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Soccer-Freiburg eye Champions League while players defect

By Karolos Grohmann DORTMUND (Reuters) - Bundesliga minnows Freiburg are in contention for a Champions League spot but coach Christian Streich is already planning next season's relegation battle as his players are lured away by bigger clubs. With four games to play, Freiburg travel to newly-crowned champions Bayern Munich on Saturday knowing a point or more against the Champions League semi-finalists would keep them in contention for a qualification round spot for Europe's elite club competition.

Football: Dortmund determined to keep 'Lewangoalski'

His four goals in the Champions League rout of Real Madrid and expiring contract make striker Robert Lewandowski a hot target for Europe's top clubs but Borussia Dortmund are hoping to keep him -- for now. The 24-year-old contract expires in June next year and he has already said he will not be signing an extension, having joined Borussia in 2010. His record haul against Real at Signal Iduna Park in Wednesday's 4-1 first-leg win made him the first player to score four goals in a Champions League semi-final and left Dortmund on the verge of their first Euro final since 1997.

Football: Goetze in for Dortmund against Real

Midfield star Mario Goetze started for Borussia Dortmund in Wednesday's Champions League semi-final, first-leg at home to Real Madrid, just a day after it was revealed he had agreed to join Bayern Munich. The 20-year-old has enforced a release clause in his contract allowing him to leave for a reported 37 million euros (US$48.17m) and there had been speculation he would be left out of the semi-final at Signal Iduna Park.

Football: Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid line-ups

Starting line-ups for the Champions League semi-final, first leg match between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid at Signal Iduna Park on Wednesday: Borussia Dortmund (GER) Roman Weidenfeller (c); Lukasz Piszczek, Neven Subotic, Mats Hummels, Marcel Schmelzer; Sven Bender, Ilkay Gundogan; Jakub Blaszczykowski, Mario Goetze, Marco Reus; Robert Lewandowski. Coach: Juergen Klopp Real Madrid (ESP)

Football: German media jubilant over Bayern Barca rout

Bayern Munich's phenomenal 4-0 rout of Champions League favourites Barcelona had the German press reaching for the superlatives on Wednesday. "Bayern ridicule Barca," trumpeted the country's biggest-selling popular paper Bild over a photo of two-goal hero Thomas Mueller celebrating the famous victory with jubilant team-mates Mario Gomez and Franck Ribery. "Bayern's Messi is called Mueller", the tabloid announced.

Two goals should have been ruled out, says Barca's Roura

By Brian Homewood MUNICH (Reuters) - Bayern Munich's 4-0 rout of Barcelona in a Champions League semi-final first leg on Tuesday was partly down to two goals that should have been chalked off, said assistant coach Jordi Roura. Mario Gomez looked marginally offside when he turned in Thomas Mueller's header from close range for the second goal in the 49th minute.

Football: Barca 'need a miracle' after Bayern rout

Barcelona's assistant coach Jordi Roura has admitted his side need a miracle at the Camp Nou in the return leg after being hammered 4-0 at Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final, first leg. Bayern are on the verge of their third Champions League final in four years after goals by German duo attacking midfielder Thomas Mueller, striker Mario Gomez and Dutch wing Arjen Robben floored Barca at Munich's Allianz Arena on Tuesday. It was the Spanish giants worst Champions League defeat since the 1997 group stage 4-0 loss to Dynamo Kiev.

Bayern Munich dominates Barça 4-0

Berlin, Apr 23 (EFE).- Bayern Munich displayed surgical precision Tuesday as it demolished visiting FC Barcelona 4-0 in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal. Barça super striker Lionel Messi, visibly hampered by the hamstring injury he suffered in the quarterfinals, was not a factor in the clash at Munich's Allianz Arena. Playing their usual ball-control game, the Spanish side came up against a Bayern squad that took away their room for maneuver and was capable of shifting to the attack at lightning speed.

Football Bayern on verge of final after routing Barca

Bayern Munich are on the verge of their third Champions League final in four years after routing Barcelona 4-0 in Tuesday's semi-final, first leg at the Allianz Arena. It was the Spanish giants' worst Champions League defeat since the 4-0 loss to Dynamo Kiev in the group stage in 1997. Germany star Thomas Mueller was Barca's chief tormentor with a goal in each half while striker Mario Gomez and Dutch winger Arjen Robben also netted to give Bayern a huge advantage for the return leg at the Camp Nou on May 1.

Bayern crush Barca with dynamic four-goal show

By Brian Homewood MUNICH (Reuters) - Barcelona, who have changed the face of the game in recent years, were handed a footballing lesson when they were crushed 4-0 by Bayern Munich in an extraordinary Champions League semi-final first leg on Tuesday. The Catalans, winners of the trophy in 2009 and 2011, had no answer to Bayern's power, speed, pressing and resolute defence as they slumped to their heaviest defeat for almost six years and matched their worst result in European competition.
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