Patrik Schick

Bayer Leverkusen will hope to edge closer to the top four places when they face Augsburg this weekend at the BayArena. Die Werkself enter Matchday 30 of the Bundesliga after…

Mikel Arteta has been told Arsenal 'might have won the Premier League already' had they signed a £26m striker instead of Viktor Gyokeres.

Two ‘factory’ teams of German football proved that there is plenty at stake in the Bundesliga after a 6-3 win for Leverkusen They said nobody cared enough for the stakes to be this high. If discussion over the destination of the title (and second place for that matter) has been and gone, there is plenty more in the Bundesliga tank and for Bayer Leverkusen and Wolfsburg, two clubs who will never hold universal approval despite producing teams to thrill us and break the Bayern monopoly in the last two decades, that is truer than for most. Before RB Leipzig were around to corral all the disapproval of German supporters at large, there was El Plastico. As the two ‘factory’ teams of German football, grown from Bayer and Volkswagen respectively rather than from a fanbase, Leverkusen and Wolfsburg have endured a lifetime of rival fans looking down their noses at them, judging them as not organic or real enough. Conversely this fixture, if derided by some, has produced a string of memorable games; the 5-4 win for Wolfsburg at the Bay Arena in 2015 during current coach Dieter Hecking’s successful first spell, sealed by Bas Dost’s four goals, or the typically later-than-late Leverkusen 4-3 in September 2024 dusted by Victor Boniface’s stoppage-time winner. So when Bild’s headline called this “the wildest plastico of all time,” they really did mean it was something special. Tension and huge potential consequences can often make for a stilted, cautious spectacle. Not here. For Wolfsburg, there was an element of predictability in that it was a 20th successive game without a clean sheet – and they didn’t look like keeping one for an instant. Still, the record – the worst defensive run in the club’s history since a previous Hecking side did the same in 2014 – wouldn’t have mattered at all had Die Wölfe held the 3-1 lead with which they approached half-time, having seemingly found some nerve to help their desperate situation at the bottom of the table. In that first half, Hecking would have been delighted. If there had been a thick volume of hard luck stories over recent weeks, Wolfsburg had no time to listen to them here. After Jonas Wind’s opener, they were unhappy with the penalty awarded to Leverkusen when Joakim Mæhle feathered a slight touch on Ibrahim Maza in the penalty area – converted for the hosts by Alejandro Grimaldo – but literally seconds later Mæhle himself stepped up to blast Wolfsburg back in front with a rocket from long range. When Christian Eriksen converted a Wolfsburg penalty shortly after it was 3-1 and finally the strugglers were showing real fortitude. There was light, at last, at the end of the tunnel. Instead, the inevitable Grimaldo brought Leverkusen back into the match by finishing a smart move just before half-time, enabling his coach, Kasper Hjulmand, to make the changes at the break to turn the match, and perhaps to change his own fate at the helm. For if we look at Wolfsburg’s moment of crisis, the home side were facing one at 3-1 down. “A change of coach is not a scenario we are considering,” Leverkusen’s sporting director, Simon Rolfes, had said before the game but losing at home to a team in the bottom two – to severely compromise Die Werkself’s chances of a return to the Champions League – would have sorely tested that stance. It wouldn’t have been the first time Rolfes has been forced into an abrupt pivot this season. That, incidentally, is what Hjulmand used to really change the momentum; taking off Equi Fernández, bringing on Patrik Schick to join Christian Kofane up front and really attacking in a season where Leverkusen have often looked too tentative. Schick equalised from another spot-kick before Edmund Tapsoba put the hosts in front. The excellent Maza added another and substitute Malik Tillman made it six after a brilliant slalom along the byline by Ernest Poku.

Adam Hurrey is joined on the midweek Adjudication Panel by Charlie Eccleshare and Nick Miller. On the agenda: Erling Haaland's Pro Evo name on Pointless, Wilfried Zaha confronts some modern footballing discourse head-on, Patrik Schick's uniquely selfish attacking statistics this season, a Europa League legend bows out, a pundit finally confronts the "players geeing up the crowd" epidemic, "the Lionel Messi of acting", soap-opera free transfers and a glorious Cliches tribute from an ice hockey commentator. Meanwhile, the panel make their niche predictions for the upcoming England games and discuss a listener approaching their pants collection like a careful squad rebuild. Adam's book, Extra Time Beckons, Penalties Loom: How to Use (and Abuse) The Language of Football, is OUT NOW: https://geni.us/ExtraTimeBeckons Visit nordvpn.com/cliches to get four extra months on a two-year plan with NordVPN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What a bloody tournament that was! To celebrate the end of a cracking summer of football, we've cut together a Euro 2020 diary featuring the best clips from every single day of the tournament. Today, we rattle through the group stages - from England's measured start and Turkey's utter capitulation to that Patrik Schick wondergoal, psychic predictions and supercomputers. Remember those?! Timecodes for the episode are available here. We'll be showcasing some of our favourite football shows from across the Stak network from Thursday, before returning with brand new episodes of the Football Ramble from Monday 26th July! The Football Ramble, the original and best football podcast. Brand new podcasts every single weekday throughout the Premier League season and every day throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marcus, Luke and Pete couldn't construct any clear-cut chances in the studio, so we've left the mics on and Jack Grealish is going to have a go. England's underwhelming performance contrasted with an impressive Scottish effort, who now have a good chance of qualifying after last night's draw. We also check in on the striking exploits of Patrik Schick and Alexander Isak, two forwards who will no doubt terrorise England later in the tournament. We'll be releasing even more shows throughout the Euros! Make sure you're subscribed to our feed in your podcast app so you don't miss a thing across the tournament! Search ‘Football Ramble’ on social media to find us, and email us here: [email protected] ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** The Football Ramble, the original and best football podcast. Brand new podcasts every single weekday throughout the Premier League season and every day throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vish joins Kate and Pete back in the studio after his trip to Hampden Park, where the unbelievable atmosphere was eventually flattened by Patrik Schick's 60-yard missile. Friday's match against the Auld Enemy should be just the tonic for the Scots. Elsewhere, the Return of the Mak helped Slovakia to an unlikely win over Poland and Spain passed their way to a 0-0 draw with hotdog enthusiasts Sweden. We'll be releasing even more shows throughout the Euros! Make sure you're subscribed to our feed in your podcast app so you don't miss a thing across the tournament! Search ‘Football Ramble’ on social media to find us, and email us here: [email protected] ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** The Football Ramble, the original and best football podcast. Brand new podcasts every single weekday throughout the Premier League season and every day throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Suj and James review the 3 games played in the Euros on Monday as Scotland were left Schick as the Czech forward scored twice including the likely goal of the tournament from the halfway line, while Slovakia upset Poland and Sweden help Spain in Seville. The fallout from a Euro Fantasy perspective is discussed, plus learnings and insights that may help our understanding on the games to come in the remainder of the Group Stage... ____________________________________________ Want to become a member of our FPL community? Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/planetfpl Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/PlanetFPL?s...​ Follow James on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/PlanetFPLPod​...​ Follow Suj on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/sujanshah​​​​...​ Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/planetfpl/​​...​ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/PlanetFPL/​... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt Davies-Adams, Duncan Alexander and Dom Fifield react to a day of record-breaking goals and record-breaking passes at Euro 2020. The Tartan Army’s return to tournament football is an unhappy one as Patrick Schick inspires Czech Republic to victory from the halfway line. Did Scotland prove they are genuinely unlucky? Or are they just not clinical enough? Sweden channel their inner Palace to stifle Spain and draw 0-0 in Seville. Alexander Isak looks the real deal, Alvaro Morata – not so much. Slovakia overcome Poland who continue to struggle for goals at major tournaments, even with Lewandowski. France face Germany on Tuesday – with the Mbappe Giroud spat stealing focus, is there a chance Les Bleus could implode? And Hungary will face Portugal in front of 60,000 fans in Budapest. Tomasz Mortimer tells us how far the national side have come in a short period of time. RUNNING ORDER: • PART 1: Scotland 0-2 Czech Republic (04m 30s) • PART 2a: Spain 0-0 Sweden (14m 00s) • PART 2b: Poland 1-2 Slovakia (20m 00s) • PART 3a: France v Germany preview (26m 30s) • PART 3b: Hungary v Portugal preview with Tomasz Mortimer (32m 00s) • PART 4: The odds with Paddy Power (42m 30s) • PART 5: On This Day – England 2-0 Scotland (44m 30s) SIGN UP TO THE ATHLETIC FOR £1 A MONTH FOR YOUR FIRST 6 MONTHS: • theathletic.com/totally GET IN TOUCH: • follow us on Instagram • find us on Facebook • send us a tweet: @TheTotallyShow PARISH NOTICES: • we’re sponsored by Paddy Power - home of the Money Back Special READ STUFF ON OUR WEBSITE: • check out thetotallyfootballshow.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Fussball-Meisters are back again for a brand new episode of On The Continent. There’s a whole load of stuff on the docket today, and we begin with last night’s El Clásico. It was the first goalless tie between the two sides since 2002, and Real Madrid were (predictably) unhappy with some of the officiating. We discuss Zinedine Zidane’s deserved public praise for Gareth Bale after his impressive display, as well as Luka Jović’s struggles in the Spanish capital. We then take stock of a crazy Bundesliga game Andy saw earlier this week, as a Jadon Sancho-inspired Dortmund somehow didn’t emerge victorious from a cracking 3-3 with RB Leipzig. We also celebrate the goalscoring return of original OTC Goalbae Patrik Schick, before looking ahead to Leipzig’s intriguing matchup against Spurs in the Champions League and previewing the draw more generally. James also talks about his recent chat with Max Allegri, and we have some cracking Games of the Week lined up. Join us! Correspondence? Fire away: [email protected] or find us on social media by searching 'Football Ramble Daily'. ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** The Football Ramble, the original and best football podcast. Brand new podcasts every single weekday throughout the Premier League season and every day throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.