Bundesliga Preview: What to watch in German soccer this weekend

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Bundesliga Preview: What to watch in German soccer this weekend

2025-04-24 17:10 Last Updated At：17:20

DUESSELDORF, Germany (AP) — Harry Kane can win the first major trophy of his career on Saturday as Bayern Munich closes in on regaining the Bundesliga title after Bayer Leverkusen's shock win last season.

Bayern has an eight-point lead over second-placed Leverkusen with four games remaining. If Bayern beats Mainz on Saturday, then Leverkusen must win its game at the same time to keep the title race alive.

— Bayern hosts Mainz on Saturday as the overwhelming favorite to win the game and the title, but will remember what happened the last time they met. Mainz beat a Kane-less Bayern 2-1 in December for Vincent Kompany's first league loss as Bayern coach.

— Leverkusen's form has trailed off since its Champions League elimination by Bayern last month, and even the return from injury of star attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz hasn't helped. After two underwhelming draws, Leverkusen can delay Bayern's celebrations at home against Augsburg.

— Leipzig visits Eintracht Frankfurt in Saturday's late game as both teams try to hold onto Champions League spots despite inconsistent recent form. Borussia Dortmund, Freiburg and Mainz are all close behind.

— Kane's 24 Bundesliga goals are six more than anyone else, and he scored a hat trick against Mainz last season.

— On-loan Chelsea midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka has become crucial to Dortmund's push to qualify for the Champions League and was involved in all three of his team's goals in a 3-2 win over Borussia Moenchengladbach last week. Dortmund visits Hoffenheim on Saturday.

— Werder Bremen is the league's form team with a four-game winning run, and midfielder Mitchell Weiser had a goal or assist in each of those wins. Bremen hosts St. Pauli on Sunday with European qualification in sight.

— Dortmund midfielder Pascal Gross is ruled out of Saturday's game at Hoffenheim with a minor knee ligament injury. Gross was a standout against Barcelona and Borussia Moenchengladbach last week.

— Leverkusen defender Nordi Mukiele is out for three weeks with a calf muscle injury, the club said on Thursday.

— Eintracht Frankfurt forward Mario Götze hasn't played since a muscle injury against Tottenham in the Europa League last week. Goalkeeper Kaua Santos is out long-term with a knee injury from the same game.

— Leverkusen has said it's planning its squad for next season together with coach Xabi Alonso amid speculation he could take the Real Madrid job. If he does want to leave, Alonso needs to notify Leverkusen in the next few weeks, chief executive Fernando Carro told Sky.

— Experienced Bayern forward Thomas Müller's future remains open when he leaves the club in July after 25 years. The Bild newspaper has indicated Müller turned down approaches from Fiorentina and FC Cincinnati.

— Scottish forward Oliver Burke is leaving Werder Bremen when his contract expires at the end of the season, the club confirmed on Wednesday. He's been linked with Union Berlin.

— “We’re close to our goal. We want to wrap things up as quickly as possible." — Bayern forward Serge Gnabry.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Maxey scores 33 as 76ers use 80-point first half to beat Raptors 115-102

TORONTO (AP) — Tyrese Maxey scored 33 points, Joel Embiid had 27 and the Philadelphia 76ers used an 80-point first half to beat the Toronto Raptors 115-102 on Monday night.

VJ Edgecombe and Paul George each scored 15 points as the 76ers bounced back from Sunday’s overtime loss to Toronto to win for the sixth time in eight games.

Embiid (left knee and left groin) and George (left knee) were back in the lineup after sitting out Sunday.

Fans chanted “We want Lowry!” in the fourth quarter, then rose for a standing ovation when former Raptors player Kyle Lowry checked in for Maxey with 1:57 left to play.

Lowry starred for the Toronto team that won the 2019 NBA championship. He airballed a 3-pointer on his first attempt and missed all three shots he took.

Immanuel Quickley scored 18 points and Brandon Ingram had 17 points and 10 rebounds. Scottie Barnes scored 15 points for Toronto.

Barnes, who hit the game-winning free throw Sunday, was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week earlier Monday.

Philadelphia’s 80 first-half points were the most by a Raptors opponent this season. The 76ers made 27 of 37 field goals in the opening half, including 13 of 20 from long range, and shot 13 for 13 at the free throw line.

Maxey scored 18 points in the first to help Philadelphia build a 45-28 lead after one. He connected on six of seven attempts, including three of four from distance.

After shooting 8 for 31 from long range Sunday, the 76ers combined to make 7 of 8 3-pointers in the first. They followed that by making four straight to begin the second.

Ingram returned after missing two games because of a sore right thumb. RJ Barrett (left thumb) sat for the second straight game.

Philadelphia’s biggest lead was 33 points, 87-54, after an Edgecombe 3 with 8:24 remaining in the third.

76ers: Host Cleveland on Wednesday.

Raptors: At Indiana on Wednesday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba