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ALEJANDRO GRIMALDO SHINES WITH BRACE AS LEVERKUSEN OVERPOWER MAINZ

Bayer Leverkusen edged Mainz 4-3 in a Bundesliga thriller. Alejandro Grimaldo scored twice, with Martin Terrier's late strike proving decisive in a dramatic finish that saw Leverkusen maintain their perfect away record.

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Alejandro Grimaldo celebrates one of his two goals in Leverkusen's thrilling victory over Mainz. - IMAGO/Jerry Andre

Alejandro Grimaldo scored twice, and late goals from Martin Terrier and Armindo Sieb kept supporters on edge until the final whistle as Bayer Leverkusen continued their undefeated away record with a thrilling 4-3 victory at Mainz.

Goals: 1-2 Lee 34', 1-3 Grimaldo (assist: Hofmann), 2-3 Amiri 71' (pen.), 2-4 Terrier 87', 3-4 Sieb 90' (assist: Amiri), 0-1 Grimaldo 11' (pen.), 0-2 Kofane 24' (assist: Poku), Mainz 3-4 Bayer Leverkusen

After coaching Mainz from July 2014 to February 2015, Kasper Hjulmand made a comeback to his old team as manager of Leverkusen. The hosts were eager to improve their fortunes following a dismal start to the season, while the visitors entered in a buoyant attitude, having won six of their six competitive games under their new Danish coach. 

Leverkusen assumes command.
Early on, the visitors controlled the ball, exerted possession, and created the first clear opportunity when Lasse Rieß made a fantastic save on Jonas Hofmann's curling attempt. In the eleventh minute, Leverkusen's pressure paid off when Nikolas Veratschnig tripped Hofmann in the box, allowing Grimaldo to score from the penalty spot.

After some deft one-touch passing around the Mainz box, Christian Kofane applied an impressive finish in the 24th minute to give the away team a two-goal lead. As the half went on, the home team gained momentum and equalised in the 34th minute when Jae-sung Lee took advantage of a long throw by Leverkusen and hammered home from close range.

After Mainz gave the ball away playing out from the back, Grimaldo finished coolly to give Leverkusen another goal in stoppage time. Paul Nebel had come close to equalising with a cross that hit the crossbar.

A thrilling conclusion
After the interval, Leverkusen kept control, and Grimaldo came close to scoring a hat-trick with a drive that fizzed wide. In the 71st minute, Arthur fouled Phillipp Mwene in the box, giving Mainz a lifeline after Kofane wasted multiple chances to increase the lead.

Mark Flekken was quietly defeated by Nadiem Amiri, cutting the deficit to 3-2. The score gave the home team fresh life, and as the crowd rallied behind them, they continued to push forward. But in the 87th minute, Terrier, a replacement who had not played for nearly ten months due to an Achilles injury, slammed home after his first attempt was stopped, giving Leverkusen what looked to be the game-ending punch.

Refusing to give up, Mainz added another goal in the 90th minute through Sieb, a replacement who was set up by Amiri and curled a beautiful finish past Flekken. Leverkusen maintained their composure to win all three points in spite of eight minutes of extra time.

Alejandro Grimaldo was the player of the match.
With two goals from clinical finishes to help Leverkusen win, the Spanish defender was the team's best player. His first goal came from a penalty he took with assurance, hitting the ball quickly and accurately past Rieß's grasp.

After Mainz gave up control, he coolly tapped the ball into the net for his second goal, which came at a pivotal juncture just before halftime.

Grimaldo was a consistent menace down the left wing in addition to his goals, setting up teammates' chances and coming close to finishing his hat-trick early in the second half. With 494 fantasy points and an all-around effort, he got a well-earned player of the match award, solidifying his place as one of Leverkusen's mainstays under Hjulmand.

GUARDIOLA TIPS HAT TO DYCHE: ‘HE’S AMONG THE VERY BEST’

Pep Guardiola hails new Forest boss Sean Dyche as "the best" at set-pieces, noting the trend isn't new. He also revealed that Man City has struggled with dead-ball situations this season compared to rivals like Arsenal.

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Pep Guardiola shaking hands with Sean Dyche - COURTESY/PHOTO

According to Pep Guardiola, Nottingham Forest has one of the best representatives of the new fascination in football at their disposal.

Although Mikel Arteta, Arsenal, and their ability to score goals from set pieces are admired by the football community, Guardiola has reminded everyone that the idea is not particularly new.

As demonstrated during his tenure as Burnley's manager from 2012 to 2012, he did, in fact, hail incoming Forest manager Sean Dyche as "one of the greatest."

The 54-year-old guided the Clarets into the Premier League and kept them there for six seasons before exiting Turf Moor.

Forest, who have only won one league game so far and are now in third place, can now access that knowledge.

Man City boss Guardiola said, “It’s true that people utilise every throw-in like a corner and put 10 players there in the box.

"Every move (Michael) Kayode made in the box caused us to suffer when we played at Brentford or watched Brentford play Liverpool in our hotel. Additionally, Kayode was the match's man.

“Today, set pieces are a menace. I recall being in Burnley a long time ago with Sean Dyche. Burnley posed a serious threat in the second and long balls.

"Dyche is by far the finest at these kinds of things. He has already done it; therefore, it is not fresh.

Or Sam Allardyce. Or I recall Stoke City when I was not here. Do you recall the throws made by Stoke City?

Maybe Stoke was the anomaly back then, but more and more teams are doing that now.

"I recall that Arsene Wenger mentioned playing at Stoke City while I was at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, but these days it happens frequently.

It may have happened (only) at Burnley or not at all when I got there, but it is a fact now. You must also pay attention. I still want to play, though.

This season, Arsenal has already scored nine league goals from set pieces, five from open play, and two from penalties.

With eight (plus eight from open play and one penalty), Chelsea is not far behind.

On the other end of the scale, though, are Forest and Man City. While City has scored 12 goals from open play, three more on the counterattack, and two own goals, they have yet to score from a set piece. The Reds have scored two of their five goals from restarts.

"Every manager does what they think," Guardiola stated. I am not ignorant of the fact that I want to score from corners and free kicks. I desire it. However, I dedicate my time to what we need to do to improve our play, attack, and generate opportunities. to score goals.

I pay attention, of course, but I am aware that I am not the manager to try to; I have done that my entire career. When things became rough at Burnley, I recall that we gave up maybe one corner, if any, as the second balls were under our control. That is the most effective method of defending these games.

However, you need to be strong in many areas for that, and we are working on it. I will keep working mostly on our game till the very end. And occasionally, as necessary, adjust.

At Brentford, we performed quite well. James, the French set-piece coach, did a fantastic job of enticing our guys into defending these kinds of acts. The same was true at Arsenal: it was amazing. We did not control the game against Arsenal; therefore, we gave up a lot of corners.

NAPOLI TAKE THREE-POINT LEAD AFTER CLOSE WIN AGAINST LECCE

Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa's header secured a 1-0 win for Napoli over Lecce, moving them top of Serie A. The victory was sealed after Vanja Milinkovic-Savic saved a Francesco Camarda penalty.

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Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa celebrates scoring - Photo Credit: Getty Images

Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa scored another goal to give Napoli a narrow victory over Lecce, although Vanja Milinkovic-Savic also saved a penalty kick from Francesco Camarda.

The thrilling 3-1 victory against Inter put the Partenopei back atop the league, but it came at a price: Kevin De Bruyne will miss several months of action due to a significant thigh strain. Rasmus Hojlund and Amir Rrahmani returned to the bench, but Stanislav Lobotka, Alex Meret, and Romelu Lukaku remained on the treatment table. Leonardo Spinazzola and Scott McTominay were rested, and the 4-3-3 formation was reinstated. Following the 3-2 loss to Udinese, Lecce was without Gaby Jean, Filip Marchwinski, Matias Perez, and Riccardo Sottil.

Billy Gilmour's attempt was deflected wide as Napoli wore their special edition Halloween uniform, but Lorenzo Lucca unintentionally charged down a Matteo Politano strike that was on target.

On the Matias Olivera pull-back, Politano turned over from six yards out, while Medon Berisha also threatened by drilling wide from the area's edge.

Olivera had been put clear by a clever Gilmour first-touch lay-off, but Wladimiro Falcone made a fantastic stop with his legs at the near post.

On the cusp of halftime, Francesco Camarda's chest and half-volley was inches wide, yet it would not have been considered handball.

Moments after the restart, Noa Lang added to the growing list of Napoli players out after hobbling off with a hit to the thigh just above the left knee.

Lucca sprinted onto a long ball that Falcone hurried out to nod clear, and Politano's follow-up was charged down with the goalie off his line, creating a double chance to open the score.

After a VAR review, the Lecce penalty was given because Kialonda Gaspar's header on a corner seemed to hit Juan Jesus' hand, which bent back on impact. Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, who has saved five of the past nine Serie A penalties faced, demonstrated his expertise by parrying the spot-kick when Camarda stepped up.

Hojlund made his comeback from injury, with McTominay and Leonardo Spinazzola reinforcing the team off the bench for the final half-hour.

It paid off, as a free kick from David Neres was glanced into the far top corner off the head of Anguissa from six yards out, giving Napoli the lead.

Nikola Stulic was too slow to capitalise on a Danilo Veiga pull-back, Elmas shot wide, and Hojlund missed the Neres assist in stoppages.

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