Xabi Alonso wants his Bayer Leverkusen side to show they have rediscovered their consistency when they take on Union Berlin in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
After going without a win in three games in all competitions, Leverkusen have put together back-to-back victories, scoring 10 goals in the process.
Leverkusen's 5-2 victory against Heidenheim last time out saw them come from two goals down to win a Bundesliga game for the first time since April 2016 (3-2 at Schalke).
Their victory in the Champions League over RB Salzburg in midweek, however, was a little more straightforward after cruising to a 5-0 triumph against the Austrian side.
It was Leverkusen's joint-biggest win in their major European football history, while also registering their third Champions League win this season, the first time they had done so since the 2014-15 season (four wins).
Yet they have managed three consecutive victories across all competitions only once this season, something Alonso acknowledged must improve.
"We want to have again a good feeling. After (the win over) Heidenheim it was better, and it was certainly better after Salzburg," coach Alonso told a press conference.
"Tomorrow is a different game... but it is a good moment to show that after two good games we can play a third good one in a row. I want another clean sheet tomorrow."
The reigning champions find themselves fourth in the Bundesliga table, nine points off leaders Bayern Munich, who face Borussia Dortmund in the late kick-off on Saturday.
Leverkusen have managed just one win in their last four top-flight games, though Alonso has reason to be confident of adding three points to their tally this weekend.
They are unbeaten in their last 22 Bundesliga away games (W16, D6). In league history, only Bayern have ever put together longer undefeated streaks on the road (33 games from 2012 to 2014 and 26 games from 1985 to 1987). The Werkself have also scored in all 22 of these fixtures, an ongoing club record.
"We know we expect something different against Union and a big challenge in front of us," Alonso said. "We have to be prepared for a physical game."
Al-Nassr 2-0 Damac: Ronaldo scores twice as Pioli's side bounce back
Cristiano Ronaldo bagged a double as Al-Nassr defeated 10-man Damac 2-0 to stay five points behind Saudi Pro League leaders Al-Ittihad.
Stefano Pioli's side had suffered their first defeat of the season at the hands of Al-Qadsiah last week, but bounced back with a commanding win against Damac, who were unbeaten in three league matches.
Ronaldo netted his first goal from the penalty spot in the 17th minute after Otavio's header hit the arms of Damac centre-back Abdelkader Bedrane.
The away side's hopes of a comeback were then dashed when Bedrane stomped on Mohamed Simakan and the referee brought out the red card following a VAR check just 11 minutes into the second half.
The 39-year-old sealed the win in the 79th minute, slotting home a cut-back from left-back Nawaf Boushal for his ninth league goal of the season.
Al-Nassr are third in the table, level on 25 points with Al-Qadsiah behind them, while Damac are 11th with 14 points from 12 matches.
Leaders Al-Ittihad will be in action against Al-Ettifaq on Saturday, hoping to pull further ahead at the top.
Data Debrief: 915 goals and counting
Ronaldo's latest brace takes him to 915 career goals, of which 452 have come since he turned 30. It was also the first time he has scored more than once in the league this campaign.
The Portugal international scored 35 goals in 31 appearances for Al-Nassr in last season's SPL, and only Al-Hilal's Aleksandar Mitrovic (12 goals) has scored more than his nine this season.
Ronaldo has also now scored six goals from four matches against Damac in the Saudi top-flight.
Fonseca urges Milan to improve and find balance
Paulo Fonseca has urged Milan to find a balance between defence and attack after displaying a variety of weaknesses in their last two matches.
Milan were toothless but defensively sound in a dour 0-0 draw at home with Juventus last week, before having the opposite problem in a midweek 3-2 Champions League win over Slovan Bratislava.
After opening the scoring, the Italian side twice conceded and had a nervy finish to the game as their Slovakian opponents pushed hard for an equaliser.
Milan are already 10 points behind leaders Napoli in Serie A, though with a game in hand, and Fonseca is keen to find a solution to their problems when they face Empoli on Saturday.
"With Juve, we were more organised, with Slovan better in transition. It seems to me that we improve in something, then other problems arise," Fonseca told reporters.
"But it's not because you win that you have to think everything is fine by closing your eyes to the problems. I can't close my eyes. We talked about the problems.
"It's important to work on the problem. We won [against Slovan]. Is everything OK? No. When we work on the problem we had in the game, the team has a positive response."
Milan have managed just one win in their last four league games, but have failed to score in their last two Serie A games played at San Siro (D1 L1). They last went without a win in three home matches between February and April 2021 (a run of four).
A home match against Empoli, who Milan have won six of their last seven Serie A meetings with (D1), could help the Rossoneri narrow the gap to the top and build some momentum.
"It's not easy in Italy to be dominant, it's not easy against Empoli," Fonseca said.
"What we want is balance, to feel that the team creates chances by having defensive security. In Bratislava, after scoring 0-1, there was a chance to dominate the game, but we conceded the equaliser and the team took it."
Midfielder Youssouf Fofana, a key player in Milan's set-up, is on four yellow cards and could receive a one-match suspension if he is booked on Saturday, which would rule him out of a key trip to second-placed Atalanta next week.
Asked if the Frenchman would be rested as a precaution, Fonseca said: "I can't take the risk of resting him, because tomorrow is the most important game.
"I expect Fofana to play an intelligent game. If Fofana makes mistakes, he makes mistakes, but I expect the others not to make mistakes."
Wiegman eyeing victory over 'friend' Hayes in United States clash
Sarina Wiegman is determined to get the better of "friend" Emma Hayes in England and United States' blockbuster clash at Wembley on Saturday.
The Lionesses will go head-to-head with the USA in front of 85,000 at Wembley in a friendly in what is former Chelsea boss Hayes' first encounter against England.
A healthy rivalry has developed between the two national sides over the last decade, with an intriguing encounter expected.
England won their most recent meeting with the USA in October 2022 (2-1), but not since their very first two games against them in 1985 and 1988 have they beaten the Stars and Stripes in back-to-back matches.
However, the USA have won 12 of their 13 matches in all competitions under manager Hayes (D1).
The only managers to win as many as 13 of their first 14 games in charge of the USWNT are Vlatko Andonovski (14 in 2021) and Pia Sundhage (13 in 2008).
Wiegman explained she has a good friendship with Hayes, but revealed that relationship would be put to one side for 90 minutes on Saturday.
"It's a fact," Wiegman said of her friendship with Hayes. "I think with friends, you really want to beat your friends. Even more, maybe, than [managers who are] not your friends.
"Under Emma, their style of play is a little more patient, but there's so much pace in their game."
Wiegman's side have been far from their best recently, losing 4-3 to Germany last month at Wembley before beating South Africa four days later.
The USA, meanwhile, are unbeaten in each of their last 19 friendly matches (W17 D2), keeping a clean sheet in 15 of those.
However, they have lost their last two friendlies in Europe, against England in July 2022 and Spain in November 2022.
The Stars and Stripes have also struggled in games in England. They will face the Lionesses away from home for just the fourth time, with their only win in the previous three (L2) coming in February 2015 at Stadium MK thanks to an Alex Morgan header.
"We're really excited to play the US," Bronze said. "As long as I have been an England player, it has been one of the biggest games to be in.
"It is a rivalry that has blossomed out of nowhere in the last decade. It's such a competitive, high-level game.
"It is a good test because the US have just won the Olympic gold medal. To win [that], you have to have the crazy mentality that I think sums up the US perfectly.
"We have to show what we can do against a top team like that."
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