Football

Reigning Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen kicked off their title defense with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Borussia Moenchengladbach in a dramatic season opener. The match was filled with twists and turns, with Leverkusen ultimately snatching the win in the 11th minute of stoppage time.Leverkusen dominated the first half, with Granit Xhaka opening the scoring with a stunning long-range effort in the 13th minute. Florian Wirtz doubled their lead in the 38th minute, giving Xabi Alonso's side a comfortable advantage at the break.However, Gladbach fought back in the second half. Nico Elvedi pulled one back in the 59th minute, and newcomer Tim Kleindienst equalized with just five minutes remaining. The hosts looked set to secure a point, but a late penalty awarded to Leverkusen changed the course of the game.Wirtz stepped up to take the spot-kick, but his initial effort was saved by Jonas Omlin. However, the Germany international was quick to react and hammered the rebound into the net, securing a dramatic victory for Leverkusen.The win was a testament to Leverkusen's resilience and determination. Despite conceding two goals in the second half, they refused to give up and ultimately found a way to win. Xhaka praised his team's "pure mentality" after the match, highlighting their ability to bounce back from setbacks.Leverkusen's victory was also notable for being the latest goal in Bundesliga history. Wirtz's strike came in the 10th minute of stoppage time, surpassing the previous record set by Bayern Munich in 2014.The result leaves Leverkusen top of the Bundesliga standings after the first round of matches. Gladbach, meanwhile, will be disappointed to have lost after fighting back from two goals down, but they will take heart from their second-half performance.

Bayer Leverkusen's talismanic midfielder, Granit Xhaka, has set his sights on another Bundesliga title challenge in the upcoming season, following the club's historic undefeated triumph last year.Xhaka, who joined Leverkusen from Arsenal at the start of last season, played a pivotal role in the club's remarkable campaign. Despite being a rookie coach, Xabi Alonso led Leverkusen to an unprecedented Bundesliga title, becoming the first German team to achieve the feat without a single defeat. They also lifted the German Cup, losing only one of their 53 matches in all competitions.Speaking to AFP at the club's pre-season training camp, Xhaka expressed his belief that last season was just the beginning. "We know people are hoping to beat us, they will try and they will do everything," he said. "But we still have the hunger to be where we were last season."Xhaka's resurgence at Leverkusen has been remarkable, especially considering the criticism he faced during his time at Arsenal. He believes that the criticism has been instrumental in his growth as a player. "I'm a fan of criticism, because criticism makes you stronger," he said. "I don't drop my head, but I look at what they are criticizing, and maybe I need to do something more, or change some things."Xhaka's leadership qualities have also been evident at Leverkusen, where he has quickly become Alonso's on-field voice. He is eager to guide the club's younger players, many of whom are yet to experience the Champions League. "Maybe they're nervous. You can go to them, talk to them and explain it to them, but this feeling, you need to feel it," he said. "You need to see the music, the atmosphere (and) what it is in these games."With his contract at Leverkusen set to expire in four years, Xhaka is already looking ahead to the future. He has started his FA coaching badges and is also an assistant coach at fifth-tier Union Nettetal. "The traineeship helped me a lot, because a coach maybe thinks more far ahead than a player (does)," he said.Xhaka's unwavering belief in himself and his team is a testament to his determination to succeed. As Leverkusen embark on a new season, they will undoubtedly look to Xhaka for inspiration and guidance as they aim to defend their Bundesliga title and make a mark in the Champions League.

Hungary and Switzerland will clash in a pivotal Group A encounter at Euro 2024 on Saturday, June 15. Hungary, under the guidance of coach Marco Rossi, has emerged as a force to be reckoned with, thanks to the dynamic presence of Liverpool star Dominik Szoboszlai. Rossi has urged his team to embrace the pressure and prove their worth on the Euro stage.Switzerland, led by captain Granit Xhaka, is also brimming with confidence after a stellar season with Bayer Leverkusen. Xhaka, who helped Leverkusen secure the Bundesliga title and reach the Europa League final, is eager to lead his country to success at Euro 2024.The match will be played at the Cologne Stadium and will kick off at 6:30 pm IST. It will be telecast live on the Sony Sports Network and streamed live on the SonyLiv app and website.Hungary will be looking to build on their impressive performance at Euro 2020, where they reached the Round of 16. Szoboszlai, who scored the winning goal against Germany in the group stage, will be the key player for Hungary.Switzerland, on the other hand, will be aiming to make a deep run in the tournament. Xhaka, along with other experienced players like Xherdan Shaqiri and Yann Sommer, will be crucial to their success.The match promises to be a thrilling encounter between two evenly matched teams. Hungary will be eager to prove their credentials as an emerging force, while Switzerland will be determined to make a statement in their Euro opener.

Bayer Leverkusen capped off a remarkable season by securing the German Cup, defeating second-division Kaiserslautern 1-0 in a hard-fought final in Berlin. The victory marks the club's second trophy of the campaign, having already clinched the Bundesliga title in April.Granit Xhaka's stunning long-range strike in the 16th minute proved to be the decisive moment. However, Leverkusen's triumph was overshadowed by the dismissal of Odilon Kossounou late in the first half, leaving them to battle with 10 men for the remainder of the match.Despite their numerical disadvantage, Leverkusen displayed resilience and determination, holding on to their slender lead. Kaiserslautern, who were aiming to become the first non-top-flight club to lift the Cup since 1992, pushed hard for an equalizer but lacked the cutting edge to break down Leverkusen's resolute defense.Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso praised his team's spirit and fighting qualities. "To win like that at the end, we showed our team spirit. We fought hard, we did it for everyone, the fans, the club," he said.Alonso also received plaudits from his opposing coach, Friedhelm Funkel, who was managing his final game before retiring. "To go through the Bundesliga season unbeaten, it's madness. That he could flick that switch in his first year, is incredible. I think he'll win many, many titles."Leverkusen's triumph is a testament to their impressive season, which saw them go unbeaten in the Bundesliga and reach the final of the Europa League. The German Cup victory doubles the club's trophy tally in their history, having previously won the competition in 1993 and the UEFA Cup in 1988.

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.