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Improving Leverkusen Face Toughest Test to Date at Bayern

Bayer Leverkusen's Algerian midfielder #30 Ibrahim Maza celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the German Cup (DFB Pokal) second round football match between SC Paderborn and Bayer 04 Leverkusen in Paderborn, western Germany on October 29, 2025. Leverkusen won the match 4-2. (Photo by INA FASSBENDER / AFP)
Bayer Leverkusen's Algerian midfielder #30 Ibrahim Maza celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the German Cup (DFB Pokal) second round football match between SC Paderborn and Bayer 04 Leverkusen in Paderborn, western Germany on October 29, 2025. Leverkusen won the match 4-2. (Photo by INA FASSBENDER / AFP)
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Improving Leverkusen Face Toughest Test to Date at Bayern

Bayer Leverkusen's Algerian midfielder #30 Ibrahim Maza celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the German Cup (DFB Pokal) second round football match between SC Paderborn and Bayer 04 Leverkusen in Paderborn, western Germany on October 29, 2025. Leverkusen won the match 4-2. (Photo by INA FASSBENDER / AFP)
Bayer Leverkusen's Algerian midfielder #30 Ibrahim Maza celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the German Cup (DFB Pokal) second round football match between SC Paderborn and Bayer 04 Leverkusen in Paderborn, western Germany on October 29, 2025. Leverkusen won the match 4-2. (Photo by INA FASSBENDER / AFP)

Bayer Leverkusen have seen their season turned around early under new coach Kasper Hjulmand, with a four-game winning run in the Bundesliga, but on Saturday they face their biggest test to date at flawless Bayern Munich.

Leverkusen, the 2024 Bundesliga champions, had several key players depart in the summer along with coach Xabi Alonso. Early results led to the sacking of new boss Erik ten Hag after two Bundesliga matchdays with Hjulmand arriving to steady the ship.

Only a few weeks ago, Leverkusen fans would have thought it was impossible to give the league leaders a run for their money in Munich.

The Bavarians, who travel to Paris St Germain for the Champions League next week, have set a record for Europe's top five leagues after beating Cologne 4-1 in the German Cup second round on Wednesday to make it 14 wins from 14 matches across all competitions.

But since Hjulmand's arrival, Leverkusen, who face Benfica in Lisbon in the Champions League on Wednesday, have been steadily improving and needed less time to start clicking than the Dane had expected. They are still on a league-record 37-match unbeaten streak in away games, Reuters reported.

Leverkusen's four-game winning run has moved them up the standings into fifth spot, level on 17 points with fourth-placed Borussia Dortmund.

However, they will not be as fresh as Hjulmand would have liked, needing 120 minutes to battle past second-tier Paderborn for a 4-2 win in the German Cup, with the winning goals coming deep in stoppage time of extra time.

"Unnecessary, completely unnecessary," said Leverkusen’s Jonas Hofmann when asked about having to play extra time. "But that’s the game. That’s how it had to be now. We accept it and will try to recover.

"We will still go there (Munich) with ambition, to get something out of it and not complain. The extra 30 minutes were not helpful, of course, but we’d rather take it this way than be knocked out."

RB Leipzig have an even better record since losing their league opener to Bayern 6-0, and have now won six of their last seven matches to take over second spot on 19 points, five behind Bayern.

They will be eying their third straight league win when they host VfB Stuttgart on Saturday, and hoping the Bavarians will slip up against Leverkusen, in order to close the gap.

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Sports

SDRPY Handball Championship Wraps up in Marib, Yemen

The program has supported the youth and sports sector through a wide range of projects and initiatives - SPA
The program has supported the youth and sports sector through a wide range of projects and initiatives - SPA
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SDRPY Handball Championship Wraps up in Marib, Yemen

The program has supported the youth and sports sector through a wide range of projects and initiatives - SPA
The program has supported the youth and sports sector through a wide range of projects and initiatives - SPA

The Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) Handball Championship in Marib Governorate concluded with Al-Watan Club claiming the title after a 27-23 victory over Al-Sadd Club in the finals. Overall, 16 local clubs competed for the championship, SPA reported.

The championship is part of SDRPY’s efforts to support the youth and sports sector and promote sporting activities across governorates.

The program has supported the youth and sports sector through a wide range of projects and initiatives, including rehabilitating sports facilities, constructing stadiums, sponsoring tournaments, and providing technical expertise and knowledge transfer.

The SDRPY has implemented development projects and initiatives across vital sectors, including education, health, water, energy, transportation, agriculture and fisheries, and capacity building to support the Yemeni government and its development programs.

Sports

ATP Roundup: Tommy Paul Wins all-American Semi to Reach Houston Final

Mar 25, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Tommy Paul of the United States hits a backhand during his match against Arthur Fils of France in the quarter finals of the men’s singles at the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images - Reuters
Mar 25, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Tommy Paul of the United States hits a backhand during his match against Arthur Fils of France in the quarter finals of the men’s singles at the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images - Reuters
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ATP Roundup: Tommy Paul Wins all-American Semi to Reach Houston Final

Mar 25, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Tommy Paul of the United States hits a backhand during his match against Arthur Fils of France in the quarter finals of the men’s singles at the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images - Reuters
Mar 25, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Tommy Paul of the United States hits a backhand during his match against Arthur Fils of France in the quarter finals of the men’s singles at the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images - Reuters

No. 4 Tommy Paul rallied for his fourth consecutive win over fellow American and second-seeded Frances Tiafoe, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7), on Saturday in the US Men's Clay Court Championship semifinals at Houston.

Paul clinched his first ever ATP clay-court final ​appearance in a grueling 2-hour, 45-minute match that was marred by rain throughout, including a 90-minute ‌delay during the second set. Paul thrived behind 14 aces and no double faults while converting two of five break-point opportunities in the pivotal deciding set.

It was back-and-forth in the final set with Tiafoe notching the first break and Paul breaking him right back in the next ​service. Then the reverse happened with Paul grabbing a break and Tiafoe nabbing it right back a service ​game later. In the deciding tiebreaker, Paul squandered two match points up 6-4 before advancing ⁠by winning two straight points to break a 7-7 tie.

In another semifinal between competitors from the same country, Argentina's Roman ​Andres Burruchaga easily dispatched Thiago Agustin Tirante 6-1, 6-1 to set up a date with Paul. Burruchaga converted 5 of ​8 break opportunities while never facing one. Tirante had 25 unforced errors to Burruchaga's 10, Reuters reported.

Grand Prix Hassan II

Qualifier Marco Trungelliti (ATP No. 117) of Argentina continued his Cinderella run by taking down top-seeded Italian Luciano Darderi 6-4, 7-6 (2) in Marrakech, Morocco.

Trungelliti clinched a spot in the final and ​is the oldest first-time finalist in ATP Tour history at 36. En route to the final, Trungelliti took down the ​fifth, third and first seeds. Trungelliti converted four of six break-point opportunities and capitalized on Darderi's eight double faults to deny the ‌Italian a ⁠repeat championship in the event.

Spain's Rafael Jodar will try to halt Trungelliti's magical run after he took down Argentinian Camilo Ugo Carabelli in straight sets 6-2, 6-1 in just 63 minutes. Jodar was never broken and held a 23-8 advantage in winners. This would also be the first title for Jodar, who at 19 years old, made his tour debut earlier ​this year at the Australian ​Open and is competing in ⁠his first tour-level clay tournament.

Tiriac Open

Qualifier Daniel Merida Aguilar of Spain came back from a set down to upset Hungarian third seed Fabian Marozsan 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-1 in a semifinal ​match in Bucharest, Romania.

After dropping the first set, Merida Agular knocked home four of his ​six break-point attempts ⁠over the final two sets, finishing with 35 winners. He defended his serve well throughout as he saved 17 of the 18 break points he faced to overcome his 39 unforced errors and reach his first tour-level final.

Seventh-seeded Argentinian Mariano Navone saved ⁠two match ​points to come back and beat eighth-seeded Botic van de Zandschulp of ​the Netherlands 5-7, 7-6 (3), 7-5. Navone capitalized on 65 unforced errors from van de Zandschulp and broke him six times. He hit 82% of his ​first serves and will also be looking for his first tour-level title after losing the 2024 Bucharest championship match.

Sports

Schouten to Miss World Cup after Surgery on Cruciate Ligament Injury

Soccer Football - Champions League - PSV Eindhoven v Sporting CP - Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands - October 1, 2024 PSV Eindhoven's Jerdy Schouten scores their first goal REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw/File Photo
Soccer Football - Champions League - PSV Eindhoven v Sporting CP - Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands - October 1, 2024 PSV Eindhoven's Jerdy Schouten scores their first goal REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw/File Photo
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Schouten to Miss World Cup after Surgery on Cruciate Ligament Injury

Soccer Football - Champions League - PSV Eindhoven v Sporting CP - Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands - October 1, 2024 PSV Eindhoven's Jerdy Schouten scores their first goal REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw/File Photo
Soccer Football - Champions League - PSV Eindhoven v Sporting CP - Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands - October 1, 2024 PSV Eindhoven's Jerdy Schouten scores their first goal REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw/File Photo

PSV Eindhoven captain Jerdy Schouten sustained a cruciate ligament injury in the match against Utrecht that required surgery, his club said on Sunday, ruling the Netherlands midfielder out of the World Cup.

Schouten suffered the injury in the second half of Saturday's 4-3 victory when he twisted his knee and the 29-year-old was taken off on a stretcher.

PSV said further examinations on Sunday confirmed the injury which generally takes six to nine months for a full recovery.

"When it happened, I actually felt immediately that something was wrong," Schouten said, Reuters reported.

"You still have a glimmer of hope that it isn't too bad, but unfortunately that turned out not to be the case. The blow is big right now, but I will move on quickly.

"Great things are about to happen for PSV again and I will do everything I can to be involved in everything."

Schouten made 40 appearances for PSV across all competitions this season, including 28 league games as they inch closer to a third straight title.

Having made his international debut in 2022, Schouten has played 17 times for the Netherlands, last playing the full 90 minutes in a friendly draw with Ecuador last week.