Football

Newly-crowned Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen have extended their remarkable unbeaten streak to 44 matches across all competitions after securing a place in the Europa League semi-finals. The German giants drew 1-1 with West Ham United in the second leg of their quarter-final tie, advancing 3-1 on aggregate.Michail Antonio gave the Hammers an early lead in the 13th minute, but Leverkusen fought back in the second half. Jeremie Frimpong's 89th-minute equalizer proved crucial, sending Xabi Alonso's side through to the last four.Leverkusen will now face AS Roma for a spot in the final. The Italian giants defeated Bodø/Glimt 4-0 on aggregate in their quarter-final tie."I think we felt it in the first half," said Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka after the match. "It was a typical English crowd. They were pushing West Ham unbelievably. We were lucky in the first half if we're honest.""It was a different phase in the second half, we controlled the game. We are happy we got through. We competed much more. If you see over 180 minutes, the better team go through."Leverkusen's triumph over West Ham marks a historic achievement for the club. Last weekend, they clinched their first Bundesliga title in over a decade, ending Bayern Munich's 11-year reign.The German side is now in contention for a treble trophy haul this season. They will face second-division Kaiserslautern in the German Cup final on May 25.

Liverpool's hopes of a historic treble were dashed on Thursday as they were eliminated from the Europa League despite a 1-0 victory over Atalanta in the second leg of their quarterfinal matchup. The result ended Liverpool's chances of winning three trophies in manager Jurgen Klopp's final season at Anfield.In Bergamo, Liverpool had a dream start when Trent Alexander-Arnold's cross hit Matteo Ruggeri's hand, resulting in a penalty. Mohamed Salah converted the spot-kick in the seventh minute, giving Liverpool an early lead. However, the Reds failed to capitalize on any other chances, falling short of their 5-0 win over Atalanta in the Champions League in 2020.Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen remained on course for a historic treble by holding West Ham to a 1-1 draw at London Stadium. Xabi Alonso's team advanced to the semifinals 3-1 on aggregate, setting up a clash with Roma in the last four.In Rome, Roma coach Daniele De Rossi marked an extension of his contract announced earlier Thursday by reaching the last four with his team reduced to 10 men. Gianluca Mancini and Paulo Dybala scored for Roma, while Milan's Matteo Gabbia netted a consolation goal.With the English League Cup already secured, Liverpool still hopes for a second Premier League title under Klopp but is now in third and two points adrift of first-place Manchester City. Atalanta, despite its inconsistent Serie A form, has been shining in the Europa League, reaching the semifinals for only the second time.In the Europa Conference League, Aston Villa advanced to the semifinals after a 4-3 penalty shootout victory over Lille. Emiliano Martínez saved two spot kicks, and Douglas Luiz converted the decisive penalty. Villa will face Olympiakos in the semifinals, while Fiorentina and Club Brugge will meet in the other semifinal.

Newly crowned Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen face a formidable challenge in their pursuit of a perfect league season when they visit Borussia Dortmund on Sunday. Despite their historic title triumph, Xabi Alonso's side has their sights set on several remarkable records.Leverkusen remains in contention for a treble, having reached the German Cup final and the Europa League semi-finals. They are the only German club other than Bayern Munich to have won the treble, which Bayern achieved in 2013 and 2020.In the Bundesliga, Leverkusen is still unbeaten with 25 wins and four draws in 29 games. They have also extended their undefeated streak to 44 matches across all competitions this season. No German club, including Bayern Munich, has ever gone through a league season without a loss, making Alonso's team five matches away from a unique achievement.With 79 points, Leverkusen is also within striking distance of breaking the all-time Bundesliga points tally of 91, set by Bayern in 2012-13. However, their trip to Dortmund represents their biggest hurdle in achieving these records.Dortmund, currently fifth in the standings, is a formidable opponent at home, especially after their impressive victory over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals. Leverkusen was held to a 1-1 draw by Dortmund in December.Despite the celebrations following their title win, Alonso is confident that his team will not lose focus. "We had a few beers, but not too many," he said. "The players have not given me any reason to doubt them. We have the hunger and the desire to keep going non-stop."Dortmund, on the other hand, has its own motivations. With a two-legged semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain on the horizon, their European exploits could also benefit them in the league. Germany's chances of securing five spots in next season's Champions League have been boosted by Dortmund's win and Bayern's victory over Arsenal.While Dortmund may shift its focus to Europe, the opportunity to face a title winner other than Bayern will undoubtedly inspire them to deliver a strong performance.As for Bayern, pride is at stake in the league, as they are level on points with Stuttgart. They travel to Union Berlin on Saturday, who are still in danger of relegation and will be desperate for points.Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy was named Bundesliga player of the month for the second time this season. With 25 goals in 23 games, he is second only to Harry Kane in the scoring charts.

Atalanta's historic European journey continued as they secured a place in the Europa League semifinals despite a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool on Thursday. The Serie A side's 3-0 triumph in the first leg at Anfield proved decisive, as they held on to a 3-1 aggregate victory.Liverpool, seeking a fairytale ending to manager Jurgen Klopp's final season, started brightly and took the lead through Mohamed Salah's penalty in the seventh minute. However, Atalanta's resolute defense and tactical discipline prevented the Reds from mounting a significant comeback.Gian Piero Gasperini's team, playing in their biggest game in club history, absorbed Liverpool's pressure and created several chances of their own. Duvan Zapata and Luis Muriel both came close to extending Atalanta's lead, but their efforts were thwarted by Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker.In the second half, Liverpool continued to dominate possession but struggled to break down Atalanta's compact defense. The Italian side's counter-attacking threat remained potent, and they could have sealed the tie with a second goal on several occasions.As the game entered its final stages, Liverpool threw everything forward in search of an equalizer. However, Atalanta's defense held firm, and they secured a famous victory that sent them into the semifinals for the first time in their history.Meanwhile, newly-crowned Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen also reached the semifinals, but they were pushed to the limit by West Ham United. The German side drew 1-1 away at the London Stadium, but their 3-1 aggregate victory ensured their progression.Xabi Alonso's team trailed to Michail Antonio's early header and looked shaky in the first half. However, they improved dramatically after the break and squandered numerous opportunities before Jeremie Frimpong's deflected shot found the net in the 89th minute.Despite their below-par performance, Leverkusen extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 39 games and remain on course for a treble.

Bayer Leverkusen's relentless pursuit of their maiden Bundesliga title received a significant boost on Sunday as they secured a 2-0 victory over 10-man Wolfsburg. The triumph extended their lead over Bayern Munich to 10 points, with nine games remaining in the season.Leverkusen's dominance was evident from the outset, and they were handed a major advantage when Wolfsburg's Moritz Jenz was sent off for a second yellow card after just 28 minutes. The hosts capitalized on their numerical superiority, with Nathan Tella heading in a delightful cross from Alex Grimaldo to open the scoring 11 minutes later.Florian Wirtz, who has been instrumental in Leverkusen's resurgence, added the second goal with four minutes remaining, ensuring all three points for his team. The victory marked Leverkusen's third consecutive league match where their opponents finished with 10 men, a testament to the relentless pressure applied by Xabi Alonso's high-energy football.Despite returning from a grueling Europa League match in Azerbaijan just two days prior, Leverkusen showed no signs of fatigue. Alonso made eight changes to keep his side fresh, and the hosts controlled the tempo of the game throughout.In other Bundesliga action, Freiburg maintained their Europa League hopes with a 2-1 win at Bochum. Michael Gregoritsch, who scored the only goal in Freiburg's first leg victory over West Ham, netted again to give his team the lead. Maximilian Eggestein doubled their advantage before Ivan Ordets pulled one back for Bochum.Eintracht Frankfurt extended their grip on sixth place with a 3-1 home victory over nine-man Hoffenheim. John Brooks opened the scoring for Hoffenheim but was later sent off for a last-man tackle. Frankfurt took full advantage, scoring three unanswered goals through Robin Koch, Eric Dina Ebimbe, and Mario Goetze. Hoffenheim's misery was compounded when Ozan Kabak was also shown a second yellow card.

Liverpool took a commanding step towards the Europa League quarterfinals with a resounding 5-1 victory over Sparta Prague on Thursday. Darwin Nunez starred for the Reds, scoring twice to help secure a comfortable first-leg advantage.Nunez opened the scoring in the sixth minute, converting a penalty after Alexis Mac Allister was fouled in the area. The Uruguayan international doubled Liverpool's lead in the 25th minute with a stunning right-footed shot from distance.Sparta Prague pulled one back through an own goal by Conor Bradley, but Nunez restored Liverpool's three-goal advantage just before halftime. Luis Díaz extended the lead further in the second half, before Dominik Szoboszlai scored a consolation goal for the hosts in stoppage time.Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp praised his team's performance, saying, "Our goals were fantastic." He also welcomed the return of Mohamed Salah, who came on as a substitute in the 74th minute.In other Europa League action, Bayer Leverkusen extended their unbeaten run to 35 games across all competitions with a 2-2 draw at Qarabag. Roma continued their resurgence under coach Daniele De Rossi with a 4-0 thumping of Brighton, while Marseille beat 10-man Villarreal 4-0.AC Milan took control of their tie against Slavia Prague with a 3-1 victory at San Siro, while Freiburg secured a 1-0 home win over West Ham. Benfica salvaged a 2-2 draw at Rangers, while Aston Villa held Ajax 0-0 in Amsterdam.In the Europa Conference League, Lille recorded a 3-0 victory at Sturm Graz, Maccabi Tel Aviv won 4-1 at Olympiacos, and Molde beat Club Brugge 2-1. Fiorentina secured a dramatic 4-3 victory over Maccabi Haifa, while Fenerbahce won 3-0 at Union Saint-Gilloise.

Bayer Leverkusen has extended its dominance at the summit of the Bundesliga, securing a 2-0 victory over 10-man Cologne. This triumph has widened the gap between Leverkusen and Bayern Munich to a significant 10 points.Leverkusen's manager, Xabi Alonso, acknowledged the importance of this victory, stating, "Ten points are a lot, but it's not over yet." He emphasized the need for continued focus and determination, recognizing that the title race is far from decided.Leverkusen's unbeaten streak in all competitions now stands at an impressive 34 games, a German record. Their victory over Cologne was hard-fought, with the home team playing with 10 men from the 15th minute after Jan Thielmann was sent off for a reckless challenge on Granit Xhaka.Despite the numerical disadvantage, Cologne put up a spirited fight, hitting the post twice. However, Leverkusen's quality ultimately prevailed. Jeremie Frimpong opened the scoring in the 38th minute, tapping in a cross from Alejandro Grimaldo. Grimaldo himself sealed the victory in the 73rd minute, squeezing the ball in at the near post after a fine assist from Amine Adli.Alonso praised his team's patience and control, saying, "We controlled the counter-attacks and were unlucky not to get the goals. In the end, we had patience and got the goals."Cologne, currently in the relegation play-off spot, remains eight points adrift of safety. Despite their valiant effort, they were unable to overcome the deficit created by Thielmann's red card.In another Bundesliga match on Sunday, Hoffenheim secured a 2-1 win over Werder Bremen thanks to a first-half double from Maximilian Beier.

Xabi Alonso, the current coach of Bayer Leverkusen, has dismissed the speculation surrounding his future as a distraction for the Bundesliga leaders, following Bayern Munich's announcement that coach Thomas Tuchel will be leaving at the end of the season. Alonso's impressive performance with Leverkusen, leading them to an eight-point lead over Bayern in the Bundesliga, has made him one of the most sought-after coaches in European soccer, with potential vacancies at Bayern and Liverpool, both clubs where he played during his illustrious career.When asked about the speculation and Bayern's history of acquiring players and coaches from rival teams, Alonso remained unfazed, stating, "It's not a problem. It's a super opponent that we have, but there is no distraction." This response reflects Alonso's focus on the task at hand, as he aims to maintain Leverkusen's title challenge and continue their impressive unbeaten run of 32 games in all competitions.The news of Tuchel's departure from Bayern has further fueled the speculation surrounding Alonso's future, as both Liverpool and Bayern are in search of new coaches. Alonso's success with Leverkusen, coupled with his history with both clubs, makes him a strong candidate for either position. However, Alonso has remained tight-lipped about his plans, emphasizing his commitment to Leverkusen and his desire to achieve success with the club.Leverkusen's title challenge continues on Friday with a home match against Mainz, while Bayern faces Leipzig on Saturday. Alonso's team remains unbeaten in 32 games across all competitions and is a contender in the German Cup semi-finals and the Europa League. Alonso's ability to maintain this impressive form and guide Leverkusen to silverware will undoubtedly influence his future prospects and the decisions of potential suitors.