Sports
Do Bayern have the right attacking formula without Musiala?
MUNICH — The concept of a single standalone fixture — das Eröffnungsspiel — to usher in the new Bundesliga season after the long summer hiatus is a relatively new one, dating back only to 2002.
This showpiece Friday night event always features the defending champions and often takes place on their own pitch. However, in recent years, we have seen deviations with Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen, respectively, traveling to Borussia Mönchengladbach (2021 and 2024) and Bayern going to Eintracht Frankfurt (2022) and Werder Bremen (2023).
To kick off the 2025-26 season, Germany’s Rekordmeister enjoys the initial home advantage in a potential tester against RB Leipzig. Not since 2020 and the days of lockdown and an 8-0 drubbing of Schalke 04 has the Allianz Arena played host to the ceremonial opening, and it will be an occasion of grandeur before 75,000 mixed with Bavarian Weißwurst (traditional sausage), beer and bonhomie.
The Bayern players this week were photographed in their traditional Oktoberfest attire ahead of the big forthcoming early autumn Wiesn festival that dominates the city. They already have the Franz Beckenbauer Super Cup in their possession after a deserved 2-1 win over Pokalsieger VfB Stuttgart on Saturday night.
Yet amid the smiles and good vibes here in the Bavarian capital, there is considerable daily pressure, and not just on the playing squad. For the second-year coach Vincent Kompany and sporting CEO Max Eberl, this feels especially true.
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It’s no secret that Kompany, after relegation from the Premier League with Burnley, was far from first choice to succeed Thomas Tuchel 12 months ago, but the Belgian impressed Eberl and others with his football vision, articulate and personable manner, and, of course, fluent German language skills.
Last season can be described as a qualified success. Bayern won the Bundesliga by 13 points, having surrendered the crown to Leverkusen the season before. Ninety-nine league goals made it the third-best season in club history on that front.
The negatives were another early exit from the DFB-Pokal, a cup Bayern last lifted in 2020, and the painful UEFA Champions League quarterfinal dismissal at the hands of Inter Milan.
Both can be described as unlucky, although Kompany will be expected to win the Meisterschale (Bundesliga trophy) and more this season. The supervisory board will be less forgiving one year on. A big positive was the style of football that most would agree is passend (fitting) with what the Bayern public enjoys in a way that Tuchel’s football simply wasn’t.
Possession play allied to a high and bold early press has been the Kompany recipe, even though it didn’t always go to plan. For example: early in the season against Barcelona in the Champions League and Frankfurt in the Bundesliga.
Bayern can get into trouble when the defensive Kette (literal chain) becomes disconnected, resulting in rescue acts out of necessity, frequently by Manuel Neuer. This brings us to Eberl, who gets talked about more vigorously among football fans here in Munich much more than whether Kompany is a good coach for Bayern.
The fact is, being the Sportvorstand (sporting CEO at Bayern) carries with it an immense responsibility to constantly construct long-term plans while knowing that the wrong moves in the short term can cost you your job.
Eberl also has to work under the shadow of the Tegernsee: in other words, honorary president Uli Hoeneß, who always has an opinion when asked about pretty much any topic under the sun. A license to work away in peace hasn’t been a luxury afforded to Eberl since his move from Leipzig 18 months ago, nor will he expect to acquire it anytime soon.
Last winter, Eberl and sporting director Christoph Freund made extending the contracts of key players like Joshua Kimmich and Jamal Musiala the priority. But the handling of Thomas Müller‘s departure looked clumsy.
This summer, long-time attackers Leroy Sané and Kingsley Coman have left the club. Sané’s contract had been allowed to run down, while Coman’s move to Al Nassr brought in €24 million.
Bayern’s outlay of €75 million, including extras for the signing of 28-year-old Luis Díaz from Liverpool, has not met every fan’s approval. Yes, the Colombian is a splendid footballer and marked his first official appearance in the Super Cup with a goal.
But as with Harry Kane, we’re not talking about players here contributing to a sustainable transfer strategy. They are for the attacking here and now, and there are question marks about its composition at least in the short term, with playmaker Musiala set to miss a big chunk of the Hinrunde, the first part of the season.
Who is going to fill the Musiala hole? Against Stuttgart, it was mostly Serge Gnabry, with the often irresistible Michael Olise dropping in there from time to time. I must admit I would have liked to see 25 competitive minutes from 17-year-old Lennart Karl on Saturday. He’s small, left-footed, represented by Michael Ballack, and while not a direct like-for-like Musiala replacement, surely represents the future for Bayern.
Instead, Karl was handed only the briefest of cameos in Stuttgart and this brings us nicely to the theme of the Bayern Campus, as they call it, and Kompany’s attitude to bringing in youth. At last week’s pre-match news conference, Kompany addressed the thorny subject, acknowledging the importance, but adding the caveat that we in the media might have to be patient.
Of course, every coach has to be mindful of self-preservation and his pragmatic need for results. Others can worry about long haul plans that he may never be part of. Eberl and the Bayern decision-makers are attracted by the idea of bringing in Chelsea‘s Christopher Nkunku for the Musiala position. Hoeneß favors a loan, whereas Eberl feels a permanent signing. The supervisory board meets on Monday, and Eberl’s work will certainly be critiqued.
In other positions, I feel the addition of Jonathan Tah, arguably the best Bundesliga defender over the past couple of seasons, will add solidity to Bayern. Plus, the talented Aleksandar Pavlović is back after suffering a fractured eye socket. Kane’s statement this week that the current Bayern squad is the smallest he has ever been part of as a top-level professional was not meant to attract controversy but is rather a statement of fact.
In the first few matches, with these thin options, does Kompany have the right formula without Musiala in the creative department? The 19-year-old attacking midfielder Paul Wanner is no longer an alternative since he has been transferred to PSV, while Raphaël Guerreiro looks like an ill-fitting No. 10 option at this stage of his career.
Against Leipzig, we’ll learn more.
Sports
Diego Pavia accepts Ravens rookie minicamp invite after making unfortunate NFL Draft history: reports
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Diego Pavia, the polarizing former Vanderbilt quarterback who was runner-up in Heisman voting last season, has reportedly found a home in the NFL after going undrafted this weekend.
Pavia accepted an invitation to the Baltimore Ravens’ rookie minicamp on a tryout basis, per multiple reports. He doesn’t have a spot on the roster yet, but it’s a start as he looks to crack into the NFL with Baltimore.
Of course, Lamar Jackson, the two-time MVP quarterback, is cemented as the team’s starting quarterback, but perhaps Pavia can stand out enough in rookie minicamp to earn an invitation to training camp this summer.
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Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia throws a pass against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first quarter during the ReliaQuest Bowl at Raymond James Stadium on Dec. 31, 2025. (Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imagn Images)
Pavia was not expecting to be undrafted this weekend, but he became the first Heisman Trophy finalist since 2014 to not hear his name called through the seven rounds in Pittsburgh.
Pavia won the SEC Offensive Player of the Year and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm award for best upperclassman quarterback after throwing for 3,539 passing yards and 29 touchdowns, both of which single-season school records, to give the Commodores its first-ever 10-win season.
Vanderbilt just missed out on the College Football Playoff after finishing 10-3.
POLARIZING COLLEGE FOOTBALL STAR, HEISMAN TROPHY FINALIST GOES UNDRAFTED
Pavia ultimately finished second in Heisman voting to Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza – the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft by the Las Vegas Raiders. So, what ultimately led to Pavia not getting drafted?
While his personality may have factored in, Pavia’s official height at the NFL Scouting Combine turned some heads. Vanderbilt had him listed at 6-foot, but he was measured at 5-foot-9 7/8, which would make him the shortest quarterback in the NFL if he were to step foot on the gridiron today. The average height is 6-foot-2 for an NFL quarterback.
However, those shorter than the average have seen success, including Minnesota Vikings newest member, Kyler Murray, who went first overall to the Arizona Cardinals in 2019 coming out of Oklahoma. He’s listed at 5-foot-10.

Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia celebrates after the team’s win against Kentucky at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., on Nov. 22, 2025. (Mark Zaleski/The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Pavia barked back at critics during the Senior Bowl in January regarding his height.
“Yeah, my size has been doubted my whole life,” he said at the time, via AL.com. “I feel like the only thing the NFL cares about is can you win, and I view myself as a winner. I’ve been fortunate with all these great teams that I’ve had — we’ve never had a losing season. So that’s something to look forward to, I hope, for the rest of my career, that’s how it’s going to be.
“I feel like God has blessed me in so many ways to be a connector, and I feel like that’s one of my superpowers that I’ve got — I can connect. We unite, and then once you unite, you want to play for one another, and once you give 120% effort, there’s no one that can stop your team.”
Pavia’s personality, viewed by some as more cocky than confident, may have played a factor as well. After finishing runner-up to Mendoza in Heisman voting, Pavia was spotted at a New York City nightclub next to a sign that read, “F— Indiana.” Then, he posted on social media a photo with friends and a caption that read, “F— ALL THE VOTERS, BUT…FAMILY FOR LIFE.”

Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia throws a football during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., on Feb. 28, 2026. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
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Pavia later apologized for his decision to post that on his socials.
No matter the case, Pavia has a shot now with the Ravens and new head coach Jesse Minter, as he aims to show enough to join the quarterbacks group in training camp. Other than Jackson, the Ravens have Tyler “Snoop” Huntley on the roster to start the season.
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Sports
Trevor Bauer throws no-hitter for Long Island Ducks in just second US start since 2021
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Trevor Bauer, the former Cy Young Award winner and MLB All-Star, tossed a no-hitter for the independent Long Island Ducks in a 13-0 win over the Lancaster Stormers on Sunday afternoon at Penn Medicine Park in Pennsylvania.
It was just Bauer’s second start in the United States since 2021, and he faced just one batter over the minimum in a scheduled seven-inning game of a doubleheader against the Stormers.
Bauer threw 84 pitches, striking out seven hitters and walking just one to lose out on the perfect game.
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Trevor Bauer smiles after pitching no-hitter for Long Island Ducks on Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Jordan McGregor)
But Bauer unleashed a roar on the mound after a called strike three to notch the third no-hitter in Ducks history.
Combined with his first outing for the Ducks on April 21, Bauer has a strong 1.64 ERA to start the season in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB), which is a “Professional Partner League” of MLB.
Fans might have been supporting the opposing Stormers, but they understood what was at stake as Bauer was mowing down hitters throughout his start. They were even heard chanting his name at one point, hoping he could keep his hitless streak alive.
After the game, Bauer returned the favor for those at the Pennsylvania ballpark, signing autographs and taking pictures with fans after entering his name into the Ducks’ record books.
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“I’m looking forward to competing in front of U.S. fans again this season,” said Bauer when he signed with the Ducks earlier this month. “The Ducks have had some incredible players come through their organization, and I’m excited to be part of that tradition.”
Ex-MLB stars like Dontrelle Willis, Daniel Murphy, Rich Hill and Eric Gagne have played for the Ducks in the past. New York Mets legends Gary Carter and Bud Harrelson both managed the team, with the latter also being a part-owner.
Bauer’s first start for the Ducks impressed an AL team scout in attendance, saying he was pretty impressed by Bauer’s arsenal on the bump.
“He showed flashes of the guy he used to be and a guy who can help a club,” the scout told the New York Post. “He went out and handled himself well. He showed flashes of the breaking ball he had in the past. Certainly the velocity is not what it once was, but it’s still solid, mostly 92-94. He didn’t throw the ball particularly well on the inside part of the plate with his fastball, but I think it was a really good first outing. You’d expected him to get sharper and probably tick up in velocity.

Trevor Bauer and catcher high-five after finish inning for Long Island Ducks in no-hit bid on Sunday April 26, 2026. (Jordan McGregor)
“You’re talking about a guy who was at the top of the game. Is he back there? No, but he looked like a guy who could go out and compete.”
Bauer pitched in Japan in both 2023 and 2025, while a stint in Mexico came in 2024. He pitched to a 2.59 ERA and 9.2 K/9 in Japan in 2023, and in Mexico, those numbers improved to 2.48 and 13.0. Last year in Japan, though, his ERA shot up to 4.41, and he struck out just 8.2 batters per nine innings.
This June will mark five years since Bauer, as the reigning Cy Young Award winner, last appeared in an MLB game. On June 28 of that year, he tossed six innings of two-run ball while striking out eight batters, recording the win.
Two days later, Bauer was hit with sexual assault allegations, which eventually led to a 324-game suspension (the equivalent of two seasons). It was eventually reduced to 184 games for violating the league’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy.
Bauer has maintained his innocence, settling with one accuser while another is facing 16 years in prison after being charged with fraud for faking a pregnancy and asking Bauer for money for an abortion.

Trevor Bauer pitches for Long Island Ducks during no-hitter on Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Jordan McGregor)
Bauer and Lindsey Hill, who accused the pitcher of beating and sexually abusing her in 2021, settled their case in late 2023. Bauer revealed texts from Hill, who said that Bauer would be her “next victim,” among other damning messages. Hill has since said that MLB has more evidence of Bauer’s alleged misconduct.
Last June, Hill was ordered to pay Bauer more than $300,000 for violating settlement terms. Hill breached their settlement agreement with each other by discussing Bauer on podcasts and in public appearances, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Nearly two years ago, Bauer said he “may have no other choice” but to sue Major League Baseball “if I continue being kept out” of the league. Bauer has said he’d “play for the league minimum,” but he has yet to sign with an MLB team.
“Anyone that’s willing to sit down with me and listen: I’d like to play the second half of my career in a better way than I played the first half,” Bauer told Fox News Digital in January 2024. “I’d like to be an example that you can make mistakes, recognize them, adjust and then be better in the future. I think that’s something us as humans have to do and should be doing constantly.”

Long Island Ducks pitcher Trevor Bauer throws against the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars at Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip, N.Y., on April 21, 2026. (Thomas A. Ferrara/Newsday RM/Getty Images)
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Bauer has since called out MLB after Pete Rose and other deceased former players were taken off the league’s permanently ineligible list.
“So, since Pete is welcome back now, does that go for everyone who has been blackballed?” Bauer asked on X. “Or do you actually have to be guilty of something to qualify for that?”
Bauer was performing well for the Dodgers at the time of the allegations, pitching to a 2.59 ERA.
Fox News’ Ryan Morik contributed to this report.
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Sports
Kai Trump reveals ‘scary’ medical moment during her trip to Masters Tournament at Augusta National
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Kai Trump, the granddaughter of President Donald Trump, revealed a “scary” medical moment that occurred while she was attending the Masters Tournament earlier this month in a new vlog.
The future University of Miami golfer traveled to Augusta National Golf Club to take in the first major of the year, but the trip to Georgia hit a speed bump after she had an allergic reaction to a hand soap she used on her face.
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Amateur Kai Trump of the United States plays her shot from the 16th tee during the first round of The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Fla., on Nov. 13, 2025. (Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
“I was using hand soap on my face, when I was at Augusta, to wash off my makeup and I started getting these bumps on my neck,” she said in the vlog.
The 18-year-old had to get medical attention, ultimately receiving a steroid shot to counteract the allergic reaction.
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU HITS GOLF BALLS ON WHITE HOUSE SOUTH LAWN DURING VISIT WITH TRUMP
“Now, I don’t have a rash anymore, but I had an allergic reaction to the hand soap on my face,” she said.
“I have very sensitive skin. It was so, so scary.”

Amateur golfer Kai Trump looks on from the 11th tee before The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida, on Nov. 12, 2025. (Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
Once the rash was put to rest, Kai appeared to enjoy her weekend at Augusta. She posed for a photo she shared on Instagram with Bryson DeChambeau, a supporter of her grandfather and fellow YouTuber, and his caddie, Greg Bodine.
It wasn’t the best week for DeChambeau, though, as he missed the cut at Augusta National after shooting 6-over in his first two days of the tournament.
In the end, Rory McIlroy, who finally completed the career Grand Slam last year at the Masters, retained the green jacket with a second-straight win. He finished one shot ahead of Scottie Scheffler, who finished 11-under for the week after going 4-under in his final round on Sunday.

Kai Trump poses for a photo with Bryson DeChambeau during the 2026 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., on April 9, 2026. (Instagram/@KAITRUMPGOLFER)
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Russell Henley, Cam Young, Tyrell Hatton and Justin Rose, who lost to McIlroy in a playoff at last year’s Masters, all finished tied for third place at 10-under.
Kai is currently scheduled to enroll at the University of Miami later this fall, where she intends to play for the women’s golf team. She is a high school senior at The Benjamin School in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.. She discussed her upcoming senior prom in her latest vlog.
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