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Showing posts matching the search for Xabi Alonso’s side

Mbappé was the star again for Real Madrid

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Kairat Almaty 0 - 5 Real Madrid Kylian Mbappé struck a hat-trick to take his tally to 60 Champions League goals as Real Madrid dismantled Kairat Almaty. Author | Jack L Stadium | Ortalyq stadıon Against all the odds, the home side nearly scored in the opening seconds. A long ball just a short moment after kick-off nearly resulted in a memorable moment. This would be a chance wasted as Real Madrid had well and truly woken up. The France captain eventually opened the scoring on the from the penalty spot after home goalkeeper Sherkhan Kalmurza clattered into Franco Mastantuono. He added a second midway through the second half, latching on to Thibaut Courtois ’ long pass and lifting the ball over Kalmurza, before sealing his treble from close range after earlier missing a gilt-edged chance. Kairat briefly thought they had a way back when Valeri Gromyko won a penalty, but VAR overturned the decision. Madrid then pulled further clear with late goals from Eduardo Camavinga, who headed ...

Bournemouth sign Amine Adli

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Another exciting addition to the squad at the Vitality Stadium Bournemouth have completed the signing of winger Amine Adli from Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth up to £25.1m. Author | Peter Grainger  This transfer has now been completed. Is this a good move for player and club? [image or embed] — Super News Affiliate ( @eurosuperfootball.bsky.social ) 21 August 2025 at 16:44 The 25-year-old Morocco international becomes the Cherries’ seventh arrival of the summer after agreeing a five-year contract. A versatile attacker, Adli is most often deployed on the left but has also operated centrally and on the right. He made 143 appearances for Leverkusen, contributing 10 goals and 12 assists across 42 games last season as Xabi Alonso’s side secured a Bundesliga and German Cup double. Where will he fit in? A closer look at his time in the Bundesliga Adli is most comfortable on the left wing but can also operate as an attacking midfielder, either centrally or drifting inside from th...

Bellingham stars for Real Madrid in fiery El Clasico

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Real Madrid 2 - 1 Barcelona Jude Bellingham delivered a goal and an assist in La Liga for the first time this season as Real Madrid edged past Barcelona in a frantic El Clasico. Author | Jack L Stadium | Santiago Bernabéu Bellingham split Barcelona’s defence with a precise through ball for Kylian Mbappe to open the scoring midway through the first half. Bellingham then restored Madrid’s advantage with a close-range finish five minutes after Fermin Lopez had levelled. It was Bellingham’s fourth goal in five matches against Barcelona, helping Xabi Alonso’s side move five points clear at the top. The contest ended in disorder, with Pedri dismissed and tempers simmering on the sidelines. A closer look at a dramatic night Madrid lost all four meetings with their great rivals last season, but they set about attacking the visitors’ high defensive line from the outset. Vinicius Junior won an early penalty only for VAR to overturn the decision, ruling he had initiated the contact with Lami...

UCL: Easy night in Rotterdam for Leverkusen

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Feyenoord 0 - 4 Bayer Leverkusen  Florian Wirtz shone on his Champions League debut, netting twice as Bayer Leverkusen secured a comfortable win over Feyenoord. The German champions took an early lead five minutes in, with Wirtz calmly slotting the ball into the bottom corner from 20 yards out. Xabi Alonso’s adventurous wing-backs linked up beautifully for the second goal, as Jeremie Frimpong delivered a cross that found Alex Grimaldo, who finished easily and without much pressure from the home side's defence. Frimpong, a former Celtic player, then set up 21-year-old German international Wirtz for his second goal, a well-executed volley. Champions League: 2024/2025 (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com) Leverkusen had effectively wrapped up the match before half-time when Edmond Tapsoba's header was deflected into the net by Feyenoord goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther. Despite having fewer attempts on goal than their opponents, the Bundesliga side displayed ruthless efficiency. ...

Mbappe penalties rescue Real Madrid

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Real Madrid 2 - 1 Marseille Kylian Mbappé scored twice from the penalty spot as 10-man Real Madrid fought back to beat Marseille in their opening Champions League fixture. Author | Jack L Stadium | Santiago Bernabéu Madrid were dealt an early setback when Trent Alexander-Arnold hobbled off with a suspected hamstring injury inside three minutes. Matters worsened when his replacement, Dani Carvajal , was dismissed 18 minutes from time for a head-to-head confrontation with Marseille goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli. Despite the numerical disadvantage, the 15-time European champions prevailed thanks to Mbappé, who dispatched both spot-kicks with power and precision to take his tally to six goals in five appearances this season. A closer analysis of what happened Marseille had drawn first blood in the 22nd minute through Timothy Weah , whose thunderous effort beat Thibaut Courtois after Mason Greenwood had seized on an error from Arda Güler in midfield. Their advantage was short-lived, ho...

UEL: Atalanta win Europa League

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Atalanta 3 - 0 Bayer Leverkusen Ademola Lookman delivered a stunning hat-trick as Atalanta ended their 61-year trophy drought, crushing Bayer Leverkusen’s hopes of an unbeaten season in the Europa League final at a lively Aviva Stadium. Both teams brought a massive wave of support and vibrant colours to Dublin for what was Atalanta’s first European final and only Leverkusen’s third. Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen side had remained undefeated for 51 games this season and were just two matches away from perfection. The former Charlton Athletic winger Lookman had other plans. He netted the first goal with a top-corner strike from Davide Zappacosta’s cutback. His second goal was a thing of beauty, nutmegging Granit Xhaka before curling a fantastic shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards. Lookman's third was equally brilliant, a step-over to beat Edmond Tapsoba before smashing the ball into the roof of the net. Leverkusen who have been known for their dramatic comebacks this season...

UEL: Roma to face Sevilla in final

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 Let's explore all the key moments from a dramatic night in the Europa League Bayer 04 Leverkusen 0 - 1 Roma (Roma won 1-0 on aggregate) Jose Mourinho's Roma reached the Europa League final after holding Bayer Leverkusen to a goalless draw in the second leg of the semi-final. Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen side could not find the breakthrough as Jose Mourinho delivered a tactical masterclass.  You can hear what Mourinho had to say in the video below. Footage:  JOSÉ MOURINHO | POST MATCH INTERVIEW | BAYER-ROMA - YouTube Is he still the Special One? Click here to read the latest Mourinho news stories. Can the iconic manager win yet another European trophy? His side can look forward to a second European final in as many years having not reached one for 31 years before last season. Who would they be facing though? They would have to wait another 30 minutes before finding out. UECL: Roma win Europa Conference League (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com) Sevilla 2 - 1 Juventus (Sevi...

Germany: Tuchel to leave Bayern Munich at the end of the season

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There has been some interesting news from Germany It has been announced that Manager Thomas Tuchel will be bidding farewell to Bayern Munich at the conclusion of this season. The 50-year-old stepped in for Julian Nagelsmann at the helm of the German champions in March 2023, signing on until June 2025.  The former Chelsea boss will now be departing a year earlier than anticipated, as part of what is described as a strategic shift in Bayern's sporting direction. Under his guidance, Bayern clinched last season's Bundesliga title after he assumed control in the spring. Nevertheless, they currently find themselves trailing leaders Bayer Leverkusen by eight points following consecutive league defeats. One of these setbacks was a resounding 3-0 loss to Leverkusen , compounded by a 1-0 defeat to Lazio in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 encounter. Check out the highlights from that recent defeat to Leverkusen.  Bayer Remain Undefeated! | Bayer Leverkusen - FC Bayer...

Trent Alexander-Arnold to join Real Madrid early

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A sign that Real Madrid are taking the Club World Cup seriously? Trent Alexander-Arnold will officially become a Real Madrid player on Sunday 1 June after Liverpool agreed to an early termination of his contract in exchange for a fee. Author | William G Liverpool sources suggest the Spanish club has paid €10m (£8.4m) in a single up-front payment, although figures close to Madrid claim the fee is lower. The payment allows Alexander-Arnold to complete his move in time to feature in the expanded Club World Cup next month. The 26-year-old England international had been due to leave Anfield on a free transfer when his contract expired on 30 June, but had already made clear his intention to depart this summer. He has now signed a six-year deal with Madrid that includes a €1bn (£840m) buy-out clause. Fifa has approved a special transfer window from 1 to 10 June for clubs competing in the month-long Club World Cup, which begins on 14 June in the United States. READ MORE | News from across ...