Soccer digest

GERMANY

Kahn condemns 'cowardly' death threats

Bayern Munich CEO Oliver Kahn on Sunday slammed the "cowardly "social media attacks on head coach Julian Nagelsmann, who received 450 death threats via Instagram following the club's Champions League exit.

"What is going on with people who send anonymous death threats?" Kahn said on a Sport1 talk show.

"There is nothing more cowardly than discrediting and belittling other people anonymously."

Kahn said the club is considering how to "put a stop to" the sort of abuse aimed at Nagelsmann after Bayern was knocked out of the Champions League by Villarreal last week in the quarterfinals.

On Friday, Nagelsmann revealed he had received hundreds of death threats, and his mother was also threatened, in the wake of a 1-1 home draw after losing the first leg in Spain.

Meanwhile, Kahn revealed the club is in talks to convince top-scoring striker Robert Lewandowski, 33, to extend his contract, which expires in 2023. "We want him to stay at FC Bayern for as long as possible," added Kahn.

The Poland forward has won back-to-back FIFA best male player awards for the last two years.

His wife Anna Lewandowski fueled rumors her husband could leave Bayern, with Barcelona as a possible destination, after posting that she is learning Spanish.

Bayern one win from 10th straight title

Bayern Munich can secure a 10th straight Bundesliga title this weekend after it bounced back from its Champions League exit with a 3-0 win at Arminia Bielefeld on Sunday.

An own goal by Bielefeld's Jacob Laursen and strikes by Serge Gnabry and Jamal Musiala saw Bayern move nine points clear.

"A bit of frustration was released after we were knocked out," Gnabry told DAZN.

Bayern returned to winning ways five days after conceding a last-gasp equalizer at home to Villarreal to crash out of the Champions League with a 2-1 aggregate defeat in the quarterfinals.

"I've had a hard time dealing with it," said Bayern midfielder Joshua Kimmich, who was outstanding on Sunday. "It's still in the back of your mind."

There are four league games left but Bayern can secure the title by beating second-placed Borussia Dortmund in next Saturday's top-of-the-table clash in Munich.

"We definitely want to clinch it against Dortmund," Kimmich said.

FRANCE

PSG on brink of glory after Marseille victory

A Kylian Mbappe penalty proved decisive as Paris Saint-Germain beat bitter rival Marseille 2-1 on Sunday, meaning it could clinch the Ligue 1 title this week.

Mbappe converted from the spot in first-half stoppage time after the referee awarded a penalty for handball on a VAR review, restoring PSG's lead following Neymar's early opener and a Duje Caleta-Car equalizer.

PSG is 15 points clear of second-placed Marseille with six games remaining and Mauricio Pochettino's side－which also has a far superior goal difference－stands poised to reclaim the trophy it relinquished to Lille last season.

If Marseille fails to beat Nantes on Wednesday then PSG can clinch its eighth Ligue 1 title in 10 seasons if it has a better result against Angers at the same time.

Despite seeing its eight-game winning run come to an end, Marseille remains on course to qualify automatically for the Champions League as it sits three points clear of third-placed Rennes.

Nice is another two points back in fourth after Andy Delort's late header secured a 2-1 win over Lorient.

Only the top two in France qualify automatically for the Champions League, with third going into the qualifying rounds and fourth into the Europa League.

THE NETHERLANDS

United target Ten Hag suffers Cup final defeat

Erik ten Hag, the man widely tipped to become the next Manchester United manager, suffered defeat on Sunday when his Ajax team lost 2-1 to PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch Cup final.

Ajax opened the scoring through Ryan Gravenberch in the 23rd minute before Dusan Tadic saw a goal ruled out just before halftime.

PSV then hit back with two goals in quick succession through Erick Gutierrez in the 48th minute and Cody Gakpo two minutes later.

Ajax had another effort scrubbed off by VAR just before the hour, this time Davy Klaassen was the unlucky player.

For PSV, it was a first Cup triumph since 2012 and their 10th overall.

Ajax is still on course to win the Dutch league, holding a four-point lead over PSV.

Ten Hag is reportedly the overwhelming favorite to take over at Manchester United next season.

The 52-year-old is seen as fitting the profile the United board desires to restore the glory days the club enjoyed under Alex Ferguson.

Agencies