The Bundesliga resumed after an incredible two-month break on Friday and the rustiness was visible as Bayern Munich had to settle for an error-strewn 1-1 draw with Leipzig.
Leipzig defender Marcel Halstenberg equalised after Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting’s first-half strike as third-place Leipzig remained six points behind league leader Bayern.
“After a two-month break there were things we did well and other things we could have done better,” Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann said. “We were a bit too hectic in the final third.”
Goalkeeper Yann Sommer made his Bayern debut following his transfer from Borussia Monchengladbach on Thursday as the injured Manuel Neuer’s replacement, but the Swiss goalkeeper had little opportunity to shine in a lacklustre encounter.
“I was so looking forward to it,” Sommer said. “Of course, a new team, and I’m a new goalkeeper, so it wasn’t always perfect, but it was fun. We’d have liked to have won.”
Veteran Bayern forward Thomas Muller had a chance to win the match in injury time with a shot from point blank range, but dragged his effort just wide.
Bayern were fortunate not to be reduced to 10 men in the 66th minute when France defender Dayot Upamecano brought down Dominik Szoboszlai who was through on goal with only goalkeeper Sommer to beat.
Upamecano, one of four former Leipzig players in Bayern's squad along with manager Nagelsmann, received a yellow card.
Leipzig manager Marco Rose, who picked up a yellow card for remonstrating with the referee late in the game, said he could live with the decision.
"At first I saw it differently - I thought he [Szoboszlai] was through," said Rose.
"[But] I spoke with the referee and I can see his argument - a yellow card is totally OK."
Meanwhile, Bayern manager Nagelsmann said on Friday that injured captain Neuer remains the club's first-choice goalkeeper, despite the addition of "outstanding" Sommer.
"Yann had a good game, it's not an easy situation. Manu is our captain and a world-class player," Nagelsmann said.
"To come in after such a short [preparation] time isn't easy."
He added: "Manuel is our captain and our number one. We're doing everything we can to get him healthy, and then we assume he'll be back in the summer."
Bayern, missing several players through injury, including keeper Neuer, Sadio Mane and Lucas Hernandez, are top on 35 points, with Leipzig in third place on 29. Second-placed Freiburg, on 30, travel to Wolfsburg on Saturday.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What are the main cyber security threats?
Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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In numbers
Number of Chinese tourists coming to UAE in 2017 was... 1.3m
Alibaba’s new ‘Tech Town’ in Dubai is worth... $600m
China’s investment in the MIddle East in 2016 was... $29.5bn
The world’s most valuable start-up in 2018, TikTok, is valued at... $75bn
Boost to the UAE economy of 5G connectivity will be... $269bn
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The advice provided in our columns does not constitute legal advice and is provided for information only. Readers are encouraged to seek independent legal advice.
