Hjulmand says his team are typically quite adept at passing out of the press but struggled against Arsenal’s tonight. Said his team ultimately lacked the sharpness and quality to match and hurt Arsenal.

Chelsea have now conceded as many goals in 2026 as Tottenham.

Looks like a handball from Havertz.

I was promised set-piece goals. Instead all I get are these shots from outside the box?!

As poor as Leverkusen have been tonight, I’ve still been really impressed with Maza. Comfortably Leverkusen’s best player in possession. Even if that isn’t saying much.

Really impressive first half from Arsenal. Leverkusen just as useless in attack as they were in the first leg, but difference here is the intensity of Arsenal’s pressing. They’ve hemmed Leverkusen in and are in complete control.

Absolutely incredible goal from Eze

Leverkusen look nervous. Arsenal have been all over them but it’s the 4/5 misplaced passes or players missing the ball altogether that has caused the Bundesliga side the most grief.

The Leverkusen set piece coach has been apoplectic on the sidelines for most of the first half. Clearly feels like he’s in the right stadium to outshine his head coach.

Time to see if the best team in England can beat the sixth best team in Germany.

Sounds exactly like something the anti-Christ would say…

Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been wrong, but I think we can read very little into the persistent rumours linking Leon Goretzka to Arsenal. He’s not the player he was. He’d probably struggle physically with the PL (in terms of injuries). And he’s 31. Sounds like an agent earning his wage.

Pigeon controversy in the Bundesliga youtu.be/qnyXd3mQI90?...

🇩🇪 Gegenpressing Monday Bulletin including bits from me on: 🔷 How HSV have overtaken Köln 🐦 How a pigeon helped Mainz 🟢 Why Bremen are so harmless Plus more from @manuelveth.bsky.social, @sbienkowski.bsky.social & @danwighton.bsky.social #bundesliga gegenpressing.substack.com/p/monday-bul...

A piece from Saturday (which hasn't really changed since he only played 15 mins against West Ham): Out-of-form Phil Foden may need to consider his options this summer www.transfermarkt.co.uk/guardiolas-f...

“All is fair in love and war” Not quite sure which one applies most to Trump and Putin…

Are Liverpool going backwards under Arne Slot? www.transfermarkt.co.uk/second-worst...

The Premier League continues to be a great remedy for insomnia

Twitter: Come tumble down a right-wing rabbit hole of your own choosing as you grow increasingly comfortable with fascist overlords. BlueSky:

On this week’s “Market Values” pod, I spoke to my colleague @blittlemore10.bsky.social about Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai joining the €100m club

Maybe we’re not giving Trump enough credit, because this Iran debacle is turning into a real 4D chess move to help his best buddy Putin:

I thought Jonathan Tah would be a largely insignificant signing for Bayern. Oh, how mistaken I was... The former Leverkusen star has quietly and confidently become Vincent Kompany's most important defender. gegenpressing.substack.com/p/how-jonath...

🎙️ Gegenpressing podcast live from Leverkusen last night with @manuelveth.bsky.social and (eventually) @sbienkowski.bsky.social 🔴 Almost a defensive masterclass 🔴 Leverkusen with the set-piece goal 🔴 A very silly challenge from Tillman 🔴 Havertz returns ➡️ gegenpressing.substack.com/p/leverkusen...

Leverkusen spent €96m on new attacking players this season and somehow they have very little to show for it. So I have a degree of sympathy for under-pressure head coach Kasper Hjulmand.

Leverkusen against Arsenal reaction show with @sbienkowski.bsky.social and @matt4d.bsky.social gegenpressing.substack.com/p/leverkusen...

113 players across Europe's top five leagues have scored more goals than Man City striker Erling Haaland in 2026

Feels a bit like Bayern and Bodø/Glimt are the only clubs taking the Champions League seriously this season.

Then my work here is done.

Won't someone think of the Premier League coefficient?

Federico Valverde now has TWO more goals and assists than any other Real Madrid player in 2026. From midfield. What a player.

Leverkusen against Arsenal reaction show in 12 minutes. Join @sbienkowski.bsky.social, @matt4d.bsky.social and myself as we try to break it all down. open.substack.com/live-stream/...

Bukayo Saka now has just two goals and two assists in his last 15 starts for Arsenal in all competitions. Talked about this a few times this season, but it's really odd that Arsenal are so good this season despite having no notable consistent performers in their front line.

Pretty dull opening 45 minutes. Leverkusen doing enough to keep Arsenal at bay, but struggling to offer anything in the final third. Unless Kofane can score a wondergoal, it still feels like we're just waiting around for Arsenal to eventually crack this defence open.

I'm reluctant to blame all of a club's on-field issues on one player, but Robert Andrich at centre back is reaching Emre Can levels of self-sabotage for Leverkusen this season. There's no way he lasts the night against Arsenal.

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲𝘀, Episode 1: • The teenage wave sweeping the Premier League • Szoboszlai joins the €100M club • Why Palmer and Saka keep losing market value • Barış Alper emerges as Galatasaray star • Is Osimhen unsellable this summer? + Why Hyeon-gyu Oh is Turkish football's new star

If you’d told me 12 months ago that Jonathan Tah would become Bayern’s most reliable defender, a crucial player in a defence constantly plagued by injury and poor form, I’d have struggled to believe you. And yet, here we are…

Serge Gnabry is a world class utility player and he showed it against Atalanta tonight. If Bayern do win the Champions League this season, it’ll be in no small part due to his ability to seamlessly fill in across their front line.

Going live with @matt4d.bsky.social and @manuelveth.bsky.social to discuss the Bayern game in about 10 minutes: open.substack.com/live-stream/...

Six more goals from Bayern tonight and their goals per game average in the Champions League will be level with their average in the Bundesliga.

Another wonderful goal from ̶A̶r̶j̶e̶n̶ ̶R̶o̶b̶b̶e̶n̶ Michael Olise.

Even Nicolas Jackson has scored. A very easy evening for Bayern.

Certainly felt like Dortmund (in typical fashion) knocked themselves out of the last round, rather than Atalanta getting the better of them.Tonight’s display against Bayern certainly backs up that theory. Not that Dortmund would be doing any better, mind you.

Atalanta are absolutely mad. Central defenders rushing forward, going man for man with Bayern’s front line. Which basically means it’s 3 vs 3 every time Bayern counter attack.

Wow. Absolutely stunning goal from Michael Olise. Bayern 2-0 up over Atalanta after 21 minutes and they haven’t even got out of first gear yet.

Clearly a hand ball. No idea why it took so long to decide.

Konate has been a bomb-scare tonight.

Really enjoyable first half in Istanbul. Both teams wide open at the back. Fun attack plays. And no idea who’s going to win. Is… is this football?

Very excited to announce that tomorrow, Transfermarkt launches its first-ever English podcast: Market Values. Each week, I'll be speaking with TM colleagues from around the world to cover the major talking points in football. Subscribe to show your support!

Oh good God, the "Julian Brandt to Arsenal" rumours have already started and it's only March.

The new #Bundesliga Monday Bulletin is here. This week @matt4d.bsky.social, @danwighton.bsky.social, and I cover: 🐐Köln enter relegation battle 🎄Werder resurgent 🐝Beier to replace Brandt? 🐻Bayern debut Maycon Cardozo 🇩🇪...and much more! gegenpressing.substack.com/p/monday-bul...