All posts tagged: Bayer Leverkusen

Spain are World Cup ‘favourites’ despite knockout woes, says Grimaldo

Spain are World Cup ‘favourites’ despite knockout woes, says Grimaldo

Published by Parlour News

Alex Grimaldo believes Spain can emulate their Golden Generation by winning the World Cup two years after being crowned European champions. Spain are World Cup ‘favourites’ despite knockout woes, says Grimaldo The Bayer Leverkusen left-back was part of the squad that dazzled in Germany in 2024, beating the hosts and richly talented France and England sides to win the trophy. But La Roja have not won a World Cup knockout game since Andres Iniesta’s winning goal in the 2010 final. An ageing squad, who had won the Euros in 2008 and 2012, crashed out in the group stage at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and failed to get past the last 16 in Russia and Qatar. However, blessed with the prodigious talent of Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, the European champions arrive in the United States in top form. Excluding penalties, Luis de la Fuente’s side are unbeaten in 31 competitive games stretching back to March 2023. Spain will face tournament debutants Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in Group H. “I see us as favourites,” …

Kane and Diaz send Bayern past Leverkusen into German Cup final

Kane and Diaz send Bayern past Leverkusen into German Cup final

Published by Parlour News

Harry Kane and Luis Diaz scored as Bayern Munich won 2-0 at Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday to reach the German Cup final for the first time since 2020. Kane and Diaz send Bayern past Leverkusen into German Cup final Just three days after Bayern sealed back-to-back Bundesliga titles with a home win over Stuttgart, Kane and Diaz got the goals to keep hopes of a treble alive. Bayern’s comfortable victory avenged their defeat by Leverkusen in the round of 16 last season. They will face either holders Stuttgart or Freiburg in the final. The Bavarian giants have won a record 20 German Cups but had not reached the showpiece in Berlin for six years, their longest drought since the turn of the century. “We’re going to Berlin. I’m looking forward to it. It was a goal of ours to get to Berlin, to reach the final, experience that, the guys said it’s an incredible experience, so we’ve done nearly all the work,” said Kane. “We’ve had a lot of away games, tough games, we’ve had …

Arne Slot’s Mind On Next Season But Tight-Lipped On Jeremie Frimpong Pursuit

Arne Slot’s Mind On Next Season But Tight-Lipped On Jeremie Frimpong Pursuit

Published by Webster

Arne Slot refused to comment on Liverpool’s reported pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen defender Jeremie Frimpong, but the Reds boss is already working on plans to make the Premier League champions even stronger next season. Slot could afford the luxury of a trip to Ibiza this week with the club’s record-equalling 20th English top-flight title long since wrapped up. Liverpool head to Brighton on Monday before hosting Crystal Palace on the final day of the Premier League season. Their cruise to the title has allowed the Dutchman to make an early start on preparations for next season. Liverpool are reportedly closing in on a deal for Dutch full-back Frimpong as a replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who will leave his boyhood club at the end of the season at the end of his contract. Frimpong’s Leverkusen team-mate Florian Wirtz has also been linked with a move to Anfield. But Slot said he would not comment on potential signings until the deals were completed. “We don’t talk about players we want to bring in in public …

Xabi Alonso Confirms Exit From Bayer Leverkusen At Season’s End

Xabi Alonso Confirms Exit From Bayer Leverkusen At Season’s End

Published by Webster

Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso confirmed Friday he will leave the club at the end of the season, amid reports linking him to Spanish giants Real Madrid. Alonso said it was “the right moment” to announce the exit, but did not confirm his next post, saying it was “not the right moment to talk too much about the future”. Spanish and German media reported Friday the 43-year-old has already agreed to join Real and will link up with the Spanish giants after the Club World Cup, replacing Carlo Ancelotti, with a compensation payment of around 12 million euros ($13.5 million) to be paid to Leverkusen. Taking over in October 2022, Alonso guided Leverkusen to an unbeaten league and cup double in 2023-24, the first Bundesliga title in the club’s history.  In March 2024, Alonso declared he would stay with the club despite reported interest from Liverpool, Real and Bayern Munich, all of whom he represented as a player.  Alonso will be in the home dugout for the final time on Sunday against Borussia …

Bayern Munich Crowned Bundesliga Champions after Bayer Leverkusen Held For 2-2 Draw

Bayern Munich Crowned Bundesliga Champions after Bayer Leverkusen Held For 2-2 Draw

Published by Webster

Bayern Munich clinched the Bundesliga title© AFP Bayern Munich are 2024/25 Bundesliga champions, reclaiming the title from Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen with two games to spare. After being held to a dramatic 3-3 draw against RB Leipzig on Saturday, the Bavarians sealed the deal when second-placed Leverkusen failed to get the better of Freiburg in what was a must-win match for the Werkself. After having gone 2-0 down just minutes into the second-half, Leverkusen scored two late goals to settle for a draw. It all means that Bayern now boast an unassailable lead at the top of the table with two games to go. The title marks their record-extending 33rd of the Bundesliga era. Bayern endured their first trophyless season since 2011 last term, finishing third in the Bundesliga behind first-time champions Leverkusen and surprise runners-up VfB Stuttgart. However, they have been quick to reassert their domestic dominance under new head coach Vincent Kompany in 2024/25. The Bavarians have held first place since Matchday 3, whilst chalking up 23 wins from 32 games …

‘Not The Time To Discuss Future’: Xabi Alonso Amid Real Madrid Links

‘Not The Time To Discuss Future’: Xabi Alonso Amid Real Madrid Links

Published by Webster

Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso on Friday refused to shut down speculation he could be set for a move to Real Madrid in the summer. Madrid’s heavy Champions League quarter-final defeat by Arsenal could bring an end to Carlo Ancelotti’s second stint at the club, with Alonso believed to be the preferred replacement. Alonso spent five seasons at Madrid during his playing career, winning the Champions League and La Liga. After taking over as Leverkusen boss in October 2022, his first top-flight job, Alonso led the club to an unbeaten league and cup double last season, the first time they had ever won the Bundesliga. Speaking ahead of the trip to St Pauli on Sunday, Alonso declined to rule out a summer move to the Spanish giants. “It’s not a good time to discuss the future. We’re at a very important moment in the season,” Alonso said. Leverkusen are six points behind league leaders Bayern Munich with five games remaining. The 43-year-old said he “did not want to talk about speculation and rumours,” …

Xabi Alonso Confirms Exit From Bayer Leverkusen At Season’s End

‘Magic Moment’ To Inspire Bayern Munich Chase, Says Bayer Leverkusen Boss Xabi Alonso

Published by Webster

Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso said Sunday’s last-gasp 4-3 win over Stuttgart would inspire his side’s bid to chase down league leaders Bayern Munich. Patrick Schick scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time in Stuttgart, the only moment Leverkusen led in the match. The win brought the defending champions to within six points of Bayern, who drew 1-1 at Union Berlin on Saturday, with eight games to play. After guiding Leverkusen to a debut Bundesliga title in 2023-24, Alonso said the impact of the dramatic victory against Stuttgart, last season’s runners up, would drive his side. “At the end this magic moment happened for us,” Alonso told DAZN, adding “it means a lot, to have this super feeling.  “We’ll use this good atmosphere, this good energy, into the last part of the season. All the players, they believed — it’s definitely a very important win for us.” After Schick’s goal, Alonso ran onto the pitch as the Leverkusen bench emptied and embraced the Czech striker.  Leverkusen broke Bayern’s 11-year title streak last …

Given ‘Absolute Underdogs’ Tag, Bayern Munich Agitated Ahead Of Bayer Leverkusen Champions League Clash

Given ‘Absolute Underdogs’ Tag, Bayern Munich Agitated Ahead Of Bayer Leverkusen Champions League Clash

Published by Webster

German giants Bayern Munich are irritated by suggestions they are the outsiders in their high-stakes Champions League last 16 tie against Bayer Leverkusen. Bayern host Xabi Alonso‘s defending German champions in Munich on Wednesday, with the return leg the following Tuesday in Leverkusen. With resources and history that dwarf anyone else in Germany, Bayern are almost always the favourites when taking on other German teams, regardless of venue or competition. But pundits and bookmakers alike have tipped Leverkusen to make it through to the quarter finals, raising the ire of the Bavarians, particularly with Munich hosting this year’s final. Since appearing in back-to-back finals in 2012 and 2013, Bayern have only once failed to make it past the last 16 stage in 13 seasons — when they lost to Jurgen Klopp’s eventual champions Liverpool. Bayern powerbroker Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who alongside Uli Hoeness grew the club into a European powerhouse, said his team felt slighted and would react. “Everyone has declared Bayer Leverkusen the favourite. I know our team — and it pisses them …

Leverkusen’s Alonso admits ‘mixed feelings’ after a tactical clinic with no goals against Bayern | Football News

Leverkusen’s Alonso admits ‘mixed feelings’ after a tactical clinic with no goals against Bayern | Football News

Published by Parlour News

LEVERKUSEN, Germany — Xabi Alonso sank to his knees, leaned back and put both hands over his face. Once again, his team failed to score. HT Image Bayer Leverkusen had already hit the bar twice when Florian Wirtz skewed a shot just wide of the post in added time, prompting his coach’s display of frustration on Saturday. Alonso admitted even he was surprised how well his team’s tactics worked against a Bayern Munich team which was rendered almost toothless. “We didn’t expect to be so dominant,” Alonso said. The only problem was, Leverkusen didn’t win. Its Bundesliga title defense now looks a faint hope. “There are mixed feelings. On one side, the feeling that you have played a fantastic game. I think that the way we have played, it’s been our best game against Bayern this year, probably even last year,” Alonso said. “The way we have been able to play, with the ball, against the ball, we have done almost everything right. We missed the goal, but we have created enough chances to score, …

Bayer Leverkusen Win 5-Goal Thriller vs Borussia Dortmund, Heat Up Bundesliga Title Race

Bayer Leverkusen Win 5-Goal Thriller vs Borussia Dortmund, Heat Up Bundesliga Title Race

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Patrik Schick scored a first-half brace as Bayer Leverkusen won 3-2 at a flu-hit Borussia Dortmund on Friday, closing the gap to Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich to one point. Already struck by an injury crisis, illness ripped through Dortmund’s defence, with centre-backs Emre Can and Nico Schlotterbeck, along with left-back Ramy Bensebaini, ruled out just hours before kick-off as the Bundesliga restarted from the winter break. The defending champions took advantage of Dortmund’s inexperienced defence early, scoring through Nathan Tella after just 25 seconds before Patrik Schick added another on the eight-minute mark. English winger Jamie Gittens pulled one back but Schick restored Leverkusen’s two-goal lead shortly afterwards. A late Serhou Guirassy penalty gave Dortmund hope but Leverkusen held on for their ninth straight win in all competitions, turning up the heat on Bayern, who travel to Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday. “I’ll be honest, we’re not looking at Bayern, we’re focused on ourselves and we’re on the right track,” Leverkusen’s Granit Xhaka told DAZN. Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso benched in-form midfielder Florian Wirtz …