Football

Bayer Leverkusen, the reigning Bundesliga champions, stand on the cusp of history as they aim to become the first team to complete an undefeated season in the league's history. On Saturday, they face Augsburg in a match that could cement their legacy as one of the greatest teams in German football.Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen have been unstoppable this season, setting a European record with a 50-game unbeaten streak that includes runs to the German Cup and Europa League finals. Their relentless form has seen them amass 87 points from 33 games, putting them on the brink of an unprecedented achievement.A victory against Augsburg would give Leverkusen 90 points from 34 games, equaling the second-highest tally in Bundesliga history. Striker Patrik Schick has described the match as "like a final," while captain Lukas Hradecky has spoken of the "immortality" that awaits his team.Meanwhile, at the other end of the table, Union Berlin face a desperate battle for survival. The club, which made its Champions League debut this season, must defeat Freiburg and hope for favorable results elsewhere to avoid relegation.Union's rise has been remarkable, from their debut promotion in 2019 to their fourth-place finish last season. However, a disastrous run of nine straight losses this season has left them in danger of falling back to the second division.Even a win against Freiburg may not be enough for Union, as they need Mainz or Bochum to lose their respective matches. Freiburg coach Christian Streich has vowed to "play to win," but Union will be determined to secure their Bundesliga status.In other matches, Borussia Dortmund host last-placed Darmstadt in Marco Reus' final game at the Westfalenstadion. Bayern Munich, already assured of second place, will look to extend their unbeaten run against Hoffenheim. Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur needs six goals to break Robert Lewandowski's single-season Bundesliga record of 41.

Napoli's Champions League aspirations took a significant blow on Saturday as they suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat to relegation-threatened Empoli in Serie A. The loss leaves the defending champions languishing in eighth place, six points adrift of Roma, who currently hold the fifth and final qualifying spot for next season's elite club competition.Empoli, battling to avoid relegation, stunned Napoli with a lightning-fast start. Just four minutes into the match, Alberto Cerri rose unmarked at the back post to head home a cross, marking his first Serie A goal in three years. The hosts could have doubled their lead later in the first half, but Nicolo Cambiaghi's powerful drive rattled off the post.Napoli, despite their dominance in possession, struggled to create clear-cut chances against a resolute Empoli defense. The visitors' hopes were further dashed when Empoli goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario produced a string of impressive saves to deny Victor Osimhen and Hirving Lozano.The result leaves Napoli facing an uphill battle to secure a top-four finish and a place in the Champions League. With just six games remaining in the season, they must overcome a significant points deficit and hope that their rivals falter.Meanwhile, Empoli's victory provides a much-needed boost in their fight against relegation. The win lifts them to 15th place in the table, four points clear of the drop zone.