soccer news Archives - SportzBonanza SportzBonanza Thu, 25 Apr 2024 14:35:54 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 San Jose Earthquakes Break Club Record to Sign Godoy Cruz Midfielder Hernan Lopez https://sportzbonanza.com/san-jose-earthquakes-break-club-record-to-sign-godoy-cruz-midfielder-hernan-lopez/ Fri, 26 Apr 2024 06:45:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=24220 The San Jose Earthquakes made a big move ahead of the closing of the MLS transfer window, signing attacking midfielder Hernan Lopez from Argentine side Godoy Cruz. The transfer is reportedly the most expensive in the club’s history. According to The Athletic’s Tom Bogert, the Earthquakes formally completed the deal on Tuesday. It will see […]

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The San Jose Earthquakes made a big move ahead of the closing of the MLS transfer window, signing attacking midfielder Hernan Lopez from Argentine side Godoy Cruz. The transfer is reportedly the most expensive in the club’s history.

According to The Athletic’s Tom Bogert, the Earthquakes formally completed the deal on Tuesday. It will see the club pay $6 million to River for Lopez’s services, while the player is expected to ink a Designated Player contract. San Jose’s previous biggest transfer was signing Ecuadorian midfielder Carlos Gruezo for $2.9 million in 2023.

Hernan Lopez started his professional career with Argentina’s Primera División powerhouse River Plate, receiving his debut in 2019. He later spent time on loan with Central Córdoba before joining Godoy Cruz on loan in 2023. River and Godoy owned 50% of Lopez’s rights each before his transfer to San Jose.

Lopez played 13 games for Godoy in 2024, scoring two goals. In 2023, he scored five goals and added six assists in 38 matches in all competitions.

San Jose Earthquakes have been the worst club in MLS this season, sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference with one win and eight losses in their first nine games. Adding Lopez is expected to greatly improve their squad and perhaps help them turn around their campaign.

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La Liga Plans to Stage Official Matches in the U.S. By the 2025-26 Season https://sportzbonanza.com/la-liga-plans-to-stage-official-matches-in-the-u-s-by-the-2025-26-season/ Fri, 26 Apr 2024 06:13:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=24218 Javier Tebas, President of La Liga at the "AS Sports Awards 2021" in December 2021Soccer fans in the United States soon might not have to travel to Spain in order to see La Liga matches in person. According to La Liga president Javier Tebas, the league plans to stage official matches in the U.S. by the 2025-26 season. Back in 2018, La Liga and Relevent Sports Group, founded by […]

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Soccer fans in the United States soon might not have to travel to Spain in order to see La Liga matches in person. According to La Liga president Javier Tebas, the league plans to stage official matches in the U.S. by the 2025-26 season.

Back in 2018, La Liga and Relevent Sports Group, founded by Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, revealed plans to organize a match between Girona and Barcelona at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium. The announcement was met with opposition from the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and FIFA, causing the plans to be scrapped.

Relevent responded with an antitrust lawsuit against FIFA, U.S. Soccer Federation, and RFEF. The lawsuit was recently partially settled, resulting in FIFA being removed as one of the defendants. The company and La Liga believe this strengthens their position and that La Liga official matches being played in the U.S. are just a matter of time.

“I think it could be in the 2025-26 season, but La Liga will play official matches abroad,” Tebas told Spanish media outlet Expansion. “An official match in the U.S. will strengthen our position in the North American market, which is the second market for La Liga after Spain.”

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Real Madrid Advances to UCL Semis After Penalty Shootout Against Man City https://sportzbonanza.com/real-madrid-advances-to-ucl-semis-after-penalty-shootout-against-man-city/ Thu, 18 Apr 2024 06:55:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=24170 Luka Modric with Real Madrid in 2018.Manchester City won’t have a chance to defend its UEFA Champions League title. The reigning UCL champs have been eliminated in the quarterfinals of this season’s tournament by La Liga giants Real Madrid after a penalty shootout on Wednesday night. Real is now through to the semi-finals, where it is set to face Bayern Munich. […]

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Manchester City won’t have a chance to defend its UEFA Champions League title. The reigning UCL champs have been eliminated in the quarterfinals of this season’s tournament by La Liga giants Real Madrid after a penalty shootout on Wednesday night.

Real is now through to the semi-finals, where it is set to face Bayern Munich. The German club punched its own ticket to the semis on Wednesday as well with a 1-0 win over Arsenal. The second semi-final clash is also set and will see Paris Saint Germain face Borussia Dortmund.

After a 3-3 draw at Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg, Manchester City was considered the favorite to make it through. They were playing at home and have been in terrific form lately. However, it was Real who struck first, with Rodrygo giving the Spanish club a lead in the 12th minute.

From that point on, Real was content to hold onto its advantage while City launched one attack after another. However, it wasn’t until the 76th minute that the Premier League side managed to get a breakthrough, with midfielder Kevin DeBruyne finding the net.

The regular 90 minutes ended with a tie, with the game moving to extra time. For the next 30 minutes, both teams were cautious not to make a mistake, which resulted in a penalty shootout. Real Madrid’s Luka Modric missed his penalty in the first series, but City’s Bernardo Silva returned the favor in the second round. Mateo Kovacic missed the third penalty for City while the rest of Real’s penalty-takers all scored, resulting in a 4-3 win for Los Blancos.

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PSG and Borussia Dortmund Advance to UCL Semi-Finals https://sportzbonanza.com/psg-and-borussia-dortmund-advance-to-ucl-semi-finals/ Wed, 17 Apr 2024 06:57:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=24163 Kylian Mbappe of PSG in 2019Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund are the first two teams to punch their ticket for the UEFA Champions League semi-finals in the 2023-24 season. PSG eliminated Barcelona after a 4-1 away win, while Dortmund got the better of Atletico Madrid with a 4-2 win at their Signal Iduna Park. PSG and Borussia will face each […]

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Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund are the first two teams to punch their ticket for the UEFA Champions League semi-finals in the 2023-24 season. PSG eliminated Barcelona after a 4-1 away win, while Dortmund got the better of Atletico Madrid with a 4-2 win at their Signal Iduna Park.

PSG and Borussia will face each other in the next stage and look for a chance to advance to the Finals, which is being played at Wembley Stadium on June 1. PSG has never won the competition, while Borussia has one UCL trophy from 1996–97.

Paris Saint-Germain entered the second leg match against Barca chasing a one-goal deficit after the first leg finished with a 3-2 win for the La Liga side. This didn’t look well for the French club early on, as Raphina gave Barca the lead in the 12th minute, but momentum shifted their way after Barcelona’s defender Ronald Araujo received a direct card in the 29th minute for bringing down Bradley Barcola in a clear goal chance opportunity.

PSG took advantage of having an extra man as Ousmane Dembélé scored an equalizer against his former club before the halftime whistle. Vitinha made it 2-1 for the Ligue 1 giants in the 54th minute before star forward Kylian Mbappe scored twice in the 61st and 89th minute to set the final score of 4-1.

Borussia Dortmund found itself in a similar situation as PSG, having suffered a 2-1 loss to Atletico Madrid in the first match. The German club played much better this time around, grabbing a 2-0 lead in the first half thanks to goals by Julian Brandt and Ian Maatsen.

Atletico ended up responding in the early second half thanks to Mats Hummels’ own goal and a strike by forward Ángel Correa. However, they couldn’t keep the momentum going, as Borussia restored its two-goal lead in quick succession via striker Niclas Füllkrug in the 71st minute and midfielder Marcel Sabitzer in the 74th minute and secured a big win.

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Maria Sanchez Asks for Trade 4 Months After Signing Record Deal With Houston Dash https://sportzbonanza.com/maria-sanchez-asks-for-trade-4-months-after-signing-record-deal-with-houston-dash/ Tue, 16 Apr 2024 06:36:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=24150 Maria Sanchez (7 Houston Dash) defended by Haley McCutcheon (2 Orlando Pride) in June 2023Mexico international forward Maria Sanchez reportedly wants to be traded by her NWSL team, Houston Dash. The news comes four months after Sanchez signed a then-record deal with the franchise. Sanchez became a restricted free agent after the 2023 season, in which she scored four goals and four assists in 20 starts. She ended up […]

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Mexico international forward Maria Sanchez reportedly wants to be traded by her NWSL team, Houston Dash. The news comes four months after Sanchez signed a then-record deal with the franchise.

Sanchez became a restricted free agent after the 2023 season, in which she scored four goals and four assists in 20 starts. She ended up signing a three-year deal, reportedly worth $1.5 million and containing an option for the 2027 season.

But just four games into the 2024 season, in which she is yet to score a goal, Sanchez reportedly wants a change of scenery. However, that might prove challenging because the league’s trade window is closing on Friday.

Additionally, her contract is technically signed with the NWSL, meaning that any team that acquires her would have to absorb her large contract. With the season already underway and rosters filled, interested teams would have to become creative in order to fit Sanchez’s salary under their cap.

It is still unclear why Sanchez, who has seven goals and eight assists since making her debut with Dash in 2021, wants out.

“Maria Sanchez is under contract, a choice she made in free agency at the end of 2023,” Dash spokesperson wrote in a statement sent to ESPN.

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Ex-Orlando City Striker Alexandre Pato Linked With Santos https://sportzbonanza.com/ex-orlando-city-striker-alexandre-pato-linked-with-santos/ Fri, 12 Apr 2024 06:42:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=24128 Alexandre Pato with Tianjin Quanjian in 2018.Former Orlando City striker Alexandre Pato could soon be off the free-agent market. According to TNT Sports, Brazilian powerhouse Santos is considering making a contract offer for Pato in the near future. Pato has been linked with Santos on several occasions in recent years, but the club was reportedly unsure about the move due to […]

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Former Orlando City striker Alexandre Pato could soon be off the free-agent market. According to TNT Sports, Brazilian powerhouse Santos is considering making a contract offer for Pato in the near future.

Pato has been linked with Santos on several occasions in recent years, but the club was reportedly unsure about the move due to his recurring injury problems. However, after being relegated to the second division for the first time in their history, the 22-time Brazil league champion now believes Pato’s experience could help them in a quick return to the top flight.

Most recently, Pato suited up for Sao Paulo for his third stint with the club but only managed to play 10 games due to injuries. This led the club to reject the contract option for another year and make him a free agent in December.

Prior to joining Sao Paulo, Pato spent two seasons in the United States with Orlando. He was expected to be a big boost for the MLS side, but a knee injury limited him to five games in the 2021 season. Pato was relatively healthy in 2022, making 27 appearances and scoring four goals.

Alexandre Pato was regarded as one of the brightest Brazilian talents early in his career, but a series of injuries prevented him from reaching his potential. He is best remembered for his stint with AC Milan between 2007 and 2013. He scored 63 goals in 150 games with the Italian club and helped them win a Seria A title in 2010–11.

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Juventus Reaches “Agreement in Principle” With Bologna’s Head Coach Thiago Motta https://sportzbonanza.com/juventus-reaches-agreement-in-principle-with-bolognas-head-coach-thiago-motta/ Mon, 08 Apr 2024 06:55:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=24100 Thiago Motta head coach of Bologna FC in April 2024Juventus will have a new head coach next season. According to Calciomercato.com, Seria A powerhouse has reached an “agreement in principle” with Bologna’s Thiago Motta. Current Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri is expected to leave the club at the end of the season despite having one more year left on his deal. Allegri is believed to […]

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Juventus will have a new head coach next season. According to Calciomercato.com, Seria A powerhouse has reached an “agreement in principle” with Bologna’s Thiago Motta.

Current Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri is expected to leave the club at the end of the season despite having one more year left on his deal. Allegri is believed to want a new challenge after coaching the club for a decade across two stints.

It doesn’t come as a surprise that Juventus turned to Motta, considering that the former Italy international became one of the most respected young coaches in the game. Motta has been doing a great job with Bologna this season, getting them on the verge of securing a UEFA Champions League spot.

Curiously, Bologna is currently sitting in fourth place in the Seria A standings behind third-placed Juventus. The difference between the two clubs is four points, with seven games left to play.

Thiago Motta has had an accomplished career as a player, representing Barcelona, Genoa, Juve’s bitter rivals Inter Milan, as well as Paris Saint-Germain. Motta started his managerial career with PSG’s U19 team before embarking on stints with Genoa and Spezia. He was hired by Bologna early in the 2022-23 season and led the team to a ninth-place finish.

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Barcelona Plotting Erling Haaland Move in Hopes to Convince Manager Xavi to Stay https://sportzbonanza.com/barcelona-plotting-erling-haaland-move-in-hopes-to-convince-manager-xavi-to-stay/ Fri, 05 Apr 2024 06:40:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=24082 Erling Haaland of Manchester City in October 2022La Liga giants Barcelona are doing their best to convince their manager Xavi Hernandez to remain with the club past this summer. According to influential Catalan media outlet Mundo Deportivo, Barca’s latest attempt to make Xavi change his mind is a move for Manchester City’s star striker Erling Haaland. Xavi announced his decision to step […]

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La Liga giants Barcelona are doing their best to convince their manager Xavi Hernandez to remain with the club past this summer. According to influential Catalan media outlet Mundo Deportivo, Barca’s latest attempt to make Xavi change his mind is a move for Manchester City’s star striker Erling Haaland.

Xavi announced his decision to step down as Barca manager back in January following a series of poor results. But since then, the club embarked on an 11-game unbeaten run that included advancing to the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League. Barcelona’s brass has been impressed with the turnaround and now wants to continue building under club legend.

Reportedly, the move for Haaland would be part of an extensive recruitment plan for the future. Barca would attempt to sign the player in the summer of 2025 and believe the 23-year-old Norwegian is interested in coming to Camp Nou. Haaland was linked with Barca in 2021, but decided to stay with Borussia Dortmund for another season before joining City.

It remains to be seen whether the promise of Haaland will be enough to keep Xavi in his post. Poor results were just part of the reason why he wanted to step down, with the outside pressure and frequent criticism that comes with the position also playing a role.

Haaland is enjoying another prolific campaign with City, scoring 29 goals in all competitions in 2023-24. He is under contract with the club through 2027 but reportedly has an undisclosed exit clause.

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Xabi Alonso Says He’ll Stay With Leverkusen Amid Liverpool and Bayern Interest https://sportzbonanza.com/xabi-alonso-says-hell-stay-with-leverkusen-amid-liverpool-and-bayern-interest/ Sat, 30 Mar 2024 06:55:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=24039 Xabi Alonso with Bayer in February 2024Bayer Leverkusen’s boss Xabi Alonso has been mentioned as the top candidate for upcoming managerial vacancies at Liverpool and Bayern Munich. However, both of these clubs will have to turn their focus elsewhere as Alonso doesn’t intend to leave his current job. Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Alonso said that he will continue […]

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Bayer Leverkusen’s boss Xabi Alonso has been mentioned as the top candidate for upcoming managerial vacancies at Liverpool and Bayern Munich. However, both of these clubs will have to turn their focus elsewhere as Alonso doesn’t intend to leave his current job.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Alonso said that he will continue coaching Leverkusen in 2024-25.

“It has been a season with a lot of speculation regarding my future,” Alonso said. “… Last week, I had a good meeting with Simon [Rolfes, the club’s sporting director] with Fernando [Carro, CEO], when I informed them of my decision to continue being coach of Bayer Leverkusen.”

According to Alonso, he believes Leverkusen is the best place for him to continue his development as a coach.

“I am a young coach, but I have to feel it, and right now, I feel that this is the right place,” he added.

Alonso is doing a remarkable job in his first full season in charge with Leverkusen. He is currently guiding the club to an undefeated season, avoiding loss in the first 27 games of the Bundesliga so far. This put Bayer in the position to win the title for the first time in history while ending Bayern Munich’s of 11 consecutive Bundesliga trophies.

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Veteran Midfielder Toni Kroos Agrees to New Deal With Real Madrid Until 2025 https://sportzbonanza.com/veteran-midfielder-toni-kroos-agrees-to-new-deal-with-real-madrid-until-2025/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 06:55:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=24031 Toni Kroos of Real Madrid in 2019Real Madrid has locked up one of their key players for at least one more season. According to respectable soccer insider Fabrizio Romano, German veteran midfielder Toni Kroos agreed to a new deal with La Liga giants that will keep him on Santiago Bernabeu until the summer of 2025. Kroos was set to become a […]

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Real Madrid has locked up one of their key players for at least one more season. According to respectable soccer insider Fabrizio Romano, German veteran midfielder Toni Kroos agreed to a new deal with La Liga giants that will keep him on Santiago Bernabeu until the summer of 2025.

Kroos was set to become a free agent after 2023-24, but Romano reports that he and Real have recently engaged in talks about his future and came to terms on a one-year contract extension. The agreement is yet to be officially confirmed, but that is considered a formality at this point.

Real has revamped their midfield in recent years, wanting to get younger at the position. They brought in a number of talented prospects, including Aurélien Tchouaméni and Eduardo Camavinga. However, it appears that the club still believes that Kroos, who turned 34 in January, can still make a significant contribution.

Toni Kroos is playing at a high level this season, making 38 appearances across all competitions and contributing with one goal and seven assists. He also made an unexpected comeback to the German national team this month after three years of retirement and immediately provided two assists in two matches.

Kroos joined Real in 2014 in a transfer from Bayern Munich. Since then, he played 455 games with the club and won 20 trophies including three La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League trophies.

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ersion="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> soccer news Archives - SportzBonanza SportzBonanza Thu, 25 Apr 2024 14:35:54 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 San Jose Earthquakes Break Club Record to Sign Godoy Cruz Midfielder Hernan Lopez https://sportzbonanza.com/san-jose-earthquakes-break-club-record-to-sign-godoy-cruz-midfielder-hernan-lopez/ Fri, 26 Apr 2024 06:45:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=24220 The San Jose Earthquakes made a big move ahead of the closing of the MLS transfer window, signing attacking midfielder Hernan Lopez from Argentine side Godoy Cruz. The transfer is reportedly the most expensive in the club’s history. According to The Athletic’s Tom Bogert, the Earthquakes formally completed the deal on Tuesday. It will see […]

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The San Jose Earthquakes made a big move ahead of the closing of the MLS transfer window, signing attacking midfielder Hernan Lopez from Argentine side Godoy Cruz. The transfer is reportedly the most expensive in the club’s history.

According to The Athletic’s Tom Bogert, the Earthquakes formally completed the deal on Tuesday. It will see the club pay $6 million to River for Lopez’s services, while the player is expected to ink a Designated Player contract. San Jose’s previous biggest transfer was signing Ecuadorian midfielder Carlos Gruezo for $2.9 million in 2023.

Hernan Lopez started his professional career with Argentina’s Primera División powerhouse River Plate, receiving his debut in 2019. He later spent time on loan with Central Córdoba before joining Godoy Cruz on loan in 2023. River and Godoy owned 50% of Lopez’s rights each before his transfer to San Jose.

Lopez played 13 games for Godoy in 2024, scoring two goals. In 2023, he scored five goals and added six assists in 38 matches in all competitions.

San Jose Earthquakes have been the worst club in MLS this season, sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference with one win and eight losses in their first nine games. Adding Lopez is expected to greatly improve their squad and perhaps help them turn around their campaign.

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La Liga Plans to Stage Official Matches in the U.S. By the 2025-26 Season https://sportzbonanza.com/la-liga-plans-to-stage-official-matches-in-the-u-s-by-the-2025-26-season/ Fri, 26 Apr 2024 06:13:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=24218 Javier Tebas, President of La Liga at the "AS Sports Awards 2021" in December 2021Soccer fans in the United States soon might not have to travel to Spain in order to see La Liga matches in person. According to La Liga president Javier Tebas, the league plans to stage official matches in the U.S. by the 2025-26 season. Back in 2018, La Liga and Relevent Sports Group, founded by […]

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Soccer fans in the United States soon might not have to travel to Spain in order to see La Liga matches in person. According to La Liga president Javier Tebas, the league plans to stage official matches in the U.S. by the 2025-26 season.

Back in 2018, La Liga and Relevent Sports Group, founded by Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, revealed plans to organize a match between Girona and Barcelona at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium. The announcement was met with opposition from the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and FIFA, causing the plans to be scrapped.

Relevent responded with an antitrust lawsuit against FIFA, U.S. Soccer Federation, and RFEF. The lawsuit was recently partially settled, resulting in FIFA being removed as one of the defendants. The company and La Liga believe this strengthens their position and that La Liga official matches being played in the U.S. are just a matter of time.

“I think it could be in the 2025-26 season, but La Liga will play official matches abroad,” Tebas told Spanish media outlet Expansion. “An official match in the U.S. will strengthen our position in the North American market, which is the second market for La Liga after Spain.”

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Real Madrid Advances to UCL Semis After Penalty Shootout Against Man City https://sportzbonanza.com/real-madrid-advances-to-ucl-semis-after-penalty-shootout-against-man-city/ Thu, 18 Apr 2024 06:55:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=24170 Luka Modric with Real Madrid in 2018.Manchester City won’t have a chance to defend its UEFA Champions League title. The reigning UCL champs have been eliminated in the quarterfinals of this season’s tournament by La Liga giants Real Madrid after a penalty shootout on Wednesday night. Real is now through to the semi-finals, where it is set to face Bayern Munich. […]

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Manchester City won’t have a chance to defend its UEFA Champions League title. The reigning UCL champs have been eliminated in the quarterfinals of this season’s tournament by La Liga giants Real Madrid after a penalty shootout on Wednesday night.

Real is now through to the semi-finals, where it is set to face Bayern Munich. The German club punched its own ticket to the semis on Wednesday as well with a 1-0 win over Arsenal. The second semi-final clash is also set and will see Paris Saint Germain face Borussia Dortmund.

After a 3-3 draw at Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg, Manchester City was considered the favorite to make it through. They were playing at home and have been in terrific form lately. However, it was Real who struck first, with Rodrygo giving the Spanish club a lead in the 12th minute.

From that point on, Real was content to hold onto its advantage while City launched one attack after another. However, it wasn’t until the 76th minute that the Premier League side managed to get a breakthrough, with midfielder Kevin DeBruyne finding the net.

The regular 90 minutes ended with a tie, with the game moving to extra time. For the next 30 minutes, both teams were cautious not to make a mistake, which resulted in a penalty shootout. Real Madrid’s Luka Modric missed his penalty in the first series, but City’s Bernardo Silva returned the favor in the second round. Mateo Kovacic missed the third penalty for City while the rest of Real’s penalty-takers all scored, resulting in a 4-3 win for Los Blancos.

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PSG and Borussia Dortmund Advance to UCL Semi-Finals https://sportzbonanza.com/psg-and-borussia-dortmund-advance-to-ucl-semi-finals/ Wed, 17 Apr 2024 06:57:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=24163 Kylian Mbappe of PSG in 2019Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund are the first two teams to punch their ticket for the UEFA Champions League semi-finals in the 2023-24 season. PSG eliminated Barcelona after a 4-1 away win, while Dortmund got the better of Atletico Madrid with a 4-2 win at their Signal Iduna Park. PSG and Borussia will face each […]

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Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund are the first two teams to punch their ticket for the UEFA Champions League semi-finals in the 2023-24 season. PSG eliminated Barcelona after a 4-1 away win, while Dortmund got the better of Atletico Madrid with a 4-2 win at their Signal Iduna Park.

PSG and Borussia will face each other in the next stage and look for a chance to advance to the Finals, which is being played at Wembley Stadium on June 1. PSG has never won the competition, while Borussia has one UCL trophy from 1996–97.

Paris Saint-Germain entered the second leg match against Barca chasing a one-goal deficit after the first leg finished with a 3-2 win for the La Liga side. This didn’t look well for the French club early on, as Raphina gave Barca the lead in the 12th minute, but momentum shifted their way after Barcelona’s defender Ronald Araujo received a direct card in the 29th minute for bringing down Bradley Barcola in a clear goal chance opportunity.

PSG took advantage of having an extra man as Ousmane Dembélé scored an equalizer against his former club before the halftime whistle. Vitinha made it 2-1 for the Ligue 1 giants in the 54th minute before star forward Kylian Mbappe scored twice in the 61st and 89th minute to set the final score of 4-1.

Borussia Dortmund found itself in a similar situation as PSG, having suffered a 2-1 loss to Atletico Madrid in the first match. The German club played much better this time around, grabbing a 2-0 lead in the first half thanks to goals by Julian Brandt and Ian Maatsen.

Atletico ended up responding in the early second half thanks to Mats Hummels’ own goal and a strike by forward Ángel Correa. However, they couldn’t keep the momentum going, as Borussia restored its two-goal lead in quick succession via striker Niclas Füllkrug in the 71st minute and midfielder Marcel Sabitzer in the 74th minute and secured a big win.

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Maria Sanchez Asks for Trade 4 Months After Signing Record Deal With Houston Dash https://sportzbonanza.com/maria-sanchez-asks-for-trade-4-months-after-signing-record-deal-with-houston-dash/ Tue, 16 Apr 2024 06:36:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=24150 Maria Sanchez (7 Houston Dash) defended by Haley McCutcheon (2 Orlando Pride) in June 2023Mexico international forward Maria Sanchez reportedly wants to be traded by her NWSL team, Houston Dash. The news comes four months after Sanchez signed a then-record deal with the franchise. Sanchez became a restricted free agent after the 2023 season, in which she scored four goals and four assists in 20 starts. She ended up […]

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Mexico international forward Maria Sanchez reportedly wants to be traded by her NWSL team, Houston Dash. The news comes four months after Sanchez signed a then-record deal with the franchise.

Sanchez became a restricted free agent after the 2023 season, in which she scored four goals and four assists in 20 starts. She ended up signing a three-year deal, reportedly worth $1.5 million and containing an option for the 2027 season.

But just four games into the 2024 season, in which she is yet to score a goal, Sanchez reportedly wants a change of scenery. However, that might prove challenging because the league’s trade window is closing on Friday.

Additionally, her contract is technically signed with the NWSL, meaning that any team that acquires her would have to absorb her large contract. With the season already underway and rosters filled, interested teams would have to become creative in order to fit Sanchez’s salary under their cap.

It is still unclear why Sanchez, who has seven goals and eight assists since making her debut with Dash in 2021, wants out.

“Maria Sanchez is under contract, a choice she made in free agency at the end of 2023,” Dash spokesperson wrote in a statement sent to ESPN.

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Ex-Orlando City Striker Alexandre Pato Linked With Santos https://sportzbonanza.com/ex-orlando-city-striker-alexandre-pato-linked-with-santos/ Fri, 12 Apr 2024 06:42:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=24128 Alexandre Pato with Tianjin Quanjian in 2018.Former Orlando City striker Alexandre Pato could soon be off the free-agent market. According to TNT Sports, Brazilian powerhouse Santos is considering making a contract offer for Pato in the near future. Pato has been linked with Santos on several occasions in recent years, but the club was reportedly unsure about the move due to […]

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Former Orlando City striker Alexandre Pato could soon be off the free-agent market. According to TNT Sports, Brazilian powerhouse Santos is considering making a contract offer for Pato in the near future.

Pato has been linked with Santos on several occasions in recent years, but the club was reportedly unsure about the move due to his recurring injury problems. However, after being relegated to the second division for the first time in their history, the 22-time Brazil league champion now believes Pato’s experience could help them in a quick return to the top flight.

Most recently, Pato suited up for Sao Paulo for his third stint with the club but only managed to play 10 games due to injuries. This led the club to reject the contract option for another year and make him a free agent in December.

Prior to joining Sao Paulo, Pato spent two seasons in the United States with Orlando. He was expected to be a big boost for the MLS side, but a knee injury limited him to five games in the 2021 season. Pato was relatively healthy in 2022, making 27 appearances and scoring four goals.

Alexandre Pato was regarded as one of the brightest Brazilian talents early in his career, but a series of injuries prevented him from reaching his potential. He is best remembered for his stint with AC Milan between 2007 and 2013. He scored 63 goals in 150 games with the Italian club and helped them win a Seria A title in 2010–11.

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Juventus Reaches “Agreement in Principle” With Bologna’s Head Coach Thiago Motta https://sportzbonanza.com/juventus-reaches-agreement-in-principle-with-bolognas-head-coach-thiago-motta/ Mon, 08 Apr 2024 06:55:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=24100 Thiago Motta head coach of Bologna FC in April 2024Juventus will have a new head coach next season. According to Calciomercato.com, Seria A powerhouse has reached an “agreement in principle” with Bologna’s Thiago Motta. Current Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri is expected to leave the club at the end of the season despite having one more year left on his deal. Allegri is believed to […]

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Juventus will have a new head coach next season. According to Calciomercato.com, Seria A powerhouse has reached an “agreement in principle” with Bologna’s Thiago Motta.

Current Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri is expected to leave the club at the end of the season despite having one more year left on his deal. Allegri is believed to want a new challenge after coaching the club for a decade across two stints.

It doesn’t come as a surprise that Juventus turned to Motta, considering that the former Italy international became one of the most respected young coaches in the game. Motta has been doing a great job with Bologna this season, getting them on the verge of securing a UEFA Champions League spot.

Curiously, Bologna is currently sitting in fourth place in the Seria A standings behind third-placed Juventus. The difference between the two clubs is four points, with seven games left to play.

Thiago Motta has had an accomplished career as a player, representing Barcelona, Genoa, Juve’s bitter rivals Inter Milan, as well as Paris Saint-Germain. Motta started his managerial career with PSG’s U19 team before embarking on stints with Genoa and Spezia. He was hired by Bologna early in the 2022-23 season and led the team to a ninth-place finish.

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Barcelona Plotting Erling Haaland Move in Hopes to Convince Manager Xavi to Stay https://sportzbonanza.com/barcelona-plotting-erling-haaland-move-in-hopes-to-convince-manager-xavi-to-stay/ Fri, 05 Apr 2024 06:40:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=24082 Erling Haaland of Manchester City in October 2022La Liga giants Barcelona are doing their best to convince their manager Xavi Hernandez to remain with the club past this summer. According to influential Catalan media outlet Mundo Deportivo, Barca’s latest attempt to make Xavi change his mind is a move for Manchester City’s star striker Erling Haaland. Xavi announced his decision to step […]

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La Liga giants Barcelona are doing their best to convince their manager Xavi Hernandez to remain with the club past this summer. According to influential Catalan media outlet Mundo Deportivo, Barca’s latest attempt to make Xavi change his mind is a move for Manchester City’s star striker Erling Haaland.

Xavi announced his decision to step down as Barca manager back in January following a series of poor results. But since then, the club embarked on an 11-game unbeaten run that included advancing to the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League. Barcelona’s brass has been impressed with the turnaround and now wants to continue building under club legend.

Reportedly, the move for Haaland would be part of an extensive recruitment plan for the future. Barca would attempt to sign the player in the summer of 2025 and believe the 23-year-old Norwegian is interested in coming to Camp Nou. Haaland was linked with Barca in 2021, but decided to stay with Borussia Dortmund for another season before joining City.

It remains to be seen whether the promise of Haaland will be enough to keep Xavi in his post. Poor results were just part of the reason why he wanted to step down, with the outside pressure and frequent criticism that comes with the position also playing a role.

Haaland is enjoying another prolific campaign with City, scoring 29 goals in all competitions in 2023-24. He is under contract with the club through 2027 but reportedly has an undisclosed exit clause.

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Xabi Alonso Says He’ll Stay With Leverkusen Amid Liverpool and Bayern Interest https://sportzbonanza.com/xabi-alonso-says-hell-stay-with-leverkusen-amid-liverpool-and-bayern-interest/ Sat, 30 Mar 2024 06:55:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=24039 Xabi Alonso with Bayer in February 2024Bayer Leverkusen’s boss Xabi Alonso has been mentioned as the top candidate for upcoming managerial vacancies at Liverpool and Bayern Munich. However, both of these clubs will have to turn their focus elsewhere as Alonso doesn’t intend to leave his current job. Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Alonso said that he will continue […]

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Bayer Leverkusen’s boss Xabi Alonso has been mentioned as the top candidate for upcoming managerial vacancies at Liverpool and Bayern Munich. However, both of these clubs will have to turn their focus elsewhere as Alonso doesn’t intend to leave his current job.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Alonso said that he will continue coaching Leverkusen in 2024-25.

“It has been a season with a lot of speculation regarding my future,” Alonso said. “… Last week, I had a good meeting with Simon [Rolfes, the club’s sporting director] with Fernando [Carro, CEO], when I informed them of my decision to continue being coach of Bayer Leverkusen.”

According to Alonso, he believes Leverkusen is the best place for him to continue his development as a coach.

“I am a young coach, but I have to feel it, and right now, I feel that this is the right place,” he added.

Alonso is doing a remarkable job in his first full season in charge with Leverkusen. He is currently guiding the club to an undefeated season, avoiding loss in the first 27 games of the Bundesliga so far. This put Bayer in the position to win the title for the first time in history while ending Bayern Munich’s of 11 consecutive Bundesliga trophies.

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Veteran Midfielder Toni Kroos Agrees to New Deal With Real Madrid Until 2025 https://sportzbonanza.com/veteran-midfielder-toni-kroos-agrees-to-new-deal-with-real-madrid-until-2025/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 06:55:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=24031 Toni Kroos of Real Madrid in 2019Real Madrid has locked up one of their key players for at least one more season. According to respectable soccer insider Fabrizio Romano, German veteran midfielder Toni Kroos agreed to a new deal with La Liga giants that will keep him on Santiago Bernabeu until the summer of 2025. Kroos was set to become a […]

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Real Madrid has locked up one of their key players for at least one more season. According to respectable soccer insider Fabrizio Romano, German veteran midfielder Toni Kroos agreed to a new deal with La Liga giants that will keep him on Santiago Bernabeu until the summer of 2025.

Kroos was set to become a free agent after 2023-24, but Romano reports that he and Real have recently engaged in talks about his future and came to terms on a one-year contract extension. The agreement is yet to be officially confirmed, but that is considered a formality at this point.

Real has revamped their midfield in recent years, wanting to get younger at the position. They brought in a number of talented prospects, including Aurélien Tchouaméni and Eduardo Camavinga. However, it appears that the club still believes that Kroos, who turned 34 in January, can still make a significant contribution.

Toni Kroos is playing at a high level this season, making 38 appearances across all competitions and contributing with one goal and seven assists. He also made an unexpected comeback to the German national team this month after three years of retirement and immediately provided two assists in two matches.

Kroos joined Real in 2014 in a transfer from Bayern Munich. Since then, he played 455 games with the club and won 20 trophies including three La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League trophies.

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