The Fussball Channel

Harry Kane has extended his Bayern Munich contract until 2029, and Bayern followed up with arguably their most impressive performance of the season, beating Atlético Madrid 2-0 away from home.

Seb Stafford-Bloor of The Athletic joins Markus Fjørtoft to review this week's Champions League action and assess where Germany's leading clubs stand halfway through the league phase.

We discuss why Kane has become irreplaceable at Bayern, Niko Kovač's transformation of Borussia Dortmund and the emergence of Jobe Bellingham in a new role.

We also examine RB Leipzig's inconsistency, Antonio Nusa's growing reputation and whether another major transfer could be on the horizon, before turning to Stuttgart's struggles and the wider Champions League picture.

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Timestamps:

00:39 - Why Kane’s Bayern extension matters

02:09 - Kane’s impact on Bayern’s playing style

05:38 - The challenge of replacing Kane

08:03 - Bayern’s statement win over Atlético Madrid

10:05 - Is Bayern spreading the workload more this season?

14:27 - Kovač’s resilient Dortmund and the title race

21:23 - Why Jobe Bellingham is thriving in a new role

29:04 - Stuttgart’s ups and downs

34:23 - Leipzig’s talent, volatility and Demichelis questions

41:28 - Early verdicts on the Champions League field

44:24 - The edge Galatasaray bring to European nights

46:15 - Why the league phase still makes results hard to read

Dortmund came from behind twice to draw 2–2 at Bayern Munich in a Klassiker packed with chances, injuries and late drama.

We discuss Niko Kovač’s switch to a back four, Dortmund’s approach and the impact of their substitutes. Plus Harry Kane’s rare penalty miss, Bayern’s four efforts off the woodwork and the growing injury list after Saibari, Gnabry and Olise were forced off.

How much did Dortmund’s tactical approach contribute, and how much did circumstances help them?

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Timestamps:

0:00 Intro: Bayern 2-2 Dortmund reaction

1:01 A crazy opening: injuries, the VAR call and Musiala's... Olise-led start

1:53 First-half timeline, xG and the woodwork

3:09 How Kovac set Dortmund up

3:35 Schlotterbeck, Ghirassi's equalizer and Dortmund's mentality

5:13 Dortmund's back four and pressing the game

6:30 Bodies in the box: Bayern's second goal and the Silva equalizer

8:01 Late goals, Dortmund's bench and a "human" Bayern

9:10 World Cup fallout and Bayern's injury situation

11:07 Wrap-up and heading to Liverpool

Harry Kane has won the 2026 Ballon d’Or, ahead of Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal! Markus Fjørtoft breaks down the stats, records and trophies behind his win, and traces his journey from four loan spells to Tottenham and Bayern legend.Was Kane the right winner? Have your say in the comments.Subscribe to The Fussball Channel for football analysis, exclusive interviews and stories from behind the scenes with Jan Åge and Markus Fjørtoft.⬇️ Don’t forget to like, comment and subscribe for more English-language news, analysis and interviews from across the world of football.🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss an episode!📲 Subscribe for more insights and exclusive interviews!🎧 Watch The Fussball Podcast on Youtube: https://youtu.be/ECxKQZJfOC4Follow us on social media:📲 Jan Åge Fjørtoft: @janaagefjortoft📲 Markus Fjørtoft: @markusfjortoft

Has Harry Kane done enough to win the Ballon d’Or?

Jan Åge and Markus weigh up the leading contenders, comparing their performances, records and trophies across the season, including the World Cup.

We make the case for Kane, Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise. How much should goals count? What weight should the biggest trophies carry? And who deserves to win?

Let us know your winner and your top three in the comments.

Subscribe to The Fussball Channel for football analysis, exclusive interviews and stories from behind the scenes with Jan Åge and Markus Fjørtoft.

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Bayern Munich and Arsenal shared the points in a 2–2 draw at the Allianz Arena, with Declan Rice’s late equaliser cancelling out Harry Kane’s penalty.Jan Åge and Markus Fjørtoft review the key moments, Kane’s influence and how Arsenal approached the game. We discuss Bayern’s absences, Arsenal’s response to losing Bukayo Saka early on, and what the performance tells us about both sides.We also look across the Champions League after matchday three, the goals being scored and the race for a top-eight finish.⬇️ Don’t forget to like, comment and subscribe for more English-language news, analysis and interviews from across the world of football.🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss an episode!📲 Subscribe for more insights and exclusive interviews!

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https://youtu.be/Noiu8ilnFkgFollow us on social media:📲 Jan Åge Fjørtoft: @janaagefjortoft📲 Markus Fjørtoft: @markusfjortoftTimestamps:0:00 Welcome back and the Bayern–Arsenal 2-2 draw0:30 Record-breaking Champions League goals and PSG vs Barcelona1:02 Bayern's missing players and Eze's standout display2:06 A draw at the Allianz Arena that both sides can live with3:12 Post-World Cup fatigue and managing squads4:18 The international break and Arsenal's resilience5:24 Bayern's rotation and the "mini crisis" talk6:27 Bayern's young midfield and Harry Kane's influence7:02 Harry Kane: the "nine and a half" and the team's general8:07 The Kimmich debate8:37 Arsenal's title prospects9:14 Bayern's ambitions and Leipzig's struggles9:52 Ballon d'Or special and sign-off

Why don’t more clubs do like SC Freiburg?A clear identity. Trust through difficult results. Players who see staying as the next step in their careers. Spending within the clubs' means. What can the rest of football learn from Freiburg?Markus Fjørtoft sits down with SC Freiburg head coach Julian Schuster for an exclusive interview on The Fussball Channel.From captain to coaching his former teammates, Schuster explains how he approached following Christian Streich, why players quickly recognise when a coach isn’t being himself, and what the Freiburg DNA looks like on the pitch.We discuss the person behind the player, supporting teammates after mistakes and how Freiburg have become a club players want to stay at.We also explore German football identity, what makes the Bundesliga special and how clubs respond when the Premier League comes calling.Plus: Jürgen Klinsmann’s family bakery, David Beckham, Dortmund’s Yellow Wall and the coaches Schuster learns from.🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss an episode!📲 Subscribe for more insights and exclusive interviews!🎧 Watch The Fussball Channel on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/sKGmWR5055QFollow us on social media:📲 Jan Åge Fjørtoft: @janaagefjortoft📲 Markus Fjørtoft: @markusfjortoftTimestamps:00:00 The baker dream and Jürgen Klinsmann01:03 When Schuster started thinking like a coach01:53 What he learned from Christian Streich03:35 Developing as Freiburg’s Verbindungstrainer05:21 What does Freiburg DNA actually mean?07:05 Recruiting the person behind the player08:07 Taking over from Christian Streich10:51 Coaching former teammates and making hard decisions12:18 Why a coach has to be himself14:26 Why don’t more clubs do it like Freiburg?16:34 Trust when results go against you17:58 Freiburg’s rise and how far they can go20:21 What is German football identity?22:45 The Bundesliga’s place in world football24:56 Quickfire: Beckham, the Yellow Wall and German greats26:57 The coaches and clubs Schuster learns from29:44 Finding inspiration beyond football

Four games. 44 players. One enormous audition.

Jürgen Klopp's first international window as Germany head coach is complete, with one win, two draws and one defeat in the Nations League.

But what have we actually learned?

Markus Fjørtoft and Keven Bader review Klopp's first four games against the Netherlands, Greece and Serbia, the early signs of his tactical approach and the biggest questions still facing Germany.

We also pick the winners and losers from Klopp's extraordinary 44-player experiment. Who has played their way into his plans? Who could miss out when the squad is cut down in November? And what happens with Florian Wirtz, Joshua Kimmich, Aleksandar Pavlović and Germany's No.9 position?

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Timestamps:

00:00 Germany’s Klopp Era Begins

00:37 Inside the New Germany Mood

02:19 Identity vs. Results: What’s Missing?

03:44 Klopp’s Bold 44-Player Reset

07:06 The Breakout Stars to Watch

10:21 Is Kimmich Still Germany’s Key Man?

13:38 Germany’s Striker Problem Isn’t Solved

16:22 What Klopp Must Build Before November

Jan and Markus Fjørtoft review the latest Bundesliga action, including Bayern’s seven-goal demolition of Union Berlin, Alexander Blessin’s expected arrival at Borussia Mönchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund’s perfect start under Niko Kovač.

Dortmund continue to be met with lazy “let’s pretend they’re good again” takes, despite averaging 2.17 points per game across Kovač’s 52 Bundesliga matches. Last season’s 73 points represented their fifth-highest total of the three-point era, while they also produced the league’s best defensive record. At what point does the evidence outweigh the reputation?

We also examine Florian Wirtz’s difficult start at Liverpool and the growing criticism surrounding the German international. Is he genuinely struggling, or are people rushing to judge a young player adapting to a new league, a different team and enormous expectations?

Finally, we turn to the Ballon d’Or debate. How much should individual numbers matter compared with trophies and decisive performances in the biggest matches? Harry Kane and Erling Haaland enter the conversation alongside the continuing influence of Lionel Messi’s legacy, as we examine the sporting merit, reputation and politics that shape football’s most prestigious individual award.

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📲 Jan Åge Fjørtoft: @janaagefjortoft

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Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

1:57 — Why Wirtz Is Struggling

8:32 — Bayern 7–0 Union Berlin

8:59 — Ballon d’Or Contenders

15:38 — Is Olise a Contender?

16:08 — Can Dortmund Challenge Bayern?

21:03 — Frankfurt vs Freiburg

22:49 — Gladbach’s Defensive Crisis

24:36 — Bundesliga Coaching Changes

26:29 — Bremen’s Comeback Win

28:04 — Leverkusen vs Leipzig

29:26 — Paderborn’s First Win

31:07 — Germany’s International Break

Jürgen Klopp has named his first Germany squad as Bundestrainer and a new era for the German national team officially begins. 🇩🇪

Jan Åge Fjørtoft and Markus Fjørtoft break down Klopp’s selections, the biggest surprises, new faces (16!) and notable omissions.

We also look at how Klopp aims to rejuvenate national pride and unity within the team, emphasizing a concept he calls "positive patriotism." 

Germany begin the new UEFA Nations League campaign against the Netherlands before facing Greece, Serbia and Greece again during Klopp’s first international window.

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Freiburg are top of the Bundesliga after three matches but Borussia Mönchengladbach and Hamburger SV are already in crisis.

On the latest Bundesliga Round-Up, Jan Åge Fjørtoft and Markus Fjørtoft discuss Freiburg’s perfect start and the dismissal of Gladbach head coach Eugen Polanski following a devastating 5–0 defeat.

HSV also suffered their second consecutive 5–0 loss, recording the worst three-match Bundesliga start in the club’s history. Can Merlin Polzin arrest the collapse?

We also look at:

⚽ Freiburg’s rise to the top of the Bundesliga

🔻 Eugen Polanski’s dismissal at Gladbach

😬 HSV’s historic start: no points, no goals and 12 conceded

🧤 Loris Karius inspiring Schalke’s first Bundesliga win in 1,225 days

🟡 Felix Nmecha’s decisive contribution for Borussia Dortmund

🔴 Bayern Munich surviving a major scare against Elversberg

🧱 Noah Atubolu extending his Bundesliga penalty-saving record

🎯 Michael Gregoritsch becoming Augsburg’s record Bundesliga scorer

🔥 Antonio Nusa leading RB Leipzig’s response

⬇️ Don’t forget to like, comment and subscribe for more English-language news, analysis and interviews from across the world of football.

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Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1y6fiEdUFIUH89lxy9WDPD5o  

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**Timestamps:**  

00:00 - Introduction  

01:02 - Jan's weekend in England

04:34 - Elvesberg's heroic performance against Bayern

09:18 - Karius and Atabolu for Germany?

10:50 - Eintracht Frankfurt's derby victory  

12:10 - Polanski fired! Polzin in trouble!

13:01 - Conclusion and wrap-up.