Relegation-Threatened Hertha Berlin Loses 4-1 at Leverkusen

05 March 2023, North Rhine-Westphalia, Leverkusen: Leverkusen's Moussa Diaby celebrates after scoring his side's third goal of the game during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Hertha BSC at BayArena. (dpa)
05 March 2023, North Rhine-Westphalia, Leverkusen: Leverkusen's Moussa Diaby celebrates after scoring his side's third goal of the game during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Hertha BSC at BayArena. (dpa)
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Relegation-Threatened Hertha Berlin Loses 4-1 at Leverkusen

05 March 2023, North Rhine-Westphalia, Leverkusen: Leverkusen's Moussa Diaby celebrates after scoring his side's third goal of the game during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Hertha BSC at BayArena. (dpa)
05 March 2023, North Rhine-Westphalia, Leverkusen: Leverkusen's Moussa Diaby celebrates after scoring his side's third goal of the game during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Hertha BSC at BayArena. (dpa)

Hertha Berlin’s hopes of edging further away from the Bundesliga’s relegation zone were wrecked Sunday in a 4-1 loss at Bayer Leverkusen.

Moussa Diaby, Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong starred for Leverkusen as it bounced back from two league games without a win with a convincing display of attacking soccer. The visitors found themselves unable to compete with the home team’s speed on the wings.

Frimpong and Diaby combined down the right before the latter cut the back for Sardar Azmoun to open the scoring in the 12th minute, and it was a similar story for the second goal in the 21st.

Frimpong and Odilon Kossounou sent Diaby racing down the right and the French forward cut the ball back for Frimpong to score, though he could have picked out any of the four Leverkusen players who ran with him in anticipation of the cross.

Frimpong had to go off injured in the 29th, by which time the game already seemed going in one direction only with Hertha unable to muster a response to the early setbacks.

It continued in the same vein after the break, when Diaby struck the crossbar and then grabbed the third goal on the hour-mark.

Dodi Lukebakio’s penalty in the 67th provided only brief respite for the visitors, with Amine Adli adding Leverkusen’s fourth in the 73rd.

Hertha remained just one point ahead of the bottom four teams — Stuttgart, Hoffenheim, Schalke and Bochum — all on 19 points.

Leverkusen climbed to ninth.

Wolfsburg hosted Eintracht Frankfurt later Sunday.



Barcelona Signs Goalkeeper Joan Garcia from Crosstown Rival Espanyol

Espanyol's Spanish goalkeeper #01 Joan Garcia catches the ball during the Spanish league football match between RCD Espanyol and FC Barcelona at the RCDE Stadium in Cornella de Llobregat, on May 15, 2025. (AFP)
Espanyol's Spanish goalkeeper #01 Joan Garcia catches the ball during the Spanish league football match between RCD Espanyol and FC Barcelona at the RCDE Stadium in Cornella de Llobregat, on May 15, 2025. (AFP)
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Barcelona Signs Goalkeeper Joan Garcia from Crosstown Rival Espanyol

Espanyol's Spanish goalkeeper #01 Joan Garcia catches the ball during the Spanish league football match between RCD Espanyol and FC Barcelona at the RCDE Stadium in Cornella de Llobregat, on May 15, 2025. (AFP)
Espanyol's Spanish goalkeeper #01 Joan Garcia catches the ball during the Spanish league football match between RCD Espanyol and FC Barcelona at the RCDE Stadium in Cornella de Llobregat, on May 15, 2025. (AFP)

Barcelona is signing Espanyol goalkeeper Joan García, who was once linked to a move to Arsenal, to a six-year contract, the Spanish champion said Wednesday.

The 24-year-old Garcia recently finished a stellar first season in La Liga when he led all goalkeepers in saves with an average of almost four a game.

He will now join Espanyol’s main rival on a contract until June 2031.

Barcelona said it activated a release clause of 25 million euros ($28.5 million) and that Garcia is expected to sign the contract Friday in a “private ceremony” at the club's offices.

The fee could help Espanyol reinforce a squad after it only avoided relegation on the final day of the season.

Garcia had been close to a possible move to Arsenal last summer after he helped Spain win Olympic gold in Paris. He stayed put and was one of Espanyol’s best players.

Garcia has yet to debut for Spain’s senior side, but it's considered only a matter of time before he does if he continues to play well. He helped Spain win the Olympic gold medal in Paris last year.

“The time has come to part ways. Today I say goodbye to the club that has been my home since I was 15,” he said on social media. “I’ve given everything to help the team, to represent this badge with the utmost dedication, and to live up to what it means to wear this shirt."

Garcia said he would understand the backlash from Espanyol fans for him joining its rival.

“I know this decision won’t be easy for everyone to understand,” he said. “I’m not asking you to do so. But I do want you to know that it was a carefully considered decision, considering not only my career, but also what’s best for the club, my family, and me.”

Garcia's arrival to Barcelona puts in question the role of veteran Marc-André ter Stegen, who was injured most of the season. Ter Stegen is under contract through 2028.

Following Ter Stegen’s injury, Barcelona convinced Wojciech Szczęsny to come out of retirement and sign a contract for the remainder of last season. Barcelona’s other goalkeeper is Inaki Pena.

While several Barcelona players have joined Espanyol later in their careers, it is rare for an Espanyol player to move to Barcelona. Their derbies are heated affairs.

Barcelona won the Spanish league this year.