Charlotte Coates
BBC Sport

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Nathan Tella was on target as German Cup holders Bayer Leverkusen booked their place in the quarter-finals after edging out rivals Bayern Munich.

The hosts were reduced to 10 men in the 17th minute when veteran keeper Manuel Neuer was sent off after he rushed out of his goal and collided with the on-rushing Jeremie Frimpong.

Despite the advantage of the extra man, Leverkusen had to wait until the 69th minute to take the lead through former Burnley and Southampton attacker Tella.

A sumptuous cross into the box from Alex Grimaldo was met first time by Tella and and flew in beyond Bayern's substitute keeper Daniel Peretz.

Charlotte Coates
BBC Sport journalist

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Raphinha inspired Barcelona to a thumping victory at Mallorca as they ended a three-game winless run.

The Brazil international found the net twice in the second half as Hansi Flick's men moved four points clear of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga.

With the sides level at the break, Raphinha's crucial first goal came in the 56th minute from the penalty spot after the returning Lamine Yamal was fouled in the box.

Teenager Yamal then found his captain with a sublime cross using the outside of his foot 18 minutes later, which Raphinha slotted in for his 11th league goal of the season.

Frenkie De Jong and Pau Victor put the gloss on the victory with two goals in five minutes before Ferran Torres added a fifth.

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In his last job prior to joining West Ham, Julen Lopetegui spent the final 22 league matches of the 2022/23 season at Molineux with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Inheriting a side bottom of the league, he guided Wolves to 13th before his departure prior to the start of the 2023/24 campaign.

Prior to that, he managed Sevilla for 170 games which included winning the Europa League and a win percentage of almost 53%.

He has also won the European Championships in charge of Spain's under-21s and under-19s sides.

Lopetegui managed Spain at the 2018 World Cup but left after being knocked out in the round of 16 by hosts Russia. He also managed Real Madrid for just 14 matches.

BBC Sport wants to hear about your Fantasy Football forfeits.

Fantasy Football players on X have been sharing forfeits for whoever finishes bottom of their private leagues. Examples include performing live stand-up comedy, taking a cardboard cutout of a popstar on a date and having the loser's head shaved in the style of Brazilian football icon Ronaldo.

Read more here.

@cuskinlee: "loser has to perform at an open mic, with an act written by the winner."

@joe_weaver2: "Had to go on a date with a cardboard Taylor Swift and order food/talk etc."

@stevemarriott14: "Loser turns up to the pub for FA Cup Final in full kit of an involved team - shin-guards and boots included."

@benjaminalsop2: "Busk until you get £10"

@z.cruchley08: "R9 trim for last."

Send examples of your mini league forfeits, with pictures included if you have them.

Share by using #bbcfootball on X, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply).

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A few names have already emerged as potential replacements for Julen Lopetegui at the London Stadium, should West Ham opt to part ways with the Spaniard.

Portuguese manager Sergio Conceicao, who won three top-flight titles while in charge of Porto, has been linked.

Former Borussia Dortmund coach Edin Terzic, who took the German club to last season's Champions League final, has also been linked, as has former Chelsea and Brighton boss Graham Potter.

Reports from Italian outlet Calciomercato have also reported that former AC Milan and Juventus Massimiliano Allegri has also been linked.

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou on his side's progress: "We're progressing in all our aspects of our game. We've scored a lot of goals but defensively, we're much more consistent than we were last year. The fact that we have got quite a few significant absences is just something we have to work through.

"We had a very similar scenario last year and it's fair to say we sort of ground our way through it and we're doing that at the moment. We can improve in all aspects of our game, but at the same time, we're showing progress in areas we've felt like we needed to this year.

"We've obviously had a couple of games where we've been not great in executing our football, those two games in particular against Palace and Ipswich we felt we were below what we wanted to do. That's probably again an area we've tried to improve at but aside from that, it's progress in all areas."

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou on facing Bournemouth: "A tough challenge, not just of late but from last year. They came here and were really aggressive with their football and especially at their place. They've beaten City and Arsenal at their place.

"They are one of those sides where they have a real consistency in performance and approach so you know that you're in for a battle. I'm really looking forward to it."

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Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou on his side's schedule going into this game: "It's a Thursday Sunday cycle for us pretty consistently.

"Monday is recovery day for the lads and yesterday training with the guys who didn't play the majority of the game.

"They've all recovered well, no issues from [Fulham] and we're ready to go for a big game tomorrow."

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou on team news: "Main one is Dom [Solanke] and he's due to train today. He is still not 100% but has definitely improved from the weekend. That's it.

"Archie [Gray] got a knock but he's recovered well.

"The other injured guys are inching closer but not available."

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West Ham United

Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth on X: "Julen Lopetegui's future as West Ham United manager is hanging in the balance.

"The club's board are weighing up whether to sack him following the defeats to Arsenal and Leicester. It left West Ham 14th in the table.

"It's thought sections of the board have lost faith in Lopetegui."

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Wales boss Rhian Wilkinson spoke to BBC 5 Live Breakfast after her side reached Euro 2025 with a win over the Republic of Ireland in Dublin.

"I'm feeling fantastic. A little croaky, a little bit worse for wear but absolutely thrilled and proud today.

"I don’t think we'll fully understand the affect it’s going to have back home until years to come.

"The reality is women’s sport is growing quickly in Wales and being able to put it front and centre and right on television and one of the biggest global sporting events for women is only going to continue to grow the numbers of female athletes in the country so I'm thrilled to be part of that legacy piece."

@Ssam__wxm on X: Such a good advertisement not just for women's football but also for Welsh football to see the women's national team reach Euro 2025.

Wales' most-capped player and record goalscorer Jess Fishlock says qualifying for a major tournament with her country is "the proudest moment of her life".

Goals by Hannah Cain and Carrie Jones mean that after years of near misses, Wales' women have qualified for Euro 2025 after a 2-1 win in Dublin over the Republic of Ireland secured a 3-2 aggregate victory.

Make sure and vote on our poll at the top of the page. The question is - should West Ham give Julen Lopetegui more time?

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West Ham have five Premier League fixtures remaining this month which will take them to the halfway point of the season.

Next for them is a meeting with strugglers Wolves at the London Stadium next Monday before heading down to the south coast to face Bournemouth.

The Hammers' final Premier League match before Christmas comes at home to Brighton and Julen Lopetegui's side head to bottom of the table Southampton on Boxing Day.

West Ham round off 2024 at home to Premier League leaders Liverpool.

West Ham's next five Premier League fixtures

• 9 December - West Ham v Wolves
• 16 December - Bournemouth v West Ham
• 21 December - West Ham v Brighton
• 26 December - Southampton v West Ham
• 29 December - West Ham v Liverpool

The Premier League collaborates with LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall on the Rainbow Laces campaign every season.

The initiative involves top-flight players being encouraged to wear rainbow-coloured laces and captain's armbands to demonstrate support for the rights of LGBTQ+ people, inspire acceptance among children and young people, and promote equality and diversity.

Rainbow Laces was first launched in 2013, typically lasts for a week and has been supported by all clubs and the vast majority of Premier League captains since.

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