FC Bayern Munich News: Penalty Controversy, Franculino Rumors & Player Updates

FC Bayern Munich secured a 2-1 victory in the first leg against Real Madrid, though a potential penalty near the game's end sparked considerable debate. Dive into the latest news and rumors surrounding FCB.

Additional FC Bayern Munich Updates:

• Steven Gerrard reportedly recommends Bayern Munich's Olise to Liverpool.
• Player ratings from Madrid: Manuel Neuer outstanding, Dayot Upamecano shows signs of old weaknesses.
• Victory at Real! FC Bayern secures a favorable position for the second leg.

FC Bayern Munich Rumor: Former Candidate Franculino Nearing Million-Euro Transfer to Italy?

Franculino, a player previously linked with FC Bayern Munich, is reportedly on the verge of a significant move to an Italian top club this summer. Reports suggest that AS Roma is aiming to bring the striker from FC Midtjylland to Serie A. The Giallorossi are rumored to be preparing a €55 million offer for Franculino and his teammate Dario Osorio.

Last summer, Bayern reportedly pursued Franculino as a backup and a potential long-term successor to Harry Kane. However, the 21-year-old forward's transfer to Munich allegedly fell through due to a veto from Midtjylland. This hasn't hindered Franculino's performance, as he currently boasts an impressive 21 goals in 31 appearances for the Danish top club this season.

FC Bayern Munich News: Did FCB Deserve a Penalty Against Real Madrid Late in the Game?

Amidst FC Bayern Munich's 2-1 Champions League quarter-final first-leg victory over Real Madrid, a highly debatable incident in the dying moments of the match almost went unnoticed.

In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Bayern's attacking player Michael Olise went to ground in the opposing penalty area after a push from Real's left-back Alvaro Carreras. Referee Michael Oliver, however, did not award a penalty for the action, which many considered foul-worthy, and the VAR also chose not to intervene.

Olise immediately protested to the referee after the final whistle, and former German top referee Lutz Wagner sided with the player. "Indeed, Real Madrid would have had no grounds to complain about a penalty," Wagner stated in his expert capacity. However, he also defended Oliver, citing the referee's generally lenient approach throughout the game: "He allowed several other similar actions to continue – so I found it consistent. This incident thus fit his overall line, even if it can certainly be controversially discussed in isolation."

Meanwhile, World Cup winner Christoph Kramer expressed frustration that Olise seemed to accept the contact and fall, rather than striving to stay on his feet and potentially score. "I always wonder in such situations: The striker, Olise in this case, would have had a clear shot from the edge of the five-meter box; that's essentially a certain goal. You normally do everything to stay upright – he falls." While he understood why referee Oliver didn't point to the spot given the game's importance, Kramer added, "But I would have called it."

FC Bayern Munich News: Max Eberl Discusses Jamal Musiala's Challenging Comeback

FC Bayern Munich's midfield maestro Jamal Musiala recently faced a setback on his journey back to peak performance. Ankle problems emerged during the Champions League match against Atalanta Bergamo in March, necessitating a brief enforced break.

"He experienced further issues after the Bergamo game, specifically adhesions in the ankle," explained Bayern's sporting director Max Eberl on Monday before the team's departure for the Champions League quarter-final showdown against Real Madrid, addressing Musiala's current condition. "It's not all pristine and untouched; it's also surgically altered and affected."

Musiala sustained a fibula fracture last July during the Club World Cup, which sidelined him for approximately half a year. FCB gradually reintroduced the 23-year-old into action from mid-January, before the subsequent setback in Bergamo.

"There's a lot of physicality involved, but also mental and psychological aspects," Eberl commented on Musiala's arduous return. "It's not an injury that can be rehabilitated effortlessly."

Musiala managed about half an hour of playing time as a substitute in the 3-2 victory in Freiburg last weekend. "It's about him feeling ready right now. He conveyed that impression to us on Saturday, so we are pleased he is with us in the Bernabeu," Eberl stated. Musiala aims to return to his best form in the final weeks of the season, with a significant goal naturally being to play a crucial role for the German national team at the summer World Cup.

FC Bayern Munich News: "My Wife Always Says...": Joshua Kimmich Shares Amusing Anecdote

FC Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich sometimes moderates his famously intense competitive drive when playing with his children.

"I do enjoy winning. But my wife always says: 'Now stop that. Otherwise, they won't play with you at all anymore,'" Kimmich recounted with a laugh when asked if he ever lets his children win at card games.

Regarding his life as an athlete, he emphasized that it's essential "to learn to deal with defeat. Unfortunately, I've had to learn that very often in my career." However, he also welcomes "when children want to win. After all, ambition brought me to where I am today," the 31-year-old concluded.

FC Bayern Munich: Upcoming Matches

Date	Time	Fixture
Saturday, April 11	6:30 PM	FC St. Pauli - FC Bayern (Bundesliga)
Wednesday, April 15	9:00 PM	FC Bayern - Real Madrid (Champions League)