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☆ Leipzig's Sesko uncomfortable with Haaland comparisons
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BERLIN, Sept 26 (Reuters) - New RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko is not comfortable being compared with Manchester City star striker Erling Haaland and while they have some things in common he says he has his own style. Haaland is already a treble winner with City after his first season there, while Sesko, who joined Leipzig this season, still needs to prove his worth on the big stage. He will get the chance next week when he will face off with Haaland in their Champions League group match. "If we do the same performance it could be possible but if it is not full power (against Bayern) then it will be hard," Sesko said. The Bavarians are chasing a record-extending 12th consecutive league crown but Leipzig could given them a run for their money, Sesko said.

Persons: Benjamin Sesko, Erling Haaland, Sesko, Christopher Nkunku, Dominik Szoboszlai, Andre Silva, Karolos Grohmann, Christian Schmollingr Organizations: Leipzig, Manchester City, Red Bull Salzburg, Bundesliga, City, Haaland, Champions League, League, Young Boys, France, Bayern Munich, Bayern, Thomson Locations: Slovenia, Germany, Munich, Leipzig

☆ Dortmund sign Bundesliga top scorer Fuellkrug on three-year deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Dortmund, who missed out on the Bundesliga title last season after dramatically slipping up on the final matchday, needed an 88th minute goal by Donyell Malen to beat Cologne 1-0 in their opener. Last week they managed only a 1-1 draw at VfL Bochum with their attack looking toothless for much of the game. Fuellkrug, who passed a medical late on Thursday, topped the scorer list last season with 16 goals, the same number as Christopher Nkunku. "Thanks to strong performances he has become a pillar in attack for the national team," said Dortmund sports director Sebastian Kehl. "I was extremely happy when the offer came because the step to this club was what I was wishing for," Fuellkrug said.

Persons: Niclas Fuellkrug, Patrik Stollarz, Donyell Malen, Christopher Nkunku, Sebastian Kehl, Fuellkrug, Karolos, John Stonestreet Organizations: Soccer Football, Bundesliga, Werder Bremen, FC Cologne, Rights, Borussia Dortmund, Germany, Dortmund, Cologne, VfL Bochum, League, Thomson Locations: Weser, Stadion, Bremen, Germany, Qatar

☆ Soccer-Bayern still a work in progress with Bundesliga season set to start
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Bavarians have won the last 11 consecutive league crowns but they needed a Borussia Dortmund slip-up on the final matchday last season to retain it. A 3-0 loss to RB Leipzig in the German Super Cup at home on Saturday left Tuchel, who took over from Julian Nagelsmann late last season, fuming. Kane's German debut, with a low-key substitute appearance in the second half of their Super Cup loss, did little to dampen Bayern fans' enthusiasm and expectations. Their Super Cup win over Bayern gave them an early shot of confidence but they will have to repeat it again on Saturday when they face ambitious Leverkusen in their season opener. "We can improve many things but this obviously did give us a push," said Leipzig coach Marco Rose of the win against Bayern.

Persons: Thomas Tuchel, Harry Kane, Kai Pfaffenbach, Robert Lewandowski, Tuchel, Julian Nagelsmann, Manuel Neuer, Kim Min, jae, Felix Nmecha, Marcel Sabitzer, Rami Bensebaini, Granit Xhaka, Victor Boniface, Jonas Hofmann, Christopher Nkunku, Konrad Laimer, Dominik Szoboszlai, Josko Gvardiol, Andre Silva, Marco Rose, Robin Gosens, Karolos, Robert Birsel Organizations: Soccer Football, DFL, Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig, Allianz Arena, REUTERS, Rights, Bundesliga, Werder Bremen, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern, Tottenham Hotspur, Borussia, Bayer Leverkusen, Germany, Leverkusen, Champions League, Thomson Locations: Munich, Germany, Barcelona, Napoli, Leipzig, Union Berlin

☆ Chelsea sign Ecuador's Caicedo from Brighton for British record fee
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Chelsea have broken the British transfer record for the second time in a year by signing Ecuador midfielder Moises Caicedo from Brighton & Hove Albion on an eight-year contract on Monday. Financial details were not disclosed but British media said Chelsea will pay 115 million pounds ($145.96 million), eclipsing the 106 million pounds record fee the London club paid to sign Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez from Benfica in January. Caicedo still had four years to run on his Brighton contract but had told the south-coast club he wished to leave. 'TOP MIDFIELDER'Caicedo signed for Brighton in February 2021 for a reported 4.5 million pounds and was loaned to Belgian club Beerschot in August that year. He made his Premier League debut in April last year and scored his first Brighton goal against Manchester United in May.

Persons: Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Caicedo, Juergen Klopp, Mauricio Pochettino, Todd Boehly, Moises, Tony Bloom, Roberto De Zerbi, Alexis Mac Allister, David Weir, Christopher Nkunku, Axel Disasi, Nicolas Jackson, Lesley Ugochukwu, Robert Sanchez, Angelo, Chelsea, Rohith Nair, Trevor Stynes, Ken Ferris Organizations: Chelsea, Brighton & Hove Albion, London, Benfica, Premier League, Brighton, Arsenal, Liverpool, Liverpool swooped, Clearlake Capital, Belgian, Beerschot, Manchester United, Argentina, West Ham United, Thomson Locations: Brighton, Argentina, Merseyside, London, Belgium

☆ Chelsea striker Nkunku sidelined after knee surgery
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Aug 8 (Reuters) - Chelsea's new signing Christopher Nkunku is set to be sidelined for an "extended period" after the French forward underwent surgery for a knee injury, the Premier League club said on Tuesday. The French forward went down clutching his leg after a challenge in the ninth minute of the 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund in a pre-season friendly in Chicago. Nkunku, who was signed for close to 60 million pounds ($76.32 million), came off midway through the first half in discomfort. "Nkunku has sustained a knee injury which will rule the forward out for an extended period," the club said in a statement. ($1 = 0.7862 pounds)Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Christian RadnedgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Christopher Nkunku, Nkunku, Mauricio Pochettino, Rohith Nair, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Premier League, Borussia Dortmund, London, RB Leipzig, Thomson Locations: French, Chicago, Bengaluru

☆ Summer transfer window: The biggest moves so far as Saudi Arabia becomes major factor
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —European soccer’s summer transfer window is in full swing, with several household names already moving to pastures new. Karim Benzema – Real Madrid to Al-IttihadIn the first major coup of the summer for the Saudi Pro League, Karim Benzema has agreed to join Al-Ittihad once his contract expires with Real Madrid. After a disappointing season, Real Madrid will be hopeful that Bellingham will be a star midfielder for years to come once the ageing Luka Modric and Toni Kroos depart. The 32-year-old midfielder has signed a contract worth around £86 million ($109.8 million) a year, according to UK media. Rice, who was in the youth ranks at Chelsea and then West Ham, was voted Conference League player of the season.

Persons: Cristiano Ronaldo’s, Al Nassr, Karim Benzema –, Karim Benzema, Ittihad, Benzema, Frenchman, Jude Bellingham, Real Madrid Jude Bellingham, Florencia Tan Jun, Bellingham, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, N’Golo Kanté, Ittihad N'Golo Kanté, Justin Tallis, Kanté, Christopher Nkunku –, Chelsea Christopher Nkunku, Annegret Hilse, Germain, Chrisopher Nkunku, Nkunku, Todd Boehly, Kai Havertz, Germany's, Maja Hitij, Kai Kavertz, Mikel Arteta, Havertz, Boehly, Declan Rice –, Declan Rice, Richard Heathcote, Rice, West Ham’s, Mateo Kovačić –, Mateo Kovačić, Pep Guardiola’s, İlkay Gündoğan, Bernardo Silva, Alexis Mac Allister, Alex Pantling, Lionel Messi, Mac Allister, Jurgen Klopp, Mac, Roberto Firmino’s, Rúben Neves, Al Hilal Rúben Neves, Naomi Baker, Al Hilal, Neves Organizations: CNN, Super League, CNN Sport, Saudi Pro League, Al, Real Madrid, League, La Liga, Real, Champions League, Borussia Dortmund, Birmingham City, English, Ittihad N'Golo, France, Getty, Benzema, Chelsea, Premier League, FA, Europa League, UEFA Super, Leicester, Leipzig, RB Leipzig, Bundesliga, Reuters, Paris Saint, Arsenal, Ukraine, Gunners, Manchester City, football’s, Europa Conference League, Gent, Manchester United, Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Manchester, Argentina, Brighton, Liverpool, Anfield, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Wolves, Everton, Molineux, Portugal Locations: England, Saudi Arabia, Europe, Portuguese, Saudi Arabian, Karim Benzema – Real Madrid, Al, Ittihad, Bellingham, Dortmund, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Leicester, Paris, Leipzig, Bremen, Germany, Declan Rice – West Ham, West Ham, Mateo Kovačić – Chelsea, Madrid, Spain, Croatian, Brighton, Argentina, Qatar, Barcelona

☆ Holders Leipzig thrash Freiburg 5-1 to reach German Cup final
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

FREIBURG, Germany, May 2 (Reuters) - Holders RB Leipzig crushed hosts Freiburg 5-1 courtesy of a goal and three assists from Spaniard Dani Olmo on Tuesday to reach the German Cup final for the third straight year. They will play either VfB Stuttgart or Eintracht Frankfurt, who meet on Wednesday, in the showpiece match. Leipzig made it 3-0 in the 37th after another fine move and a finish from Dominik Szoboszlai, with Freiburg failing to stem the constant flow of attacks. Nkunku made it look easy when he added another in first-half stoppage time following some more disastrous defending from the hosts and another Olmo assist. Leipzig eased to victory as they added a fifth goal with a stoppage time penalty from Hungary international Szoboszlai.

☆ Efficient Dortmund edge past Leipzig 2-1 to move into top spot
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DORTMUND, Germany, March 3 (Reuters) - Borussia Dortmund took a two-goal lead in the first half and hung on for a nervous 2-1 victory over RB Leipzig on Friday to go top of the Bundesliga and stretch their perfect run in 2023 to eighth straight league wins. "We had to tremble until the end but I prefer to win than to play well and lose. "It was our big wish to take over the lead in the Bundesliga and keep putting pressure." "But we have to keep our heads up as there are still a lot of great matches in front of us." Leipzig face Manchester City in their own Champions League last 16 return leg on March 14 after their 1-1 draw in Germany last week.

☆ French hearts are broken but future looks bright
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( Julien Pretot | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Mbappe, who turns 24 on Tuesday, netted all three French goals, taking his tally from two World Cups to 12. "Potentially, this France team has an important reservoir of talents," said Deschamps. "We'll always need experienced team leaders to groom the young players but the reservoir is big." "Some players have been in the Euro 2016 final, won the 2018 World Cup, they bring their experience. "We have to keep this France team at this level, with the best players on the world and European stage."

☆ France reaches World Cup quarterfinals with 3-1 victory over Poland as Kylian Mbappé breaks Pelé’s record
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +30 min

CNN —France was made to work hard for its place in the World Cup quarterfinals, overcoming an improved Poland side 3-1 thanks to goals from Olivier Giroud and Kylian Mbappé. That is Mbappé’s fifth goal of Qatar 2022 and already his ninth World Cup goal overall, breaking Pelé’s record of seven World Cup goals scored before the age of 24. They made history Thursday as the first all-female refereeing crew for a men's World Cup match. Issei Kato/Reuters Kylian Mbappé scores his second goal on November 26, leading France to a 2-1 victory over Denmark. Mbappé was one of the leading stars of the team's World Cup triumph four years ago.

☆ France coach Deschamps decides not to replace Benzema
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DOHA, Nov 20 (Reuters) - France coach Didier Deschamps has decided not to replace injured striker Karim Benzema in his World Cup squad, leaving the reigning champions with 25 players for their title defence. Asked on Sunday by TeleFoot whether he would replace the Ballon d'Or winner in his squad, Deschamps said "No". Benzema was the second French player to join the casualty list in less than a week after forward Christopher Nkunku was injured in a training session and replaced in the squad by Randal Kolo Muani. Influential midfielders Paul Pogba and N'Golo Kante were ruled out of the tournament by injury before Deschamps named his squad. "Of course, it is bad news for France, and we feel like we're cursed, because it's just player after player out, and then it ends up with Karim Benzema being hurt during training," Parisian fan Samuel Pautrat said.

☆ Every World Cup 2022 squad announced: USMNT, Germany, Belgium and more
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

CNN —‘Tis the season for wall charts and fans gathering around to pick their starting teams for the 2022 Qatar World Cup. “It’s always difficult when a guy helps you get to the World Cup, he scores three goals in World Cup qualifying and isn’t going to be a part of the program. Again, it’s more about who we did add that we felt good about.”All but one of the 26 will be making their World Cup debut at this year’s tournament and, according to the USMNT, it will be the youngest team to qualify for the World Cup. Octavio Passos/Getty Images Europe/Getty ImagesGhanaManager: Otto AddoThe final squad has not been announced yet. READ: Meet Otto Addo, the coach responsible for guiding some of Europe’s brightest young talents (2021)—–PortugalManager: Fernando SantosThe final squad has not been announced yet.

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