Leverkusen’s Grimaldo among new faces in Spain squad

10.11.2023 - 14:03 arabnews.com

LAS ROZAS DE MADRID, Spain: Bayer Leverkusen full-back Alejandro Grimaldo has been rewarded for his outstanding start to the season with a call-up to the Spain squad for their final Euro 2024 qualifying matches against Cyprus and Georgia this month.

The 28-year-old Grimaldo, signed from Benfica in the close season, has been a key member of the Leverkusen side that has surged to the top of the German Bundesliga under former Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso.

Coach Luis de la Fuente has also handed a first call-up to Real Sociedad goalkeeper Alex Remiro, who replaces Kepa Arrizabalaga with the Real Madrid shotstopper injured.

Midfielder Aleix Garcia, who has starred in Girona’s flying start this season in La Liga, and Atletico Madrid’s Rodrigo Riquelme also appear in the squad for the first time.

FIFA Manchester City England Bayern Munich Aston Villa Kepa Arrizabalaga Raheem Sterling Harry Kane David Raya Gareth Southgate Unai Simón David García Real Sociedad Jesus Navas Inigo Martinez Dani Carvajal Aymeric Laporte Bayer Leverkusen Alejandro Grimaldo Fabian Ruiz Xabi Alonso Rodrigo Riquelme Robin Le-Normand Pau Torres Alex Remiro Alejandro Garnacho Luis De-La-Fuente Nice France Germany Spain Scotland Cyprus Georgia county Valencia Morocco Saudi Arabia county Bay

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Strikes from Alex Grimaldo, Jeremie Frimpong and an own goal lifted Bayer Leverkusen to a 3-0 win at Werder Bremen on Saturday and a return to the top of the Bundesliga. Xabi Alonso's men started the match in second place after Harry Kane scored in Bayern Munich's 1-0 victory over Cologne on Friday, but won comfortably and will end the weekend two points clear atop the table. Leverkusen have won 17 and drawn one of their 18 fixtures in all competitions this season.

Playing under Alonso ‘a dream’ for Leverkusen’s Xhaka

BERLIN: Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka said on Saturday “it is a dream” to play under Xabi Alonso after a 3-0 win at Werder Bremen helped his team back to the top of the Bundesliga. The victory — Leverkusen’s 17th in 18 fixtures this season — reestablished their two-point lead over second-placed Bayern Munich. Xhaka joined Leverkusen in the close-season from Premier League side Arsenal, where he played under Alonso’s childhood friend Mikel Arteta. “It’s a dream for me to play under Xabi Alonso, he was a world-class player in the same position as me — I played against him myself,” Xhaka told Sky Germany. “He gives me things that I can take... “We have a great team, a great coach and a great mentality. “We work hard daily and you can see the results on the ground.” Xhaka is one of several summer signings to impress this season, along with Alex Grimaldo, who scored in the win over Bremen, Victor Boniface and Jonas Hofmann. Leverkusen’s blistering start has some talking of a potential maiden Bundesliga title, but Xhaka was careful not to look too far into the future. “Nothing is a foregone conclusion.

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