Bundesliga side Red Bull Leipzig has decided to part ways with head coach Jesse Marsch just four months after the American took office. This comes after the team suffered four consecutive defeats, leaving them in 11th place in the league standings.

The club announced on Sunday that Marsch’s departure comes after he and the club “mutually agreed to part ways.” Having signed a contract with the team in April before taking charge in the summer, Marsch endured a difficult start to his tenure at Leipzig, losing six of the team’s opening 14 matches. In addition, the team lost all of their first three Champions League matches, thereby dashing their hopes of knockout round qualification.

“It was not easy for us to part company with Jesse Marsch, because I hold Jesse in high regard as a person and as a coach,” club CEO Oliver Mintzlaff claimed in a statement. He further explained that the decision to dismiss Marsch was one that was purely reached on performance grounds.

The decision to recruit Marsch came after the American coach proved highly successful during his time with Red Bull Salzburg, leading them to back-to-back titles in the Austrian football league. Prior to arriving in Europe, Marsch played and coached in the MLS. In 2015, he won the Supporters’ Shield with the New York Red Bulls.

Assistant coach Achim Beierlorzer will act as interim coach while the team searches for their successor. He will manage the team in their Champions League clash against Manchester City on Tuesday night.

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After eleven unsuccessful Champions League berths which saw them advance no farther than the quarter-finals of the competition, Paris Saint-Germain finally earned a chance to play for the trophy on try number 12.

After defeating RB Leipzig by a 3-0 final score on Tuesday night in Lisbon, PSG finds itself on the doorstep of capturing the long-awaited title that their fans have waited decades for.

It was all PSG, all the time on Tuesday night as they went up against an RB Leipzig side that had made a miracle run to reach the final 4 of the competition.

After a tense first 10 minutes, PSG broke through after Marquinhos found the net with a header after a brilliant Angel di Maria free-kick found his head to put his team up 1-0.

Just before halftime, di Maria was on the receiving end of a brilliant assist, this time from a Neymar backheel that left him one-on-one against Péter Gulácsi, whom he beat.

That 2-0 lead was never really threatened in the second half of action, especially after the gap was widened to 3-0 with a Juan Bernat goal just 10 minutes after the game got back underway.

PSG will face the winner of Wednesday night’s Bayern Munich-Olympique Lyon semi-final matchup in the competition’s final on Sunday night.

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Dayot Upamecano’s days at RB Leipzig might be numbered after the French center back refused to sign a new deal with the Bundesliga side. According to the team’s sporting director Oliver Mintzlaff, Upamecano was recently presented with an ultimatum to sign an extension or get sold once the transfer window opens.

Upamecano (21) became indispensable for Leipzig’s back four in recent years while establishing himself as one of the most talented defenders in soccer. As he has just one more year left on his deal, he could possibly leave the German club on a free transfer in the summer of 2021.

Leipzig isn’t willing to risk such a scenario, so they are putting pressure on the player to make his decision fast.

“Upa is an extremely important player for us and one of the most sought-after talents in Europe,” said Mintzlaff in a recent chat with Bild. “And we can assure that we have a clear understanding with him and his agent he won’t leave us on a free. We can’t afford that as a club.”

“There are only two options: prolong or leave. I am sure we’ll soon find out in which direction it’s going,” he added.

Several high profile clubs have expressed interest in Dayot Upamecano in recent months, with Arsenal and Bayern Munich emerging as the main candidates for his signature. Arsenal reportedly even made an offer last year, but Leipzig turned it down.

It is worth noting that Upamecano has a $68 million release clause in his contract that allows teams to sign him without having to negotiate with Leipzig. However, it is highly unlikely that teams will use it, considering he only has one year left on his deal.

Upamecano joined Leipzig in 2017 from Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg. He made more than 100 appearances in all competitions for the club since then.

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The Champions League Round of 16 matchups are just around the corner. The first legs of this knockout round will start up next week with some high-profile games.

Let’s take a look at the pairings for this year’s edition of the Round of 16 and predict a winner for each one.

Atletico Madrid vs. Liverpool

The reigning champions of the tournament certainly didn’t get an easy draw here, as Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid are always up for a good battle.

However, with Los Colchoneros floundering without Diego Costa and Joao Felix and Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool dominating any team that happens to wind up in front of them throughout this entire season, we think Liverpool will move on.

Pick: Liverpool

Borussia Dortmund vs. Paris Saint-Germain

One of the most promising Round of 16 matchups comes between Borussia Dortmund and PSG, two teams full of young stars.

Borussia Dortmund could end up escaping through if Erling Haaland and Jadon Sancho give them an edge after the matchup’s first leg in Germany, but I ultimately think that the combination of Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, who has never played as well as he is now, will be too much for the Dortmund defense.

Pick: PSG

Atalanta vs. Valencia

Who would have ever expected a Round of 16 tie between these two teams?

Valencia, who shocked many by winning their group in the group stage of the tournament, got a favorable draw against Atalanta in the first knockout round. Los Che have been inconsistent under Albert Celades, but we think that their quality is a bit too much for Atalanta to handle.

Pick: Valencia

Tottenham Hotspur vs. RB Leipzig

Perhaps the biggest “pick ’em” of the Round of 16 is this clash between last year’s finalists in Tottenham against RB Leipzig.

The German side might surprise many who aren’t familiar with their quality. Dani Olmo and Timo Werner will have a big chance to shine on a world stage in this tie, and we think that they will pull off the upset against a disheveled Spurs side.

Pick: RB Leipzig

Chelsea vs. Bayern Munich

Two European giants meet up in this juicy Round of 16 matchup, as Bayern will look to solidify its status as one of the tournament favorites.

Chelsea barely escaped from the group stage, and the uber-talented German champions will be out for blood. While Frank Lampard’s tenure at the Blues might be off to a promising start, we think that Bayern’s quality and experience are too much for them to handle.

Pick: Bayern Munich

Napoli vs. FC Barcelona

Barcelona meets up against Napoli in this Round of 16 matchup with some genuine upset potential.

The Catalans are still getting used to playing under new manager Quique Setien, but have shown signs of improvement lately. Leo Messi is still Leo Messi, and we think that they will move on to the next round with the help of a little bit of magic from the diminutive Argentinian.

Pick: Barcelona

Olympique Lyon vs. Juventus

After last year’s disappointing early exit at the hands of upstart Ajax, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus will look to avoid another upset at the hands of Lyon.

The Old Lady has one of world soccer’s best collections of talent, and it seems inevitable that they will cruise past their Ligue 1 opposition. Could a huge upset be in the cards, though? We doubt it.

Pick: Juventus

Real Madrid vs. Manchester City

Arguably the most intriguing Round of 16 matchup is this one between Champions League giants Real Madrid and Manchester City, the team that has been chasing this title for the better part of the past decade.

Zinedine Zidane’s Blancos got off to a slow start this season, but have taken flight over the past couple of months. Leading La Liga and getting outstanding performances from Karim Benzema and the ageless Sergio Ramos, we think that they will pull off the upset against Pep Guardiola’s Man City, which isn’t the squad it once was.

Pick: Real Madrid

The post Predicting the Champions League Round of 16 Matchups appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Bundesliga side Red Bull Leipzig has decided to part ways with head coach Jesse Marsch just four months after the American took office. This comes after the team suffered four consecutive defeats, leaving them in 11th place in the league standings.

The club announced on Sunday that Marsch’s departure comes after he and the club “mutually agreed to part ways.” Having signed a contract with the team in April before taking charge in the summer, Marsch endured a difficult start to his tenure at Leipzig, losing six of the team’s opening 14 matches. In addition, the team lost all of their first three Champions League matches, thereby dashing their hopes of knockout round qualification.

“It was not easy for us to part company with Jesse Marsch, because I hold Jesse in high regard as a person and as a coach,” club CEO Oliver Mintzlaff claimed in a statement. He further explained that the decision to dismiss Marsch was one that was purely reached on performance grounds.

The decision to recruit Marsch came after the American coach proved highly successful during his time with Red Bull Salzburg, leading them to back-to-back titles in the Austrian football league. Prior to arriving in Europe, Marsch played and coached in the MLS. In 2015, he won the Supporters’ Shield with the New York Red Bulls.

Assistant coach Achim Beierlorzer will act as interim coach while the team searches for their successor. He will manage the team in their Champions League clash against Manchester City on Tuesday night.

The post RB Leipzig Sacks Head Coach Jesse Marsch appeared first on SportzBonanza.

After eleven unsuccessful Champions League berths which saw them advance no farther than the quarter-finals of the competition, Paris Saint-Germain finally earned a chance to play for the trophy on try number 12.

After defeating RB Leipzig by a 3-0 final score on Tuesday night in Lisbon, PSG finds itself on the doorstep of capturing the long-awaited title that their fans have waited decades for.

It was all PSG, all the time on Tuesday night as they went up against an RB Leipzig side that had made a miracle run to reach the final 4 of the competition.

After a tense first 10 minutes, PSG broke through after Marquinhos found the net with a header after a brilliant Angel di Maria free-kick found his head to put his team up 1-0.

Just before halftime, di Maria was on the receiving end of a brilliant assist, this time from a Neymar backheel that left him one-on-one against Péter Gulácsi, whom he beat.

That 2-0 lead was never really threatened in the second half of action, especially after the gap was widened to 3-0 with a Juan Bernat goal just 10 minutes after the game got back underway.

PSG will face the winner of Wednesday night’s Bayern Munich-Olympique Lyon semi-final matchup in the competition’s final on Sunday night.

The post PSG Advances to Champions League Final with 3-0 Win vs. RB Leipzig appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Dayot Upamecano’s days at RB Leipzig might be numbered after the French center back refused to sign a new deal with the Bundesliga side. According to the team’s sporting director Oliver Mintzlaff, Upamecano was recently presented with an ultimatum to sign an extension or get sold once the transfer window opens.

Upamecano (21) became indispensable for Leipzig’s back four in recent years while establishing himself as one of the most talented defenders in soccer. As he has just one more year left on his deal, he could possibly leave the German club on a free transfer in the summer of 2021.

Leipzig isn’t willing to risk such a scenario, so they are putting pressure on the player to make his decision fast.

“Upa is an extremely important player for us and one of the most sought-after talents in Europe,” said Mintzlaff in a recent chat with Bild. “And we can assure that we have a clear understanding with him and his agent he won’t leave us on a free. We can’t afford that as a club.”

“There are only two options: prolong or leave. I am sure we’ll soon find out in which direction it’s going,” he added.

Several high profile clubs have expressed interest in Dayot Upamecano in recent months, with Arsenal and Bayern Munich emerging as the main candidates for his signature. Arsenal reportedly even made an offer last year, but Leipzig turned it down.

It is worth noting that Upamecano has a $68 million release clause in his contract that allows teams to sign him without having to negotiate with Leipzig. However, it is highly unlikely that teams will use it, considering he only has one year left on his deal.

Upamecano joined Leipzig in 2017 from Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg. He made more than 100 appearances in all competitions for the club since then.

The post RB Leipzig Will Sell CB Dayot Upamecano if He Doesn’t Sign a New Deal appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Champions League Round of 16 matchups are just around the corner. The first legs of this knockout round will start up next week with some high-profile games.

Let’s take a look at the pairings for this year’s edition of the Round of 16 and predict a winner for each one.

Atletico Madrid vs. Liverpool

The reigning champions of the tournament certainly didn’t get an easy draw here, as Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid are always up for a good battle.

However, with Los Colchoneros floundering without Diego Costa and Joao Felix and Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool dominating any team that happens to wind up in front of them throughout this entire season, we think Liverpool will move on.

Pick: Liverpool

Borussia Dortmund vs. Paris Saint-Germain

One of the most promising Round of 16 matchups comes between Borussia Dortmund and PSG, two teams full of young stars.

Borussia Dortmund could end up escaping through if Erling Haaland and Jadon Sancho give them an edge after the matchup’s first leg in Germany, but I ultimately think that the combination of Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, who has never played as well as he is now, will be too much for the Dortmund defense.

Pick: PSG

Atalanta vs. Valencia

Who would have ever expected a Round of 16 tie between these two teams?

Valencia, who shocked many by winning their group in the group stage of the tournament, got a favorable draw against Atalanta in the first knockout round. Los Che have been inconsistent under Albert Celades, but we think that their quality is a bit too much for Atalanta to handle.

Pick: Valencia

Tottenham Hotspur vs. RB Leipzig

Perhaps the biggest “pick ’em” of the Round of 16 is this clash between last year’s finalists in Tottenham against RB Leipzig.

The German side might surprise many who aren’t familiar with their quality. Dani Olmo and Timo Werner will have a big chance to shine on a world stage in this tie, and we think that they will pull off the upset against a disheveled Spurs side.

Pick: RB Leipzig

Chelsea vs. Bayern Munich

Two European giants meet up in this juicy Round of 16 matchup, as Bayern will look to solidify its status as one of the tournament favorites.

Chelsea barely escaped from the group stage, and the uber-talented German champions will be out for blood. While Frank Lampard’s tenure at the Blues might be off to a promising start, we think that Bayern’s quality and experience are too much for them to handle.

Pick: Bayern Munich

Napoli vs. FC Barcelona

Barcelona meets up against Napoli in this Round of 16 matchup with some genuine upset potential.

The Catalans are still getting used to playing under new manager Quique Setien, but have shown signs of improvement lately. Leo Messi is still Leo Messi, and we think that they will move on to the next round with the help of a little bit of magic from the diminutive Argentinian.

Pick: Barcelona

Olympique Lyon vs. Juventus

After last year’s disappointing early exit at the hands of upstart Ajax, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus will look to avoid another upset at the hands of Lyon.

The Old Lady has one of world soccer’s best collections of talent, and it seems inevitable that they will cruise past their Ligue 1 opposition. Could a huge upset be in the cards, though? We doubt it.

Pick: Juventus

Real Madrid vs. Manchester City

Arguably the most intriguing Round of 16 matchup is this one between Champions League giants Real Madrid and Manchester City, the team that has been chasing this title for the better part of the past decade.

Zinedine Zidane’s Blancos got off to a slow start this season, but have taken flight over the past couple of months. Leading La Liga and getting outstanding performances from Karim Benzema and the ageless Sergio Ramos, we think that they will pull off the upset against Pep Guardiola’s Man City, which isn’t the squad it once was.

Pick: Real Madrid

The post Predicting the Champions League Round of 16 Matchups appeared first on SportzBonanza.