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Tag: uphill

  • Depleted Hoffenheim face uphill battle to advance in Europa League


    Hoffenheim coach Christian Ilzer gestures on the touchline during the German Bundesliga soccer match between TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and Eintracht Frankfurt at the PreZero Arena. Uwe Anspach/dpa

    Hoffenheim coach Christian Ilzer gestures on the touchline during the German Bundesliga soccer match between TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and Eintracht Frankfurt at the PreZero Arena. Uwe Anspach/dpa

    Hoffenheim arrived in Belgium for their final league stage match in the Europa League at Anderlecht on Thursday amid a major injury and illness crisis, and with only little hope of reaching the last 16 play-offs.

    Coach Christian Ilzer is without 13 players led by goalkeeper Oliver Baumann. In addition, newly signed Gift Orban and Erencan Yardimci are eligible to play.

    “It is a sickbay like I’ve never experienced before in my coaching career,” Ilzer told reporters on Wednesday.

    Ilzer did not want to reveal who will not be able to play because he wants “to keep our opponent in the dark.”

    But Buamann’s absence is definite and he is set to be replaced by Luca Philipp, like in Sunday’s 2-2 Bundesliga draw with Eintracht Frankfurt.

    Hoffenheim are 28th. In order to make the top 24 for a play-off spot they need to win and have other results go their way as well. Anderlecht are seventh and well-placed to qualify directly for the last 16, for which a top eight spot is necessary.

    “We haven’t brought along the calculator. I got a WhatsApp message today with all sorts of things that need to happen,” Ilzer said.

    “But we don’t need to do the maths, we need to make sure we put in our best possible performance. The basis for progressing is a victory.”



    Hoffenheim, a team hit hard by injuries and departures, face a tough challenge in their bid to advance in the Europa League. With a depleted squad, they will have to overcome the odds to secure a spot in the next round.

    Injuries to key players have left Hoffenheim struggling to field a strong starting lineup, and the recent departure of some of their top talents has further weakened their squad. Despite these setbacks, the team is determined to fight for a place in the knockout stages of the competition.

    Their next match will be crucial, as they face a formidable opponent who will not make it easy for them. Hoffenheim will need to dig deep and show resilience in order to secure a positive result and keep their Europa League hopes alive.

    With their backs against the wall, Hoffenheim will have to summon all their strength and determination to overcome this challenge. It will be a tough battle, but if they can rise to the occasion, they may still have a chance to advance in the Europa League.

    Tags:

    Europa League, Hoffenheim, depleted squad, uphill battle, advance in competition, football, European competition, knockout stage, injuries, team struggles, Europa League campaign

    #Depleted #Hoffenheim #face #uphill #battle #advance #Europa #League

  • Roki Sasaki favorites emerging with Yankees, Mets facing uphill battles

    Roki Sasaki favorites emerging with Yankees, Mets facing uphill battles


    Both the Yankees and Mets were given meetings with superstar Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki but both surely understand they’re not the favorites here.

    The Dodgers remain favored, followed by the Padres.

    The Dodgers established themselves as the team for Japan’s stars, but Sasaki’s admiration of Padres ace Yu Darvish and a clear path to be their ace gives them a shot.


    Roki Sasaki, pictured during a March 23 game, could end up signing with the Dodgers or Padres.
    Roki Sasaki, pictured during a March 23, 2023, game, could end up signing with the Dodgers or Padres. AP

    The Mets could sell their recent pitching successes and the Yankees their long history of winning.

    But it’ll be a shock if he doesn’t land on the West Coast.

    The Cubs and Rangers, with histories of success with Japanese stars, also received audiences.

    One person assessed the Dodgers’ chances as: “Better than 50/50 but not 100 percent.”

    The Padres might be more apt to trade Dylan Cease if they land Sasaki.

    The Mariners haven’t been able to get what they’ve sought for Luis Castillo.

    The Dodgers are still expecting Clayton Kershaw back.

    He had two surgeries but not on his shoulder, which feels fine.

    The Dodgers seek one more big bat, and most likely in the outfield since the plan is for Mookie Betts to return to his preferred shortstop.

    In addition to Teoscar Hernandez, Anthony Santander and a trade for Seiya Suzuki are on the table.



    Roki Sasaki, a highly touted Japanese pitching prospect, is starting to make waves in the MLB world as he garners interest from multiple teams, including the New York Yankees and New York Mets.

    Sasaki, known for his electric fastball and devastating off-speed pitches, is drawing comparisons to some of the top pitchers in the game. Many scouts believe he has the potential to be a future ace in the major leagues.

    The Yankees and Mets are both in need of pitching help, with their rotations struggling to find consistency this season. However, both teams face uphill battles in trying to sign Sasaki, as there are several other teams vying for his services.

    Despite the stiff competition, the Yankees and Mets are doing everything they can to make a strong push for Sasaki. Both teams have sent scouts to watch him pitch in Japan and have reportedly been in contact with his representatives.

    It remains to be seen where Sasaki will ultimately end up, but one thing is for sure – he is a player to keep an eye on as he continues to impress in the world of baseball. Stay tuned for updates on Sasaki’s journey to the majors.

    Tags:

    1. Roki Sasaki news
    2. Yankees prospect Roki Sasaki
    3. Mets prospect Roki Sasaki
    4. MLB prospects
    5. Roki Sasaki updates
    6. New York baseball prospects
    7. Roki Sasaki scouting report
    8. Roki Sasaki future
    9. Yankees and Mets prospects
    10. Roki Sasaki rising star

    #Roki #Sasaki #favorites #emerging #Yankees #Mets #facing #uphill #battles

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