Berlin (dpa) – Last chance: Bundesliga clubs can only sign players from other clubs until 6 p.m., then the transfer window closes on Monday.
Newcomers can be used for the first time during the week in the DFB Cup or – from teams that have already been eliminated – in the league at the weekend.
END OF THE TRANSFER WINDOW: This time the expenses for winter access are definitely not record-breaking. In Corona times with dwindling income, clubs are less willing to invest. The traditionally lively last-minute purchase shortly before the transfer market closes on Monday evening will probably not change that much. After all: with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Sead Kolasinac (both Schalke), Max Meyer (Cologne) and probably Sami Khedira (Hertha), old friends returned to the Bundesliga. So far, RB Leipzig reached the lowest point for Dominik Szoboszlai (Salzburg), who cost 20 million euros.
DFB-POKAL: The failure of Bayern is the chance of the pursuers. After Munich won the cup in the last two seasons and have always been in the final since 2018, this time there will be a pairing of the final without the triple winner. The remaining favorites Dortmund (against Paderborn), Leipzig (against Bochum) and Leverkusen (in Essen) have been given feasible tasks. The only Bundesliga duel is Stuttgart against Gladbach. “I would like to fulfill my dream of Berlin, and especially this year, when Bayern are out, there is a great opportunity, said Gladbach’s captain Lars Stindl.
INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL: Mesut Özil’s arrival at Fenerbahce Istanbul was enthusiastically received by the fans, but the 2014 world champion has had to wait for his debut in the Süper Lig since then. It could be time for the 32-year-old on Tuesday at Hatayspor Antakya. It could also be a crucial week for Jürgen Klopp and Liverpool FC: The Reds will initially play against Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday, followed by the top game against Manchester City on Sunday. In Italy, the semi-final first leg in the cup between Inter Milan and Juventus Turin as well as SSC Napoli and Atalanta Bergamo are on. FC Barcelona will play against FC Granada on Wednesday for a place in the cup semi-finals in Spain, in France there is an English week ahead of the hotly contested championship.
BUNDESLIGA: The debut of returning coach Pal Dardai at Hertha BSC has failed, the relegation ranks are getting closer – and now FC Bayern is also coming. The Berliners open the 20th matchday on Friday against the table leaders who are aiming for the fifth win in a row. In the fight for the premier class ranks, RB Leipzig will have to play against FC Schalke on Saturday, which, as the bottom of the table, urgently needs victories against relegation. Bayer Leverkusen will host VfB Stuttgart, Borussia Dortmund will travel to SC Freiburg and VfL Wolfsburg will play for FC Augsburg. Eintracht Frankfurt will only play the away game at TSG Hoffenheim on Sunday.
CLUB World Cup: For the Champions League winners FC Bayern, the Bundesliga is still part of everyday life, while the first opponent of the Munich team will be determined at the Club World Cup in Qatar. On Thursday, Al Duhail SC from Qatar and the Egyptian club Al Ahly SC will meet in the quarter-finals. The winner is Bavaria’s first opponent on February 8th. The second quarter-finals will be played by Tigres UANL from Mexico and the South Korean club Ulsan Hyundai. The final will take place on February 11th. FC Bayern could then win their sixth title within a few months. So far only FC Barcelona 2009 had succeeded.
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