic and headphones and left.
Mitch Austin’s panic attack
Not every interview has to be shut down thanks to a difficult athlete feeling spoiled or a line of questioning that becomes untenable. Sometimes it’s just that the interview subject legitimately needs to not be in front of a camera anymore, which is what happened with Australian soccer player Mitch Austin in 2017.
Austin was on a morning news show to talk about playing in the forthcoming soccer season. The interviewer asks him a seemingly easy question about challenges from the previous season and it’s clear right off the bat that Austin is a bit out of sorts. His body language and demeanor are very nervous. After offering up a partial answer he apologizes and just walks off set on live TV without another word.
The interviewer was clearly thrown for a loop, but she valiantly covers and then tosses it back to the show’s anchors in time for the camera to catch Austin walking in front of them as well. As it turned out, Austin had suffered a panic attack and just needed a moment to be off camera to calm himself down and relax. Luckily he was fine and feeling better in short order, but it definitely made for a bit of dramatic and baffling television.
Russell Westbrook made a reporter answer his own question
Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbook is almost legendary at this point for his absolute disdain for the press and answering questions on camera. The man just does not like being interviewed at all, and especially hates questions he thinks are stupid. For example, Westbrook was once asked if his team lost the game he’d just played or if the other team had won it. Westbrook responded with utter incredulity over the stupidity of the question and ended that interview.
By now, reporters who cover Westbrook should be more than familiar with him and how to approach him with questions, but it seems like they still fall into the trap of saying the wrong thing occasionally. That’s what happened a reporter came at Westbrook with a question about how he planned to prepare for a game against the best team in the league.
Rather than answer, Westbrook just asked the reporter what his answer was going to be. When he finally got the reporter to say “You play every game the same way,” he walked out of the room. Interviews are easy when you don’t even need to be part of them. Maybe he should just hand out business cards with his answers written on them.
Cam Newton walks out after listening to the other team trash him
After the Carolina Panthers lost to the Denver Broncos at the 2016 Super Bowl, likely the last thing any member of the Panthers wanted to do was give press interviews, but they literally have to do it, so Cam Newton did it. Sort of.
Dressed in a hoodie and looking fed up with the world, Newton sat on a dais in front of dozens of reporters and shook his head, staring into space and offering simple, short answers to questions. And then he abruptly stood up and walked off without a word of explanation.
While it seemed like this was just sour grapes on Newton’s part, it’s worth noting that there was more afoot. At the exact same moment Newton was in front of the press, Broncos cornerback Chris Harris was giving an interview that you can actually overhear in the background of Newton’s. Harris was explaining to the press how the Broncos broke down Newton, according to Sporting News. Even in the best of moods, you’d be hard pressed not to be annoyed listening to someone a few feet away talk about how they outplayed you.
Newton is no stranger to walking away from the press or to saying outright foolish things to them, as Sports Illustrated points out, and could obviously only take so much. Despite his coach trying to signal him to maybe take off his hood and engage more, he left.
Ryan Leaf loses his cool
Ryan Leaf has been called the biggest draft bust in NFL history by several observers. The one-time San Diego Chargers quarterback was drafted second overall in 1998 and then proceeded to have one of the worst careers in football. Complex called him the worst quarterback in NFL history, and the stats bore it out. In his third game of the season he completed only a single pass for 4 yards.
Off the field, Leaf wasn’t much better. After reportedly yelling at a cameraman who worked for the Chargers organization, a journalist in the locker room decided to bring it up the next day. Rather than speak about why it happened, Leaf exploded . You can hear Leaf on tape curse the reporter out and tell him to knock it off before some guys rush in to break the situation up.
Things never really improved for Leaf after this time. As ESPN reported, by 2009, Leaf was being indicted on
drug and burglary charges . He was in and out of prison and rehab since that time, though he’s currently working as a recovering ambassador for a group of sober living houses called Transcend , so hopefully he’s turned a corner.
Jim Rome calls Jim Everett ‘Chris’ one too many times
Jim Rome is a sports talk show host who, back in 1994, hosted a talk show called Talk2. Jim Everett was the quarterback for the New Orleans Saints. And Chris Evert was once the top-ranked female tennis player in the world. All three of these names are important to understand just why Jim Everett nearly came to blows with Jim Rome on his own show.
Rome had been, by his own admission, referring to Everett as “Chris” for a while. It was a juvenile joke — Rome was calling him a girl. And even a juvenile joke can get under your skin if someone keeps doing it over and over like Rome had been doing. Especially since he did it to Everett’s face, more than once.
In their confrontation, Everett basically dared Rome to call him Chris again, and Rome pointed out he’d already done it twice to his face and would absolutely do it again. Everett had enough and when Rome popped it out one more time, Everett tossed the table between them and went for Rome. Rome fell back off the stage and, while they didn’t come to blows, you better believe it put an end to the interview. The irony of Chris Evert being an incredible athlete was apparently lost on everyone.
Ronda Rousey hangs up on a personal question
In the world of MMA, a handful of names will come up time and time again as some of the biggest in the game. These are the names that have so transcended the sport, even people who don’t watch know who they are.
Ronda Rousey is absolutely one of those names. Women’s fighting is still growing in popularity, but Rousey has definitely contributed a lot to its appeal by mixing an incredible skill with a likable persona and just giving the audience that overall great package that makes someone a superstar in their field. That said, she’s not one to put up with people’s crap.
During a conference call back in 2015 when Rousey was on the phone with her soon-to-be opponent Holly Holm, a reporter brought up Rousey’s relationship with UFC Heavyweight Travis Browne. Though the two married in 2017, back in 2015 Browne was in a bit of hot water as his then-wife had accused him of domestic abuse.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald , Rousey had
made it clear she would not answer questions about Browne. So when the question came up and dead air was the only response from Rousey, it wasn’t necessarily a surprise. The phone cut out, and Rousey was gone. The official word was “technical difficulties.” She never returned to the call.
Bobby Bonilla tells interviewer to shove it as far as he can stick it
Many interviews that end badly end on one of those “what the heck just happened?” notes where the reporter seems confused and the athlete walks away. That’s not what happened at the end of this Bobby Bonilla interview when he absolutely laced into reporter Art McFarland.
During a locker room interview after a game, Bonilla, who already had a history of threatening reporters according to the New York Times , ditches any semblance of civility and threatens to literally fight McFarland right then and there. You can hear McFarland criticizing Bonilla’s foul language, which just seems to anger Bonilla more. When it seems for a moment like he might just walk away, he comes back and gets right into McFarland’s face asking if he has a problem with his vocabulary. McFarland stands his ground and says he’ll only have a problem if Bonilla touches him, which most humans recognize as “fightin’ words.”
The heated exchange reaches an awkwardly hilarious crescendo when Bonilla tells McFarland to stick his microphone someplace it absolutely won’t fit and another person in the locker room steps in to keep the men apart. It’s safe to say McFarland probably didn’t get any more exclusive quotes after that one.
Jim McMahon interrupted an interview to blow snot on a reporter
Back in the 1980s, Jim McMahon played quarterback for the Bears, the Eagles, the Vikings, the Packers, the Chargers, the Browns, and the Cardinals. He won two Super Bowls , once at starting QB with the Bears and once as backup to Brett Favre with the Packers. But despite his record, McMahon was not necessarily a well-liked player. He had major fallouts with some of his coaches and has accused Mike Ditka of knowing players were smoking pot, according to CBS Sports.
McMahon’s last season in the NFL was playing for the San Diego Chargers, and its when one of his most infamous interviews took place. Reporter TJ Simers was in the locker room and asked McMahon about the Chargers’ failing two-minute offense. In lieu of a proper response, McMahon raised a finger to his nose , pressed down one nostril, and fired snot all over Simers. That’s a clear and concise interview ender if ever there was one.
McMahon refused to answer questions later on about why he’d chosen to snot-rocket Simers, but Simers shed some light on the matter later in an interview with The Big Lead. He stated that he had once parked a golf cart behind the locker room doors so McMahon couldn’t escape and that he would regularly antagonize him. Well, sometimes you get more than you expect in an interview.
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I hope I haven’t seen the last of Wenger – Mourinho
Sesan

Jose Mourinho hopes to cross swords with Arsene Wenger again after his Manchester United side condemned the Frenchman to a galling defeat on his last visit to Old Trafford as Arsenal boss, Independent.ie reports.

Wenger’s long and storied rivalry with United looked to be ending with a point apiece after former Red Devil Henrikh Mkhitaryan cancelled out Paul Pogba’s opener.

That would have represented a minor triumph given the much-changed and inexperienced Gunners XI he sent out, with more than half an eye on Thursday’s Europa League clash with Atletico Madrid.

But there was a sting in the tail, Marouane Fellaini climbing off the bench and flicking home a match-winning header in stoppage time.

Mourinho has had plenty of his own tussles with Wenger over the years but on a day where United paid generous tribute to him through Sir Alex Ferguson’s pre-match presentation, their current boss held out hope of further battles beyond Arsenal.

“I hope that I play against him again, I hope that can happen,” he said.

“If not in the Premier League, who knows, we still have a big match waiting for us.”

Wenger played down the prospect in the immediate future due to his apparent uncertainty over his next destination and – mischievously – Mourinho’s.

“I don’t know if honestly, first of all, he will be at Manchester United next year, certainly,” he said.

“I don’t know where I will be. At the moment I am in a bit of unknown territory, I don’t knew where I go from here or do I take a break? I would be surprised if I meet him next year.”

Wenger would be forgiven for indulging a little nostalgia as he revisited the scene of so many past skirmishes, triumphs and travails but even on a day where he received a pre-match presentation from Sir Alex Ferguson and an unusually cordial welcome from the home support, he stayed focused on the outcome.

Messi hat-trick seals Barca’s 25th title
Sesan

Barcelona claimed their 25th La Liga title on Sunday as a Lionel Messi hat-trick secured a thrilling 4-2 victory at Deportivo La Coruna that wrapped up the league with four matches to spare, AFP reports.

Ernesto Valverde’s men completed a league and cup double after thrashing Sevilla 5-0 in last week’s Copa del Rey final, regaining the Spanish crown from Real Madrid and relegating Deportivo in the process.

Barca knew they just had to extend their record unbeaten streak to 41 La Liga matches to seal a seventh title in 10 seasons, and Philippe Coutinho fired them into an early lead.

Messi’s 38th-minute volley made it two, but Lucas Perez pulled one back for Deportivo before half-time and Turkish winger Emre Colak stunned Barca with an equaliser midway through the second period.

Barca finally saw off their stubborn hosts, though, as Messi pounced after a brilliant one-two with Luis Suarez before slotting in to complete his 30th La Liga treble.

The Catalan giants now hold an unassailable 11-point lead over second-placed Atletico Madrid, who have just three games to play, and are closing in on becoming the first Spanish side to go through a top-flight season without tasting defeat.

Andres Iniesta was surprisingly left on the bench after the midfield great announced earlier this week that he will leave the club at the end of the season.

But it was his expected long-term successor Coutinho who broke the deadlock in the seventh minute, bending an exquisite finish into the top corner for his third La Liga goal for the club since signing from Liverpool in January.

Deportivo had to win to stave off relegation for another week, but Clarence Seedorf’s men were denied an equaliser when Perez was flagged offside after tapping in from close range.

Messi went close to doubling the advantage just before the half-hour mark, only for home goalkeeper Ruben to pull off an excellent one-handed save to turn his free-kick around the post.

Deportivo were causing Barca plenty of problems at the back, though, and centre-back Fabian Schaer should have levelled as he headed over when unmarked inside the six-yard box.

But Messi drilled a curling Suarez cross past Ruben at the keeper’s near post to score his 30th league goal of the campaign, before on-loan Arsenal striker Perez swept home to halve the deficit just two minutes later.

Despite the close scoreline, Barca were playing as if the second half was a pure title party, with centre-back Gerard Pique even performing a few ‘keepie uppies’ on the left wing.

Their complacency cost them in the 64th minute, as Celso Borges unselfishly squared for Colak to score.

Suddenly the champions-elect were desperately trying to hang onto their unbeaten record, as goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen made a smart stop from another Schaer header.

But Barcelona showed their class as Suarez and Messi combined to terrific effect with eight minutes to play — the latter clipping the ball in off the post.

18, including Journalists die in twin Kabul bombings
Agency Report

Twin suicide bombings in Kabul’s diplomatic quarter left at least 18 people, including at least five journalists, dead on Monday, according to officials and media reports.

At least 41 others with injuries have been transferred to hospitals in Kabul, Wahidullah Majroh, a spokesman for the Afghan Public Health Ministry, said.

Earlier, Majroh said that 21 people were killed in the attack.

The first bomber detonated his explosive-laden motorcycle at a checkpoint near an Afghan spy agency facility, Kabul police spokesman Hashmat Stanakzay told dpa.

Stanakzay said the second suicide bomber allegedly posed as a reporter and blew himself up among journalists covering the first blast.

AFP confirmed the death of its photographer, Shah Marai, in the bombing, while Farzad Salehi, an editor at 1TV, a local news agency, said the station had lost two of its reporters.

Majoh also confirmed the death of Ebadullah Hananzai, a reporter for Radio Free Europe and Khair Tokhi, from ToloNews, a local news network.

Lotfullah Najafizada, the head of the prominent Afghan news network ToloNews, said he had counted 20 dead bodies at two hospitals.

At least five journalists were said to be among the dead.

“What a tragic day!” he added on his Twitter account.

However, information about the number of journalists killed in the incident is contradictory.

Najib Sharifi, the head of AJSC, told dpa that seven journalists, including one from AFP, one from RFE, two from 1TV, one from local news agency ToloNews, and two others from local radio Mashal, were killed in the attack.

“This incident makes it clear that Afghanistan, where violence and killing of reporters is frequent, is the most dangerous country for journalists,” Sharifi said.

Sharifi added that incidents like these are a big threat to the survival of freedom of speech.

Back-to-back bombings with second ones targeting rescue workers is a regular occurrence in Afghanistan.

At least 41 people were killed and 80 others were wounded in an Islamic State suicide bombing in December 2017 in three back-to-back bombings at a Shiite cultural organisation in western neighborhood of Kabul.

According to Nai, a non-governmental organization advocating for open media in Afghanistan, 21 journalists were killed in 2017.

No group has taken responsibility for Monday’s attacks.

The blasts mark the eighth large-scale attack in Kabul since January, with at least 254 killed and 368 injured.

An Islamic State suicide bombing at a national ID distribution centre in the western Kabul neighbourhood on April 22 killed 60 people and wounded 129 others.

Attacks in Afghanistan, especially in the capital, Kabul, have increased since the beginning of 2016.

More than 20 large-scale attacks took place in Kabul in 2017, leaving at least 500 dead.

Real, Zidane look to overcome BayerReal, Zidane look to overcome Bayern in Champions League semis
Agency Report / 4 hours ago

Zinedine Zidane may have won two consecutive Champions League titles but he refuses to admit a third would brand this his very own era at Real Madrid.

Real stand on the brink of a trio of finals ahead of their second leg against Bayern Munich in the last four on Tuesday, when they will carry a 2-1 lead, and two away goals, to the Santiago Bernabeu.

It makes them favourites to go through and, for many, heavy favourites to win the tournament after already beating Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus in the knock-out stages.

For Zidane, a third European crown as coach is now in sight, which would put him level with Carlo Ancelotti and Bob Paisley in the pantheon of successful managers.

Only the three triumphs of Paisley, however, came at one club, Liverpool, and over a single era, in 1977, 1978 and 1981. Ancelotti’s treble stretched across 11 years, with two clubs, Real and AC Milan.

“We cannot talk about this,” Zidane said on Friday. “Coaches like this were given a lot of time, they did a lot of things.

“I am comfortable, we have done well, it is two and a half years that have been good but the rest, ‘Zidane’s Real Madrid’, let’s wait a bit.”

Even Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola have lifted Europe’s biggest prize only twice, all with more years in management under their belts.

But Zidane’s merits as a coach and tactician continue to be downplayed, at least in part because the Frenchman owns arguably the most talented squad in the world and, in Cristiano Ronaldo, the Champions League’s greatest ever player.

READ ALSO: Salah faces ban

– Zidane’s brave call –

Ronaldo’s 15 goals in this year’s competition have certainly been key, but it was Zidane who made the brave call to leave out Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema at the Allianz Arena against Bayern.

The preferred but less established duo of Lucas Vazquez and Marco Asensio combined brilliantly for the winning goal, with the former also switched to right-back late on, where he held off the threat of Franck Ribery.

Bale, harshly treated in recent weeks, may not agree but the majority of Real’s first team are now regularly hailing Zidane’s man-management, his preparation and his tactics.

“When Zizou has to gamble, he does, because he is the boss,” captain Sergio Ramos said. “We are very happy that he is steering the boat.”

There is certainly work still to be done to overcome Bayern, who dominated large parts of the first match and perhaps deserved to emerge with a more flattering result.

“We earned a lot of extra credit for winning the match,” Zidane said. “But we cannot make the same mistakes again and I think on Tuesday we’ll have to go into the match with more determination than we’ve ever had before.”

Real are likely to be without Isco and Dani Carvajal, who sustained shoulder and hamstring injuries respectively during the first leg.

“We are always damaged losing two players but at the same time we cannot do anything about it,” Zidane said.

While Ronaldo was among a number of first-team players rested for Saturday’s win over Leganes, Bale started, a sign the Welshman is set for another snub in midweek.

Bale did not play a single minute against Bayern in Germany and, along with Benzema, has now lost his place in the side for Real’s crunch games in Europe.

“We need everyone,” Zidane said. “I will do everything possible to convince them they are important.

“The important thing is also the key message — for Gareth and Karim, for everyone — that we stay connected. We have a month and we have to give it all we’ve got.”n in Champions League semis
Agency Report

Zinedine Zidane may have won two consecutive Champions League titles but he refuses to admit a third would brand this his very own era at Real Madrid.

Real stand on the brink of a trio of finals ahead of their second leg against Bayern Munich in the last four on Tuesday, when they will carry a 2-1 lead, and two away goals, to the Santiago Bernabeu.

It makes them favourites to go through and, for many, heavy favourites to win the tournament after already beating Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus in the knock-out stages.

For Zidane, a third European crown as coach is now in sight, which would put him level with Carlo Ancelotti and Bob Paisley in the pantheon of successful managers.

Only the three triumphs of Paisley, however, came at one club, Liverpool, and over a single era, in 1977, 1978 and 1981. Ancelotti’s treble stretched across 11 years, with two clubs, Real and AC Milan.

“We cannot talk about this,” Zidane said on Friday. “Coaches like this were given a lot of time, they did a lot of things.

“I am comfortable, we have done well, it is two and a half years that have been good but the rest, ‘Zidane’s Real Madrid’, let’s wait a bit.”

Even Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola have lifted Europe’s biggest prize only twice, all with more years in management under their belts.

But Zidane’s merits as a coach and tactician continue to be downplayed, at least in part because the Frenchman owns arguably the most talented squad in the world and, in Cristiano Ronaldo, the Champions League’s greatest ever player.

READ ALSO: Salah faces ban

– Zidane’s brave call –

Ronaldo’s 15 goals in this year’s competition have certainly been key, but it was Zidane who made the brave call to leave out Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema at the Allianz Arena against Bayern.

The preferred but less established duo of Lucas Vazquez and Marco Asensio combined brilliantly for the winning goal, with the former also switched to right-back late on, where he held off the threat of Franck Ribery.

Bale, harshly treated in recent weeks, may not agree but the majority of Real’s first team are now regularly hailing Zidane’s man-management, his preparation and his tactics.

“When Zizou has to gamble, he does, because he is the boss,” captain Sergio Ramos said. “We are very happy that he is steering the boat.”

There is certainly work still to be done to overcome Bayern, who dominated large parts of the first match and perhaps deserved to emerge with a more flattering result.

“We earned a lot of extra credit for winning the match,” Zidane said. “But we cannot make the same mistakes again and I think on Tuesday we’ll have to go into the match with more determination than we’ve ever had before.”

Real are likely to be without Isco and Dani Carvajal, who sustained shoulder and hamstring injuries respectively during the first leg.

“We are always damaged losing two players but at the same time we cannot do anything about it,” Zidane said.

While Ronaldo was among a number of first-team players rested for Saturday’s win over Leganes, Bale started, a sign the Welshman is set for another snub in midweek.

Bale did not play a single minute against Bayern in Germany and, along with Benzema, has now lost his place in the side for Real’s crunch games in Europe.

“We need everyone,” Zidane said. “I will do everything possible to convince them they are important.

“The important thing is also the key message — for Gareth and Karim, for everyone — that we stay connected. We have a month and we have to give it all we’ve got.”