Bayern Munich sporting director Matthias Sammer has called on his players to rediscover their fun-loving side ahead of Saturday’s fixture against Schalke.
The German champions qualified for a fifth consecutive Uefa Champions League semi-final this week, and now have the chance to establish a 10 point lead at the top of the Bundesliga.
Bayern have been grinding out positive results in recent weeks, but have failed to dominate games in the way they are expected to.
“I want to see more desire, more ambition and more enjoyment in our play,” Sammer said.
“The players should be thinking about what they can achieve.”
Sammer was quick to defend the Bayern players, however, arguing that Bayern are currently in a better position than the likes of Barcelona or Real Madrid.
“When you look at the other top clubs in Europe, you see that they are not picking up points. We could be doing some things better, but we are getting results.”
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After Borussia Dortmund were held to a draw against Schalke last weekend, Bayern now hold a seven-point lead at the top of the table.
Victory on Saturday would put them 10 points clear for at least one night, with Dortmund set to play Hamburg on Sunday.
Dortmund usually fare badly against Hamburg, having picked up just four points from their last seven Bundesliga games against the northern club.
Coach Thomas Tuchel is aware that another slip-up would almost certainly spell the end of his team’s title chances.
“The most realistic scenario is that Bayern win the title,” he said. “I’m not sure if we can pull off a sensational comeback now.”
With the title race losing steam, the battle for Europe has become even more significant in the Bundesliga. Only four points separate Hertha Berlin in third and Schalke in seventh.
Surprise package Hertha have hit rocky ground in recent weeks. A 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Borussia Monchengladbach was followed by a 2-2 draw against bottom of the table Hanover 96.
Hertha face another tricky test on Saturday against a Hoffenheim team unbeaten in their last four. Hertha coach Pal Dardai will also be without star youngster Mitchell Weiser, who is serving a one-game suspension.
Just one point behind Hertha, Bayer Leverkusen are hoping to secure their place in the top four with a win over relegation threatened Frankfurt.
Despite a myriad of defensive injuries, Leverkusen have gone four games without conceding a goal, while Frankfurt have the third worst scoring record in the league.
Fifth placed Gladbach will be looking to break their poor run of away form in Hanover on Friday evening.
The Foals have just one point from their last five games away from home.
“If we want to finish in the top four, we have to start getting points away from home as well,” defender Toni Jantschke said.
That should be easy against Hanover. With the club nine points adrift at the foot of the table, defeat to Gladbach would see them equal a Bundesliga record of 13 home defeats in one season.
Fresh from their Champions League exit at the hands of Real Madrid, Wolfsburg face a Werder Bremen side desperate to haul themselves out of the bottom three.
Bremen are hoping to see star striker Claudio Pizarro return to the team after a nearly a month out injured.
Saturday will also see Augsburg host fellow relegation rivals Stuttgart, and Darmstadt welcome Ingolstadt. On Sunday, Mainz will be looking to keep their Champions League hopes alive against out of form Cologne.
FIXTURES (all times UAE)
Friday
Hanover 96 v Borussia Moenchengladbach (10.30pm)
Saturday
Bayer Leverkusen v E. Frankfurt (5.30pm)
Augsburg v Stuttgart (5.30pm)
Werder Bremen v Wolfsburg (5.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (5.30pm)
Darmstadt v Ingolstadt (5.30pm)
Bayern Munich v Schalke (8.30pm)
Sunday
Borussia Dortmund v Hamburg, Mainz v Cologne (7.30pm)
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Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
