We’re heading into the ultimate worldwide break of 2025, wherein a number of extra nations will punch their tickets to the 2026 World Cup, however earlier than we get there, Europe’s high leagues gave us a lot to speak about. Within the huge recreation of the weekend, Manchester Metropolis deepened Liverpool‘s season-long malaise with a complete 3-0 win on the Etihad that confirmed the very best of Jérémy Doku and capped Pep Guardiola’s a thousandth recreation in superb trend.
In LaLiga, Robert Lewandowski returned to the pitch after harm and led Barcelona to a 4-2 win at Celta Vigo that closed the hole on Actual Madrid (who drew this weekend) within the title race. Bayern Munich‘s 16-game win streak (all competitions) was snapped with a 2-2 draw at Union Berlin in Bundesliga motion, whereas Arsenal additionally dropped factors at newly promoted Sunderland to slender their edge atop the Premier League.
We additionally had speaking factors galore for Napoli (who do not look good), Paris Saint-Germain (who may need a title race for as soon as in Ligue 1), Man United and Tottenham (neither of whom deserved factors in Saturday’s conflict), and Antoine Griezmann once more performed a vital function in Atletico Madrid’s fourth straight victory.
– Ogden, Lindop: Man Metropolis cap huge week with Liverpool win
– Response: Spurs vs. Man United one other rollercoaster for followers
– VAR Evaluation: Why Van Dijk’s headed purpose was disallowed
It is Monday morning, so what higher time for some musings? Let’s get into it.
Arne Slot’s to-do checklist simply received longer as Jeremy Doku leads Man Metropolis previous Liverpool and into second place
It was Pep Guardiola’s a thousandth recreation as supervisor and he could not have had a greater afternoon regardless of the driving rain on the Etihad: a convincing 3-0 win over Liverpool that was not pushed by Erling Haaland (although he did rating as a result of, nicely, he virtually all the time does). Nope, the star of the present was Jeremy Doku, who had the form of recreation these of us who drooled over his talent set years in the past have been ready for.
Merely put, Doku is a ball of vitality, velocity, power and guile. When he is at his finest, you will battle to discover a higher one-on-one participant anyplace on the planet. At a time when athleticism and defensive buildings dominate, there’s nonetheless room for having a man who can merely get up his defender after which blow previous him.
As a weapon, it might be easy and even crude, however there is not any counter. Your man will get taken out after which any individual else has to slip throughout, which wreaks havoc and creates a knock-on impact that, in flip, means somebody can be open down the road. And in the event you select to double him up, nicely, which means another person on his group is unmarked.
1:03
Ogden: Liverpool have made too many modifications to title successful group
Mark Ogden questions Liverpool’s subsequent transfer after a heavy 3-0 defeat to Manchester Metropolis.
Doku did to Liverpool proper again Conor Bradley what Vinícius was unable to do in midweek, when Slot despatched out the identical XI towards Actual Madrid with an entirely completely different end result, as Liverpool gained 1-0 however may have scored extra. Consistency — partly due to muscular accidents, which can be par for the course for somebody so fast — has been Doku’s Achilles’ heel prior to now, but when he can bottle what he confirmed Sunday, Metropolis add entire new dimensions to their assault and change into far much less depending on Haaland. He is a boon not only for the large Norwegian, however for Phll Foden within the No.10 gap, whoever performs on the alternative flank, Nico O’Reilly overlapping … all the things simply will get simpler.
Metropolis are actually 4 factors behind Arsenal and whereas the Gunners have not reached their ceiling — they have been doing it with out Martin Odegaard, lest we overlook — you surprise if Metropolis’s is likely to be even increased, provided that Rodri has but to return from harm for one thing apart from the odd cameo look.
And Liverpool? Effectively, you would simply have a look at incidents and conclude that if Virgil Van Dijk’s purpose had been allowed to face (and there is a sturdy case that it ought to have) it could have been 1-1 and this recreation may have taken a special flip. Equally, if Ibrahima Konaté had jumped half an inch increased, Haaland’s goof header earlier within the recreation may not have given Metropolis the lead. And had Van Dijk’s deflection on Nico Gonzales’ shot not wrong-footed Giorgi Mamardashvili, then Metropolis’s second purpose would possibly by no means have taken place.
However that may be foolish and unsuitable. Efficiency issues, and the worrying half right here is that Slot opted for the protection blanket of final season’s set-up, simply as he had in earlier outings, with Florian Wirtz (out huge instead of Cody Gakpo) and Hugo Ekitike the one newcomers amongst his outfield gamers.
Besides it did not work.
Wirtz does not offer you Gakpo’s defensive output on the left, whereas Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai needed to come and rescue Bradley on the fitting, leaving gaps centrally for Metropolis to use. Throw in the truth that Konate appeared like a man who has needed to begin each single recreation this season (the mix-up for the penalty that Mamardashvilii later saved was very in contrast to him) and Liverpool appeared much more fragile than final season’s model.
2:06
Laurens: Slot beginning Wirtz vs. Man Metropolis made no sense
Gab Marcotti and Julien Laurens focus on Florian Wirtz’s efficiency in Liverpool’s 3-0 loss to Manchester Metropolis.
So the place does Slot go from right here? Arsenal are eight factors clear, true, however there’s nonetheless greater than two-thirds of a season left to play. He must get underneath the hood and determine it out. The massive summer season spending spree — and the criticism for the shortage of manufacturing from the newcomers — is a speaking level, however ideally it might’t derail from the duty at hand: getting Liverpool to carry out with some consistency. Integrating the newcomers whereas getting outcomes is a problem and balancing the 2 is not simple as a result of it weighs present-day affect with medium-term progress.
Ideally you do each, but when it’s a must to prioritise at this stage, it must be the previous. The membership spent huge to increase Salah and Van Dijk; the purpose must be to win one thing significant this season. If which means there is not any time to determine find out how to play Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez collectively (and even simply certainly one of them, given how little they’ve each contributed) … so be it. If it means holding Alexander Isak within the storage (learn: the bench) so be it.
The one exception, some would argue, is Wirtz, merely due to the standard brings and the actual fact there’s no person within the facet along with his talent set. Possibly so, however there was no person within the facet along with his talent set final season both they usually ran away with the Premier League.
Lewandowski again with a bang for Barcelona as they claw again two factors on Actual Madrid
It had been 5 weeks for the reason that Polish center-forward final began for Barcelona — not an amazing outing to be truthful, the 4-1 defeat to Sevilla — however you have been rapidly reminded how even an getting older full-time striker generally presents extra stability than a part-timer requested to fill the function. Lewandowski bagged a hat-trick: a (beneficiant) penalty, a tidy “read-the-ball” end from a cross and a header from a nook. Two of the three have been good examples of the “nostril for purpose” trope that could be a cliche, however remains to be very actual.
Past that, Lewandowski’s mere presence gave Barcelona the hub round which to play, in addition to some a lot wanted management within the absence of the injured Pedri. They scored 4 at Celta Vigo; they might have had a lot extra towards an opponent who could also be within the backside half of the desk, however have been coming off 5 straight victories. That is spectacular when you think about too that Marc Casadó was a late scratch, leaving Hansi Flick with only one defensive midfielder and forcing him to usher in Dani Olmo whereas turning to a bizarre 4-1-2-3 set-up.
1:23
Burley rants about ‘inconsistent’ refereeing after De Jong’s pink card
Craig Burley talks about Frankie De Jong’s pink card in Barcelona’s 4-2 win vs. Celta de Vigo.
That mentioned, the perennial points that canine this group stay. Twice they took the lead, twice they let it slip away with the same old excessive line points. And as we have mentioned many occasions, it isn’t the excessive line itself, however the poor manner it is executed by whoever is again there (Sunday night time it was Pau Cubarsí, Ronald Araújo and Eric García at proper again). On the primary Celta purpose, all people will get sucked in the direction of the ball in midfield, permitting Borja Iglesias to slide Sergio Carreira into acres of area. On the second, Iglesias produces an amazing end, however it’s entire heck of rather a lot simpler to do when the opposing defence is — once more — working again towards their very own purpose and you’ve got tons of area to shoot.
Oh, and simply to proceed the theme of self-destruction, Frenkie De Jong, who actually ought to know higher, picked up a pointless second yellow in harm time and is now going through a suspension. That mentioned, Actual Madrid are actually simply three factors forward and, you hope, among the injured gamers can be again after the break. Proper now, it feels as if Barca are aggressive regardless of themselves.
Arsenal drop factors, however it’s no purpose to fret
Newly promoted Sunderland joined Liverpool and Manchester Metropolis as the one groups to take factors off Arsenal this season within the league. If you’re that constant, with 14 wins in 17 matches in all competitions — anytime you do not win, particularly after 10 victories in a row, and particularly when the equalizer is available in harm time, it should be jarring. That is why a actuality verify is so as.
Each of Sunderland’s objectives, Dan Ballard’s opener and Brian Brobbey‘s flick, got here off the again of particular person defensive errors: Declan Rice misjudged the flight of the ball and Gabriel allowed Brobbey to outmuscle him. This is the factor. Rice and Gabriel have been two of Arsenal’s (if not the Premier League’s) finest performers this season. Until you suppose the errors are symptomatic of a deeper ailing, you progress on. Stuff occurs. Even the greats screw issues up. (If you happen to like this form of factor, there are intensive YouTube compilations of penalty misses from Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi so that you can take pleasure in.)
1:29
How did Sunderland get a degree towards Arsenal?
The ESPN FC TV crew react to Sunderland’s 1-1 draw towards Arsenal within the Premier League.
Extra related, I believe, is that outdoors of the 2 objectives, David Raya did not have a single save to make, which means that defensive solidity remains to be there (as do the 0.44 Anticipated Targets Conceded). Leandro Trossard scored a surprise purpose, suggesting it made a variety of sense to increase his contract, whereas Bukayo Saka is getting stronger by the sport after getting back from harm. And in the event you actually need to go there, that Ballard elbow on Mikel Merino may simply have resulted in a penalty.
Supervisor Mikel Arteta spoke of “disappointment and frustration” because the run of fresh sheets got here to an finish. Positive, however as soon as he calms down, he might nicely discover his group stay properly on monitor. They dropped factors, not their stage.
Napoli lose and Antonio Conte says he is doing a “dangerous job”
The one silver lining is that in a tightly wound Serie A, Napoli are nonetheless inside two factors of first place regardless of Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Bologna. However that has extra to do with the competitors than the Napoli performances. They have been dreadful, and the defeat at Bologna may need been the worst but. Napoli have been outplayed in a primary half that completed scoreless and someway received even worse after the break, producing a second 45 minutes once they managed only one shot of any sort, regardless of going 2-0 down and having to chase the sport.
“5 defeats are too many for a group that is purported to win the title,” Conte mentioned. “We do not but have that chemistry that makes us need to struggle and compete … it means, I am doing a nasty job. We’re not a group.”
That is about as huge a self-indictment as you will get. Whereas it is good that Conte is taking duty, it isn’t nice that his answer is all about platitudes and coach-speak (“We’re not a group” stands proud specifically.) That is the way you discuss to your Little League group of 12-year-olds, not a bunch of pros. You may solely hope that behind closed doorways, the messaging is a little more refined.
Even the alibi of the unavailable gamers is carrying a little bit skinny. Romelu Lukaku hasn’t been there all 12 months; that is why they picked up Rasmus Hojlund, keep in mind? And keep in mind how Kevin De Bruyne was supposedly a problem tactically although, weirdly, most of their metrics have cratered since he is been out?
The truth is that proper now Napoli are fortunate to be the place they’re within the desk. They should do higher and — Conte’s proper — their coach must a greater job. A much better job.
Fast hits
10. Inter dump Lazio to return atop Serie A as Cristian Chivu makes his mark: Changing supervisor Simone Inzaghi was by no means going to be simple, and it was all the time going to take time. Traditional conundrum for a brand new supervisor, particularly an inexperienced one: to what diploma do you retain doing what labored prior to now on your predecessor, and to what diploma do you tweak? Chivu’s model of Inter is considerably much less fairly than Inzaghi’s however, when issues come collectively – as they did Sunday towards Lazio – far much less forgiving.
They took an early lead with Lautaro Martínez (probably the most uncoordinated shot you’ll have seen this weekend) after which turned the screws, limiting Lazio to 4 pictures and 0.20 xG for the primary 74 minutes of the sport, by which level they have been 2-0 up (and may have been 3-0 up, if not for Piotr Zielinski‘s disallowed purpose). A purist would possibly sniff on the reality Lazio hit the woodwork afterwards and had very late possibilities, which is sub-optimal. Positive, however it felt as if Inter may have scored extra too. And together with Roma, who’re flying after their very own 2-0 win over Udinese, they now sit atop Serie A.
9. As soon as once more, Paris Saint-Germain want an harm time winner to get previous Lyon: This is a stat for you. If video games ended within the 89th minute, PSG would have gained simply two of their final 9 matches in all competitions. As a substitute, they’ve gained 5 of 9, with the final two wins coming due to injury-time strikes: every week in the past towards Good, it was Gonçalo Ramos. This time, after a wild recreation away to Olympique Lyonnais, it was João Neves.
PSG monstered possession (72%), however produced simply 9 pictures on purpose: Kang-In Lee and Sunny Mayulu do not fairly supply what Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué carry to the desk when it comes to incisiveness. Twice they took the lead, each occasions with a bit of excellent fortune — Warren Zaïre-Emery making himself invisible to spring the offside entice for the primary, Vitinha presumably fouling Tanner Tessman to arrange Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for the second — and twice they have been pegged again with a little bit little bit of assist from goalie Lucas Chevalier, who may have completed higher.
Joao Neves was sincere in saying they “want to enhance.” He is proper: even with out Dembele, Doue, Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi, they need to be capitalising on seeing a lot of the ball (Fabián Ruiz had a quiet recreation, which did not assist). The very last thing Luis Enrique wants if he’ll defend his Champions League title is a authentic title race in Ligue 1. And that is what he has to take care of proper now.
1:48
Ought to Estêvão be beginning for Chelsea?
The ESPN FC TV crew debate if Estêvão needs to be beginning for Chelsea after coming off the bench to assist Chelsea beat Wolverhampton 3-0.
8. Chelsea stink up the primary half earlier than breaking out vs. Wolves: By no means thoughts the 3-0 victory. If you play the present iteration of Wolverhampton Wanderers — zero wins and two attracts in eleven video games, no supervisor on the bench — it’s a must to grade on the curve, which is why Chelsea have been booed off the pitch at half-time after a primary 45 minutes crammed with plodding and predictable play.
We’re not aware of what occurred at half-time — possibly it was phrases of inspiration from Enzo Maresca, possibly it was simply inertia — however enterprise picked up a little bit with Malo Gusto‘s purpose early within the second half, and it actually ratcheted up when Estêvão got here on and performed an enormous half within the final two scores. The excellent news is that Chelsea ultimately shook off no matter post-Qarabag hangover they have been affected by. The not-so-good information is that you just suspect this inconsistency — Alejandro Garnacho is the epitome of this — and this reliance on a pair people (the injured Cole Palmer being certainly one of them) will proceed for a while. Name it rising pains.
1:03
Are Atletico Madrid having a problem with set items?
Luis Garcia believes Atletico Madrid defence are ‘susceptible’ in set items as they get a 3-1 win over Levante.
7. Antoine Griezmann to the rescue … once more? Final week, I celebrated the little man for hitting his 2 hundredth Liga purpose. I did not anticipate him to be developing once more so quickly, however right here we’re. Towards a scrappy Levante facet, it was Griezmann who got here off the bench to interrupt the 1-1 impasse along with his first contact. And it was Griezmann once more, after an enormous Jan Oblak save, to make it 3-1 and put the sport to mattress.
It is now 4 wins on the spin for Atleti for the reason that drubbing towards Arsenal within the Champions League, however a number of of them may simply have gone the opposite manner. Diego Simeone is discovering he has to achieve deeper in his field of tips to maintain Atleti ticking over. They’re turning right into a facet who can dominate the ball, however pay a hefty worth for switching off on the unsuitable time (witness Levante’s purpose). Appears applicable that it is a man from the previous (and, evidently, the current) who received them out of hassle.
6. Uninspired Actual Madrid held at Rayo Vallecano: Xabi Alonso did not need to hear discuss of fatigue after the 0-0 draw away to Rayo. (It has been 4 straight years now that they’ve did not win there.) In spite of everything, his group had an additional two days’ relaxation in comparison with the opposition, who turned out within the UEFA Europa Convention League on Thursday. However they did look flat towards Rayo, a small membership who play and suppose like a giant one. Possibly the Anfield defeat took extra out of them than they need to acknowledge.
Kylian Mbappé was quiet, Actual Madrid took some time to get going and Aurélien Tchouaméni reminded you the way vital he’s by his absence (Eduardo Camavinga stuffed in and wasn’t fairly the identical). If you happen to’re decided to attract out the positives, Vinicius appeared vigorous, Jude Bellingham appeared fitter and Arda Güler in a deeper function confirmed loads of management. Nevertheless it feels as if this worldwide break comes at simply the fitting time.
1:33
Moreno: Alonso’s choices did not make sense vs. Rayo
Ale Moreno analyses Xabi Alonso’s tactical strategy in Actual Madrid’s 0-0 draw to Rayo Vallecano.
5. Luciano Spalletti is able to tinker, which is what he does finest, after Juventus draw the derby: He would not have been my alternative to guide Juve at the moment, however now that he is on board, it is best to let Spalletti do his factor. Which means fidgeting with lineups and mixtures (generally outdoors the field) till he will get one thing that works.
Juve have been disappointing within the scoreless derby draw towards Torino — they’d a ton of the ball and did little with it. Spalletti blamed an absence of creativity and to be truthful, except Kenan Yildiz is switched on (he wasn’t on Saturday), there is not an excessive amount of of it within the facet. No one felt the necessity to see Daniele Rugani beginning once more or a reprise of Igor Tudor’s 3-4-2-1 and but that is what we received, with Yildiz and Chico Conceicao behind Dusan Vlahovic. If it is a part of his trial-and-error regeneration of Juve, so be it. He is nonetheless a band-aid, not a treatment, however when you stick the band-aid on, the worst factor you are able to do is rip it off and stick it on once more.
4. Borussia Dortmund undone deep in harm time. Are the Keystone Kops again? The upshot is that as a result of they conceded on a Hail Mary, boot into the field and subsequent header within the seventh minute of harm time, Nico Kovac’s crew needed to accept a degree in Hamburg. A lot for chopping Bayern’s Bundesliga result in 5 factors.
Ought to they’ve completed higher? Most likely. Kovac evidently felt they appeared gassed after chasing Manchester Metropolis round for 90 minutes in midweek and not noted Karim Adeyemi, Ramy Bensebaini and Felix Nmecha (Julian Brandt too, however that is now not information). They took the lead and allowed themselves to get pushed again (no pictures in any respect from Dortmund within the last 25 minutes) towards a newly promoted facet. If you try this, you danger conceding freak objectives, which is what occurred. Even with their extra stable set-up, Dortmund quit foolish objectives.
3. Max Allegri is indignant after Milan’s 2-2 draw at Parma, however is it for the fitting causes? Allegri talked about his group being “naive” for committing the cardinal sin of Italian soccer, letting a 2-0 lead flip right into a 2-2 draw. He railed concerning the defensive errors that led to Parma’s comeback and the missed alternatives, however that is a reasonably knee-jerk studying. Pervis Estupiñán getting muscled off the ball by the touchline is not nice, however Adrián Bernabé nonetheless needed to unleash a worldie of a roller to beat Mike Maignan. And positive, you anticipate Christian Pulisic (again from harm) and Alexis Saelemaekers to bury these second-half possibilities, however lest we overlook, a type of got here after a second of genius from Rafael Leão, the opposite got here on the counter. Apart from that, Milan produced little or no within the second half and towards a facet like Parma, with their shoestring price range and 30-year-old coach (Carlos Cuesta), you anticipate extra.
This was a recreation that received away from Milan as a result of they performed with worry of conceding an equalizer within the second half, fairly than taking the match to the opposition and seeking to rating a 3rd. He wants to repair that. Oh, and a phrase of reward for referee Marco Di Bello. After awarding Milan’s penalty, VAR despatched him to the display to rethink. He did, and he caught to his authentic determination. I want extra referees had the character to do that.
2:34
Who can be extra pleased with a degree Tottenham or Man Utd?
The ESPN FC TV crew react to Tottenham and Manchester United’s dramatic 2-2 draw within the Premier League.
2. Any person needed to take the factors when Tottenham hosted Man United: Saturday’s conflict was a 2-2 draw they usually ended up sharing them. Primarily based on model, it may need been fairer if each went residence empty-handed. Harsh? The mixed xG on the finish of the primary half was 0.42 and there had been simply six pictures, together with Bryan Mbeumo‘s purpose. United have been clunky, Spurs disjointed (Copenhagen is one factor, United — even with all their points — one other).
United boss Ruben Amorim mentioned the three factors have been there for the taking. Most likely so, however then it is his group who let a lead slip with six minutes to go and wanted a late harm time equalizer to get even a single level (thanks, Matthijs De Ligt, however much more gratitude ought to go to the horrendous defending). As for Spurs, Mathys Tel got here off the bench for a uncommon second of brilliance for one purpose and Wilson Odobert, with one other peach, was chargeable for the opposite (although it was credited to Richarlison, who offered the slightest of touches on the way in which, supposedly). Patterns of play? Creativity? Nope. And the gang’s response when Spurs’ obvious present inventive thoughts, Xavi Simons went off — resounding boos — tells you what the followers suppose too.
2:06
Have been Bayern Munich fortunate to get a draw towards Union Berlin?
The ESPN FC crew react to Bayern Munich’s dramatic 2-2 draw towards Union Berlin within the Bundesliga.
1. Bayern Munich’s win streak ends with a thud at Union Berlin: After 16 consecutive victories, the run got here to an finish away to the Bundesliga’s “different” hipster membership, Union Berlin. And given Harry Kane‘s equalizer solely got here in harm time, Vincent Kompany’s crew practically suffered their first home defeat in 11 months. They appeared fatigued and their recreation was plagued by errors. Manuel Neuer allowed the ball to trickle underneath his physique for Union’s opener. Luis Díaz with an absurd end one-on-one with the keeper. Kane heading the ball straight to an opponent for the 2-1.
Only a dangerous day on the workplace? Most likely: Roll on the worldwide break. And after they arrive again, it is only a month earlier than the winter break. By then, Jamal Musiala and Alphonso Davies needs to be again too. Make no mistake about it, they don’t seem to be releasing their grip on the league anytime quickly.
