Tag: Bundesliga

  • Borussia Dortmund’s Felix Nmecha Faces Lengthy Absence Due to Hip Injury

    Borussia Dortmund’s Felix Nmecha Faces Lengthy Absence Due to Hip Injury

    By Milcah Tanimu

    Borussia Dortmund’s midfielder, Felix Nmecha, will be sidelined until 2024 due to a hip injury, as confirmed by coach Edin Terzic. Terzic stated, “Felix Nmecha will not be available for the rest of the calendar year due to a hip injury. It’s a complicated part of the body, and we need to give him a break.”

    Nmecha, who joined Dortmund from Wolfsburg in the summer for a transfer fee of 30 million euros ($32.7 million), scored a crucial goal in Dortmund’s Champions League victory over Newcastle in October. Born in Hamburg, Nmecha, along with his brother Lukas, progressed through the Manchester City academy before representing Germany.

    Dortmund, currently fifth in the Bundesliga, faces challenges with Nmecha’s absence following recent defeats to Bayern Munich and Stuttgart. They aim to bounce back in their upcoming match against Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday. Terzic expressed the team’s determination to improve and show a better performance in the upcoming fixture.

  • Jude Bellingham explains the reason behind his decision to wear Zidane’s No. 5 shirt

    Jude Bellingham explains the reason behind his decision to wear Zidane’s No. 5 shirt

    During his official presentation in the Spanish capital on Thursday, Jude Bellingham, the newly signed player for Real Madrid, expressed his desire to honor the legendary Zinedine Zidane by donning the number five shirt.

    The 19-year-old England international completed his transfer from Borussia Dortmund to Madrid on Wednesday, securing a six-year contract for a fee of 103 million euros ($112 million), with the potential for an additional 30 percent in bonuses.During the press conference, Jude Bellingham, joined by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, shed light on his decision to choose the number five shirt.

    Bellingham, who has predominantly worn the number 22 throughout his career, explained that the number is significant to him as it represents the sum of shirt numbers 10, 8, and 4. This combination symbolizes his versatility in midfield and wide-ranging skill set.

    It is worth noting that the number 22 is currently worn by defender Antonio Rudiger, hence Bellingham’s decision to opt for a different number at Real Madrid.Jude Bellingham, speaking at a news conference, reiterated his admiration for Zinedine Zidane and the impact he had at Real Madrid. He expressed his intention to pay homage to the legendary player by wearing the number five shirt.

    “I’ve mentioned in several interviews how much I admire Zinedine Zidane and the legacy he has at this club with this number. I’m just being myself, Jude, but it’s certainly a way of honoring his greatness,” Bellingham stated.“The number 22 has a big meaning for me, and in my heart I’m still number 22, just with the number 5 on my back.”

    Bellingham said wearing Zidane’s previous shirt did not mean he was trying to emulate the French midfield maestro, who went on to win three Champions Leagues as Real Madrid’s manager.

    “The (Madrid) shirt itself is enough pressure … for me it’s a bit of homage to a great player,” said Bellingham.

    “Maybe I can extend the legacy of the number, instead of trying to reach his.”

    Bellingham has plenty of other reference points still at the club to learn from, including veteran midfielders Luka Modric and Toni Kroos.
    “The things I’ll gain especially from the two older lads, Modric and Kroos, will be unbelievable, with their knowledge of the game,” said Bellingham.

    “I’ll be like a sponge around them, trying to steal anything they’ve got. They’ll probably get annoyed with me.”

    – ‘Goosebumps’ –
    The England international, who shone at the Qatar World Cup last winter, broke through as a 16-year-old at Birmingham City, who retired his shirt number after he moved to Dortmund in 2020 for 25 million euros.

    Bellingham said he had other options on the table but quickly decided Real Madrid was his best option.

    He said he wanted to stay out of his comfort zone, even though a return to England would have been an easy choice to make.“I’d always been aware of the interest from England, that’s pretty normal, but it was a bit of a surprise when my dad sat me down and told me, 12 to 15 months ago that you’ve had a bit of interest from Real Madrid,” said the midfielder.

    “I had goosebumps, my heart was close to stopping. When that manifests itself it’s such an amazing feeling.”

    Bellingham, who turns 20 in June, was named the player of the season in the Bundesliga as he led Dortmund to the verge of the title, although they were pipped by giants Bayern Munich on the final day of the season.

    The player said both learning and winning trophies was his aim at Real Madrid, and brushed off questions about his large transfer fee.

    “It doesn’t matter how much you come here for, the objective is the same, to help Real Madrid win trophies and keep being the biggest club in the world,” said Bellingham.“I’m a footballer, not a lawyer or an accountant, my job is to play on the pitch.”

  • Kimmich gets Munich contract extension until 2025

    Kimmich gets Munich contract extension until 2025

    Bundesliga champions FC Bayern Munich have renewed the contract of key midfielder Joshua Kimmich by two years until 2025.

    Kimmich, 26, joined Munich in 2015 from RB Leipzig and has become a team leader there and in the national team over the past years. He has won every club title with Munich.

    “The most important reason for my contract extension is that I can pursue my passion with joy every day here at FC Bayern.

    “I have a team where I can achieve everything.

    “I still don’t think I’m at the end of my development and I’m convinced there’s a lot possible at FC Bayern in the next years,” Kimmich said in a club statement.

    Bayern board member for sport, Hasan Salihamidzic, spoke of a “strong signal, both internally and externally.”

    Munich president Herbert Hainer said: “He’s developed into a top international player with us, and it’s important to us to keep players of this quality in our team for the long term.

    “With him, FC Bayern have the best chances of achieving great and ambitious goals again in the future.”

  • Bundesliga: Awoniyi scores classy header in Union Berlin stalemate at Stuttgart

    Bundesliga: Awoniyi scores classy header in Union Berlin stalemate at Stuttgart

    Taiwo Awoniyi found the net as Union Berlin played out a 2-2 draw with VfB Stuttgart in Tuesday’s Bundesliga outing.

    The Iron Ones seem to be heading for a famous away win at the Mercedes-Benz Arena, but the hosts clawed back in the closing stages of the game to ensure the points were shared.

    Still fresh from Saturday’s 1-1 draw versus reigning European champions Bayern Munich, Urs Fischer’s side got off to a flying start against red-hot Stuttgart by taking a fourth-minute lead.

    Following a harsh tackle from Konstantinos Mavropanos on a Union Berlin player that attracted a caution from referee Sascha Stegemann, the visitors were awarded a free-kick which was taken by Christopher Trimmel and headed home by Marvin Friedrich.

    Stuttgart came out stronger after the deficit, however, their major undoing was their failure to convert the goalscoring opportunities that they created.

    However, their chances of picking all maximum points suffered a massive setback as Awoniyi put the visitors two goals ahead.

    Left unmarked in the hosts’ goal area, the on-loan Liverpool forward scored from a difficult position as he leaped high to connect with a cross from Christopher Lenz to send the ball sailing inside the right of Gregor Kobel’s post.

    With Pellegrino Matarazzo’s team looking dead and buried, they produced an unanticipated comeback.

    Sasa Kalajdzic reduced the deficit for the hosts in the 85th minute – five minutes after replacing Marc-Oliver Kempf. The Austrian striker headed Philipp Klement’s corner-kick past goalkeeper Andreas Luthe.

    The comeback was complete in the closing stages with Kalajdzic completing his double with a cool finish as Union Berlin’s defenders fumbled Daniel Didavi’s cross.

    Awoniyi was in action from start to finish for his side whereas his compatriot Anthony Ujah was not selected for the encounter.

    For the hosts, DR Congo forward Silas Wamangituka saw every minute of action while Guinea striker Momo Cisse did not make manager Matarazzo’s cut for the tie.

    The outcome of this game means that Stuttgart occupy the seventh spot in the Bundesliga after garnering 18 points from 12 outing in the 2020-21 campaign, while Union Berlin are sixth with the same number of points although with a superior goal difference.

  • Akpoguma vs Awoniyi, as Hoffenheim Host Union Berlin In Bundesliga Matchday-6 Tie

    Akpoguma vs Awoniyi, as Hoffenheim Host Union Berlin In Bundesliga Matchday-6 Tie

    Super Eagles new boy, Kevin Akpoguma is set to clash with his compatriot, Taiwo Awoniyi, as TSG 1899 Hoffeinhem host Union Berlin in a Bundesliga matchday-6 game tonight at the PreZero Arena..

    Defence star, Akpoguma saw 90 minutes of action as Hoffeinheim played out a 1-1 draw with Werder Bremen last weekend while forward Awoniyi starred for 20 minutes as Freiburg held Union Berlin to a 1-1 draw also last weekend.

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    Akpoguma, 25, has been a mainstay in the heart of Hoffeinheim defence, having made five appearances this season while Awoniyi, 23, is on loan at Union Berlin from Liverpool and has made three appearances for the club.

    Interestingly, both Akpoguma and Awoniyi are former youth internationals with the former starring for Germany while the latter starred for Nigeria. However, Akpoguma have now switched his full international allegiance to Nigeria.

    All that will be placed aside when both players clash tonight in a defender vs attacker affair, and 90 minutes will decide who comes out tops between the two Nigerians.

    Going into this outstanding Bundesliga fixtures, one point separate the two teams with Hoffeiheim sitting 10th in the Bundesliga table with seven points, while Union Berlin are 12th with 6 points.

    Hoffenheim will on Thursday, November 5, host Czech side FC Slovan Liberec in matchday-3 of the 2020/21 Europa League. The currently top Group L table after winning their first two games.

  • Borussia Dortmund set to host 10,000 fans in their Bundesliga opening match

    Covid-19: Borussia Dortmund set to host 10,000 fans in their Bundesliga opening match

    German football giants, Borussia Dortmund have announced it will be hosting a crowd of 10,000 people during Saturday’s opening Bundesliga clash at Signal Iduna Park.

    The move comes after Bundesliga clubs were permitted by the German government to allow fans to return to stadiums for the start of the 2020-21 season in Germany amid the coronavirus pandemic.

    Borussia Dortmund’s season-opening Bundesliga fixture at home to Borussia Monchengladbach will now be played in front of 10,000 supporters, as the new government rule states that up to 20 per cent of stadium capacity can be used, while strict hygiene requirements will be imposed, and alcohol banned.

    Away fans will not be allowed to attend, though a game would be forced back behind closed doors if the infection rate in the home city is too high over a seven-day period.

    The 2019-20 campaign resumed behind closed doors in May due to Covid-19, which forced the league to be postponed in March.

    Covid-19: Borussia Dortmund set to host 10,000 fans in their Bundesliga opening match

    During the match, only Dortmund or North Rhine-Westphalia residents will be granted access.

    “The Bundesliga teams, but also the clubs and associations of other sports, can be very happy today, and we definitely have this feeling at BVB,” said Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke in a statement.

    “I would like to thank everyone in politics who contributed to today’s decision in the past few weeks. At the same time, I feel a great obligation that we as clubs, together with the fans involved, will handle this probationary period extremely responsibly in the coming weeks. The now approved partial re-admission of viewers is in any case a very important step for all football fans in Germany. “

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