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Rested Leverkusen Eye Win over Bayern in Top-of-the-table Clash

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Bayer Leverkusen v Schalke 04 - BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany - October 8, 2022 General view of a Bayer Leverkusen flag before the match REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/ File Photo
Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Bayer Leverkusen v Schalke 04 - BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany - October 8, 2022 General view of a Bayer Leverkusen flag before the match REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/ File Photo
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Rested Leverkusen Eye Win over Bayern in Top-of-the-table Clash

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Bayer Leverkusen v Schalke 04 - BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany - October 8, 2022 General view of a Bayer Leverkusen flag before the match REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/ File Photo
Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Bayer Leverkusen v Schalke 04 - BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany - October 8, 2022 General view of a Bayer Leverkusen flag before the match REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/ File Photo

Champions Bayer Leverkusen will be desperate to narrow the eight-point gap to leaders Bayern Munich when they host the Bavarians on Saturday in a top-of-the-table Bundesliga clash.

Xabi Alonso's team are in second place on 46 points, with Bayern, who are determined to reestablish their dominance after Leverkusen's domestic double triumph last season, top on 54.

But the hosts will not have just the home fans in their favour on Saturday as they look to cut Bayern's lead to five points and keep the title race tight, Reuters reported

They will also be significantly fresher than Bayern, having avoided the Champions League playoffs this week with an automatic last-16 qualification.

The Bavarians instead have to play three key matches in eight days, having beaten Celtic 2-1 on Wednesday in Glasgow for their first leg playoff ahead of Saturday's big game.

Just three days after their trip to Leverkusen, Bayern face Celtic again, this time in Munich on Tuesday, for a spot in the Champions League Round of 16.

A Bayern win on Saturday would see the gap over Leverkusen grow to 11 points after 22 league games, which would mean the fourth biggest lead at this stage of the season in the history of the Bundesliga.

Alonso, however, has not lost any of his five games against Bayern in all competitions as Leverkusen coach.

"We know our current position and look forward to the game," said Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka. "It is a special match for the entire country and we have to do our job and see what we get after 90 minutes.

"Even last season one of our strengths was not to look at the standings too much. We know we have to beat Bayern to stay in the race and we are not going into this game to get a draw," he told broadcaster Sky.

"It is in our hands to step on the gas and believe in success," Xhaka said.

Vincent Kompany's Bayern are in good form, having won their last seven straight league games. They have also seen a number of long-term injured players, including defenders Josip Stanisic and Hiroki Ito, return to action in recent weeks.

Fellow Champions League club Borussia Dortmund, buoyed by their 3-0 first-leg playoff win at Sporting on Tuesday, will be desperate for points when they visit VfL Bochum in the mini Ruhr Valley derby on Saturday.

Dortmund are in 11th place on 29 points, seven points off the top four, and run the risk of missing out on the Champions League spots for next season.

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Sports

Boulevard City Hosts Open Training Sessions for 'Ring V: Night of the Samurai' Stars

The open training sessions are part of the Fight Week program - SPA
The open training sessions are part of the Fight Week program - SPA
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Boulevard City Hosts Open Training Sessions for 'Ring V: Night of the Samurai' Stars

The open training sessions are part of the Fight Week program - SPA
The open training sessions are part of the Fight Week program - SPA

The Global Theater at Boulevard City hosted on Wednesday the open training sessions for the stars of “Ring V: Night of the Samurai,” as part of the second day of Fight Week during Riyadh Season 2025.

The event drew strong public and media attendance, giving boxing fans a close look at the fighters’ preparations ahead of the much-anticipated fight night.

The world’s top boxing talents, led by Japanese world champion Naoya Inoue, alongside Alan Picasso, Junto Nakatani, Kenshiro Teraji, Taiga Imanaga, Rito Tsutsumi, and other fighters, featured on the Night of the Samurai fight card. The interactive atmosphere reflected the global interest surrounding the upcoming event, according to SPA.

The sessions showcased the fighters’ skills, physical strength, and sharp focus, as the stars delivered technical highlights for fans and media alike, marking the final stages of preparation ahead of the official bouts to be hosted in Riyadh as part of one of the biggest boxing nights of Riyadh Season.

The open training sessions are part of the Fight Week program, designed to enhance fan engagement with the participating fighters and offer a closer look at the competitive build-up, reflecting Riyadh Season’s commitment to delivering exceptional sports and entertainment experiences.

The press conference will be held on December 25, 2025, with all fighters in attendance, as final preparations are discussed and statements exchanged ahead of the main fight night.

Sports

Frank Warns Squad to Be ‘Grown-Up’ as Spurs Players Get Christmas Day Off

Tottenham Hotspur's manager Thomas Frank gestures during the English Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool FC, in London, Britain, 20 December 2025. (EPA)
Tottenham Hotspur's manager Thomas Frank gestures during the English Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool FC, in London, Britain, 20 December 2025. (EPA)
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Frank Warns Squad to Be ‘Grown-Up’ as Spurs Players Get Christmas Day Off

Tottenham Hotspur's manager Thomas Frank gestures during the English Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool FC, in London, Britain, 20 December 2025. (EPA)
Tottenham Hotspur's manager Thomas Frank gestures during the English Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool FC, in London, Britain, 20 December 2025. (EPA)

Thomas Frank will give his Tottenham squad Christmas Day off but only because it fits in with their schedule ahead of Sunday's match away to London rivals Crystal Palace.

Spurs have struggled since Frank replaced the sacked Ange Postecoglou and are 14th in the Premier League table following a run of five defeats in eight matches in all competitions.

The club's form has led to a rising tide of anger among Tottenham fans, many of whom are already losing faith in Frank and the 52-year-old's decision to give his side Christmas Day off may not go down well with supporters.

But Frank, explaining the reason behind his decision, said: "This week we actually handle in the same way I would have done with any other week. If it was not Christmas, it was still done the same.

"So, we have two days leading to the game, day off, two days. So Tuesday and Wednesday, then off on 25th and then two days. Then it's perfectly fit the Christmas family schedule, which is very good.

"I'm a big believer of being a top professional and that's something I believe the players are and should be. Some need to be guided more than others, but also they are grown-up individuals.

"If I need to hold their hand the whole time, we have a bigger problem in my opinion."
Frank will be without captain Cristian Romero and Xavi Simons at Selhurst Park due to suspension in a fresh setback for the Danish coach.

But the former Brentford boss pointed to his spell at Brondby in 2013, where he recovered from a poor start to enjoy success over a three-year period, as an indication of how things could turn around at Spurs.

"I think I see a lot of similarities to my first head coach job," he said. "Of course, completely different scale.

"This is, of course, a massive club. One of the biggest clubs in the world and so much focus on it, so that makes it of course bigger and a different challenge.

"But I see a lot of similarities when I had my first head coach job in Brondby and here where you try to build something over time.

"You inherit something that you need to try to get right with a lot of good people around me and then where this makes it extra challenging is that we play Champions League and Premier League at the same time.

"And we try to improve while we are driving 100 miles an hour, but that's part of it. That's a good challenge."

Sports

Newcastle Boss Howe Takes No Comfort from Recent Man Utd Record

Football - Premier League - Newcastle United v Chelsea - St. James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - December 20, 2025 Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe reacts after the match. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Newcastle United v Chelsea - St. James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - December 20, 2025 Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe reacts after the match. (Action Images via Reuters)
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Newcastle Boss Howe Takes No Comfort from Recent Man Utd Record

Football - Premier League - Newcastle United v Chelsea - St. James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - December 20, 2025 Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe reacts after the match. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Newcastle United v Chelsea - St. James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - December 20, 2025 Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe reacts after the match. (Action Images via Reuters)

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said the Magpies' recent good run against Manchester United will count for little at Old Trafford on Friday.

Howe's men will arrive at the "Theater of Dreams" having won five of their last six games in all competitions against United and four of the last five Premier League encounters since they lost 2-0 to the Red Devils in the 2023 League Cup final.

But asked if that Wembley reverse had proved a catalyst for his team, Howe replied: "I don't know.

"That was a painful moment, but I think you just go against every opponent in an honest way. My process is to see the strengths and weaknesses of the team that we're playing against.

"You don't particularly look at the name or who you're playing as such, you just attack the game, then try to highlight those weaknesses and try to protect yours, so it doesn't really change, the process is the same."

The former Bournemouth manager added: "Our record has been good against Manchester United in recent games, but that counts for nothing in this game.

"It will be another independent game and as I say, they've improved, they've been really strong in the games -- even the game at Aston Villa, where they didn't win in their last match, I thought they were really strong and produced a good performance."

Newcastle finished 10 places and 24 points ahead of Manchester United last season, but will run out for the Boxing Day clash three points adrift of their hosts after letting two slip in Saturday's 2-2 home draw with Chelsea.

Record signing Nick Woltemade scored both goals in an impressive first-half display to strengthen his bond with Newcastle's loyal and passionate supporters.

"You can see that when he scores, he's got a really good connection," said Howe. "You can see the crowd are really happy for him and he's happy to embrace the celebrations with the crowd.

"I thought it was his best performance for the team on Saturday. I thought he played really well, especially in the first half.

"You saw his qualities returning for the team, really, in the sense that his linking play... he was dropping slightly lower on the pitch, he helped us build the ball through the thirds of the pitch, but most importantly when the ball arrived in the box, he was there."