The countdown has started to the biggest game in the history of Hoffenheim, and the biggest fixture of the Bundesliga season so far. The league leaders, in their maiden year in the top flight, travel to the most decorated team in German football on Friday. Hoffenheim lead the way by three points from Bayern Munich and a win would guarantee them top spot going into the winter break, regardless of how they fare in their final game of the year.
"It is astonishing that it has come to this, but I am really looking forward to it," the Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness said following his side's 2-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday. "A performance like the second half against Leverkusen will be enough against Hoffenheim." But the coach Jurgen Klinsmann has tried to take tension out of the game by playing down its importance. "It would be nice for us to see things from the top, but if that does not happen, then it's not so bad," he said.
Bayern would need to beat Hoffenheim by more than three goals to move to the summit next weekend. Hoeness, meanwhile, said the striker Lukas Podolski could be on his way out of the club - but not until the end of the season. Podolski has been unable to get regular first-team football this season. And Hoeness said: "If we can find a replacement, we will be able to grant his wish of going to Cologne."
The under-fire Schalke coach Fred Rutten said these are "hard times" for the club after they lost their third Bundesliga game in four by going down 2-0 to Stuttgart. * PA Sport
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The specs
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if you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct to Kolkata from Dh1,504 and Dh1,450 return including taxes, respectively. The flight takes four hours 30 minutes outbound and 5 hours 30 minute returning.
The trains
Numerous trains link Kolkata and Murshidabad but the daily early morning Hazarduari Express (3’ 52”) is the fastest and most convenient; this service also stops in Plassey. The return train departs Murshidabad late afternoon. Though just about feasible as a day trip, staying overnight is recommended.
The hotels
Mursidabad’s hotels are less than modest but Berhampore, 11km south, offers more accommodation and facilities (and the Hazarduari Express also pauses here). Try Hotel The Fame, with an array of rooms from doubles at Rs1,596/Dh90 to a ‘grand presidential suite’ at Rs7,854/Dh443.
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Fixtures and results:
Wed, Aug 29:
- Malaysia bt Hong Kong by 3 wickets
- Oman bt Nepal by 7 wickets
- UAE bt Singapore by 215 runs
Thu, Aug 30: UAE v Nepal; Hong Kong v Singapore; Malaysia v Oman
Sat, Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong; Oman v Singapore; Malaysia v Nepal
Sun, Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman; Malaysia v UAE; Nepal v Singapore
Tue, Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore; UAE v Oman; Nepal v Hong Kong
Thu, Sep 6: Final
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Poacher
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: seven-speed dual clutch automatic
Power: 169bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh54,500
On sale: now
