BUNDESLIGA – Page 10 – Football Flame

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Dortmund present Leverkusen with next major test

 Xabi Alonso Head Coach / Manager of Bayer Leverkusen after the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 Quarter-Final second leg match between West Ham United FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Olympic Stadium on April 18, 2024 in London, England.Newly-crowned Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen's trip to Borussia Dortmund on Sunday is arguably their biggest hurdle in achieving a perfect league season.Despite Leverkusen's breakthrough title win, sealed on Sunday with a 5-0 home demolition of Werder Bremen, Xabi Alonso's side have several records in their sights.They are still in the hunt for a remarkable treble, having qualified for the German Cup final and the Europa League semi-finals.Bayern Munich are the only German club to have won the treble, doing so with Champions League rather than Europa Le...
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Werder Bremen release damning Naby Keita statement after ‘he let his team down’

 (L.R.) Ralph Hasenhüttl coach of Wolfsburg with Naby Keita of Bremen before the Bundesliga match between SV Werder Bremen and VfL Wolfsburg at Wohninvest Weserstadion on March 30, 2024 in Bremen, Germany.Naby Keita’s Liverpool career will be largely remembered for the amount of games the midfielder was unable to play but his legacy in his new club already looks to be tarnished.As reported on Werder Bremen’s club website: ‘Werder Bremen have suspended Naby Keïta until the end of the season. The club have also handed the midfielder a substantial fine. The 29-year-old will no longer train with the team or be part of the first-team dressing room.“As a club, we won’t tolerate Naby’s behaviour. He let his team down in a time of difficulty surrounding our recent run of form and squad availa...
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Terzic: “Deservedly reached the semi-finals”

 Head Coach Edin Terzic of Borussia Dortmund attends a press conference after the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg match between Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid at Signal Iduna Park on April 16, 2024 in Dortmund, Germany."It's a big deal for our club," said Edin Terzic about the progression to the last four, before thanking the fans and already looking ahead to the upcoming clash with PSG at the press conference.Edin Terzic on the balance of play:"Extremely happy, extremely satisfied and very, very proud of the team and the club. The atmosphere in the stadium was extraordinarily good. There were again two moments that hurt us and could've tipped the balance, but we never lost our belief and stuck with what makes us strong. If you watch both matches, we deservedly r...
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Eintracht Frankfurt unwilling to trigger Donny van de Beek clause

Donny van de Beek of Eintracht Frankfurt looks on during the Bundesliga match between SV Darmstadt 98 and Eintracht Frankfurt at Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor on January 20, 2024 in Darmstadt, Germany. Manchester United fans thought they had finally seen the back of Donny van de Beek, but the Netherlands international is expected to return to Old Trafford in the summer.The 26-year-old midfielder joined Frankfurt on loan in January. His deal included an option-to-buy clause that allowed the Bundesliga club to make his stay permanent for a fee of £9.5 million plus an add-on fee of £2.6 million.According to Fabrizio Romano, Frankfurt will not activate Van de Beek’s option to buy.The Italian journalist took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to write: “Donny van de Beek will return to Man ...
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Victor Osimhen told me I will win the Bundesliga – declares Victor Boniface

Florian Wirtz, Victor Boniface and Amine Adli of Bayer 04 Leverkusen celebrate their first Bundesliga title in the stadium after the Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Werder Bremen at BayArena on April 14, 2024 in Leverkusen, Germany.German Bundesliga champion, Victor Boniface, has revealed that his compatriot, Victor Osimhen, told him he was going to win the league, Soccernet.ng reports.Osimhen, under the guidance of Luciano Spalletti, helped Napoli secure the Serie A league title after 33 years, sparking celebrations all over the world, especially in Nigeria, who were proud of their Nigerian player.Having won the Italian Serie A, Boniface revealed to Soccernet.ng that his countryman foresaw him leading a title-winning campaign with his team, which eventually became true.Le...
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Reflections on Bayer Leverkusen’s Bundesliga title win, ending Bayern Munich’s dominance

 Xabi Alonso, Head Coach of Bayer Leverkusen, celebrates with a replica trophy alongside players after their team's victory and winning the Bundesliga title for the first time in their history after the Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and SV Werder Bremen at BayArena on April 14, 2024 in Leverkusen, Germany. A Bayern Munich loanee was having a solid season in the Bundesliga after not having enough playing time at his club and it seemed like this club, who had never won the title, would go on to become Bundesliga champions under a famous ex-player who had won the title a number of times in his playing days and had coached in Spain before. A new record had been set for the longest unbeaten ran from the start of a season in the Bundesliga, too.Toni Kroos and Bayer ...
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Aleksandar Pavlović happy with return to the pitch as Bayern Munich takes down FC Köln

 Bayern Munich's Portuguese defender #22 Raphael Guerreiro (2nd L) celebrates scoring the opening goal with his teammates including Bayern Munich's German-Serbian midfielder #45 Aleksandar Pavlovic during the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Bayern Munich and 1 FC Cologne in Munich, southern Germany on April 13, 2024.A facial injury and tonsillitis kept Bayern Munich midfielder Aleksandar Pavlović on the sidelines since mid-March, but the youngster was deemed healthy and fit to play during the team’s 2-0 win over FC Köln.Pavlović did not appear to skip a beat as he connected on 96% of his passes, cluding 10 of 11 long balls. Pavlović also had an interception and only lost possession seven times in his 79 minutes. Clearly, the youngster was a stable presence i...
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Bayern ends 2-game losing streak in Bundesliga to delay Bayer Leverkusen title celebrations

Leon Goretzka shakes hands with Thomas Mueller of Bayern Munich at full time following the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern München and 1. FC Köln at Allianz Arena on April 13, 2024 in Munich, Germany.Raphaël Guerreiro and Thomas Müller fired Bayern Munich to a 2-0 win over relegation-threatened Cologne on Saturday, delaying Bayer Leverkusen’s Bundesliga title celebrations for another day.A Bayern defeat coupled with a loss for third-placed Stuttgart to Eintracht Frankfurt in the late game would have handed Leverkusen the championship. But Bayern’s win means Leverkusen can clinch its first ever Bundesliga title on its own accord on Sunday when it hosts Werder Bremen.Bayern, which drew with Arsenal 2-2 in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal in London on Tuesday, ended its...
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Borussia Dortmund star misses training ahead of Atlético Madrid

 Emre Can of Borussia Dortmund looks on during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt at Signal Iduna Park on March 17, 2024 in Dortmund, Germany.A key member of the midfield ranks at Borussia Dortmund was forced to sit out training on Tuesday.This, of course comes just 24 hours out from the club’s showdown with Atlético Madrid.Dortmund, and Atlético, are primed to lock horns on the continent on Wednesday night, in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final tie between the clubs.The matchup will play out at the Wanda Metropolitano, with the former, in turn, having flown out to Spain’s capital earlier today.Prior to as much, however, Dortmund were dealt some concerning news on the personnel front.This came in the form of confirmation that club c...
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Kingsley Coman: Bayern Munich needs confidence back to compete in Champions League

 Kingsley Coman of FC Bayern Muenchen in action during a training session at Saebener Strasse training ground on March 29, 2024 in Munich, Germany. For a first game back after a long injury layover, this was not how Bayern Munich’s Kingsley Coman imagined.The French winger got around half an hour to stretch his legs but could not turn the tide as the Bavarians fell 2-0 to Borussia Dortmund — a result that all but confirms them to second place in the Bundesliga this season, behind Bayer Leverkusen.For Coman, Bayern, and outgoing coach Thomas Tuchel, however, there is still the Champions League — if they can get past Arsenal FC.Tall order? Coman is taking it one step at a time.“First of all we have to focus on our next game. We won’t win the Champions League if we don’t win our lea...
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Thomas Tuchel has no explanation for Bayern’s collapse to Heidenheim

 Thomas Tuchel, head coach of FC Bayern München looks on prior to the Bundesliga match between 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 and FC Bayern München at Voith-Arena on April 06, 2024 in Heidenheim, Germany.Arsenal will undoubtedly take note of Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel's post-match comments after he had no explanation for their collapse against promoted side Heidenheim.Bayern was leading Saturday's Bundesliga game 2-0 at the break after goals from Harry Kane and Serge Gnabry, then conceded three in the second half to lose 3-2 for its second consecutive Bundesliga defeat.Tuchel, whose team next visits Arsenal for the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal on Tuesday, had no explanation.'In the first 15 minutes of the second half, we gave away everything we had built up. Within t...
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Borussia Dortmund reluctant to meet Jadon Sancho’s asking price

 Jadon Sancho of Borussia Dortmund celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 round of 16 second leg match between Borussia Dortmund and PSV Eindhoven at Signal Iduna Park on March 13, 2024 in Dortmund, Germany. A lot has been written about Jadon Sancho in the past year – most of the stuff negative rather than positive.The Manchester United winger returned to Borussia Dortmund on a short-term loan in January, but there was little hope – from where we’re sat – that he’d rejuvenate his career after being exiled from Erik ten Hag’s side following a high-profile dispute.While Dortmund want to bring back Sancho permanently, reports in Germany state that United’s transfer demands could be an issue for the Bundesliga club. Yes, the same club that s...
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Florian Wirtz Hits Double As Bayer Leverkusen Reach German Cup Final

 Florian Wirtz of Leverkusen reacts after scoring his teams fourth goal during the DFB cup semifinal match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Fortuna Düsseldorf at BayArena on April 3, 2024 in Leverkusen, Germany.Florian Wirtz has scored a brace as Bayer Leverkusen trounced Fortuna Duesseldorf 4-0 to reach the German Cup final in the latest step to finally rid themselves of their Neverkusen image.The derby between the runaway Bundesliga leaders and the top flight promotion hopefuls from 20 kilometres down the River Rhine on Thursday (AEDT) was over as a contest in the first half as Leverkusen stretched their unbeaten run all season to 40 games.Jeremie Frimpong fired the opener into the roof of the net in the seventh minute, and Amine Adli doubled the lead 13 minutes later into the far ri...
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Xabi Alonso admits he watched Bayern Munich’s loss to Borussia Dortmund

 Headcoach Xabi Alonso of Leverkusen looks on during the training session prior to the DFB Pokal Semifinal on April 2, 2024 in Leverkusen, Germany. Even before Bayern Munich’s home loss to Borussia Dortmund last weekend, chances were incredibly slim for Bayern to eclipse Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga table before the season concludes. Die Werkself left it late once again with their 2-1 win over TSG Hoffenheim, scoring goals in the 88th and 91st minutes to get another dramatic three points in the bag. They have made quite a habit this season of scoring stoppage time winners and/or equalizers in both the Bundesliga and the Europa League.The gap is now 13 points in the table between the two sides; large enough to have Thomas Tuchel half-heartedly congratulating Leverkusen ...
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Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting’s future is open at Bayern Munich, or elsewhere

Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting of Bayern Munchen juggles the ball during the warm up prior to the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 round of 16 second leg match between FC Bayern München and SS Lazio at Fussball Arena Munchen on March 05, 2024 in Munich, Germany. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting’s current contract with Bayern Munich is set to expire at the end of this season, but it is still unclear what, exactly, his future holds from that point on. Before it was announced that Thomas Tuchel would be leaving the club at the end of the season, it was pretty much understood that the Cameroon international would more than likely be leaving on a free transfer as a free agent, but now that is not entirely set in stone.Per information from Sky Sport journalist Florian Plettenberg (as per @iMiaSanMia), ...
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Bayern Munich: Thomas Tuchel disappointed with lack of intensity against BVB

Thomas Tuchel, Manager of Bayern Munich, gestures during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern München and RB Leipzig at Allianz Arena on February 24, 2024 in Munich, Germany. Bayern Munich head coach Thomas Tuchel was disappointed with the lack of intensity shown by his team in the defeat against Borussia Dortmund.Thomas Tuchel was disappointed with lack of intensity shown by Bayern Munich against Borussia Dortmund.The Bundesliga title race ended on Saturday as Bayern Munich suffered a 2-0 defeat against Borussia Dortmund. It was a chastening defeat for the defending champions as they lost a Der Klassiker at Allianz Arena after a long time. Courtesy of the defeat on Saturday, Bayern are 13 points behind league leaders Bayer Leverkusen with seven games to go in the Bundesliga.After e...
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Borussia Dortmund win Der Klassiker

Leon Goretzka of FC Bayern München battles for the ball with Karim Adeyemi of Dortmund during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern München and Borussia Dortmund at Allianz Arena on March 30, 2024 in Munich, Germany.Thomas Tuchel insisted Bayern Munich are out of Bundesliga title contention after a 2-0 defeat in Der Klassiker left them 13 points adrift of league leaders Bayer Leverkusen.Karim Adeyemi struck early on before Julian Ryerson sealed a 2-0 win for Borussia Dortmund, their first at the Allianz Arena since 2014, as Bayern's bid for a 12th league title in a row was left hanging by the thinnest of threads.For Tuchel, who will leave the Bavarian giants at the end of the season, the matter has already been settled. When asked if they were out of the running for the league crown, he t...
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Report: Bayern Munich accepting Xabi Alonso rejection, Julian Nagelsmann still in the picture

 Julian Nagelsmann, head coach of Germany reacts during the international friendly match between France and Germany at Groupama Stadium on March 23, 2024 in Lyon, France. Top managerial prospect Xabi Alonso has now made it clear that he would like to stay with Bayer Leverkusen for at least another season amidst heavy links to both Bayern Munich and Liverpool, both of whom are actively in search of a replacement manager.Now both clubs will have to turn their attention elsewhere.Per a recent update from Sky Sport’s Florian Plettenberg, Brighton and Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi and Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann are currently the frontrunners in the now-smaller circle of candidates to replace Tuchel.In addition to Nagelsmann, De Zerbi, and Rangnick, Zinedine Zidane has al...
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Bayern Munich “eyeing” shock move for one of United’s biggest ever mistakes – report

 Thomas Tuchel, head coach of FC Bayern München reacts during the Bundesliga match between FC Augsburg and FC Bayern München at WWK-Arena on January 27, 2024 in Augsburg, Germany. Bayern Munich’s search for a new manager has seen them linked with many out-of-the-box names, including two former Manchester United figures.The Bavarian giants have already announced Thomas Tuchel will be departing the Allianz Arena at the end of this season, with the former Chelsea manager failing to get the best out of Bayern’s star-studded roster.The situation in Munich has been so precarious that in February it seemed Tuchel’s reign would be ended by the club’s hierarchy before the end of the season.This led to suggestions that Bayern are considering to rope in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to lead the side...
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More than pride on line in Bayern-Dortmund clash

 Harry Kane of Bayern Muenchen reacts during the Bundesliga match between SV Darmstadt 98 and FC Bayern München at Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor on March 16, 2024 in Darmstadt, Germany. With a 10-point lead with eight games to play, Leverkusen are on course for a maiden Bundesliga crown.Second-placed Bayern could be as many as 13 points behind at kick-off, should Leverkusen win at home against Hoffenheim earlier on Saturday.A Leverkusen title would mark the first time since 2009, and just the fifth time in the past three decades, that neither Bayern nor Dortmund has finished atop the table.Saturday's match between the traditional powers remains crucial for both sides.Bayern risk a first loss at home to their biggest domestic rivals since 2014.They will also want to keep up their...
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