title

28/2019 • 2 FEBRUARY, 2019 WEEKEND ISSUE

DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Asia Bibi reunites with family in Canada The lawyer of the Pakistani Christian accused of blasphemy

The lawyer of the Pakistani Christian accused of blasphemy, said Bibi and her husband had arrived in Canada. He did not disclose the exact time of her departure and how she had left Pakistan, citing security reasons.

Deutsche Bank posts first annual profit in four years

United States announces withdrawal from INF missile treaty

After three straight loss-making years, Germanyʼs biggest lender on Friday announced a full year profit for 2018.

Deutsche Bank has faced a host of challenges recently, includingallegations of money laundering, ratings downgrades and failed stress tests.

The Deutsche Bank group reported €341 million ($390 million) net income in 2018.The previous year had seen a €735 million net loss.

The White House announced Friday it was withdrawing from a landmark Cold War-era missile treaty with Russia effective Saturday,raising the specter of a dangerous and costly arms race in Europe.

The withdrawal "will be completed in 6 months unless Russia comes back into compliance by destroying all of its violating missiles, launchers, and associated equipment," the White House said in a statement.

Asia Bibi, the Christian woman who spent eight years on death row on blasphemy charges in Pakistan, has arrived in Canada with her husband, German media reported Friday, quoting her lawyer. "She is united with her family", Bibiʼs lawyer Saiful-Malook told the German Frank‐ furter Allgemeine Zeitungnewspaper.

DW was not able to immediately confirm the development. Bibiʼs two daughters already live in Canada.

The lawyer did not disclose any further details about Bibiʼs departure from Pakistan, citing security reasons. It was previously reported that Bibi could not leave her native country aboard a regular flight. Bibi was arrested in June 2009 after her neighbors complained she had insulted Prophet Muhammad. A year later, she was sentenced to death despite strong opposition from human rights groups. Read more: The case of Asia Bibi in Pakistan Threat from Islamists The news comes just days afterPakistanʼs Supreme Court rejected an appeal against its October decision to acquit her. She had been living under the "protective custody" of Pakistani authorities since her release from prison in November. Bibiʼs acquittal on October 31 had led to violent protests by hard-line Islamists. The Tehreek-e-Labbaik party, which petitioned the Supreme Court to reverse its earlier ruling, had called for new rallies af-

ter the top court this week rejected its petition. But nationwide rallies the extremists had called for on Friday mostly fizzled out, barring some violence in the southern port city of Karachi.

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported that Bibiʼs lawyer Saif-ul-Malook was still in Pakistan. He had returned to the country shortly before the final Supreme Court hearing after spending months abroad due to death threats. "Iʼm in my apartment, Iʼm not going to my office," he told the newspaper. A dispute over water In 2009, Asia Bibi was accused of insulting the Prophet Muhammad while she was working in a field in Punjabʼs Sheikhupura district. The Muslim women who were working with Bibi objected to her fetching water, saying that as a non-Muslim she was not allowed to touch the water bowl.

The women then complained to a local cleric and leveled blasphemy charges against Bibi. In 2009, Asia Bibi was accused of insulting the Prophet Muhammad while she was working in a field in Punjabʼs Sheikhupura district. The Muslim women who were working with Bibi objected to her fetching water, saying that as a non-Muslim she was not allowed to touch the water bowl. The women then complained to a local cleric and leveled blasphemy charges against Bibi.

EU to grant Britain visa-free travel even with no-deal Brexit

EU and Japan create worldʼs biggest free trade zone

IfBritain leaves the European Union without a deal, UK citizens should still be able to visit the bloc visafree for up to 90 days, ambassadors of the remaining 27 EU nations said on Friday. The 90 days can be taken in any 180-day period, the envoys said in Brussels. In a statement published on the European Council website, ambassadors said that the visa exemption was "granted on condition of reciprocity," meaning that the UK was also expected not to demand visas from EU citizens for short stays.

A free trade agreement between Japan and the EU entered into force on February 1, covering 635 million people and almost one-third of the worldʼs economy.

Dubbed the worldʼs largest free trade agreement, theEU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreementremoves duties on almost all agricultural and industrial products and opens up the service sector and procurement. It also moves to eliminate non-tariff barriers to trade.

28/2019 • 2 February, 2019 Weekend issue

ʼPutinʼs chefʼ reports spark grisly death threats against Russian journalists Russian oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin is said to have close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. So close, in fact, that he is known as "Putinʼs chef" because he has catered state dinners, a presidential birthday party, and owns companies that provide meals for schools and the Russian military. In recent times, he has featured prominently in the Russian media, including in the independent investigative newspaper Novaya Gazeta, which reported that Prigozhin was seen attending talks between Russian and Libyan military leadership on November 9.

Novaya Gazeta has extensively reported on Prigozhin, whose activities are suspected to extend far outside the culinary arts. He reportedly runs a troll factory in Saint Petersburg, which churns out disinformation and propaganda designed to discredit the West. Prigozhin, who has beensanctioned by the United States, has also allegedly taken action against Russian dissidents and individuals who are disliked by the regime.

Greek archaeologists locate lost ancient city of Tenea The ruins of a housing settlement and dozens of rare coins have confirmed the location of the ancient city of Tenea, Greeceʼs culture ministry announced on Tuesday. Excavations at a site in the southern Greek region of Peloponnese turned up "proof of the existence of the ancient city," the ministry said in a statement. The city of Tenea is believed to have been founded by Trojans who were taken prisoner during the Trojan War in the 12th or 13th century BCE. Until now, the city had only been mentioned in ancient texts and it was unknown whether it existed. Main excavations in the area started in 2013, the most recent excavations unearthed seven graves dating to the Roman era and Hellenistic period, as well as the remnants of a housing settlement. "It is significant that the remnants of the city, the paved roads, the architectural structure, came to light," lead archaeologist Eleni Korka told Reuters news agency. The dig revealed marble and stone floors of buildings as well as carefully constructed walls. Some 200 rare coins dating from the 4th century BCE were also unearthed as well, indicating that Tenea was very wealthy, Korka said.

2

Angela Merkel bids farewell to Facebook Angela Merkel has announced she is closing down her Facebook page

Polls open for general election in coup-plagued Fiji Polls opened on Wednesday in Fiji as the Pacific Island nation held its second general election since a military coup toppled the government in 2006.

Half a million people are expected to cast their votes as two leaders of separate military coups vie for the premiership in the popular tourist destination. The incumbent, Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, has remained in power since his bloodless takeover 12 years ago. Heallowed a general election in 2014 andwon reelectionin a landslide victory. The 64-year-old leader of the FijiFirst Party has promised stability in a country that has seen four coups take place over the space of two decades. He was initially branded a dictator by regional powers such as Australia and New Zealand, but has earned greater international acceptance since the 2014 election.

Angela Merkel has announced she is closing down her Facebook page as she is no longer the CDU party leader. She thanked and farewelled her followers and said those interested could still follow her work.

Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday announced she will be shutting down her Facebook page, attributing the decision to the fact she is no longer the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party leader. "Today is the day that I want to thank you all for your significant support on my Facebook page," she said in a video. "You know that I am no longer the CDUʼs party chair, and I’m closing my Facebook page for

Swedish parliament rejects proposed government The Swedish parliament, as expected, rejected center-right Moderates party leader Ulf Kristersson as new prime minister in a vote on Wednesday. There is now no end in sight to thepolitical deadlock that has gripped the countrysince elections in September. Kristerssonʼs bid for the premiership had looked doomed to fail after two other parties in the center-right Alliance bloc said they would oppose any government that relied on support from the shunned anti-immigration Sweden Democrats who hold the balance of power in parliament. When the votes were counted, 195 members of the 349seat parliament voted against electing him as prime minister while 154 voted in his favor. Kristersson was put

that reason. But I would like you to continue following my work – my work as the Chancellor. You can do that on the federal government page or on Instagram." Merkel has over 2.5 million followers on Facebook to date. Her page offers a glimpse into her private life - the 64-year-old is a Beatles fan, likes her Russian classics and dreams to one day travel from Moscow to Vladivostok on the Trans-Siberian Railway. forth on Monday by parliament speaker Andreas Norlen, who wanted to break the parliamentary gridlock. The general election on September 9 resulted in a stalematebetween the countryʼs two main political alliances. Neither has a majority in the 349-seat parliament.

Kristersson said he would attempt to form a minority government of his conservatives and the smaller Christian Democrats, and would not negotiate with thefar-right Sweden Democrats.

Germany to fund late entry into battery cell production To say that Asian countries dominate the production of electric car battery cells is an understatement. According to a 2014 European Commission re-

port, Asian companies have achieved an insurmountable 88 percent share of global Lithium-ion manufacturing capacity — with more than 50 percent belonging to China alone. Over the past four years, South Korea, Japan and China have ramped up their battery-cell production capacities to cope with the exponential demand for electric vehicles (EVs), while most manufacturers in Europe hesitated due to tight margins and the huge investment required. That is until Tuesday when Germanyʼs economic affairs minister Peter Altmaier announced the government would set aside €1 billion ($1.2 billion) to support the production of next-generation solidstate batteries in Europe. Speaking at a two-day electromobility conference in Berlin, Altmaier said it was important the German state offer its full support to the venture "as was the case with the development of Airbus and Ariane [space program]."

28/2019 • 2 February, 2019 Weekend issue

Dark, intense shades meet casual feminine style:WINTER SALE few more days to go!!!

WINTER SALE! UP TO 50% ON THE COLLECTION AUTUMN/WINTER IN OUR BUDAPEST STORES!! /Högl Store Andrassy Andrássy út 12 (only 100 meters from your Hotel Moments to Opera) , Högl Store Allee Center Október 23. utca 8, Högl Aréna Mall Kerepesi út 9 /

The Högl autumn/winter 2018/19 collection confidently showcases the new on-trend colours dark plum, violet, rust brown and different shades of grey. The new season’s styles are impressively strong, but still feminine.

They come in a range of new colours and materials, in slim, elegant styles with block heels and profiled soles – guaranteed to turn heads. Nightwalker Mysterious and as dark as the night, the styles in this part of the collection won’t fail to impress. The focus is on new interpretations of classics: boots and ankle boots with stylish details such as laces, eyelets and buckles. The colour palette

ranges from black to dark grey to the new addition of dark plum.

Swarovski® crystal detailing emphasises the feminine look and adds a hint of opulence. Winter styles are enhanced by a Gore-Tex® membrane, and are available in both casual suede and metallic leather. Sense Maker Delicate greys bring a ray of light in the winter darkness, complemented by clean, simple lines. The urban focus of the collection uses a palette of flattering dark grey, stone, nude and mauve tones. Trendy block heels and new queenie heels feature strongly.

From sneakers to heels (in round, V-neck and high-fronted cuts) to

bootees and over-knee boots, the high-quality leather and soft neutral colours of these new designs complement next season’s relaxed, feminine look perfectly. Experiencer The third theme of the collection is expressed in earthy tones, from espresso to rust brown and camel. Sneakers, bootees and heels in burnt colours and retrochic style invite to experiment with all sorts of different combinations.

The multi-tone effect of the new materials used for ankle boots – such as crushed Naplak – adds a surprising twist to their look. Singer Adrien Szek‐ eres is now 3rd year brand ambassador of Högl Shoes in Hungary!

Chinese Spring Celebrations to take place in Budapest

On 25-27 January, the Millenáris Park cultural centre is hosting an early spring celebration, dedicated to China and promoting its diplomatic relations with Hungary. Featuring a dragon dance, a Beijing opera piece and authentic street food, this free weekend event allows visitors to delve deeper into Chinese culture and cuisine. Organised by the HungarianChinese Association for Arts and Culture, the festival brings a slice of the Far East to Budapest, including an exhibition of calligraphy, tea tasting and a presentation of traditional Chinese medicine. The agenda of this three-day event also features a kung fu show, a display of traditional Chinese apparels and tourism-related offers. In addition, guests can sample authentic Asian dishes, provided by wholesale hub Chinatown Budapest that also hosts the popular Street Food Night Market every summer. The event as a whole ties in with Chinese New Year, this year celebrated on 5 February.

Stars named for Balaton Sound 2019 Hungary’s biggest music festival outside Budapest, Balaton Sound, has just announced a second round of headliners for its 2019 event. Artists include Brit-nominated UK singer Jess Glynne, rap star G-Eazy and big-name trance DJ Armin van Buuren. The Chainsmokers return to Balaton Sound after last year’s successful set, Alex Pall and Drew Taggart having just released Sick Boy, an album of singles issued throughout 2018. A set by legendary Dutch DJ Tiësto will crown opening night, while London drum ‘n’ bass band Rudimental close the whole shebang. Balaton Sound, Zamárdi, 3-7 July

3

28/2019 • 2 February, 2019 Weekend issue

Wolves and humans, a difficult relationship Wolves are usually depicted as the bad guys

Pigs, pigs, pigs: Fun facts and figures for Chinese New Year Are pigs really "pigging out"? And why are their organs so interesting for research? In honor of the Chinese Year of the Pig starting soon, we take a closer look at the pigtailed animals.

According to the Chinese calendar, the New Year begins on February 5

2019 under the sign of the Earth Pig. Pigs symbolize happiness, wealth and contentment. The earth pig is considered reasonable and prudent. People committed to social institutions or the community will be happiest this year.

When China celebrated the Year of the Pig in 2007, the birth rate rose noticeably.

In fairy tales and the arts, wolves are usually depicted as the bad guys, as an exhibition in Cologne shows. Wolf researcher Peter Sürth hopes that peopleʼs attitude towards the wild animals will change.

For years, Peter Sürth studied the behavior of wolves, brown bears and lynxes in Romania. In 2004, he launched the "Wolvesʼ path" project — expeditions in the wild where he passes on what he has learned about wildlife. The biologist and researcher gives talks on wolves and workshops in schools and is a sought-after expert for film projects about wild animals. Peter Sürth spoke to DW about thereturn of the wolvesto Germany, peopleʼs fears and the chance for peaceful coexistence. Peter Sürth:

At last count, there were 73 packs, about 800 to 1,000 animals altogether — and their number is sure to rise. Wolves can travel over thousands of kilometers. I assume that all large forest areas in Germany will eventually be populated by wolves, and other areas, too. Almost all of the federal states will be affected.

Wolves might show up on the fringes of cities if, from their point of view, they canʼt find an adequate space in their immediate surroundings.

One night in February brings a dozen choirs together in Budapest

Carnival season in Budapest and beyond

Midwinter can be bleak but never dull in Budapest. On 9 February, popular events series The Night of Choirs brings together a dozen groups to sing in several rooms of the MagNet Community House on showcase boulevard Andrássy út. Performances start at 6pm. Next month, 200 singers perform 35 shows after sundown for the winter edition of the popularNight of Choirsfestival. Hosted at theMagNet community hubfor cultural attractions, the event features performances in diverse genres from folk to jazz. Concerts start early evening and community singing will bring the day to a close at 10pm.

Tickets at 1,600 forints are available on the event’s website. Set between the Bajza utca and Kodály körönd stations on the M1 Millennium Underground, MagNet House is a centre for diverse community activities. The building is also home to MagNet Bank, a financial institution focused on ethical commerce.

4

Michelangelo, Rubens and Dalí all coming to Budapest in 2019 view for nearly three months until 30 June, The Triumph of the Body exhibition featuring 80 drawings by Michelangelo should draw bumper crowds to Budapest’s revamped Museum of Fine Arts this spring. Later in October, the museum will present Rubens and the Golden Age of Flemish Painting, a total of 120 works of art,

Costume parades and carnival masks denote Budapest’s farewell to winter.

With the onset of ‘farsang’, or carnival season, Hungary’s capital sees colourful crowds flooding to masquerade galas and themed events.

This colourful festive period stretches until Ash Wednesday, this year falling on 6 March, when Lent begins the run-up to Easter. However, in stark contrast to fasting, farsang celebrations see a diet rich in meat and sweets. A staple for the season is the carnival doughnut, a treat of powdered sugar and jam.

Michelangelo, Rubens and Salvador Dalí all feature at the bighitting exhibitions coming to Budapest’s Museum of Fine Arts and the Hungarian National Gallery during 2019.

The season starts on 5 April with a display of 80 drawings by Michelangelo, on loan from the Louvre, the Uffizi and the British Museum. On

ten by Van Dyck and 30 by Rubens himself. Curated from 50 prestigious collections around the world, including the Hermitage, the Prado and London’s National Gallery, the exhibition will run until February 2020.

Over at the National Gallery, The

Surrealist Movement from Magritte to Dalí – Crisis and Rebirth in 1929 will focus on

the leading artists active in this groundbreaking genre during the momentous year of the Wall Street Crash. The exhibition, on show from 27 June until 20 October, is being organised in collaboration with the Pompidou Centre in Paris, which will provide many of the featured pieces.

28/2019 • 2 February, 2019 Weekend issue

Is candy the new superfood?

A day at the sweets fair

Nets ʼnʼ Lasers: some of our best hopes for mitigating the threat of space debris Space debris is a bit like space itself: We know itʼs up there, but beyond that thereʼs so much we know we donʼt know. The statistics are fun, though, if a little misleading. Itʼs a bit of a safari crunching the numbers, but here goes. Since 1957, the year the Soviet Union sent Sputnik into space, there have been 4,900 space launches.

So far so good. In that time we have put 6,600 satellites in orbit and/or created "an on-orbit population of more than 18,000 tracked objects." Elsewhere, ESA cites "more than 17,000 orbital objects" being tracked and catalogued by the US Space Surveillance Network. And in a third document itʼs 22,000 objects. But you get the idea: Itʼs a lot. Of the 6,600 satellites, 3,600 remain in space, and less than a third (about 1,100) are operational.

There was sugar galore at the International Sweets Fair in Cologne, but also a surprising number of healthy snacks, from veggie sticks to protein bars. We taste-tested both kinds of treats!

Imagine going to the worldʼs largestcandyfair, with more than 1,000 exhibitors from 75 countries, and being able to try anything you want. What do you picture yourself eating? Sumptuous chocolates, crunchy cookies and gummy candies so sweet you can practically feel the next dentist visit coming, right? That is one way you could eat your way through theISM (International Sweets Fair) in Cologne. But you could also go the other way and stick to what Iʼd like to call the low-and-free fraction:

Low sugar! Gluten-free! Lactosefree! Palm-oil-free! Checking out the big trends at the ISM 2019, you get the impression that really, there is nothing better for your body than snacking. Across the aisle from PaPicanteʼs pea protein bars (they taste better than they sound!), visitors can stop by the "Guzmanʼs Guzinos" booth to try something you might not expect at a candy fair: vegetables. The Guzinos are veggie sticks that have been baked, not fried, donʼt contain gluten and are 100 percent vegan.

Elegant Café Párisi breathes new life into Budapest’s splendid Lotz Hall

Arctic temperatures grip US Midwest Freezing temperatures have gripped the northern United States due to a split in the polar vortex, a mass of cold air that normally stays bottled up in the Arctic. The Wednesday morning temperature in Chicago was -30 degrees Celsius (-22 Fahrenheit) which felt like -46 degrees with the wind chill. It was expected to get down to -33 degrees on Thursday. The weather wreaked havoc on airports and train services.

More than 1,800 flights were cancelled at Chicagoʼs two major airports, while rail operator Amtrak

cancelled train services from its hub in the city. At Chicagoʼs OʼHare airport, ground crews were told to avoid spending more than 15 minutes at a time exposed to the freezing air, which delayed the lucky flights that managed to take off.

Commuters heading to work in Chicago had to layer up to fend off the cold. "I have two shirts on... I have a hoodie, I have my big winter coat, I have a face mask and a skullcap and I am still cold," sandwich shop manager Daniel Gonzalez said.

Café Párisi is on the top floor of the building, with theAndrássy Entertainment Centreand, from tomorrow, an Avatar exhibition below. The café is open every day and the Lotz Hall can be rented for special events such as birthday parties, company gatherings or a fairy-tale wedding. Café Párisi Address: District VI. Andrássy út 39 Open: Daily 9am-9pm

Weather

Sun

6 / 12

Mon

Tue

0/6

2/6

Hungary Budapest: Debrecen: Eger: Hévíz:

5/14 4/10 5/11 6/12

Athens: Berlin: Bratislava: Bucharest: London: Madrid:

9/17 5/12 5/7 3/8 1/5 2/7

Kecskemét: Keszthely: Siófok:

6/14 4/14 6/12

Europe Moscow: Paris: Prague: Rome: Varsaw: Vienna:

-4/-1 4/6 3/7 2/8 5/8 7/14

Culture

Renovated Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest to Open on 31 October AFTER MORE THAN THREE YEARS OF RENOVATION, THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS BUDAPEST WILL OPEN ON 31 OCT NOW OPEN TO PUBLIC Thanks to the largest-scale and most comprehensive reconstruction project in the museum’s history, the museum building has been renewed, and, returning to the collection’s first concept, the museum’s permanent exhibitions will also be rearranged. Besides the new permanent exhibitions, the revamped museum will welcome visitors with a chamber exhibition titled Leonardo & the Budapest Horse and Rider. The museum reconstruction, implemented within the framework of the Liget Budapest Project, included the restoration of the Romanesque Hall, which sustained severe damage in World War II and since then had been only partially renovated and used as a storage area, along with the modernisation of the building’s obsolete heating system, the installation of air conditioning in some of the exhibition halls, the renewal of a large part of the roof structure, as well as the addition of new exhibition spaces, visitor areas and modern storage facilities.

5

28/2019 • 2 February, 2019 Weekend issue

What will 2019 bring for Angelique Kerber?

Angelique Kerber was recently asked about why the enthusiasm among the German public for her and Alexander Zverev doesnʼt seem to be what it was for Steffi Graf and Boris Becker in the 1980s. "Becker and Graf, I think that was a different time," Kerber replied. "I think we are reaching peopleʼs hearts," she added with a smile. While Kerber may find such comparisons inappropriate, the Wimbledon champion may have more in common with Graf than many think.

Everything she does, she masters with complete professionalism; be it on the tennis court, dealing with reportersʼ questions, or facing the cameras at celebrity events. With the help of her manager, Aljoscha Thron, Kerber projects a very carefully controlled public image.

Stuart Bingham says snooker in catch-22 over betting

London Broncos have long-term ambition to win Super League title Promoted London Broncos must have the ambition to win Super League in the future, says head coach Danny Ward. The Broncos will be back in the top flight in 2019 afterbeating Toronto Wolfpack 4-2 in the Million Pound Gameon Sunday. "We need to make it work, have a five-year plan of where we want to be," Ward told BBC Radio London.

"Next year is going to be tough but we want a long-term vision to make London the best club in the country." He added: "We donʼt just want to compete in Super League, but win it. We are not there just to survive." Ward, who took charge following the departure of Andrew Henderson at the end of last season, described their victory over the Wolfpack in Canada as "one of the proudest moments" of his career. "What a performance, what a day and what an achievement - I am still on a massive high," he said on their return to England. "To lead the club into the Million Pound Game and win promotion is one of my biggest ever achievements."

Mick Schumacher visits museum in honour of his father Michael Schumacher Mick Schumacher posted images on Instagram of his visit to Maranello

The son of seven-time Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher has visited the museum dedicated to his fatherʼs racing career, in Italy.

Formula 2 driver Mick Schumacher, who is 19, postedphotos on social mediaof his trip to the museum. Ferrari unveiled the special exhibition at their headquarters in Maranello on 3 January to mark former Ferrari driver Schumacherʼs 50th birthday.

"Michael has a special place in the history of Ferrari," the team said.

"The museum is decorated with images from the unforgettable years that the seven-time world champion gave

to all at Ferrari." The German suffered serious head injuries in a skiing accident in 2013 and has not been seen in public since. He is being treated at his home in Switzerland, but little is known about his recovery.

His family have said he is "in the very best of hands". Mick Schumacher followed in his fatherʼs footsteps by winning the Formula 3 championship last year, and has been selected for the Ferrari driver academy.

Bundesliga: Bayern Munich with early chance to turn up heat on Dortmund Snooker "would not be sport" without betting sponsorship, says exworld champion Stuart Bingham but the level of promotion is a "nightmare". Of the 20 ranking events, 11 are sponsored by betting companies, while other invitational events are also financed by them.

Bingham, 42, who serveda threemonth banfor betting breaches last season, won the English Open last month. The situation is a "catch-22", he told BBC Sport. "It is in our faces, it is everywhere," he added.

6

The Bundesliga returns from its winter break on Friday night, with the champions looking to heap pressure on the contenders.

The season-opener between Bayern Munich and Hoffenheim bore all the hallmarks of the side that had won six straight titles: periods of utter dominance, a critical decision going their way, a goal from Robert Lewandowski and an important strike in the dying stages. But that 3-1 win also saw Kingsley Coman limp off early, Bayernʼs defense creak under Hoffenheimʼs pressure

and the pace of Julian Nagelsmannʼs side unsettle the Bavarians. After Niko Kovacwon his first seven games, these looked to be minor flaws rather than serious cracks in the foundations. But a dreadful spell between late September and early December sees Bayern six points behind Borussia Dortmund entering the Rückrunde (second half of the season) with those cracks still only papered over while the foundations are relaid. But Kovac saw enough towards the end of last year to encourage him.