The announcement of Arsene Wenger’s imminent departure from Arsenal may have come as a surprise/shock/relief/inevitability – dilute according to taste – but I don’t mind saying that it came as a personal hammer blow to me, writes Liam Mackey.

Bayern Munich clinched the Bundesliga title with a 4-1 win at Augsburg.

They made the Borussia Dortmund Twitter account regret one particularly premature tweet, too.

Bayern Munich strengthened their grip on the Bundesliga title race with a 3-0 win over Augsburg which extended their lead at the top of the table to six points.

Boss Brendan Rodgers wants Celtic to stick to their ideals when they take on the might of Bayern Munich on Wednesday night.

Concerns have been raised over the seriousness of Nathaniel Clyne's back injury after the defender was left out of Liverpool's Champions League squad.

Hamburg beat Wolfsburg 2-1 in dramatic fashion to secure their Bundesliga status and plunge the Wolves into a relegation play-off.

When is the right time to exit the stage? It’s a question all sportspeople, no matter how successful, must eventually face. Three years ago, Philipp Lahm captained Germany to a fourth World Cup triumph. Less than a week later, the then 30-year-old retired from international football.

RB Leipzig moved back to the top of the Bundesliga tonight thanks to a 2-1 win over Schalke.

It could only happen in England, they said, and of course it could never happen again.

Bayern Munich lost their first game of the season on Saturday as Borussia Dortmund's 1-0 win at the Westfalenstadion left top-flight new boys Leipzig top of the table.

The draw moves the champions onto 24 points, three ahead of Leipzig who have a game in hand.

Bayern Munich pulled three points clear at the top of the Bundesliga today, with Hertha Berlin and Hoffenheim now the teams in pursuit after defeats for Cologne and Borussia Dortmund.

Bayern Munich coach Carlo Ancelotti feels his side must not forget how good a start to the season they have made, despite going two games without a win.

RB Leipzig picked up a first Bundesliga win in their maiden home fixture as an 89th-minute Naby Keita strike secured a 1-0 win over Borussia Dortmund.

Manager Arsene Wenger expects to add to Arsenal’s “core” this summer, but believes if Francis Coquelin had cost £40m (€55.6m) in January rather than coming back from loan at Charlton, there would be little criticism of the squad’s depth.

Euro roundup: Gareth Bale answered his critics in Spain as his brace helped Real Madrid beat Levante 2-0 at the Bernabeu last night.

“If it needs to be said, I am the one who is saying it. Everyone can tell each other off, so that is a good thing."

Germany coach Joachim Low has named a preliminary squad of 30 players for the World Cup, with Fiorentina striker Mario Gomez the biggest name to miss the cut.

BASKETBALL IRELAND NATIONAL CUP SEMI-FINAL:

If you are waking up this morning with a sore head and feeling a bit sorry for yourself spare a thought for SC Freiburg goalkeeper Oliver Baumann.

Bayern Munich midfielders Mario Gotze and Bastian Schweinsteiger will miss Germany’s World Cup qualifiers against Austria and the Faroe Islands due to injury.

Swansea’s Spanish stars face a daunting trip to Valencia in their first-ever Europa League group stage campaign as long-haul journeys to Russia, Moldova and northern Norway beckon for Tottenham.

Arsenal have confirmed the departure of two players on season-long loan deals, with Johan Djourou and Francis Coquelin temporarily moving away from the Emirates Stadium.

Pep Guardiola will make his competitive debut as Bayern Munich manager on July 27 as the reigning Bundesliga, Champions League and DFB Pokal holders face Borussia Dortmund in the German Super Cup.

Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis is confident manager Arsene Wenger still has the desire to drive the Gunners on to success once more – and is in it for “the long term”.

Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes paid tribute to opponents Freiburg for making them work hard for three points yesterday.

Bayern Munich warmed up for next week’s Champions League showdown with Barcelona by thumping Hannover 6-1 in the Bundesliga.

Lionel Messi celebrated another goalscoring milestone with four more last night as Barcelona demolished 10-man Osasuna 5-1 at the Nou Camp.

Alan Pardew is hoping striker Papiss Cisse will return to last season’s form to fire Newcastle out of trouble.

Barcelona strengthened their grip on top spot of La Liga with an excellent 4-1 win against Atletico Madrid in a pulsating game between the country’s top two.

Cha Du-ri has left Celtic to join German outfit Fortuna Dusseldorf, the Scottish champions have confirmed this afternoon.

Newcastle hotshot Papiss Cisse has dismissed rumours that he could leave the club this summer.

Juventus last night won their first Serie A crown since 2003 as a Diego Milito hat-trick sunk title rivals AC Milan.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has warned man-of-the-moment Papiss Cisse life in the Premier League may not always be as easy as he is making it look.

Newcastle hitman Papiss Cisse has named his wonder-strike against Chelsea as the best goal of his career to date.

Swansea 0 Newcastle 2

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish stopped short of criticising Andy Carroll for his reaction to being substituted at Newcastle but told his players to deal with their frustrations in a better way.

As he surveyed the wreckage of Liverpool’s latest disastrous defeat in a rapidly unravelling campaign, Kenny Dalglish felt the need to issue a much-needed call for calm.

Bayer Leverkusen have sacked coach Robin Dutt in the wake of yesterday’s 2-0 Bundesliga defeat at home to Freiburg.

An Arjen Robben goal in the 69th minute was enough to decide the Bavarian derby in favour of Bayern Munich and take them to within three points of Borussia Dortmund at the top of the Bundesliga.

Germany

Not since Sam Fox teamed up with Sabrina has there been a more striking double D partnership.

Senegal strikers Demba Ba and Papiss Demba Cisse are included in the Newcastle squad for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash with Aston Villa.