It took one game to fall in love with the Bundesliga, and specifically with the nuttiness of Bayer Leverkeusen. With five minutes left in a game they’d eventually win 2-1, most teams would think defensively. Not Leverkeusen, who had eight players in the opposition penalty area, trying to score a third, and allowing Hoffenheim a chance going the other way. That’s the kind of hell-for-leather, poorly-thought-out strategy that we appreciate!

Here are links to an awful lot of things I’ve written or said over the past couple of weeks.