
In the qualifying tournament for the Olympics, Paulinho clocked up the third win in three games with the Brazil U23 team. The Seleção Olimpica beat Bolivia 5-3 in the penultimate group match for the play-offs. That means the Brazil U23s are through ahead of the final group game against Paraguay on Friday 31 January. Paulinho was in the starting line-up against Bolivia and he was substituted on 76 minutes with the score at 4-2.
The South American Association CONMEBOL has two places at the Olympic Games – a total of ten countries are battling in two groups in the qualification tournament. The top two teams in group stages will play each other to determine who will qualify.

In glorious sunshine and temperatures of around 30 degrees Celsius, the Bayer 04 Women have begun their preparations for the new season. With a relaxed first session at the Kurtekotten training centre, coach Roberto Pätzold’s team became the first Bundesliga side to resume training after a 37-day break.
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Black and Red stand out. Under the slogan ‘Diversity under the Cross’, Bayer 04 took part in Pride on the Rhine at the weekend alongside the queer fan club “Bayer 04 Junxx”. The club mascot, Brian the Lion, and several members of staff were also in attendance, championing diversity and solidarity.
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Centre-back Melissa Friedrich is set to remain at Bayer 04 for another year. The longest-serving player in the squad, who joined the club in 2016, has extended her contract to 2027.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed Portugal U21 international Afonso Moreira. The 21-year-old winger joins the club from French top-flight side Olympique Lyon on a contract to 30 June 2031. In France last year, the left-winger made 37 appearances in Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and the UEFA Europa League, scoring a total of eight goals and providing eleven assists.
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