Sports
Mané scores as Bayern Munich beat RB Leipzig for German Super Cup
Sadio Mané scored on his competitive debut for new-look Bayern Munich as they overcame RB Leipzig 5-3 in thrilling fashion on Saturday to lift the German Super Cup.
Germany teenager Jamal Musiala rifled Bayern Munich ahead after RB Leipzig had failed to clear a corner-kick after 14 minutes.
Ex-Liverpool forward Mané then tapped in on the half hour from Serge Gnabry’s pass as the Bavarians quickly got used to life without new FC Barcelona signing Robert Lewandowski.
Benjamin Pavard made it three before the interval.
The season curtain-raiser between last term’s Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich and the German Cup winners was held in Leipzig.
But the hosts did little to threaten the visitors until Marcel Halstenberg’s second-half header.
Gnabry and Christopher Nkunku then traded goals before Dani Olmo’s late strike for RB Leipzig made things interesting, only for Leroy Sané to score at the death.
“I’m really, really happy to win my first trophy with Bayern Munich. “I’m looking forward to more trophies,” Mané said later on.
Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann, formerly at RB Leipzig, started Senegal’s African Player of the Year while other new signings such as Matthijs de Ligt began on the bench.
RB Leipzig’s Domenico Tedesco meanwhile included Austria midfielder Konrad Laimer, heavily linked with a move to Bayern Munich.
But left-back Angelino was missing as he looks for another club with Hoffenheim’s David Raum set to arrive.
After a minute’s silence and applause for late Germany great Uwe Seeler, the first excitement came when Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer raced out of his box.
But he failed to clear the ball, only for his defenders to mop up for him.
Bayern Munich then took the lead but it was more to do with RB Leipzig’s casual defending than anything.
After some pinball in the box, 19-year-old Musiala pounced and made no mistake.
A lot is expected of midfielder Musiala this season —- with Bayern Munich set to play without an out-and-out striker —- and he passed his audition with aplomb.
RB Leipzig, linked in the media with former Borussia Mönchengladbach sporting director Max Eberl, thought they had soon levelled.
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But Nkunku —- Bundesliga Player of the Season last term —- was rightly flagged offside.
Mané then made the headlines, even though in truth it was one of the easiest goals he will ever score, with two more efforts later on chalked off for offside.
Musiala took centre stage again by setting up Pavard on the stroke of half-time.
But RB Leipzig’s defending was again loose following the departure of Nordi Mukiele to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
Substitute Andre Silva struck the bar for RB Leipzig after the break and Halstenberg went one better with his own header from a corner-kick.
But any hopes of a comeback were quickly ended by Gnabry smashing into the roof of the net.
Nkunku’s 77th-minute penalty kick and Olmo’s fine finish came too late for the Red Bulls as Bayern Munich’s defence suddenly wilted, before Sané had the last laugh on the break.
“In the first half they simply showed their strength. They were coming from everywhere, left and right,” said RB Leipzig’s Tedesco.
“We’ve got to improve and bring the lads to a good level.”
The game clashed with the first round of the German Cup, meaning that RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich take on Ottensen and Viktoria Cologne at the end of August.
Bayern Munich kick off the Bundesliga campaign at Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday.
FIFA’s Head of Refereeing, Pierluigi Collina, has firmly defended the integrity and independence of match officials at the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup, dismissing allegations of bias following Argentina’s controversial 3-2 victory over Egypt in the Round of 16.
The governing body responded after the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) and head coach Hossam Hassan questioned several refereeing decisions that proved decisive in Tuesday’s dramatic encounter, with Egypt accusing officials of applying double standards.
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The North Africans looked set for a famous victory after racing into a two-goal lead before defending champions Argentina staged a stunning comeback, capped by Enzo Fernandez’s stoppage-time winner to book a place in the quarter-finals.
Following the defeat, Hassan suggested there may have been pressure to ensure Lionel Messi and Argentina remained in the tournament, while the EFA formally called on FIFA to investigate what it described as inconsistent officiating.
Reacting to the claims, Collina insisted that while football welcomes debate over refereeing decisions, questioning the integrity of match officials is unacceptable.
“Constructive discussion about decisions will always be part of football, but unfounded allegations have no place in our sport,” Collina said.
He warned that such accusations could expose referees and their families to abuse and threats.
“Nobody can question the integrity of the FIFA World Cup match officials. When this happens, it may provoke reactions that lead to threats against them and their families. This is not right,” he added.
The former Italian referee also dismissed suggestions that FIFA’s refereeing department could be influenced by senior officials, including FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
According to Collina, referees operate independently and are trusted to make honest decisions without interference.
Addressing Egypt’s complaints, Collina explained that VAR correctly ruled out Mostafa Zico’s goal because of an earlier foul by Marwan Attia during the attacking phase.
He also defended the decision not to award Mohamed Salah a foul in the build-up to Argentina’s winning goal, saying both the referee and VAR agreed it was “normal football contact” after Julian Alvarez had first played the ball.
Although he acknowledged that some decisions will always involve an element of subjectivity, Collina expressed confidence in the application of VAR throughout the tournament.
Argentina will now continue their title defence in the quarter-finals, while Egypt exits the competition still frustrated by the officiating decisions that overshadowed an enthralling Round of 16 clash.
Norway pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Sunday night, defeating five-time champions Brazil 2-1 to book a place in the quarter-finals.
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland inspired the Scandinavian side with a brilliant second-half brace at MetLife Stadium, ending Brazil’s hopes of winning a record-extending sixth World Cup title.
After a tightly contested encounter, Haaland broke the deadlock in the 79th minute with a powerful header to give Norway the lead.
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Brazil’s hopes of a comeback were dashed in the closing moments when Haaland struck again in the 90th minute, sealing a famous victory for Norway and sending them into the last eight of the tournament.
The result marks one of the competition’s biggest surprises, with Norway eliminating one of the pre-tournament favourites to continue their impressive World Cup campaign.
Norway will now turn their attention to the quarter-finals, while Brazil bow out of the tournament with their quest for a sixth World Cup crown brought to an abrupt end.
United States President Donald Trump has welcomed FIFA’s decision to suspend the red card issued to USA striker Folarin Balogun, clearing the forward to feature in the country’s crucial Round of 16 clash against Belgium at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
FIFA announced the decision on Sunday, overturning the suspension that would have ruled Balogun out of Monday’s knockout encounter after he was sent off during the USA’s match against Bosnia last week.
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The development comes as a major boost for the United States, with Balogun expected to play a key role in the team’s bid to secure a place in the quarter-finals.
Reacting shortly after FIFA’s announcement, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to praise the governing body for what he described as the right decision.
“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” Trump wrote.
Balogun’s availability is expected to strengthen the American attack against Belgium in one of the standout fixtures of the World Cup Round of 16.
The striker has been a key figure for the USA throughout the tournament, and his return provides a timely boost as the team prepares for one of its toughest tests in the competition.
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