Dortmund, Frankfurt clinch Champions League qualification on final day of Bundesliga
Dortmund's Marcel Sabitzer celebrates after scoring during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Holstein Kiel at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Bernd Thissen/dpa via AP)
Dortmund's Serhou Guirassy, center, and Kiel goalkeeper Thomas Dahne in action during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Holstein Kiel at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Bernd Thissen/dpa via AP)
Dortmund's Felix Nmecha, center obscured, celebrates scoring during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Holstein Kiel at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Bernd Thissen/dpa via AP)
Freiburg's Jordy Makengo, front, and Frankfurt's Ansgar Knauff fight for the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between SC Freiburg and Eintracht Frankfurt at the Europa-Park Stadium in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Philipp von Ditfurth/dpa via AP)
Freiburg's Jordy Makengo, front, and Frankfurt's Ansgar Knauff fight for the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between SC Freiburg and Eintracht Frankfurt at the Europa-Park Stadium in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Philipp von Ditfurth/dpa via AP)
Dortmund's Marcel Sabitzer celebrates after scoring during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Holstein Kiel at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Bernd Thissen/dpa via AP)
Dortmund's Serhou Guirassy, center, and Kiel goalkeeper Thomas Dahne in action during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Holstein Kiel at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Bernd Thissen/dpa via AP)
Dortmund's Felix Nmecha, center obscured, celebrates scoring during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Holstein Kiel at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Bernd Thissen/dpa via AP)
Freiburg's Jordy Makengo, front, and Frankfurt's Ansgar Knauff fight for the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between SC Freiburg and Eintracht Frankfurt at the Europa-Park Stadium in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Philipp von Ditfurth/dpa via AP)
Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt qualified for the Champions League on the last day of the Bundesliga season on Saturday, leaving Freiburg to be content reaching the Europa League.
Dortmund clinched fourth place and the last for Champions League qualification with a 3-0 win at home over already-relegated Holstein Kiel, which had a player sent off after less than 10 minutes played.
Advertisement
It's a remarkable turnaround under coach Niko Kovač, who took over a Dortmund team languishing in 11th place in February. Dortmund won its last five Bundesliga games straight.
Frankfurt stayed third with a 3-1 win in Freiburg, which dropped to fifth as a result, two points behind Dortmund. Freiburg had needed a win to qualify for the Champions League in place of Frankfurt.
Mainz drew with Bayer Leverkusen 2-2 to qualify for the Conference League in sixth place, a point ahead of Leipzig, which missed out on European qualification after a 3-2 loss at home to Stuttgart.
Bayern Munich, which clinched the title with two rounds to spare, finished the season with a 4-0 win at Hoffenheim in Thomas Müller's last Bundesliga game for the club. It was his 503th.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
6 hours ago
- New York Times
Liverpool submit improved €134m transfer offer for Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz
Liverpool have submitted an improved offer of €134million (£113m) to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen. The bid for the coveted Germany international is comprised of a €118.7m (£100m) upfront fee with a further €15.4m (£13m) in add-ons. Liverpool have no intention to bid as high as the reported €150m (£126.4m) asking price for the playmaker. Advertisement Leverkusen are not keen to allow Wirtz to approach the final year of his contract, which runs through until 2027. The Athletic reported last week that Liverpool had submitted an offer worth up to €130m (£109m) for the 22-year-old. The proposed figure was a top-end amount, comprised of a guaranteed fee and potential add-ons. Wirtz has emerged as a key target for Liverpool this summer and the playmaker is keen on a move to Anfield. The Athletic reported on May 23 that Bayern Munich, who had also targeted Wirtz, were informed he favoured a move to Liverpool. The Merseyside club later entered talks with Leverkusen to sign the attacking midfielder. Wirtz has already visited the north west of England to look for houses to live in, should the transfer proceed. Wirtz played a key role as Leverkusen secured their maiden Bundesliga title with an unbeaten domestic season in 2023-24. He registered 18 goals and 20 assists in that campaign and was named Bundesliga Player of the Season. Wirtz scored 16 goals and set up 15 in the most recent campaign, as Leverkusen recorded a second-placed finish. Since making his first-team debut for Leverkusen in the 2019-20 season, Wirtz has recorded 122 goals contributions (57G, 65A) in 197 matches. He has also earned 29 caps for Germany. Communication had already been opened between Liverpool and Leverkusen this summer after the newly-crowned Premier League champions activated wing-back Jeremie Frimpong's release clause, which is in the region of €35million (£29.6m;$39.3m). The Dutch 24-year-old agreed a five-year contract and The Athletic reported on May 17 he was set to undergo a medical. Additional reporting from Sebastian Stafford-Bloor. ()
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Some downtown Cincinnati hotel rates rise ahead of FIFA Club World Cup games
Some of the world's best professional soccer clubs will soon fill TQL Stadium as part of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. The international soccer tournament, which begins this month, features 32 elite clubs from around the world playing 64 matches over 30 days. FC Cincinnati is not in the tournament bracket, but three other U.S. teams qualified to play: LAFC, Seattle Sounders and Lionel Messi's Inter Miami squad. Cincinnati is one of 11 cities in the United States to host matches in the tournament, with four group-stage games taking place at TQL Stadium from June 15–25. So how are the hotel prospects ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup games in Cincinnati? Take a look below. (Note: All prices are from and could vary based on possible price differences from booking directly through the businesses.) The following four Club World Cup matches will take place at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati: Sunday, June 15: Bayern Munich vs. Auckland City FC, noon. Wednesday, June 18: CF Pachuca vs. FC Salzburg, 6 p.m. Saturday, June 21: Borussia Dortmund vs. Mamelodi Sundowns, noon. Wednesday, June 25: Borussia Dortmund vs. Ulsan HD, 3 p.m. The following hotels (located less than a mile from TQL Stadium) still have some rooms left, as of Friday, June 6. However, be prepared to spend some extra coin, as rates have indeed shot up for the week of the Club World Cup matches at TQL Stadium. Here are some hotel options for the FIFA Club World Cup games in Cincinnati (prices are based on one room with two guests the weekend of the third Club World Cup match, June 20-22). Normal rates are taken from July 11-13 travel dates, a weekend with no major downtown events. Symphony Hotel & Restaurant, 0.17 miles from TQL Stadium: $337 per night. Normal rate is around $320. TownePlace Suites by Marriott Cincinnati Downtown, 0.63 miles from TQL Stadium: $254 per night. Normal rate is around $189. Kinley Cincinnati Downtown, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, 0.66 miles from TQL Stadium: $365 per night. Normal rate is around $242. Homewood Suites by Hilton Cincinnati - Downtown, 0.73 miles from TQL Stadium: $255 per night. Normal rate is around $169. The Cincinnatian Hotel Curio Collection by Hilton, 0.76 miles from TQL Stadium: $255 per night. Normal rate is around $182. 21c Museum Hotel Cincinnati, 0.79 miles from TQL Stadium: $374 per night. Normal rate is around $227. Hyatt Regency Cincinnati, 0.81 miles from TQL Stadium: $373 per night. Normal rate is around $163. Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, 0.85 miles from TQL Stadium: $290 per night. Normal rate is around $157. The Westin Cincinnati, 0.88 miles from TQL Stadium: $305 per night. Normal rate is around $169. Courtyard by Marriott Cincinnati Downtown, 0.91 miles from TQL Stadium: $275 per night. Normal rate is around $184. The FIFA Club World Cup finals will take place on July 13 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Group Stage: June 14-26 Round of 16: June 28-July 1 Quarterfinals: July 4-5 Semifinals: July 8-9 Final: July 13 To view the full schedule, visit Enquirer Trending News Reporter Haadiza Ogwude contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Looking to stay in Cincinnati during FIFA Club World Cup? Rates on the rise
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Liverpool Locked In A Three-Way Battle For This Bayern Munich Ace: Decent Option For Slot?
In a recent report, journalist Mark Brus stated that Liverpool are locked in a three-way battle for Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae. It has been claimed that the Reds are facing competition in the form of Newcastle United and Chelsea in the race to land the South Korean talent this summer. Min-Jae's Impressive Form In German Football Min-jae enjoyed a solid campaign at the Bavarian club after he put in a string of impressive performances at the heart of their backline. The South Korea international was involved in 43 matches for Bayern last season, scoring three goals on all fronts. Advertisement The 28-year-old was a rock at the back as he made 35 tackles, 23 blocks and 37 interceptions for the Munich outfit in the Bundesliga. He was even excellent when distributing the ball from inside his half based on his pass completion rate of 92.5% in the German top tier (stats via His current contract at the German club will run out in the summer of 2028 which could make it difficult for the Reds to snap him up on the cheap this off-season. MUNICH, GERMANY – APRIL 08: Kim Min-Jae of Bayern Muenchen reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final First Leg match between FC Bayern München and FC Internazionale Milano at Fussball Arena Muenchen on April 08, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by) Is Min-Jae A Decent Option For Liverpool Boss Arne Slot? Min-jae is a solid tackler of the ball and can sense danger well to secure the ball back for his side on the defensive third of the field. He usually puts his foot through the ball when the opposition are on the offensive. Advertisement Standing at 1.90m, the South Korea international can use his strong frame to win his fair share of aerial duels inside his half. He is also proficient at playing his way out from the back but might need some time to adjust to life in the Premier League if the Reds manage to get a deal done for him this summer. We can expect Min-jae to add more bite and steel to Liverpool boss Arne Slot's defence. He is more than capable of fighting for a regular first-team spot at Anfield next season. At 28, Min-jae is playing in his prime which makes him a decent option for the Merseyside club to pursue in this summer transfer window. He might even help the Reds challenge for a lot of major honours over the next few years.
