Being a Bundesliga fan can sometimes involve hefty contradictions from one domestic weekend to the next European club midweek.

If you’re not a Bayern Munich follower, then you tend to regularly bemoan the success of Germany‘s Rekordmeister and invoke concepts such as Bayern-Dusel (Bayern luck) and the inevitable Bayern-Bonus (alleged preferential treatment from referees). Then of course, there is an outpouring of Schadenfreude on the few occasions when the Munich giants actually do badly on the pitch.

Frequently, however, on European nights, those who wished Bayern considerable ill just a few days prior are cast in the role of their unlikely defenders. It’s difficult not to take this stance when snide comments about the supposed weakness of the Bundesliga are made by international pundits who frankly should know a lot better.

How on earth are Bayern meant to keep themselves sharp for the UEFA Champions League when they’re playing teams like Freiburg, for goodness sake?

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Freiburg, for the record, are very competent and, like Bayern, auf drei Hochzeiten tanzen (literally dancing at three weddings), an expression used to describe a team still competing in three different competitions. In the case of Freiburg, it’s the UEFA Europa League, the league, and the DFB-Pokal.

Last Saturday, they gave their Bavarian guests an almighty examination. Freiburg, who pressed and battled intelligently throughout, were 2-0 in front with nine minutes of normal time left, but Bayern eventually began taking bites into the lead. Two goals, one with either foot, from the talented Tom Bischof, saw the match level by the beginning of stoppage time.

I posed the question in the live world feed commentary regarding whether Bayern could actually go on and win the game now.

With 99 minutes on the clock and the match about to conclude, Bayern produced an aesthetically pleasing move. It started with a beautiful butter-soft diagonal pass from Joshua Kimmich to substitute Alphonso Davies on the left. The Canadian fed it across for 18 year-old Lennart Karl to finish off from close range.

Cue absolute bedlam in the nearby Gästeblock (away section). It was more than Bayern’s most dramatic winning goal of a spectacular season. This will go down as the club’s 100th Bundesliga goal of the campaign, only the third time they or any team in the Oberhaus has scaled such impressive scoring heights.

It is to be expected that on Saturday at the Millerntor in Hamburg against St. Pauli, Bayern will set a brand new record for bulging the net in a single Bundesliga season. Two more goals and they’ll have surpassed the great 1971-72 team that featured the legendary Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Müller, Sepp Maier and Uli Hoeneß.

Those of us who live and breathe Germany every week, hopefully know what we’re watching and I’ve said it often this term and will happily repeat it here: I believe this is a special incarnation of Bayern. The goal numbers alone, of course, tell you that. They’re doing what no German side has done before.

However, the eye test reveals a style of play that is among the finest many of us have ever been lucky enough to witness. Credit to Vincent Kompany and to the Bayern decision makers who believed in the Belgian when others saw an idealistic eighth- or ninth-choice candidate who had relegated Burnley in England.

It does seem though, that only the Champions League will be the Maßstab (yardstick) for those who lazily disparage the Bundesliga. On Tuesday, it was remarkable how refreshing Bayern seemed to people who clearly don’t watch the German domestic game, preferring to focus on the Premier League. Perhaps that’s also an indictment of what they’ve been served up in England and it’s not my place or intention to critique the sport from there in this space.

But this is a long way of saying, maybe this edition of Bayern is simply very good. They still have work to do against Real Madrid, but would anyone of fair mind argue they’re not well placed to be crowned European club champions and to do it in style?

Funnily enough, most regular Bayern watchers would tell you the weakest link has been the man richly praised on Tuesday: 40-year-old Manuel Neuer. His greatness is undeniable and Neuer will be remembered as a truly revolutionary goalkeeper for his modern interpretation of the position, but more mistakes are creeping in, and we have seen them in each of his past two competitive games.

In terms of the outfield players, I genuinely see no suspect areas. I often hear colleagues who dip in and out highlight Dayot Upamecano‘s shortcomings, and I suppose his comportment on the Real Madrid goal will be grist to their mill. The fact remains, I can’t recall a raft of wobbles from the Frenchman this season.

We can go player by player — from Jonathan Tah at the back to Konrad Laimer and his versatility, to Kimmich’s thoroughness and the explosive qualities in attack of Michael Olise, Karl, Harry Kane, Serge Gnabry and Jamal Musiala.

It really doesn’t matter what Kompany’s constellation is on any particular day. Bayern are a force to be reckoned with — domestically and in Europe.

LAS VEGAS — Kent Anderson scored from the slot at 7:25 of the second overtime to back up Johnny Hicks’ 49 saves and lift Denver to a 4-3 victory over Michigan on Thursday night in a Frozen Four semifinal and keep alive the Pioneers’ hoping of winning their third national title in five years.

The Pioneers (28-11-3), a No. 2 regional seed, advance to Saturday’s championship game against Wisconsin (24-12-2), a 2-1 winner over North Dakota in the other semifinal. Denver will try to extend its record to 11 titles.

“I don’t score many goals, so this is ranking up top so far,” Anderson said. “That means everything to play in this national championship game.”

Michigan (31-8-1) had hoped to make its first championship appearance since 2011 and win its first title since 1998. The Wolverines, who outshot the Pioneers 52-26, also were trying to tie Denver for most overall championships.

They had hoped to take the next step this weekend, having reached the Frozen Four for the fourth time in five years.

“It’s hard to have it be over,” Michigan coach Brandon Naurato said. “What these seniors have done for this program, it’s really special. You can tell a little bit from the outside, but if you’re in that room and all the conversations we had with these guys, they changed the program.”

Denver’s Clarke Caswell sent the game into overtime with a goal and had an assist. Kyle Chyzowski and Cale Ashcroft also scored, and Hicks — a freshman — set a personal high in saves.

Hicks, who entered this game leading the nation with a 1.12 goals-against average and .958 save percentage, stayed in after taking a nasty hit early in the third period when teammate Eric Jamieson made contact with Michigan’s Malcolm Spence on a rush to the net.

“He’s a battler, he’s unfazed — he was our best player tonight,” Pioneers coach David Carle said.

Josh Eernisse, Jayden Perron and T.J. Hughes each scored for Michigan, with Hughes’ goal giving the Hobey Baker finalist 179 career points, tops among active players. Jack Ivankovic saved 22 shots.

The Wolverines were on the verge of advancing to the final when Perron scored from the right point with 8:58 left in regulation. That goal came on a power play, the nation’s top-ranked unit that entered the game by converting 31.6% of its chances.

Denver, however, kept alive its season when Caswell redirected a shot from Garrett Brown from the goal line with 2:46 remaining in regulation.

Neither team scored in the first overtime, though Pioneers winger Rieger Lorenz hit the crossbar. Teammate Boston Buckberger later had his left hand badly bloodied when it was stepped on, but he played through it.

Michigan outplayed Denver through the extra sessions, outshoooting the Pioneers 21-8, including 13-3 in the second OT.

“We stuck with it throughout the whole game,” Anderson said. “Our belief didn’t change when we were down one in the third.”

Wisconsin 2, North Dakota 1

In the other semifinal, Simon Tassy and Ryan Botterill scored 27 seconds apart in the first period, and Wisconsin held on to make the Frozen Four title game for the first time since 2010.

The Badgers (24-12-2) have won six titles, the most recent one coming 20 years ago.

“At this time of the season, [winning is] all that matters,” Wisconsin coach Mike Hastings said. “It doesn’t have to be a Mona Lisa. You’ve just got to find a way to make sure you’re living for another day, and this group has talked about this moment for a long time.”

Wisconsin defeated North Dakota (29-10-1) for the first time in the NCAA tournament after going 0-3 against the Fighting Hawks. Wisconsin, which beat a No. 1 seed for the second time in a row, had gone 1-11-2 in its previous 14 meetings with the Hawks.

“I think at this time of year, you should be playing your best hockey,” Wisconsin defenseman Ben Dexheimer said. “We’ve been slowly ramping up, and it’s pretty close to one of our best [games]. So we’re just going to keep moving the trajectory upwards.”

North Dakota, which came less than a minute from being shut out for the first time in more than a year, has gone a decade since winning its eighth national championship.

Daniel Hauser stopped 21 shots for the Badgers, including a tough glove save through traffic while sitting down on a 6-on-5 with 2:05 left.

“Luckily, I found a sight line,” Hauser said. “I was lucky enough to get a glove on it. That was probably a boxout from one of our D-men to let me see it. It was kind of a funny play, but I came up with it.”

Front-line center Ellis Rickwood scored North Dakota’s lone goal on a 6-on-5, and Jan Spunar made 35 saves.

The Badgers’ defense limited a North Dakota offense that entered the game third nationally in scoring (3.8 goals per game). But Wisconsin’s forecheck dictated the early points and set the tone.

Wisconsin dominated the first period, taking 18 shots on goal to four. The Badgers scored when Tassy and Botterill hit the back of the net from the right circle.

Even when the Hawks had chances, they usually failed to take advantage, going 0-for-5 on the power play, including a 5-on-3 in the second period that lasted 1:56. Ollie Josephson also missed a chance in that period to score on a breakaway.

“Special teams is such an important part of the game,” North Dakota defenseman Jake Livanavage said. “We just weren’t good enough. The amount of power plays we had, we really should capitalize.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri are among five players who could be allowed to leave Arsenal to raise funds for new arrivals, while Real Madrid could step up their efforts to sign Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise. Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.

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TRENDING RUMORS

– Arsenal youngsters Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri signed long-term contracts last summer, but are among five players who could be allowed to leave to raise funds for new arrivals, says the BBC. Midfielder Nwaneri, 19, went out on loan to Marseille in January, while left back Lewis-Skelly, 19, has been a backup option after a breakthrough campaign last year. Arsenal want at least £100 million for the pair, who have attracted interest from Borussia Dortmund and other Premier League clubs, as they are academy players and would generate “pure profit” in their accounts. The Gunners are also ready to listen to offers for Gabriel Jesus, Ben White and Gabriel Martinelli.

– Real Madrid could step up their efforts to sign Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise, as reported by Christian Falk. The 24-year-old impressed in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinal between the two teams, giving left back Álvaro Carreras a torrid time and providing an assist for striker Harry Kane. That made Los Blancos even more determined to sign Olise, with the Spanish giants thinking of making an offer worth €160 million, although Bayern are under no pressure to let him leave and Liverpool are also interested.

– FC Cincinnati have engaged in preliminary talks with representatives of Santos forward Neymar about a move to MLS, as reported by The Athletic. Discussions are in their early stages, with Cincinnati gauging the 34-year-old’s level of interest and requirements, while there are internal conversations about whether pushing to sign a player with such a troubled recent injury history makes sense. Neymar’s contract at Santos runs until the end of 2026.

– There has been plenty of talk about the future of Morgan Rogers, with both TalkSPORT and The Mirror suggesting that a fee of £80 million is the starting point to open transfer talks, while The Telegraph has put the figure at £100 million. The 23-year-old is likely to leave Villa if they don’t qualify for the Champions League, with Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool all reported to be interested. Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich are also in the race.

– AC Milan are looking to strengthen their attack, with the futures of wingers Rafael Leão and Christian Pulisic uncertain, according to Corriere dello Sport. The replacements that Milan are looking at appear to be Fiorentina‘s Moise Kean, Barcelona‘s Robert Lewandowski, Chelsea’s Bayern Munich loanee Nicolas Jackson, Al Qadsiah‘s Mateo Retegui and Al Hilal‘s Darwin Núñez.

EXPERT TAKE

play

Marcotti gives Barcelona a 40% chance of overturning deficit vs. Atletico

Gab and Juls make their second leg predictions for Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona and Liverpool vs. PSG in the Champions League.

OTHER RUMORS

– Barcelona are determined to sign Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez but negotiations will be delicate as Atletico don’t want to negotiate, while Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain are also keen. (Diario Sport)

– Liverpool and Manchester City have joined Arsenal in the race for Bayer Leverkusen striker Christian Kofane. (TEAMtalk)

– Manchester United midfielder Casemiro could agree a “special” deal for the 34-year-old to join Inter Miami when his Red Devils contract ends in the summer. (Football Insider)

– Manchester United see Stuttgart midfielder Angelo Stiller as a genuine option for the summer transfer window, although there is also interest from Liverpool and Newcastle United. (TEAMtalk)

– Juventus really want to sign Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who is longing for a return to Italy. (Gazzetta dello Sport)

– Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United are among the clubs who have been notified that RB Leipzig and Castello Lukeba are in agreement that they will part ways in the summer. (TEAMtalk)

– Everton are prepared to make a move for Manchester City center back John Stones, who is likely to leave the Etihad in a free transfer this summer. (Football Insider)

– Besiktas are interested in Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana, who is currently on loan at Trabzonspor. (Nicolo Schira)

– Joshua Zirkzee could be allowed to leave Manchester United in the summer if the Red Devils find a replacement for him. (Football Insider)

– Manchester City are exploring a move to re-sign Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Pierce Charles as speculation surrounding James Trafford‘s future grows. (TEAMtalk)

– Brighton & Hove Albion could have an advantage in their efforts to sign FC Cologne winger Said El Mala, as they also want to bring in his brother, Malek. (Sky Germany)

– Hamburg are planning to hold talks with Arsenal about a permanent transfer for Fabio Vieira, who has been on loan at the Bundesliga club. (Sun)

– Southampton midfielder Shea Charles is being looked at by Crystal Palace but there is competition from Nottingham Forest. (Football Insider)