A super tight German L2 in which Killian Corredor is enjoying himself, the waltz of coaches in England and Italy and clubs in great financial difficulty in the Benelux…
Also read >> Ligue 1 (J15) – One defeat too many for Dall'Oglio and ASSE, HAC, Nantes and Angers lose, Montpellier scrapes a point against Nice: the Ligue 2 barometer, episode 15
Le Big Four
Germany: Elversberg's turn, Corredor twice as strong!
The top of the 2.Bundesliga standings is still tight: only three points separate ninth place from the championship lead. After 16 days, a sixth different leader emerged this weekend. Elversberg seized the throne after a resounding victory (3-0) on the field of Braunschweig (Brunswick). The Sarre club, which was still playing in the Regionalliga (4th division) in 2022, has never played in the first division since its creation… in 1907.
Furthermore, Killian Corredor definitely launched his season by signing the biggest individual performance of the weekend: the left winger from Darmstadt scored two goals and delivered two assists against Kaiserslautern (5-1). The video demonstration:
England: A Milwall legend slams the door
Bad times for Championship coaches! Two coaches lost their place in the last few hours. HAS Millwall (13th), Neil Harris announced his departure a few days before a third defeat in a row against Middlesbrough (0-1). A former striker, he is also the top scorer in the club's history (138) and was making his third stint on the bench for his favorite club. However, the coach got angry with some of the supporters whom he publicly described as “ idiots » (thickos) by reminding them that three of the team's best players (Esse, Tanganga, Cooper) had been absent recently. Four days ago, coach Harris was nominated by the EFL (English Football League) for the title of Coach of the Month for November. In football, everything happens very quickly…
On the side ofOxford United, the fifth defeat in six matches (against Sheffield Wednesday, 1-3) got the better of the place of Des Buckingham, although very popular with the fans. At the top of the table, Sheffield increases its lead over Leeds by beating Wayne Rooney's Plymouth 2-0 (23rd)
Spain: Santander in distress… and the victim of too much aggression?
« The leader is in crisis » affirmed Marca this Monday after the third consecutive defeat of Racing Santander, still in the lead, without having scored a single goal since November 16. Sunday, the Highlanders (mountain people) lost against Huesca (0-1) on a big error from Unai Vencedor. A few days earlier, coach José Alberto Lopez complained about the opponents being too aggressive: “ Against us, teams exceed 20 fouls per match […] either we put a little common sense back into these matches, or we put an end to football and our players »
Note during the 19th day, the third goal with Córdoba by Theo Zidane against Levante, with a nice recovery from the left
Italy: We can no longer stop Sassuolo, the express rebound of Bisoli
Sixth consecutive victory, only one defeat in 17 days: Fabio Grosso's Sassuolo imposes an infernal pace on its pursuers in Serie B. Coach Fabio Grosso, who has spent a short time with Lyon in the meantime, is well on his way to securing a second promotion in three seasons. The 2006 world champion was on the field of his former club, Frosinone, on Saturday, with a 2-1 victory.
In Italy too, the benches are starting to look like ejection seats. Last Monday, Brescia ended the mandate of Rolando Marran, replaced by Pierpaolo Bisoli, himself fired from Südtirol, five days earlier!
Sampdoria, which is still flirting with the relegation zone (15th) became the third club this season to change coach twice (after Cremona and Südtirol). Arriving at the end of August to replace Andrea Pirlo, Andrea Sottil leaves his place to Leonardo Simplici.
Elsewhere in Europe…
Belgium: Deinze, it's over…
After a few days of suspense that wasn't really suspense, KMSK Deinze disappeared from the Challenger Pro League calendar. Last Wednesday, the Ghent business court declared the club bankrupt, having been unable to pay its players since September. In recent weeks, the club's U21 players have taken up the torch from the pro players. All the points taken by the other teams against Deinze this season were deducted, which had the effect of restoring the lead of the championship to Zulte-Waregem, to the detriment of Louvière.
The Belgian D2 will therefore end at 15 instead of 16, with one club exempt each week. The defeat against Seraing on December 8 was the last match in the club's history.
Netherlands: 27 penalty points for Vitesse!
For several months Vitesse (Arnhem) has failed to comply with the regulations of the KNVB (Dutch federation). Penalties are piling up for the club which, on numerous occasions, has failed to submit the required financial documents. In 2023-2024, an 18-point penalty ruined hopes of remaining in the Eredivisie, the top tier. Rebelote in Eerste Divisie, the Dutch second division, always for the same reasons. After a first penalty of six points in September, Vitesse received an additional 21 penalty points at the end of November and is now in last place in the championship with “-8 points”. No sporting relegation to the third division being planned this season, the “ FC Hollywood du Rhin » risks nothing more than last place in the championship… for the moment. Mired in an unsuccessful search for an investor, the club ultimately risks seeing its license revoked.
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