Leverkusen suffer shock 2-0 home loss to Werder Bremen
LEVERKUSEN, Germany, March 8 (Reuters) - Bayer Leverkusen suffered a shock 2-0 home loss to Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga on Saturday to miss their chance to close in on leaders Bayern Munich.
The reigning champions, who lost 3-0 to Bayern Munich in their Champions League Round of 16 first leg on Wednesday, are on 53 points, with Bayern staying top on 61 despite their stunning 3-2 loss at home to VfL Bochum.
Visitors Werder, who had lost their previous five matches, took a surprise seventh-minute lead with Romano Schmid slotting in at the far post after a Leverkusen defensive error.
Aleix Garcia came agonisingly close to an equaliser for the hosts but his first-half stoppage time free kick bounced off the crossbar.
To make matters worse for Xabi Alonso's team, who host Bayern in the return leg on Tuesday, attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz suffered an ankle injury in the 54th minute and the Germany international had to be substituted.
Despite some late pressure but only a handful of chances, Leverkusen could not find the equaliser and it was Werder who scored again, in stoppage time with Justin Njinmah.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
3 minutes ago
- BBC News
'An absolute master, a wizard with the ball' - who is new City man Cherki?
Rayan Cherki is only the latest talent fresh off the Lyon production line, but he may be the best joined Lyon at the age of seven from AS Saint-Priest and, aged 16 years and 140 days, became their youngest goalscorer in January that, in November 2019, a Champions League debut came against Zenit, while he also helped France reach the quarter-finals of the European Under-21 Championships in has just enjoyed a breakout campaign in Ligue 1, providing 11 assists, 22 big chances - the most in the league - 13 through-balls and 48 successful dribbles.A return of 12 goals is by far the best of his short career, but it is his work and understanding of the game off the ball that has arguably improved the most this football expert Julien Laurens, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Euro Leagues podcast, said: "He has been incredible this season. Since he was 16 - even before that - the talent is there, left foot or right foot."A player at this level who takes corners with each foot depending on which side of the corner it is, to be an inswinger every time is just incredible."He is one of the greatest technicians in Europe right now."Of the 44 shots he took with his feet in Ligue 1 last season, 22 came with the left and 22 with the growing reputation was only enhanced by Thursday's stunning international debut on Thursday against Spain, when he sparked France's comeback from 5-1 Laurens certainly isn't Cherki's only legend Thierry Henry has previously said he has "never seen a player in history who dribbles as quickly as him", while Lyon's captain Alexandre Lacazette described him as "special".Cherki, also part of the France squad that finished runners-up at the 2024 Olympics, scored in both legs for Lyon against Manchester United in a Europa League quarter-final defeat in to BBC Sport in April about him, Lyon's former Arsenal player Ainsley Maitland-Niles said: "He is the best natural talent I've ever seen. An absolute master, a wizard with the ball."He is taking chances, assists and dragging us up the pitch by taking people on and nutmegging them - he is a genius."
Scottish Sun
10 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Man Utd on red alert with PSG ‘open to SELLING Champions League hero Gianluigi Donnarumma for bargain transfer fee'
United's biggest rivals are also interested in Donnarumma HE'S THE DON Man Utd on red alert with PSG 'open to SELLING Champions League hero Gianluigi Donnarumma for bargain transfer fee' MANCHESTER UNITED have been put on alert after hearing Paris Saint-Germain's bargain asking price for Gianluigi Donnarumma. The Red Devils are hunting for a new No.1 this summer as uncertainty continues around the future of current goalkeeper Andre Onana. 3 Manchester United have put PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma on their radar Credit: Getty 3 Onana joined the club in a £47.1m deal two years ago, but has endured a difficult time at Old Trafford, with reports suggesting the club are looking at replacing him. Man Utd have expressed interest in Donnarumma, 26, during his contract stand-off with the newly crowned Kings of Europe. Donnarumma, considered one of the best shot-stoppers in the world, has entered the final 12 months of his contract in the French capital. And now United's ears have perked after PSG set a €40m (£34m) asking price for Donnarumma, according to La Repubblica. READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS MIC SWAP Carrick takes up new offer alongside Man Utd icon O'Shea just days after Boro axe With no extension agreed and financial terms unresolved, the club are open to selling him this summer. PSG are keen for the Italy international to stay, but he has reportedly been underwhelmed by the club's proposals so far. United boss Ruben Amorim is keen to bring in a new first-choice stopper, with the chance to sign Donnarumma too good to turn down. As well as winning the treble this season, he was also player of the tournament as Italy won Euro 2020. England fans will remember him for his heroics in the final at Wembley, which saw him save THREE penalties as Italy won. Join SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plus in-depth coverage and exclusives from Old Trafford According to L'Equipe, the PSG goalkeeper has been vocal about the possibility of joining an English team during chats with his Italian team-mates. But Donnarumma has insisted he wants to stay at the Parc des Princes , despite reports. He said after Italy's 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Moldova: "My priority is to stay at PSG. Former Man Utd boss Louis van Gaal launches scathing attack on old side while heaping praise on bitter rivals "I don't think there will be problems with the negotiations." Donnarumma joined PSG five years ago from AC Milan on a free transfer, and has made 154 appearances in all competitions for the French champions. Manchester City are also interested in Donnarumma as they look for a long-term replacement for club legend Ederson, who turns 32 before the start of next season. United, meanwhile, have also been interested in Aston Villa keeper Emi Martinez.
Daily Mirror
15 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
When summer transfer window reopens as first deadline for Club World Cup passes
The 2025 summer transfer window has shut for six days because of the Club World Cup and Premier League rules, with deadline day also set for a minor change on September 1 The transfer window has shut. Fear not, though, it is only for six days. A short pause is a result of the Club World Cup, which kicks off in the early hours of Sunday morning, with the initial registration period - dating back to June 1 - allowing the clubs involved in the new tournament a chance to complete moves. That means Trent Alexander-Arnold is available for Real Madrid, with Liverpool earning £10m by allowing him to go a month before the end of his contract at Anfield, Liam Delap can play for Chelsea after arriving from Ipswich Town and Rayan Ait Nouri will feature for Manchester City following his signing from Wolves. Other teams have availed of the early start too with Liverpool completing a move for Jeremie Frimpong and Manchester United landing Matheus Cunha. But the reason for its closure is actually down to Premier League regulations which stipulate that the summer transfer window must open 'at midnight on the date 12 weeks prior to the date on which it is to conclude.' Which means moves can be registered again from midnight Monday until September 1. But there is one other twist - deadline day will come to an end at 7pm rather than the 11pm everyone has become accustomed to for several years. That is to spare club officials and agents from working into the early hours of the morning to complete late moves, submit deal sheets and the like. Chelsea and Manchester City are the Premier League's two representatives in the controversial Club World Cup, with City defender Manuel Akanji among those already airing grievances around having to participate in the competition. 'I have been a strong critic of this competition for some time now," Akanji said while on international duty with Switzerland last week. "We players would love to have some holidays, and some time for our bodies to rest,' But with a $1bn prize pool, meaning the eventual victors can take home the equivalent of winning the Champions League while playing fewer than half the games, has drawn clubs towards competing.
