Bayer Leverkusen are the first team in the history of the Bundesliga to complete a full season without a loss.
IMAGES from football matches played across European Leagues on Saturday.
The system, featuring three centre backs and aggressive wing backs, marked a significant departure from the traditional 4-3-3 formation and appeared to address Real's defensive frailties from a disappointing, trophyless 2024-25 campaign.
The 22-year-old German is Liverpool's most-expensive signing ever, ahead of captain Virgil van Dijk who joined for 75 million pounds in 2017.
Bayer Leverkusen won their first trophy in 31 years with five matches left in the season, snapping Bayern Munich's 11-year stranglehold on the Bundesliga.
Winning back-to-back titles for the first time since 1984 is likely to prove a rather more arduous challenge for Liverpool.
Liverpool agree 136.3 million euros fee to sign Leverkusen's Wirtz, reports say
Thomas Mueller bid farewell in his final home game after 25 years at the club.
'We've been talking during this week and now it's the right moment to announce it.'
Xabi Alonso has signed a three-year contract until June 2028 and the 43-year-old replaces Carlo Ancelotti, who took charge of his last game on Saturday.
Xabi Alonso guided Bayer Leverkusen to a double last season as they won the German Cup and lifted their first Bundesliga title without losing a game.
Images from the Club World Cup match between Borussia Dortmund and Mamelodi Sundowns at TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio, on Saturday.
Bayern Munich came back from a goal down to beat 10-man Augsburg 3-1 away on Friday and move nine points clear at the top of the Bundesliga, but Jamal Musiala went off injured and looks unlikely to be fit for next week's Champions League quarter-final.
Sky Sports Germany reported that the 38-year-old will miss the Bundesliga club's next four games, including the second leg of the Champions League tie at Leverkusen.
Record-breaking Kane scores hat-trick in Bayern's 7-0 demolition of Bochum
Bayern Munich crowd favourite Thomas Mueller will leave the German record champions at the end of the season after 25 trophy-laden years.
'The monkey is off his back and he is now free to push his limits'.
Doan equalised in the 75th minute before Asano showed lovely control and smashed the winner in from a tight angle -- causing an explosion of joy among the Japan bench and head shaking among German fans used to watching both players ply their trade in the Bundesliga.
Photos from soccer matches played across top European Leagues on Saturday.
A summary of Saturday's action in LaLiga, Bundesliga and Serie A.
Arne Slot is the first to win the top flight in England where many of his compatriots have suffered dents to their reputations over the years.
Pierre Kaiser has truly mastered the art of ball juggling. And when it comes to the classic rondo drill, the 35-year-old is right in the thick of it. What makes it special: in 2007, Pierre lost his leg in a train accident. Since then, football has become his greatest passion.
A round-up of Saturday's action in LaLiga, Ligue 1, Serie A and Bundesliga.
A summary of Saturday's action in LaLiga, Serie A, Bundesliga and Ligue 1.
Bayern Munich's record signing Harry Kane scored once and set up another goal on his Bundesliga debut to steer the champions to a 4-0 victory at Werder Bremen.
A summary of Saturday's action in the LaLiga, Serie A and Bundesliga.
A summary of Saturday's action in Ligue 1, LaLiga and Bundesliga.
Real Madrid will play local rivals Atletico Madrid while Bayern Munich were drawn against Bundesliga title challengers Bayer Leverkusen on Friday.
A round-up of Tuesday's Champions League quarter-finals second leg between Barcelona and Dortmund, Aston Villa and Paris St Germain.
I-League 2 team Sudeva FC launches collaboration with VfB Stuttgart for grassroots development
A round-up of Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final second leg between Real Madrid and Arsenal, Inter Milan and Bayern Munich.
A summary of Saturday's action in the Serie A, Ligue 1 and Bundesliga
Borussia Dortmund defenders Waldemar Anton and Almugera Kabar are doubtful for Friday's Bundesliga game against Bayer Leverkusen due to illness, coach Nuri Sahin said.
A stoppage-time finish from Rayan Cherki earned Olympique Lyonnais a dramatic 2-2 draw with Manchester United in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final.
Victor Boniface rattled the post with a powerful shot eight minutes after the restart as Leverkusen picked up where they had left off.
England captain Kane headed in either side of the break to take his league tally since joining Bayern in 2023 to 55 league goals, more than any other player in their first 50 games in the league's history.
A summary of Tuesday's Champions League Round of 16, Second Leg, matches.
Manchester City spent more than 180 million pounds ($223.58 million) -- more than the combined amount paid by the other 19 English top-flight clubs in a relatively quiet window.
Barcelona's Ferran Torres scored twice to help secure a late 4-2 comeback win at Atletico Madrid in a pulsating LaLiga clash on Sunday.
A summary of Wednesday's Champions League Round of 16, Second Leg, matches.