European roundup: Haller returns after cancer in Dortmund win over Augsburg
Sébastien Haller made his competitive return after testicular cancer in Borussia Dortmund’s thrilling 4-3 Bundesliga victory over Augsburg.
Haller’s introduction as a 62nd-minute substitute for Youssoufa Moukoko, with the game finely poised at 2-2, was met with rapturous reception at Signal Iduna Park. The former West Ham player underwent chemotherapy after a malignant tumour was discovered in July, just days after he joined the German club from Ajax in a reported £27m deal.
The Ivory Coast striker, who made more than 50 appearances for the Hammers between 2019 and 2021, earlier this month resumed training with Edin Terzic’s squad at their camp in Marbella.
Jude Bellingham, who has reportedly attracted the interest of a number of Premier League clubs despite being under contract until 2025, opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark with a sweet strike from the edge of the box and set up the winner for Giovanni Reyna 12 minutes from time. Reyna came on in the 70th minute and scored in his first game since the World Cup, where he was limited to a pair of substitute appearances.
The lack of playing time led Reyna’s parents, former American players Claudio Reyna and Danielle Egan, to contact the US Soccer Federation about a 1991 domestic-violence incident involving coach Gregg Berhalter. The USSF has appointed an interim coach while a law firm investigates Berhalter.
Harry Winks made his full Sampdoria debut in their 1-0 defeat to Udinese in Serie A. The Englishman has been plagued by injury since leaving Tottenham on loan in August.
In La Liga Barcelona and Real Madrid are both in action later on Sunday.
