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BREAKING: Leverkusen Sets German Unbeaten Records And Extend Bundesliga Leads To 11 Points—-Former Arsenal skipper Granit Xhaka scored his first goal for Bayer Leverkusen as the Bundesliga leader defeated Mainz 2-1 on Friday and set a German record of 33 games unbeaten across all competitions.

Leverkusen, which hasn’t lost a match since last season, stretched its lead to 11 points before 11-time defending champion Bayern Munich hosts Leipzig on Saturday. Eleven rounds remain after this weekend.

The buildup to Friday’s match was dominated by speculation over the future of Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso, with his former clubs Bayern Munich and Liverpool looking for new coaches for next season.

Alonso has no lack of suitors after taking Leverkusen from the relegation zone when he took over in October 2022 to a genuine title candidate.

Supporters celebrated the German soccer league’s midweek decision to scrap its plan to bring in an outside investor for a share of media rights income by displaying a banner saying “Football belongs to the fans.”

They didn’t have to wait long to celebrate again when Xhaka fired Leverkusen into a third-minute lead. The Swiss midfielder let fly from outside the penalty area for his first goal on his 31st appearance for the club.

But Dominik Kohr replied for the visitors with a header at the other end four minutes later.

Leverkusen went on to dominate possession. The home team’s urgency grew toward the end of the half, when Álex Grimaldo drew a good save from Robin Zentner with a free kick.

Leverkusen’s frustrations grew when Jeremie Frimpong was booked for complaining after he’d been tripped by Mainz defender Phillipp Mwene when he would have been through on goal. TV replays showed there was contact. Alonso was also booked for his complaints.

The frustration remained after the break as Leverkusen failed to find a way through.

Then the otherwise excellent Zentner failed to hold Robert Andrich’s harmless-looking shot and the ball looped in over his head in the 68th.

It proved enough for the win as Mainz’s hopes were hit in the 80th when Jessic Ngankam was sent off after a VAR check for a dangerous tackle on Xhaka.

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Chelsea Handed Major Injury Boost as James and Colwill Return

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Chelsea Handed Major Injury Boost

Chelsea Handed Major Injury Boost as James and Colwill Return—-Chelsea FC have received a timely boost ahead of a crucial run of fixtures, with captain Reece James and defender Levi Colwill both returning to full training.

Colwill, who has been sidelined since pre-season with a serious knee injury, is yet to feature for Chelsea’s first team this season. His absence has been keenly felt in defence, with the club forced to cope without one of its most highly rated young centre-backs.

The 23-year-old is now back in full training as he nears a long-awaited return, although he is expected to build match fitness gradually before being considered for senior selection.

Captain James, meanwhile, has also returned after his own injury setback, offering a significant boost in leadership and quality on the right flank.

With a series of important fixtures approaching, Chelsea will be encouraged by the return of both players as they aim to finish the season strongly.

While neither player may be rushed straight back into action, their availability at this stage of the campaign could prove crucial for the Blues.

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BREAKING: Penalty Drama as Arsenal Draw Atlético Madrid Away

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Arsenal Draw Atlético Madrid Away

BREAKING: Penalty Drama as Arsenal Draw Atlético Madrid Away—-Juliaan Álvarez 56th minutes spot kick cancels out Viktor Gyökeres’ penalty kick opener in 1-1 Champions League showdown aat Wanda Metropolitano.

Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw by Atlético Madrid on Wednesday night in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final, as both sides traded blows in a tense encounter.

The Premier League leaders struck first just before half-time when Viktor Gyökeres won and calmly converted a penalty, giving Arsenal a crucial away lead.

However, the hosts responded in the second half. Julián Álvarez brought Atlético Madrid level in the 56th minute from the penalty spot after a handball by Ben White inside the box.

The equaliser set up a tense finish, with both teams pushing for a winner, but neither could find the breakthrough, leaving the tie finely balanced ahead of the second leg.

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