Alonso Has ‘Nothing New to Say’ on Future in Leverkusen

Xabi Alonso remained tight-lipped about his managerial future amid growing speculation linking him with the Real Madrid job. The Bayern Leverkusen boss refused to address the rumours during Friday’s press conference. Spanish outlets have positioned Alonso as a leading candidate to replace Carlo Ancelotti. This replacement would come should the Italian depart this summer. Despite having a year left on his contract, Ancelotti has come under pressure following a disappointing campaign in LaLiga. Alonso, who previously played under Ancelotti during a five-year spell at Real Madrid. He won the Champions League with the club before moving to Bayern Munich. Yet, when asked about a potential return to Madrid in a new role, he offered no new insight. “My future? Nothing new to say, the answer remains the same. We have to wait,” Alonso told reporters ahead of Leverkusen’s trip to Freiburg.“Communication with the club is still good. There is clarity between everyone.” The 42-year-old’s stock has risen dramatically since guiding Leverkusen to their first-ever Bundesliga title last season, going unbeaten and adding the German Cup while reaching the Europa League final. While this season hasn’t matched that historic high, with Bayern Munich closing in on reclaiming the league crown, Alonso remains focused on ending the campaign strongly. “It’s still the second-best season in the club’s history and we want to continue pursuing this goal,” he said. Leverkusen face a tough test on Sunday against Freiburg, who currently sit fourth and are pushing for a Champions League place.“This battle is very exciting to watch at the moment. In the remaining three games, we only have Freiburg, (Borussia) Dortmund and Mainz as opponents who are fighting for European spots. They will be intense games for us again.” However, Leverkusen may have to do without striker Victor Boniface, who has contributed 11 goals in all competitions this season. “He felt something in his thigh muscles yesterday and didn’t train today,” Alonso revealed. “We’ll see if he’s available for Sunday.”

Read More »

Marseille and Lille Battle to Stalemate in Top-Four Ligue 1 Clash

Marseille and Lille played out a tense draw at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy. The result lifting Lille to second place in Ligue 1 and halting a four-game losing streak on the road. With just two points separating five sides in the race for UEFA Champions League qualification, this encounter carried high stakes for both teams. Perhaps aware of what was on the line, each side approached the first half with caution. Their approach resulted in a largely uneventful opening period. Marseille created the best chance of the half when Mason Greenwood threaded an incisive pass through to Michael Amir Murillo. Overall, the first half offered little attacking flair, with only two shots on target both for the visitors.

Read More »

Leeds Chairman Confirms Farke Will Lead Club in Premier League

Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe has confirmed that manager Daniel Farke will remain in charge next season. This puts an end to speculation over the German’s future following the club’s return to the Premier League. Despite leading Leeds to promotion in April, Farke’s position came under scrutiny. Concerns reportedly stemming from his previous struggles in the top flight caused eyebrow raises . Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers was among the names linked to the Elland Road role. However, following Leeds’ 2-1 victory at Plymouth on Saturday, which secured the Championship title, Marathe gave his full backing to Farke. “I have ended the speculation. He is my man,” Marathe told BBC Radio Leeds.“I want to tell you all, I’m very excited to run it back with Daniel.I’m really excited about collaborating with Daniel. Together, we are going to build the best squad we can with every penny we’re allowed to spend to compete in the Premier League.” Leeds edged out Burnley for the title thanks to a superior goal difference, with both sides finishing on 100 points. The triumph capped a dramatic season turnaround, particularly after a shaky patch last month during which Leeds won just one of six games. Marathe praised Farke’s influence during that difficult period.He called the German coach “such a calming force”, instrumental in steadying the club during the tense run-in. Addressing the club’s decision not to publicly back Farke earlier, Marathe explained:“He has that conviction and belief and I told him privately that I was looking forward to moving forward together but I didn’t feel like it was my time to speak because someone wanted to put out a rumour.”

Read More »

Juventus Share the Spoils with Bologna as Top-Four Race Tightens

Juventus and Bologna played out a 1-1 draw at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on Sunday evening. They earned their fifth straight head-to-head stalemate as both sides remained locked in a tense battle for Champions League qualification. The result also extended Juve’s remarkable unbeaten run in this fixture to 28 matches. Despite the turbulent season that saw manager Thiago Motta dismissed in March, Juventus are still very much in the hunt for a top-four finish. Andrea Cambiaso broke down the flank before squaring to Khéphren Thuram, before fired a low shot from distance that beat Łukasz Skorupski. Bologna looked to respond quickly, showing intent but struggling to truly test Juve keeper Michele Di Gregorio. Their best chance of the first half came when Riccardo Orsolini’s curling corner forced a smart save, and Sam Beukema later headed over from a set-piece. Juventus thought they had a second before the break when Nicolás González slotted home after breaking through on goal.Cambiaso also found the net early in the second half but again VAR intervened to rule it out for offside. Bologna made their moment count in the 54th minute. A cross to the back post from Nicolò Cambiaghi found Thijs Dallinga, who directed it to Remo Freuler. The midfielder fired home with the help of a deflection to draw the hosts level. González came close to restoring Juve’s lead shortly after, but Skorupski smothered his effort. The visitors continued to push late on, including a frantic scramble in the box where Alberto Costa saw his shot cleared off the line, but they couldn’t find a winner. The point sees Juventus climb back into the top four, nudging past Roma, while Bologna stay just one point behind. The result also preserves Bologna’s unbeaten home run which now stands at 10 league games.

Read More »

Brentford Come from Behind to Edge Man Utd in Seven-Goal Thriller

Manchester United’s dismal Premier League form continued as they fell to a chaotic defeat to Brentford. The loss extended their winless streak to six matches. For the hosts, the dramatic win propelled them into the top half of the table. It also stretched their unbeaten run to five league games. Kevin Schade could have scored twice for Brentford in the opening few minutes. irst narrowly missing with Altay Bayındır  out of position, then sliding in at the back post only to see his effort drift just wide. Despite Brentford’s early dominance, it was United who struck first. The visitors then took the lead with what was their only shot of the first half. That lead didn’t last, however. Brentford’s growing pressure yielded results before half-time when Mikkel Damsgaard’s strike deflected in off the unfortunate Luke Shaw after Michael Kayode’s long throw caused chaos. The Bees’ momentum carried over into the second half. Brentford’s mounting pressure told when Schade headed in his second of the match. Manchester United attempted a late comeback in the closing stages. United managed to make things nervy late on as Garnacho brilliantly curled into the top corner from outside the box. before substitute Amad Diallo’s shot went through Mark Flekken’s legs. But it proved too little, too late as Brentford held firm to record only their second victory in 13 head-to-head meetings with United. The Red Devils, meanwhile, have now won just three of their last 22 trips to London.

Read More »
amorim target bayern munich midfielder in major january transfer

Ruben Amorim Concedes Manchester United Must Change

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim acknowledged the urgent need for change. He said this after a chaotic defeat to Brentford on Sunday. Kevin Schade netted twice at the Gtech Community Stadium, handing United their sixth consecutive Premier League match without a win. Amorim rotated heavily from the side that convincingly beat Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in Thursday’s Europa League semi-final second leg, opting to rest several key players. The result was a youthful starting XI with an average age of just 22 years and 270 days. However, the inexperience showed as United slumped to their 12th league defeat in just 24 games under Amorim. Since taking the reins from Erik ten Hag in November, Amorim has struggled to turn the tide at United. The Red Devils now sit a lowly 15th in the table. Amorim, who has not shied away from publicly criticizing his players this season, admitted that significant changes are necessary. “It was a reflection of our season. We started well and controlled well, we suffered with the set pieces and throw-ins so we knew we would struggle against them,” Amorim said. “The players have to understand we cannot do this anymore, we know the context of the season and we need to change that.” With just a handful of matches remaining, United’s prospects of salvaging something from the season look increasingly bleak.

Read More »

Chelsea Take Down Liverpool to Continue Champions League Chase

Chelsea strengthened their push for a Premier League top five finish with victory Liverpool. The win sees the Blues extend their strong run of just one defeat in their last nine league outings. Liverpool, had little more than pride at stake in west London. Manager Arne Slot rotated heavily making six changes to the side that beat Spurs. Chelsea came into the match fully focused on Champions League qualification and their urgency was evident from the start. Just three minutes in, the hosts broke the deadlock with a goal. The victory moves Chelsea three points ahead of Nottingham Forest. It also sets up a pivotal clash with top-four contenders Newcastle United. For Liverpool, the result had no bearing on their title-winning season, but the defeat will still sting. They now turn their attention to the final two games before a well earned championship parade.

Read More »

Football Prediction Today: Lille vs Marseille

Lille will host Marseille at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Sunday in a crucial Ligue 1 clash. The visitors sit in second place, but their two-point lead over Lille is slim. Read our preview for the Lille vs Marseille game.This match could have significant implications for both teams’ hopes of securing a direct spot in the UEFA Champions League group stage next season. Matchplug provides the odds and in-depth preview for this key Ligue 1 showdown. Betting Preview for Lille vs Marseille Betting On Lille Lille is in excellent form, having won four of their last five Ligue 1 games. Their attack has been sharp, scoring nine goals during this run. At home, they have been dominant, winning five of their last six meetings with Marseille at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy. They’ve also lost just one of their last 13 Ligue 1 home games. Betting On Marseille Marseille has been solid in recent matches, with a 4-1 victory over Brest in their last outing. Amine Gouiri’s hat-trick was the highlight of the match, but Marseille’s away form has been a concern, with five losses in their last six road games. They have been struggling to replicate their strong home form on the road, which will make this clash tricky for them. MatchPlug Prediction For Lille vs Marseille Lille has been impressive at home and enjoys a strong record in this fixture, winning five of the last six meetings against Marseille at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy. Marseille’s recent struggles on the road and their injury concerns only add to Lille’s chances in this encounter. Our prediction for Sunday’s clash is a narrow Lille win. Final Prediction: Lille to win.

Read More »

Football Prediction Today: Bologna vs Juventus

Bologna welcome Juventus to the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on Sunday in a clash that could shape the Serie A top-four race. Read our preview for the Bologna vs Juventus. With just one point separating the two sides, both teams are chasing UEFA Champions League qualification as the season enters its final stretch. Matchplug provides the odds and in-depth preview for this pivotal Serie A encounter. Betting Preview for Bologna vs Juventus Betting On Bologna Bologna dropped behind Juventus after a 1-1 draw with Udinese but remain firmly in contention for a top-four finish. Thiago Motta’s men are unbeaten in their last three games and have won seven of their last eight at home, scoring 19 times in that stretch. Their solid defense has produced two clean sheets in their last three outings. Betting On Juventus Juventus returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Monza, despite being reduced to 10 men. Prior to that, they suffered a shock 2-1 loss to Parma and continue to struggle for consistency. Their away form is a concern, with no wins in their last three Serie A road games, including two defeats. MatchPlug Prediction For Bologna vs Juventus Bologna are strong at home and playing with purpose as they chase a top-four finish. Juventus, meanwhile, have stumbled on the road and are missing several key players. Our prediction for Sunday’s clash is a closely contested draw that leaves the Champions League race wide open. Final Prediction: Draw.

Read More »
football predictions today: liverpool vs chelsea

Football Prediction Today: Chelsea vs Liverpool

Chelsea will host Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Sunday for a crucial Premier League encounter. Read our preview for Chelsea vs Liverpool game. The Blues are currently in the race for a top-four finish and a direct spot in the UEFA Champions League next season. Match plug provides the odds and in-depth preview for this exciting Premier League clash.Before locking in your picks, read Matchplug’s preview, odds, and prediction. Betting Preview for Chelsea vs Liverpool Betting On Chelsea Chelsea has been strong at home in 2025, winning six out of their eight home games. They have shown resilience in recent matches, including a 1-0 win over Everton last week. However, they have struggled against Liverpool in recent home encounters, failing to win their last seven meetings at Stamford Bridge. Betting On Liverpool Liverpool heads into this match with strong form, winning their last three matches. Their attack has been firing on all cylinders, and they have dominated recent encounters with Chelsea. With fewer injury concerns than the Blues, Liverpool is in a good position to extend their winning streak. Joe Gomez is the only confirmed absentee, while Conor Bradley remains a doubt. Their recent record against Chelsea makes them strong favorites for this clash. MatchPlug Prediction For Chelsea vs Liverpool Chelsea will have the home advantage, but their poor recent record against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge is a significant concern. With key injuries and the strain of a busy schedule, the Blues could struggle to keep up with the Reds, who are in excellent form. Our prediction for Sunday’s clash is a comfortable Liverpool win. Final Prediction: Liverpool

Read More »
Hledáte způsoby, jak lépe pečovat o svou zahradu a vytvářet z ní úrodné prostředí? Jestliže chcete vědět o nových metodách pěstování plodin, péči o rostliny a výhodách používání přírodních hnojiv, může vás zajímat náš článek o fermerských praktikách a lifestylových tipů pro zahrádkáře. Klikněte zde pro další informace. Velké a sladké tajemství dokonalého krmení: Mrkev na jaře Jak zjistit a odstranit nedostatek železa u růží Zdravé stravování je důležité pro každého z nás. Pokud máte rádi čerstvé ovoce a zeleninu, určitě oceníte výhody vlastní zahrady. V našem článku o férmasrtví a zahradničení najdete užitečné tipy a triky, jak si vytvořit vlastní zahrádku plnou nádherných plodů. Sledujte náš článek a naučte se, jak pěstovat některé z nejoblíbenějších plodin s minimálním úsilím. Můžete si přečíst článek zde.