Rivalry has been Bundesliga’s best in recent years and intense 1-1 draw had ‘everything football has to offer’

Even if Xabi Alonso is no longer at Bayer Leverkusen strong traces of him remain, both at the club and in the Bundesliga. Take the match-up between Die Werkself and Bayern Munich, another of his former clubs. In the last few years it is a meeting that has nudged Der Klassiker gently aside in terms of excellence and what it has meant. Like so many historical domestic faceoffs with Bayern and AN Other it is likely transient but even if Saturday’s latest edition may not have had quite the direct rivalry that recent meetings have, many of the feelings of intensity and adrenaline were still there. It was the perfect pep for the run-in.

There has been another moment in the recent past in which a stalemate in this showpiece has pleased neither team; the goalless draw in the corresponding fixture last season springs to mind, where Bayern were neutered as was/is rarely possible and only got away with a point after a mindboggling miss from Florian Wirtz at the death. If the two clubs’ realistic aims have gone in opposite directions since, there was still plenty of chuntering on both sides at the end.

Rivalry has been Bundesliga’s best in recent years and intense 1-1 draw had ‘everything football has to offer’

Even if Xabi Alonso is no longer at Bayer Leverkusen strong traces of him remain, both at the club and in the Bundesliga. Take the match-up between Die Werkself and Bayern Munich, another of his former clubs. In the last few years it is a meeting that has nudged Der Klassiker gently aside in terms of excellence and what it has meant. Like so many historical domestic faceoffs with Bayern and AN Other it is likely transient but even if Saturday’s latest edition may not have had quite the direct rivalry that recent meetings have, many of the feelings of intensity and adrenaline were still there. It was the perfect pep for the run-in.

There has been another moment in the recent past in which a stalemate in this showpiece has pleased neither team; the goalless draw in the corresponding fixture last season springs to mind, where Bayern were neutered as was/is rarely possible and only got away with a point after a mindboggling miss from Florian Wirtz at the death. If the two clubs’ realistic aims have gone in opposite directions since, there was still plenty of chuntering on both sides at the end.

Rivalry has been Bundesliga’s best in recent years and intense 1-1 draw had ‘everything football has to offer’

Even if Xabi Alonso is no longer at Bayer Leverkusen strong traces of him remain, both at the club and in the Bundesliga. Take the match-up between Die Werkself and Bayern Munich, another of his former clubs. In the last few years it is a meeting that has nudged Der Klassiker gently aside in terms of excellence and what it has meant. Like so many historical domestic faceoffs with Bayern and AN Other it is likely transient but even if Saturday’s latest edition may not have had quite the direct rivalry that recent meetings have, many of the feelings of intensity and adrenaline were still there. It was the perfect pep for the run-in.

There has been another moment in the recent past in which a stalemate in this showpiece has pleased neither team; the goalless draw in the corresponding fixture last season springs to mind, where Bayern were neutered as was/is rarely possible and only got away with a point after a mindboggling miss from Florian Wirtz at the death. If the two clubs’ realistic aims have gone in opposite directions since, there was still plenty of chuntering on both sides at the end.

US president had suggested his trip could be put on hold if Beijing fails to help secure the strait of Hormuz

China has said it is in communication with the US regarding Donald Trump’s planned visit to Beijing, despite hints from the US president that he might delay the trip if Beijing does not help to unblock the strait of Hormuz.

China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said: “Head-of-state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable strategic guiding role in China-US relations. The two sides are maintaining communication regarding President Trump’s visit to China.”

US president had suggested his trip could be put on hold if Beijing fails to help secure the strait of Hormuz

China has said it is in communication with the US regarding Donald Trump’s planned visit to Beijing, despite hints from the US president that he might delay the trip if Beijing does not help to unblock the strait of Hormuz.

China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said: “Head-of-state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable strategic guiding role in China-US relations. The two sides are maintaining communication regarding President Trump’s visit to China.”

US president had suggested his trip could be put on hold if Beijing fails to help secure the strait of Hormuz

China has said it is in communication with the US regarding Donald Trump’s planned visit to Beijing, despite hints from the US president that he might delay the trip if Beijing does not help to unblock the strait of Hormuz.

China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said: “Head-of-state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable strategic guiding role in China-US relations. The two sides are maintaining communication regarding President Trump’s visit to China.”

From The Wire to Fruitvale Station, Creed, Black Panther, the Academy award winner has amassed a body of work that straddles commercial and critical success
• Oscar winners 2026: the full list
• Sinners’ Oscar triumphs show that Black cinema is now a vital and valid part of Hollywood

Michael B Jordan’s best actor Oscar places him in an exclusive club . Only five black actors have won the award before. He now sits on a list that includes Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, Forest Whitaker, Denzel Washington and Sidney Poitier, the first black winner for Lilies of the Field in 1964.

But less than a month ago, it seemed unlikely. Jordan’s success at the Actors awards was the first serious hint that he could beat Timothée Chalamet, who had won at the Golden Globes and was the frontrunner for much of the awards campaign. But Chalamet, who made a few missteps on the campaign trail , was up against one of the most well-loved actors operating in Hollywood. Jordan is someone who at only 39 years old has managed to amass a body of work that straddles commercial and critical success.

From The Wire to Fruitvale Station, Creed, Black Panther, the Academy award winner has amassed a body of work that straddles commercial and critical success
• Oscar winners 2026: the full list
• Sinners’ Oscar triumphs show that Black cinema is now a vital and valid part of Hollywood

Michael B Jordan’s best actor Oscar places him in an exclusive club . Only five black actors have won the award before. He now sits on a list that includes Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, Forest Whitaker, Denzel Washington and Sidney Poitier, the first black winner for Lilies of the Field in 1964.

But less than a month ago, it seemed unlikely. Jordan’s success at the Actors awards was the first serious hint that he could beat Timothée Chalamet, who had won at the Golden Globes and was the frontrunner for much of the awards campaign. But Chalamet, who made a few missteps on the campaign trail , was up against one of the most well-loved actors operating in Hollywood. Jordan is someone who at only 39 years old has managed to amass a body of work that straddles commercial and critical success.

From The Wire to Fruitvale Station, Creed, Black Panther, the Academy award winner has amassed a body of work that straddles commercial and critical success
• Oscar winners 2026: the full list
• Sinners’ Oscar triumphs show that Black cinema is now a vital and valid part of Hollywood

Michael B Jordan’s best actor Oscar places him in an exclusive club . Only five black actors have won the award before. He now sits on a list that includes Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, Forest Whitaker, Denzel Washington and Sidney Poitier, the first black winner for Lilies of the Field in 1964.

But less than a month ago, it seemed unlikely. Jordan’s success at the Actors awards was the first serious hint that he could beat Timothée Chalamet, who had won at the Golden Globes and was the frontrunner for much of the awards campaign. But Chalamet, who made a few missteps on the campaign trail , was up against one of the most well-loved actors operating in Hollywood. Jordan is someone who at only 39 years old has managed to amass a body of work that straddles commercial and critical success.