<p>Paul Pogba looks set to miss yet another match on Thursday. Injuries have ravaged the Frenchman’s playing time in his comeback season with <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/juventus-tv-schedule/">Juventus</a>. The midfielder has managed just two substitute appearances in all competitions during the current campaign. However, his latest issue isn’t because of another injury setback.</p>



<h2>Pogba out for disciplinary reasons, tardy for meeting</h2>



<p><em><a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12829508/paul-pogba-left-out-of-juventus-squad-for-europa-league-match-with-freiburg-due-to-disciplinary-reasons-report-sky-in-italy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sky Sports</a></em> in Italy are reporting that Pogba will not be in the squad for a <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/europa-league-tv-schedule/">Europa League</a> matchup with Freiburg on Thursday because of disciplinary reasons. The 29-year-old midfielder apparently showed up late to a team function on Wednesday.</p>



<p>Pogba only just recovered from a nasty knee injury in late February. He made his season debut with Juve in a game against Torino on February 28th. The midfielder also played 13 minutes during a defeat to Roma on Sunday as well.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Paul Pogba has not been called up for Europa League game vs Freiburg due to disciplinary reasons 🚨⚪️⚫️🇫🇷 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UEL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UEL</a><br><br>No new injuries — but Pogba arrived late yesterday evening and he won’t be part of Juventus list. <a href="https://t.co/Ag6CjW56Cb">pic.twitter.com/Ag6CjW56Cb</a></p>— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) <a href="https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1633807837301284870?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h5>Manager hinted at possible setback on Wednesday</h5>



<p>In his pre-match Europa League press conference, Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri claimed that there was a possible setback for his midfield star. “Yesterday Pogba did a good training session. Today he rested and tomorrow morning we will know if he is available,” Allegri <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/paul-pogba-juventus-allegri-europa-29414357" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">told</a> reporters. “Today he didn’t work with the team. I think he’s available, but we’ll see.” It remains to be seen if the setback was an aggravation of the knee injury or just a lack of discipline.</p>



<p>The Pogba situation adds frustrations to the already tough season at Juventus. The club was previously <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/juventus-points-deduction-executive-bans-possible-20230120-WST-416234.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">docked 15 Serie A points</a> because of false accounting by team officials. Without the penalty, the 36-time Italian champions would be sitting second in the standings. Nevertheless, the Old Lady is currently seventh in the table, 12 points from a <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/champions-league-tv-schedule/">Champions League</a> place.</p>



<p>Potentially winning the Europa League may be Juve’s best chances at qualifying for the Champions League next season. The Italians, however, need their best players fit and available to make a deep run in the competition.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / SportPhoto24</em></p>


Pogba won't play against Freiburg for disciplinary reasons

Paul Pogba looks set to miss yet another match on Thursday. Injuries have ravaged the Frenchman's playing time in his comeback season with Juventus. The midfielder has managed just two substitute appearances in all competitions during the current campaign. However, his latest issue isn't because of another injury setback. Pogba out for disciplinary reasons, tardy [&hellip;]

Paul Pogba has been reportedly left out of a Europa League matchup between Juventus and Freiburg because of disciplinary reasons.

<p>Fans of German soccer await as the Bundesliga returns on Friday night. RB Leipzig welcomes Bayern Munich to close a harsh intermission of <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/germany-fly-home-early-after-crashing-out-of-world-cup-20221202-WST-410811.html">international failure</a> from Germany.</p>



<p>Germany and Europe have experienced <a href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/europes-mild-weather-reprieve-this-winter-may-come-bite-by-summer-2023-01-11/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a record mild winter</a>, but there was just enough snow for national captain <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/oliver-kahn-claims-neuer-never-listens-to-anyone-after-skiing-injury-20221213-WST-412215.html">Manuel Neuer to break his leg while skiing</a>. The Bayern goalkeeper’s accident rivaled only the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/claudio-reyna-and-wife-reported-berhalter-abuse-to-us-soccer-20230104-WST-414381.html">Reyna family–USMNT soap opera</a> as spice for a slow mid-season off the pitch. New Year’s Eve temperatures in Germany were as high as 68 degrees. Yet, the transfer market hasn’t exactly overheated.</p>



<p>Arguably there are two reserved headlines in German soccer. Bayern, to whom Gladbach’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFqbJQuQL_Y">Jan Sommer</a> is finally moving as deputy for Neuer. And ‘the rest,’ for whom this weekend reconvenes a <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/german-bundesliga/story/4695990/if-germanys-50+1-rule-means-less-success-but-more-funst-pauli-fans-are-ok-with-it">decade-long balancing act</a> of entertainment value, sporting integrity and prudent second-best finishes.</p>



<h2>Who are the teams to watch when the Bundesliga returns?</h2>



<p>After the curtain-raiser in Leipzig, the game of the weekend could be at Wolfsburg. In the fall, Robert Kovac’s squad took time to gel, but their pre-World Cup form was only second to Bayern. On Saturday, Wolfsburg host coach of the season-so-far, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/64303754" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Christian Streich</a>. His Freiburg fairytale was the highlight of the pre-Christmas Bundesliga.</p>



<p>In second place, Freiburg surprised the league’s bigger spenders. As did promoted Werder Bremen. Werder Bremen, sitting in ninth in the table, visits Köln. Union Berlin, another good story, hosts Hoffenheim. ‘Can they keep it up?’ is the question.</p>



<p>‘Can they step it up?’ is the question for Bayern’s fellow Champions League participants: Eintracht Frankfurt (fourth), RB Leipzig (third) and Borussia Dortmund (sixth). Dortmund especially need to assert themselves. Each of these three clubs assumes underdog status in the round of 16 against Napoli, Man City and Chelsea, respectively. Bayern revive the 2020 final match up <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/champions-league-tv-schedule/">against PSG on February 14th</a>, perhaps underdogs on their own accord.</p>



<p>Also needing elevation are Bayer Leverkusen (twelfth) under Xabi Alonso in his first senior managerial role. Having fluffed the Champions League group stage and won only three Bundesliga games in the first three months of a disastrous campaign, Alonso joined Leverkusen in early October. He waited a month for a victory but eased nerves with three in a row before the winter break.</p>



<p>Leverkusen’s poor form (plus long-term injury to Florian Wirtz) means their latest batch of Premier League-linked talent has flown under the radar this season. Those talented players include Wirtz, Piero Hincapié, Moussa Diaby and a rejuvenated Callum Hudson-Odoi. </p>



<p>Alonso’s measurement of success may be by which clubs come bidding for his young talent.</p>



<h5>Purchasing power and exorbitant privilege</h5>



<p>Transfer norms signify the Bundesliga’s place in world soccer’s hierarchy. <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/kevin-schade-brentford-keen-on-freiburg-midfielder-3tzhr3666" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kevin Schade</a> and <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11715/12784540/georginio-rutter-leeds-break-transfer-record-to-sign-hoffenheim-forward-for-35-5m#:~:text=Leeds%20have%20broken%20their%20transfer,Hoffenheim%20for%20%C2%A335.5m." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Georginio Rutter</a> are its latest young exports. Presuming his loan is made permanent, Schade gives up likely European football next season to play mid-table football in England. Rutter cost his Premier League club over $30 million and could be fighting relegation for Jesse Marsch within months as the <a href="https://twitter.com/footballdaily/status/1613514570819067907" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">club’s record signing</a>.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Official, confirmed. Leeds United sign Georginio Rutter on £28m fee plus add ons from Hoffenheim, deal signed and completed. ⚪️🤝🏻 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LUFC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LUFC</a> <a href="https://t.co/vTuNCz55D7">pic.twitter.com/vTuNCz55D7</a></p>— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) <a href="https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1614361130511605760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>The Bundesliga’s inferior purchasing power hits public imagination hardest with Borussia Dortmund, everyone’s favorite underachievers. Dortmund are resigned to losing Jude Bellingham in the summer. And although sporting director Sebastian Kehl issued a contract ‘ultimatum’ to Youssoufa Moukoko, negotiating power lies with the 18-year-old whose deal expires in June.</p>



<p>Of course, one club needn’t submit to losing its best players to richer climates: Bayern Munich. There is an exorbitant privilege that comes with being number one for ten years. Bayern have the expenses and pulling power to make viable succession plans for key positions. And they aren’t vulnerable to the Premier League cherry picking assets at will.</p>



<p>These assumptions gave Manuel Neuer’s hospitalization added value in a slow winter news cycle. For once, the rest of the league has enjoyed the sight of Bayern scrambling against time to fill a key position.</p>



<p>Neuer is 36, and though it’s impossible to predict the quality of his recovery, he expects to return in the summer and isn’t yet close to retirement. In the end, the stars seem to have aligned just in time. </p>



<p>Borussia Mönchengladbach lined up Montpellier’s Jonas Omlin. This allowed Sommer – <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLzmUjpJY-I" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">‘too good for Gladbach’</a> for some time now – to move on, knowing that in six months, he’ll be the best backup keeper in world soccer.</p>



<p>The transfer window remains open until the end of January so there is time for a few delayed Christmas presents yet. Until then we’ll enjoy the weather, forget the World Cup, and have a happy Bundesliga new year.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Motivio</em></p>


Bundesliga returns with clubs targeting Bayern's hegemony

The Bundesliga returns after Germany's horrific World Cup. Manuel Neuer's skiing injury makes Jan Sommer the signing of the transfer window.

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Pogba won't play against Freiburg for disciplinary reasons

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Bundesliga returns with clubs targeting Bayern's hegemony