LEVERKUSEN, Germany: Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday became the first team in Bundesliga history to go through an entire season unbeaten after a 2-1 home win against Augsburg extended their undefeated streak in all competitions to 51 games.
Crowned champions for the first time in April, goals from Victor Boniface and Robert Andrich put Leverkusen — who play the Europa League final against Atalanta and the German Cup final this week — on course for victory.
“Totally deserved. It was our goal after winning the title against Bremen. Very proud of the team — very satisfied and very happy,” said Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso.
“We can enjoy it just a little bit — and recover tomorrow.”
Elsewhere on the final day of the league campaign, Cologne were relegated after a 4-1 loss at Heidenheim.
Union Berlin scored in stoppage time against Freiburg to win 2-1 and beat the drop, leapfrogging Bochum who will play a two-legged relegation play-off against second-division Fortuna Duesseldorf after losing 4-1 at Werder Bremen.
Leverkusen took the lead after 12 minutes when Amine Adli forced Augsburg goalkeeper Tomas Koubek into an error, winning possession before squaring for Boniface to tap in from close range.
Midfield star Andrich doubled Leverkusen’s lead, backheeling in a rebound after 27 minutes.
Augsburg teenager Mert Komor pulled one back on his first start for the visitors with a stunning strike on the 62nd-minute mark, but Leverkusen held on to win ahead of what could be a historic week.
At the other end of the table, Union — who were playing in the Champions League against the likes of Real Madrid as recently as December — were locked 1-1 at home to Freiburg in stoppage time and headed for a relegation playoff clash with Duesseldorf.
Union had been reduced to 10 men when Michael Gspurning was red carded with four minutes remaining but won a penalty just into stoppage time.
Kevin Volland missed the spotkick but Janik Haberer was there to turn in the rebound and save Berlin.
Bochum, who looked to have secured top-division football with a 4-3 win at Union Berlin two weeks ago, will now need to beat Duesseldorf in a home and away playoff.
The loser will join relegated Cologne and Darmstadt in the second division.
Serhou Guirassy scored a brace as Stuttgart won 4-0 at home against Borussia Moenchengladbach, leapfrogging Bayern Munich, who lost 4-2 to a Andrej Kramaric-inspired Hoffenheim, into second spot.
Despite being without the injured Harry Kane, Bayern were 2-0 up after just six minutes thanks to goals from Mathys Tel and Alphonso Davies.
Maximilian Beier, selected as part of Germany’s Euros squad on Thursday, cut the deficit two minutes later, capitalizing on an error by goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to make it 2-1.
Kramaric then scored three goals in 20 minutes to turn the match on its head.
Bayern finished outside the top two for the first time since 2010-11.
“We made a series of a large, individual mistakes and gave the game away. We brought the opponent into the game, defended absolutely inadequately and gave up a 2-0 lead,” outgoing manager Thomas Tuchel said.
“This has happened to us far too often.”
Borussia Dortmund veteran Marco Reus signed off in impressive style in his last home match, scoring a goal and laying on another in a 4-0 win over Darmstadt.
In Dortmund’s last competitive outing before June’s Champions League final with Real Madrid at Wembley, Reus set up Ian Maatsen for the opener after 30 minutes, then added one of his own from a free kick eight minutes later.
Julian Brandt and Donyell Malen added second-half goals to seal the win.
Eintracht Frankfurt came from two goals down to draw 2-2 at home with RB Leipzig, while Mainz came from behind to win 3-1 at Wolfsburg.
Leverkusen become first team to complete Bundesliga season unbeaten
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Leverkusen become first team to complete Bundesliga season unbeaten
- Cologne were relegated after a 4-1 loss at Heidenheim
- Union Berlin scored in stoppage time against Freiburg to win 2-1 and beat the drop
Messi’s Argentina could move a step nearer World Cup spot by beating Peru
- Victory would give defending champions Argentina 25 points from 12 matches
- Brazil and Uruguay will meet in Salvador, and both coaches expect to finish the year better than they started
RIO DE JANEIRO: Lionel Messi’s Argentina will be on the verge of confirming a 2026 World Cup spot if they beat Peru in Buenos Aires in South American qualifying on Tuesday.
Victory would give defending champions Argentina 25 points from 12 matches, historically good enough for at least sixth place in the 10-team standings. South America have six entries into the World Cup.
But Argentina will be without five injured players after losing to Paraguay 2-1 last Thursday when they host Peru, who are second to last.
Meanwhile, Brazil and Uruguay will meet in Salvador, and both coaches expect to finish the year better than they started.
Dorival Junior, in charge of Brazil since January and still struggling to convince fans he’s the right choice, could move to second place with a win.
Marcelo Bielsa, who was recently under fire by Uruguay great Luis Suarez, will seek to add at least one point to the team’s tally to prove Friday’s last minute 3-2 victory against Colombia was no fluke.
Uruguay and Colombia are three points behind Argentina. Brazil are fourth. Ecuador are a point behind in fifth.
Argentina’s defense
Argentina left behind defenders Lisandro Martinez and German Pezzella when they traveled to Paraguay. Another three were injured out of the home match against Peru: Cristian Romero, Nahuel Molina and Nicolas Tagliafico. The trio started against Paraguay.
Argentina left a poor image against Paraguay in Asuncion from their third loss in qualifying. Veteran Messi had a quiet performance, and strikers Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez were no better. Observers wondered whether the team’s magic was running out.
“I don’t know whether (rival coaches) they found an antidote (to Argentina),” coach Luis Scaloni said. “We hope to go back on a positive patch.”
Scalopni is expected to field Gonzalo Montiel in Molina’s place; Leonardo Balerdi in Romero’s; and Facundo Medina replacing Tagliafico.
Derby
Brazil summoned right back Danilo in the only change to the team that drew with Venezuela 1-1 on Thursday. Danilo replaced Vanderson, who was suspended. Dorival Junior was already under pressure to bring in the experienced right back and avoid testing too many new players.
Brazil’s unimpressive form this year has caused many fans to openly say they won’t be watching the national team until performances improve. But that narrative has prompted a plea from captain Marquinhos.
“I am asking you not to abandon the national team. Don’t leave us, no,” he said in a news conference. “This is my third cycle here, I can say 100 percent sure that everyone here has pride, faith and hope. And dignity. We are living this moment as if it was the last in our life. Unique.”
Brazil have lost four matches in qualifying and won some others in unconvincing fashion. Plus, their biggest available star, Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior, has so far not delivered a good performance.
Uruguay’s Nahitan Nández and Santiago Bueno are not playing in Salvador but Bielsa has yet to say who will replace them.
Many Uruguay players also need to be extra careful on Tuesday so they don’t miss the following clash against Argentina in March. Manuel Ugarte, Jose Maria Gimenez, Brian Rodriguez, Darwin Nuñez, Nicolas Fonseca, Rodrigo Bentancur and Rodrigo Aguirre will be out if they get a second yellow.
Holders Spain strike late to beat Switzerland in Nations League
TENERIFE, Spain: Bryan Zaragoza won and converted a late penalty to help Euro 2024 winners Spain beat Switzerland 3-2 in a Nations League dead rubber on Monday.
The Nations League holders, already guaranteed top spot in Group A4, twice took the lead but were pegged back by the already-relegated Swiss in Tenerife.
It was the first Spain match on the island in 28 years and fans were able to celebrate a win after Bayern Munich winger Zaragoza’s late spot-kick settled the game.
Coach Luis de la Fuente changed his whole line-up from the win over Denmark on Friday, handing Athletic Bilbao center-back Aitor Paredes his debut in defense.
Yeremi Pino, a Canary Islander, sent Spain ahead on home territory after 32 minutes after Pedri’s penalty was saved.
Captain Alvaro Morata won the penalty and handed Pedri, born in Tenerife, the ball to take the spot kick, but Yvon Mvogo saved the Barcelona midfielder’s effort.
“Here at home with a goal, the win... I can’t ask for more,” Pino told TVE.
“It was a very special game... full marks to the fans.”
De la Fuente sent on another Spain debutant at half-time in Porto striker Samu Aghehowa.
Joel Monteiro levelled for Switzerland but a few minutes later Bryan Gil stole the ball back to restore Spain’s lead.
Andi Zeqiri fired home from the spot after a foul by Fabian Ruiz in the 85th minute but Zaragoza ensured Spain could finish a spectacular year on a high.
The winger, on loan at Osasuna from Bayern, burst into the box and was brought crashing down by Vincent Sierro.
Zaragoza clinically dispatched the resulting penalty to spark jubilant celebrations in Tenerife.
Tottenham midfielder Bentancur banned 7 games, fined $126,000 for offensive comment on South Koreans
Tottenham midfielder Bentancur banned 7 games, fined $126,000 for offensive comment on South Koreans
- The English Football Association also ordered Bentancur to attend a ‘face-to-face education program’
LONDON: Uruguay midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur was banned for seven matches on Monday for making an offensive comment about South Koreans in relation to a remark about Tottenham teammate Son Heung-min.
The English Football Association said in a statement that an independent commission also imposed a £100,000 ($126,000) fine on the player. The sanction can be appealed.
The suspension only covers domestic matches, meaning that the 27-year-old Bentancur will be available to play for his London club in the Europa League. Spurs take on Roma in the league phase of the tournament on Nov. 28.
Appearing on a Uruguayan television show in June, Bentancur was asked for a Tottenham player’s jersey and replied, “Sonny’s?” He added it could be Son’s cousin, too, because “more or less they are all the same.”
Bentancur later apologized to Son on Instagram, saying it was a “very bad joke” and he would “never disrespect you or hurt you.”
Son accepted the excuses, saying that his teammate had made a mistake and “would not mean to ever intentionally say something offensive.”
“We are brothers and nothing has changed at all,” Son said in June. "We’re past this, we’re united, and we will be back together in preseason to fight for our club as one.”
Bentancur was charged by the English FA in September because he was alleged to have “acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words and/or brought the game into disrepute.”
The FA said it constituted an aggravated breach because it included “reference to nationality and/or race and/or ethnic origin.”
The FA also ordered Bentancur to attend a “face-to-face education program”, details of which will be provided later. The course should be completed by March 11 next year.
“If the player fails to complete the program satisfactorily in that period, he will be immediately suspended from all domestic club football until such time as the mandatory program is completed,” the FA said.
Tottenham and Bentancur did not immediately react to the punishment.
Harry Kane sparks England rout against Ireland and Nations League promotion
- England won their group on goal difference ahead of second-placed Greece, who beat Finland 2-0
- After five wins from six games, Carsley will now return to his permanent role as head coach of England’s under 21s
- Erling Haaland leads the Nations League scoring charts after hitting a hat trick in Norway’s 5-0 win against Kazakhastan in Group B3
LONDON: Harry Kane’s 69th international goal sparked a second-half scoring spree that fired England back to the top tier of the UEFA Nations League on Sunday.
In temporary head coach Lee Carsley’s final game in charge, a 5-0 win against Ireland secured promotion and ensured England will be back among Europe’s leading nations in the next edition of the competition.
“I wanted the England team to be exciting to watch and attacking,” Carsley said. “I see them do it day in, day out on the training ground. And now we’ve seen it (on the field).”
England won their group on goal difference ahead of second-placed Greece, who beat Finland 2-0.
Kane’s 53rd-minute penalty at Wembley was a record-extending goal for his country after Liam Scales brought down Jude Bellingham in the box and was sent off for a second yellow card offense.
Within five minutes England were 3-0 up through Anthony Gordon in the 55th and Conor Gallagher in the 58th.
Substitute Jarrod Bowen made an immediate impact, scoring with his first touch in the 75th and Taylor Harwood-Bellis, making his debut, headed in another four minutes later.
“A really important win for us,” Kane said. “It was a tough first half, but we came out second half with a lot more energy and we finished it off.”
England, who are set to welcome new head coach Thomas Tuchel in January, needed to match Greece’s result to top Group B2.
Anastasios Bakasetas had put Greece ahead in the 52nd in Finland, with Kane’s England opener coming a minute later.
Christos Tzolis scored the second for Greece, which faces a playoff to try to win promotion.
After five wins from six games, Carsley will now return to his permanent role as head coach of England’s under 21s. Tuchel begins in January and will lead the campaign to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
He should have plenty of options when he selects his first squad after Carsley handed debuts to eight players during his short reign.
In his final game, Gordon, Gallagher, Bowen and Harwood-Bellis all scored their first senior goals for England.
“Lee has achieved the main objective from the six fixtures this autumn: securing promotion back to the top tier of the Nations League,” English Football Association CEO Mark Bullingham said. “The players have really enjoyed working with Lee and his team – they have made a real impact in their interim roles.”
Rabiot double
Adrien Rabiot scored two goals as France beat Italy 3-1 to win Group A2.
Both teams had already secured their places in the quarterfinals before the match in Milan, but France needed to win by at least two goals to take top spot.
“It’s been a while since we’ve played a match like that, fighting all together,” Rabiot told French television channel TF1. “The aggressiveness that we showed, our team spirit, that should all be highlighted. That is the real face of the France team.”
Rabiot headed the visitors in front just inside two minutes.
France shocked San Siro into silence in the 33rd when Lucas Digne curled in a magnificent free kick from 25 yards that went into the top left corner via the underside of the bar and Guglielmo Vicario. It went down as an own-goal from the Italy goalkeeper, who was a late replacement after Gianluigi Donnarumma fell ill with a stomach bug.
Italy pulled a goal back two minutes later when Andrea Cambiaso volleyed past Mike Maignan.
But Rabiot grabbed his second in the 65th with another header — the sixth goal in a row Italy has conceded from set plays.
While the match had started with the Italy fans booing the French anthem, it finished with France supporters proudly singing the same song in triumph.
It was the first time Italy had lost a home game by two or more goals since 1983, according to soccer statistician Opta.
Also in the group, No. 6-ranked Belgium fell to a surprise 1-0 loss against Israel, ranked 81st. Yarden Shua’s goal settled the game, which was held in Budapest, Hungary, in the 86th. Israel were relegated to League B despite the win.
Belgium must now face a playoff to try to avoid relegation.
Haaland hat trick
Erling Haaland leads the Nations League scoring charts after hitting a hat trick in Norway’s 5-0 win against Kazakhastan in Group B3.
The Manchester City striker took his total to seven goals and is two clear of Viktor Gyokeres, Cristiano Ronaldo and Benjamin Sesko, who are all tied on five.
Norway were promoted to the top tier, ahead of second-place Austria, who drew 1-1 with Slovenia.
Kosovo FA say they warned UEFA about possible provocation by Romania fans
- The match was initially suspended before being abandoned when the Kosovo team refused to return to the pitch
- UEFA had said it would communicate “further information in due course“
BUCHAREST: The Football Federation of Kosovo (FFK) said it had repeatedly warned European soccer’s governing body UEFA about potential provocation from Romania fans ahead of Friday’s Nations League match, which was abandoned when Kosovo’s players walked off.
The game in Bucharest was abandoned in stoppage time after the visiting players left the field with the score at 0-0 when they heard pro-Serbia chanting from the home fans.
The match was initially suspended before being abandoned when the Kosovo team refused to return to the pitch. UEFA had said it would communicate “further information in due course.”
“Cries such as ‘Kosovo is Serbia’ and ‘Serbia, Serbia’, whistling during the singing of the national anthem of Kosovo, throwing hard objects ... and other offensive and provocative actions were present throughout the match, creating an unacceptable atmosphere not safe for our players,” the FFK said in a statement.
“FFK had warned the relevant UEFA bodies more than twice in writing about the possibility of such actions, once a few days before the match and then a few minutes before it started.
“Despite these warnings, the Romanian fans continued with irresponsible and discriminatory behavior, forcing the Kosovo national team to leave the field due to the lack of safety and dignity.”
The FFK also alleged that a Romania official “threatened and assaulted” a Kosovo player in the corridors of the stadium.
“For all these serious violations, FFK has immediately reported the incidents to the match delegate and has started preparing a full complaint with facts and evidence that will be submitted to UEFA’s disciplinary bodies,” it added.
Reuters has contacted UEFA for comment.
The Romanian Football Federation was fined by UEFA last year over pro-Serbia chanting and the display of a banner reading “Kosovo is Serbia” by supporters during a Euro 2024 qualifier between the countries at the National Arena.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and has been recognized by more than 100 countries, but not Romania.
