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    Big-hearted RB Leipzig captain Willi Orban could miss crunch clash after stem cell donation to save stranger’s life

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    BIG-HEARTED RB Leipzig captain Willi Orban could be set to miss his first game of the season.That’s as he prepares to undergo a stem cell donation to save a stranger’s life.
    Willi Orban could miss RB Leipzig’s next game as he prepares to donate stem cellsCredit: Rex
    Orban, 30, has missed Leipzig training since Sunday in order to make the incredible gesture.
    The Hungary captain has played every minute of Leipzig’s Bundesliga campaign so far this season.
    But Orban could now be absent for the weekend game against Union Berlin ahead of Wednesday’s operation.
    The centre-back first registered with the German Bone Marrow Donor File in 2017 following a campaign by his club.
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    And Orban was recently informed his tissue matched with someone in need of healthy blood cells.
    A stem cell transplant replaces damaged cells with new ones, and is used in treatments for conditions like lymphoma and leukaemia.
    Orban has been receiving injections to increase the number of stem cells in his blood, with tomorrow’s procedure in Dresden set to last several hours.
    He will not need to stay overnight at hospital, but doctors usually advise donors to rest for 10 days afterwards, leaving Orban’s availability against Union Berlin in question.
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    However, the defender has no qualms about potentially missing the game, revealing he has “no doubts” about the transplant which could “save a human life.”
    Orban told Bild: “Of course I was surprised at first when I got the information that I was eligible as a donor.
    “But I never had any doubts, I wanted to tackle the donation directly.
    “This is the possibility of saving a human life with very little effort, there are no two opinions for me.
    “I very much hope that my donation can help to completely heal the recipient.”
    Orban added: “I might of course miss the Union game but even with my sporting ambitions, football is of secondary importance.
    “Those who know me know that I will do everything I can in order to rejoin the team as soon as possible.
    “I hope this inspires more people to register. The process was really simple and I feel like I’ve been very well looked after. My example shows that it makes total sense to register.”
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    Orban has been at Leipzig since 2015, helping them achieve promotion to the top flight and becoming one of Germany’s top sides.
    The ace has clocked up 269 games for Leipzig and led them to victory in the German Cup last year. More

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      Hamburg stars ‘involved in high-speed smash after BMW crashes into bus stop in sports car drag race’

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      TWO Bundesliga football stars have allegedly been involved in a serious car accident following an illegal “drag race”.Hamburg duo Jean-Luc Dompe and William Mikelbrencis are the two men that have been identified by the Bild newspaper. 
      Hamburg’s Jean-Luc Dompe, pictured at old club Metz, allegedly crashed after an illegal drag raceCredit: Getty
      Jean-Luc Dompe (L) and William Mikelbrencis (R) were both reportedly involved in the incidentCredit: PA
      They state that a BMW M3 smashed into a bus stop in the St. Pauli area of the northern German city last night.
      The motor is said to belong to the club’s 27-year French winger Dompe. 
      And he is now reportedly suspected of engaging in an illegal car race.
      Bild say that eyewitnesses informed them that Dompe managed to climb out of his wrecked vehicle and then got into a yellow AMG-Mercedes, which he had allegedly been competing against.
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      The former Gent ace then fled the scene of the accident.
      However, it has now been claimed that the Mercedes he scarpered in is registered to his 18-year-old team-mate Mikelbrencis.
      The defender, who is also French, was not believed to be driving with the report stating that it was a 27-year-old Tunisian behind the wheel instead.
      Police have already begun investigating the accident.
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      And the publication states that “proceedings have been initiated for hit-and-run and illegal street racing”. 
      Accident services have also secured the Mercedes and examined it for technical and fibre traces.
      Both Dompe and Mikelbrencis only arrived at the Bundesliga club from Zulte Wargem in Belgium and Metz in France respectively last summer.
      Dompe has made five appearances in the German second-flight since, while his teenage colleague has appeared once.
      Hamburg have yet to make any comment on the incident publicly. More

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      Joao Cancelo gets second assist in two games for Bayern Munich to show Pep what he’s missing as Man City lose to Spurs

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      MANCHESTER CITY outcast Joao Cancelo grabbed his second assist in as many matches for Bayern Munich on Sunday.The defender, 28, joined the German club on loan for the rest of the season after falling out with Pep Guardiola.
      Joao Cancelo is already proving to be a huge hit at Bayern MunichCredit: Getty

      The pair were reportedly involved in a training ground bust-up after Cancelo found out he was dropped for the club’s FA Cup clash against Arsenal.
      This came as Guardiola tweaked his system after questioning his players’ hunger to win the Premier League again.
      With Cancelo’s and the City boss’ relationship becoming strained, the club took the bold decision to allow Cancelo to leave on loan.
      However, the Portuguese star started his new venture in stunning fashion with an assist in the DFB cup win over Mainz in midweek.

      And he produced a brilliant cross this afternoon for Kingsley Coman to outrageously volley home in the 4-2 victory over Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga.
      French forward Coman scored two inside the first 14 minutes before Thomas Muller headed in a third.
      Jakub Kaminski pulled a goal back and then Bayern were reduced to ten men when Joshua Kimmich was sent off in the 54th minute.
      But Jamal Musiala grabbed a fourth before Mattias Svanberg netted a late consolation.
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      As Cancelo was starting for his new team, his old side suffered a huge blow in the title race as Harry Kane’s record-breaking goal sealed Tottenham a 1-0 win over City.

      That left the Cityzens still trailing Premier League leaders Arsenal by five points.
      Meanwhile Bayern are now a point ahead of second-placed Union Berlin in the German top-flight. More

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      Borussia Dortmund make huge change to centre circle before Bundesliga match to raise awareness for testicular cancer

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      BORUSSIA DORTMUND have made an unbelievable change to their centre circle to raise awareness for testicular cancer. Ahead of their Bundesliga clash against Freiburg, the white line in the middle pitch had an outward curve to represent a lump.
      The centre circle was adjusted to raise awareness for cancerCredit: Getty
      Sebastien Haller scored his first goal after battling cancerCredit: Getty
      Dortmund said that before kick-off and during half-time a bulge would appear on the field to help raise awareness for the disease on World Cancer Day.
      The club tweeted: “It’s never too early to get a cancer screening and please do it regularly.”
      The German club have been directly impacted by testicular cancer, striker Sebastien Haller was diagnosed with the illness in the summer of 2022.
      He has undergone two surgeries and four cycles of chemotherapy to help his recovery.
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      Haller is now back in first-team action for Dortmund and to top an incredible story, he scored in the win over Freiburg.
      He netted the third goal as his side won 5-1 with fans chanting his name and all of his team-mates celebrating jubilantly with him.
      It was only the former Ajax and West Ham man’s fourth appearance back from his lengthy spell on the sidelines.
      As Haller scored, Dortmund tweeted: “F*** cancer.”
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      His boots are also engraved with the phrase.
      Manufacturers Puma called his return to football: “The best comeback of the year already.”
      Haller was diagnosed with cancer just days after he signed for the club to replace Erling Haaland.
      Dortmund’s win today took them up to third in the table, just two points behind leaders Union Berlin. More

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      ‘It felt like my heart was being ripped out’ – Manuel Neuer opens up on horrific ski injury and sacking of close pal

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      MANUEL NEUER says it felt like his “heart was being ripped out” as the Bayern Munich star opened up on his injury hell and the sacking of his close pal Toni Tapalovic.The German goalkeeping icon had an accident while skiing last month following his nation’s early elimination from the World Cup.
      Manuel Neuer has revealed all about a traumatic few weeksCredit: Getty
      Bayern Munich sacked his pal and goalkeeper coach Toni Tapalovic last monthCredit: Getty
      It left the 36-year-old with a broken leg which has ruled him out for the rest of the season.
      Neuer’s ski boot has been credited as holding his foot together, with the compression the boot provided limiting the swelling around the injury on his leg caused by severe bleeding.
      Had the boot and swift services not been factors, the swelling around the leg would have meant doctors could not operate straight away.
      Fortunately, Neuer was able to undergo surgery straight away and immediately start the recovery process.
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      Now in an interview with The Athletic, he has revealed all about the traumatic last few weeks and how they were made worse by Bayern Munich sacking goalkeeping coach and close friend Tapalovic, who had been at the club since 2011.
      On the accident, Neuer said: “There was something under the snow that stopped me. I was doing maybe 10 or 12km/h.
      “This wasn’t like going to Ischgl or Solden, where you’ll have a few apricot schnapps in the hut and then race down the hill. This was our local mountain.
      “It was a training exercise, a reset for the body and mind. I’ve gone down this piste countless times, even by myself. It’s child’s play, usually.”
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      He continued: “First of all, you hope it’s not severe. I didn’t pray, but I lied to myself: ‘It’s not so bad, it’s not a big thing.’
      “Some are better at dealing with pain, others who have never had such experiences may find it harder. Because I had played games in a lot of pain at Bayern, my threshold is quite high.
      “I was fully conscious the whole time. My friends were all surprised when it became apparent how bad it was. They knew something was wrong, but not to that magnitude.”
      Just as he began his road to recovery, Bayern confirmed Tapalovic’s departure and vaguely cited “differences in the way we work together” after an apparent fall-out with boss Julian Nagelsmann.
      Neuer said: “Toni was always a team player with us, everyone saw it that way.
      “He wasn’t working for me for eleven and a half years, but for the entire goalkeeper group, for the coaching staff and for the club.
      “We were always able to separate work and private life. I understand that it might sound like I’m not being objective or not believable, but I can really tell the difference.
      “For me, that was a blow — when I was already down on the ground. I felt like my heart was being ripped out.
      “It was the most brutal thing I’ve experienced in my career. And I’ve experienced a lot.”
      Neuer added: “Everyone in our goalkeeper group was torn to pieces. People burst into tears.
      “I think that says it all. We goalkeepers are a team within a team, but Toni was popular with the whole squad.
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      “There was no reason that I could comprehend. Things were said that I don’t agree with.
      “Nothing I heard would have ruled out the possibility of people talking to each other and sorting things out.” More

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      German star Matthias Bader out for a month after emergency surgery to repair ruptured testicle after horror challenge

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      MATTHIAS BADER required emergency surgery after a horror challenge in the Bundesliga 2 last weekend.The Darmstadt defender sustained a nasty injury towards the end of a match against Regensburg.
      Matthias Bader suffered a ruptured testicleCredit: Getty
      In the 73rd minute Bader was on the receiving end of a high tackle from Minos Gouras.
      He screamed in agony as he collapsed to the floor with pain in his abdomen.
      The 25-year-old was then treated on the pitch before being taken off shortly afterwards.
      And according to Bild he underwent surgery after suffering a testicle rupture.
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      He was released from hospital earlier this week but is set for a period out on the treatment table.
      Darmstadt manager Torsten Lieberknecht confirmed his absence and revealed the right-back will be a loss for his side.
      He said: “He sustained a serious abdominal injury.
      “The pain got worse and an emergency operation was performed. He will be out for several weeks. This is a great loss for us.”
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      Bader could reportedly be out of action for three to four week. More

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      Man Utd ‘had lined up Josip Juranovic for January transfer’ before Aaron Wan-Bissaka forced way back into team

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      THE fate of Manchester United’s right-back spot could have been in very different hands, with United reportedly agreeing a deal to sign Josip Juranovic. The Union Berlin star left Celtic during the January transfer window after an impressive opening half to the campaign.
      Josip Juranovic had been lined up for a Man Utd transferCredit: Getty
      But Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s strong form saw him keep his United career aliveCredit: Alamy
      Consequently, the Croatia international was on the radar of a number of big clubs.
      Man Utd’s urgent need for a right-back at the time, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka expected to leave in January, put them down this path.
      Fabrizio Romano has reported the Red Devils had a “right-back in their hands” in the form of Juranovic, with the 28-year-old “top of the list for back-up right-back”.
      However, Wan-Bissaka’s strong post-World Cup form in the absence of Diogo Dalot saw United hold fire on the deal.
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      Erik ten Hag ultimately kept faith with the Englishman to serve as Dalot’s understudy for the rest of the season.
      Barring one glaring mishap against Arsenal – which also partly lies at David De Gea’s feet – the 25-year-old has proven he has a future at Old Trafford.
      Juranovic eventually sealed a £10million transfer to the Bundesliga on January 22.
      He then made an instant impact for his new club, registering two assists in as many games – in a similar vein to Joao Cancelo, who surprisingly moved to Bayern Munich on loan.
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      Man Utd did end up signing one star late on however, in the form of Bayern’s Marcel Sabitzer.
      The Austrian midfielder was brought in on loan as a direct replacement for Christian Eriksen, who was revealed to have sustained an injury until late April or early May.
      Despite this, United confirmed a spot at Wembley as they beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 [5-0 agg], with the added boost of Jadon Sancho and Anthony Martial returning, in the Carabao Cup.
      Next up, a Saturday kick-off against Crystal Palace beckons. More

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      Marcel Sabitzer has already had nightmare Old Trafford debut ahead of playing first game for Man Utd

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      MANCHESTER UNITED’S new signing Marcel Sabitzer has already had a taste of the Theatre of Dreams – but it was more of a nightmare.Austrian midfielder Sabitzer, 28, has joined the Red Devils on loan from Bayern Munich until the end of the season.
      Man Utd new boy Marcel Sabitzer suffered a nightmare Old Trafford debutCredit: Getty
      The Austrian faced the Devils in the Champions League back in 2020Credit: Getty
      Sabitzer joined Bayern in the summer of 2021 from RB Leipzig, but has struggled to nail down a regular starting spot.
      He has made just seven league starts this season, the last of which came against Borussia Dortmund in October.

      However, Christian Eriksen’s injury means Sabitzer could slot straight into the United team – although he will not be eligible to make his bow against Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup tonight.
      That means that his debut could come against Crystal Palace this Saturday.
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      However, Sabitzer will be desperately hoping his next outing at Old Trafford will be better than his last.
      The star was part of RB Leipzig’s side that suffered a 5-0 defeat to United in the Champions League group stage back in 2020.
      Despite only coming off the bench that night, he still ended up with his name going into the referee’s notepad.
      And he also got booked during his one other appearance against his new employers, although that was a much more enjoyable evening for him.
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      In the return group game, Leipzig not only won 3-2, Sabitzer even provided an assist for his team’s early opener.
      Speaking upon joining United, Sabitzer said: “Sometimes in life you have to make quick and important decisions.
      “From the moment I heard about this opportunity I knew it was right for me. I am a competitive player; I want to win and help the club achieve its aims this season. 
      “I feel that I am at my peak as a player, and that I can contribute a lot of experience and energy to the squad.
      “I’m excited to start with my new teammates and manager and to show my qualities to Manchester United fans.”  More

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      Watch ex-Arsenal star Mavropanos score longest own goal in Bundesliga history in huge blunder

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      EX-ARSENAL flop Konstantinos Mavropanos has written his name into German football history… by scoring an own goal from FIFTY YARDS.The Greek centre-back spent four years on the Gunners’ books following a £2million move from PAS Giannina in 2018.
      Konstintinos Mavropanos tried to play a long pass back to his keeperCredit: @DFBPokal_EN
      But the defender misjudged where his keeper was and ended up scoring a remarkable own goalCredit: @DFBPokal_EN
      Mavropanos’ Stuttgart side did end up winning 2-1 to spare his blushesCredit: Getty
      However he made just eight senior appearances, and had two seasons on loan to Stuttgart before a permanent move to the German club last year.
      Mavropanos, 25, played in the Bundesliga side’s German Cup visit to Paderborn on Tuesday night.
      The Athens-born defender took just three minutes to make himself a laughing stock.
      Receiving the ball from a throw-in near halfway, he hit a backpass without looking that flew past Stuttgart keeper Florian Muller.
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      The German FA later announced it was the longest-distance own goal in the nation’s history.
      Stuttgart saved their blushes against second-tier Paderborn late on with goals from Gil Dias and Serhou Guirassy.
      Sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth said: “Konstantinos will be telling his grandchildren about the own goal.
      “It was a memorable start, and a real setback for us.
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      “It is a positive how the boys worked as a team to cancel out the mistake in the opening minutes.  We never lost our heads.”
      Stuttgart are struggling down in 15th in the Bundesliga table, sitting narrowly above the relegation zone.
      Last season, they only avoided the relegation play-offs by virtue of goal difference.
      Mavropanos played just eight times for ArsenalCredit: Getty – Contributor More