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Leverkusen Sets German Unbeaten Records

BREAKING: Leverkusen Sets German Unbeaten Records And Extend Bundesliga Leads To 11 Points

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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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Tottenham Agree Club-Record £100m Deal for Sandro Tonali From Newcastle United

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Tottenham Agree Club-Record £100m Deal for Sandro Tonali From Newcastle United—-Spurs have reached an agreement with Newcastle United for the Italy international, with Roberto De Zerbi landing his top midfield target in a blockbuster deal worth up to £100 million.

Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a club-record £100 million deal with Newcastle United to sign Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali, in what is set to become one of the biggest transfers of the summer window. The agreement is understood to be worth an initial £92.5 million, with a further £7.5 million in performance-related add-ons.

The 26-year-old is expected to sign a long-term contract at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after agreeing personal terms. Tonali is reportedly set to become one of the club’s highest-paid players, with manager Roberto De Zerbi playing a pivotal role in convincing his fellow Italian to make the move to North London.

De Zerbi identified Tonali as the cornerstone of his midfield rebuild, believing the Italy international possesses the technical quality, leadership and tactical intelligence needed to transform Spurs into Premier League and UEFA Champions League contenders. The pair share a close footballing philosophy, with sources indicating Tonali was persuaded by De Zerbi’s long-term vision for the club.

Tonali joined Newcastle United from AC Milan in 2023 for around £55 million and quickly became one of the Premier League’s standout midfielders. Although his first season in England was interrupted by a 10-month suspension for breaches of betting regulations, he returned strongly and helped Newcastle end their long wait for major silverware by winning the Carabao Cup before re-establishing himself as one of the league’s elite central midfielders.

For Newcastle, the sale represents a substantial profit and provides significant financial flexibility as the club continues to reshape its squad. Reports suggest Eddie Howe’s side are already targeting replacements, including Hoffenheim winger Bazoumana Touré and Swiss midfielder Johan Manzambi, while also exploring further additions before the new season begins.

The acquisition of Tonali signals Tottenham’s intent under De Zerbi. The Italian midfielder is expected to become the centerpiece of a revamped Spurs side aiming to challenge for domestic honours and compete strongly in Europe. Once the medical and final paperwork are completed, Tonali will officially become Tottenham’s most expensive signing in the club’s history, eclipsing all previous transfer records.

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JUST IN: Folarin Balogun Scores but Sees Red as USA Beat Bosnia to Reach World Cup Round of 16

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JUST IN: Folarin Balogun Scores but Sees Red as USA Beat Bosnia to Reach World Cup Round of 16—-The USMNT defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in Santa Clara to book a last-16 clash with Belgium, but the victory was overshadowed by Folarin Balogun’s controversial red card after the striker had opened the scoring.

The United States booked their place in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a determined 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, overcoming the dismissal of star striker Folarin Balogun to continue their impressive run on home soil.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side endured a nervy start at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium as Bosnia threatened through Ermedin Demirović, forcing goalkeeper Matt Freese into two excellent early saves. Despite Bosnia’s bright opening, the hosts gradually settled into the contest, dominating possession and creating the better opportunities.

The breakthrough came just before halftime in the 45th minute. A high press forced Bosnia into surrendering possession near midfield, and after Malik Tillman’s attempted pass deflected kindly into Balogun’s path, the Monaco striker calmly slotted a left-footed finish beyond the goalkeeper to score his third goal of the tournament. The strike made Balogun only the third American player to score three or more goals in a single FIFA World Cup.

The match took a dramatic turn in the 64th minute when Balogun was shown a straight red card following a VAR review. Referee Raphael Claus upgraded the incident to serious foul play after reviewing Balogun’s challenge on Bosnia defender Tarik Muharemović, leaving the United States to play the remainder of the match with ten men. The dismissal means Balogun will miss the Round of 16 clash against Belgium through suspension.

Despite the setback, the Americans showed tremendous resilience. With Bosnia pushing forward in search of an equalizer, Malik Tillman produced a moment of brilliance in the 82nd minute, curling a superb free-kick into the top corner to double the lead and effectively seal qualification. Matt Freese completed an outstanding evening by preserving his clean sheet with several key saves late in the contest.

The victory sends the United States into the Round of 16, where they will meet Belgium in Seattle in one of the standout ties of the knockout stage. However, Pochettino will be without his leading scorer after Balogun’s dismissal, a significant blow as the co-hosts aim to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2002.

While Balogun’s evening ended in disappointment, his goal proved crucial in setting the United States on course for victory. Combined with Tillman’s spectacular free-kick and a disciplined defensive display, it was enough to keep the Americans’ World Cup dream alive as they prepare for their toughest test yet against Belgium.

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