Jonas Hofmann s header sent holders Bayer Leverkusen through in the DFB-Pokal.
Leverkusen kick-started their Bundesliga campaign with a last-gasp win over Borussia Monchengladbach on Friday, and though matters were more comfortable against lower-league Jena on Wednesday, Xabi Alonso s team had to settle for a 1-0 win.
Hofmann got the decisive goal in the 52nd minute, heading home from Alex Grimaldo s delivery.
Leverkusen finished with 16 shots and an expected goals (xG) of 1.31, though Jena did muster 1.04 xG from just six attempts, with Hamza Muqaj squandering their best chance of the game.
Data Debrief: Heads up
Hofmann has had a fantastic career, plying his trade for Leverkusen, Gladbach and Borussia Dortmund.
Yet incredibly, his goal o…
According to a recent report from Sky Sports News, AC Milan have made an approach for Nottingham Forest defender Matty Cash, with an aim to put forward a bid in the January transfer window.
The youngster has enjoyed a strong campaign for the East Midlands side up to this point as they continue to go in search of promotion back to the Premier League. Now, though, Forest are under pressure from bigger clubs to sell as we get closer and closer to the end of the window.
Alongside AC Milan, Southampton are also very interested in the prospect of bringing Cash on. They are also looking at Kyle Walker-Peters from Tottenham who is set to go out on loan, but their primary target is still said to be Matty Cash.
For the next nine days, it certainly seems as if Forest…
Barcelona have confirmed the sacking of the club s under-19 coach Victor Valdes.
Former goalkeeper Valdes was appointed to the role in July but lasted only three months in charge of the Juvenil A team.
Valdes reportedly clashed with former Barcelona striker Patrick Kluivert, who is now in charge of La Masia, prior to his departure.
Although Barca s U-19s are sitting in second place behind Real Zaragoza in the league, they lost their opening two UEFA Youth League fixtures to Borussia Dortmund and Inter under Valdes leadership.
Barcelona have informed Victor Valdes on Monday that he is no longer U19A coach and no longer employed by the club, said a brief club statement.
The 37-year-old won the 2010 World Cup with Spain and a raft of honours at Ba…
Leonardo has been appointed as the new sporting director of AC Milan as the club continues to overhaul its senior hierarchy under new owners Elliott Management.
On Tuesday, it was confirmed that Massimiliano Mirabelli had been relieved of his duties, with Leonardo then announced as his replacement, the Brazilian taking up the role for a second time.
The 1994 World Cup winner has a long history at San Siro, having played for the Rossoneri between 1997 and 2001, winning one Serie A title and one Coppa Italia, while he also managed the side during the 2009-10 campaign.
Mirabelli was the latest senior figure to depart in recent days, following chief executive Marco Fassone and general secretary Giuseppe Mangiarano out the exit door on the back of Elliott s take…
According to a recent report from Sport, Ilkay Gundogan has admitted to holding talks with Barcelona over a move to the Nou Camp.
The 32-year-old has been with Manchester City since back in 2016. In that time, he’s been able to establish himself as one of the club’s most effective players.
He’s won countless trophies and this season, he’s on the verge of helping them win the treble with City being the favourites to win the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.
Financially speaking, Barcelona have been in a spot of bother over the course of the last few years. That s probably an understatement, too, and with a move for Lionel Messi being on the cards this summer, you have to wonder where they re going to find the money to bring in someone like Gund…
Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson contacted Liverpool to congratulate the Reds on their drought-ending Premier League title, Kenny Dalglish revealed.
Liverpool claimed their first English top-flight crown since 1990 thanks to Manchester City s 2-1 Premier League loss to Chelsea on Thursday.
The Reds celebrated a 19th English league title with seven games to spare in 2019-20, moving one adrift of United s record after Ferguson led the Manchester giants to 13 Premier League honours during a trophy-laden 26-year tenure.
Ferguson, though, put rivalries aside as the United legend congratulated fierce foes Liverpool.
How are we all feeling this morning, Reds?
— Liverpool FC (Premier League Champions ) (@LFC)
He contacted us to…
Prediction: Both Teams to Score Liverpool to Win
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The UEFA Champions League final gets underway on Saturday night as Premier League rivals, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool, clash on Saturday evening.
The match itself, the first all-English European Cup final since 2008, sees the two teams aiming to end their respective waits for European glory at the home of Atletico Madrid, the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano.
Tottenham Hotspur
It is scarcely believable that the North Londoners now have a genuine chance of winning the Champions League considering their troubles in the competition so far this season. Mauricio Pochettino s troops have twice been on the verge of elimination; first notching an excellent draw at the Nou Camp in their f…
Liverpool provided a huge boost to their hopes of Champions League football next season as they claimed a thrilling 4-2 win over rivals Manchester United.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer s side took the lead early through Bruno Fernandes, but were pegged back before half-time as Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino got on the scoresheet.
It looked like the visitors had things wrapped up early in the second period as Firmino headed in his second only for Marcus Rashford to set up a nervy finish as he pulled one back with 20 minutes remaining.
But the visitors rounded things off late on through Mohamed Salah to put pressure firmly back on Chelsea and Leicester City in the chase for top four.
2 Mo Salah is only the second player in Liverpool s history to score away to Man Ut…
David de Gea is no stranger to scrutiny at Old Trafford.
There were serious concerns over De Gea when he was lured to Manchester United by former boss Alex Ferguson as a lean 20-year-old goalkeeper in 2011.
De Gea, though, answered questions about his physique – the Spaniard repaying Ferguson s faith and going on to win a Premier League title, as well as FA Cup, Europa League, EFL Cup and Community Shield silverware.
He cemented himself as one of the world s best keepers. However, those concerns have emerged again and they are growing louder following his latest mistake in Sunday s 1-1 draw away to Everton.
The key moments from our clash against Everton
— Manchester United (@ManUtd)
De Gea s attempted clearance was blocked by Evert…
Real Madrid s Champions League defence came crashing down in a humiliating home defeat to Ajax on Tuesday, ending their three-year grip on the trophy.
The Eredivisie side triumphed 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu to prevail 5-3 on aggregate in the last-16 tie and pile further pressure on Madrid boss Santiago Solari.
Defeat marks the first time since 2009-10 that Madrid have been eliminated at this stage of the competition and comes on the back of consecutive Clasico losses to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey and LaLiga.
Here, with the help of Opta, we take a look at some of the key stats behind Madrid s shock exit from the competition.
Lasse Schöne
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague)
Madrid are the first reigning Champio…