What a weekend! European soccer did not disappoint, per typical, with a ton of speaking factors to debate after a charming slate of video games. Barcelona thumped Clasico rivals Real Madrid to win the Spanish Supercopa, however greater than the end result, it confirmed how Hansi Flick’s aspect can bridge the hole in LaLiga whereas Carlo Ancelotti should repair his star-studded crew. In the English FA Cup, Man United superior over Arsenal on penalties to succeed in the fourth spherical, however each groups acquired what they wanted from Sunday’s fiery, full-blooded conflict.
Elsewhere, now we have lots to interrupt down from Milan’s wobbly win at Venezia, Trent-Alexander’s efficiency for Liverpool within the FA Cup, João Félix‘s flashes of brilliance for Chelsea, Bayern Munich‘s labored win over Borussia Monchengladbach. Oh, and Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid and even Jack Grealish.
Let’s get to it. Here are musings and reactions to essentially the most memorable moments of the weekend.
Maybe there is a parallel universe the place Rodrygo‘s shot caroms in off the woodwork early within the second half, Barca do not go up the pitch to attain instantly afterwards, Wojciech Szczesny nonetheless will get despatched off, Madrid rating one other and it is 4-4, and the sponsors/everybody marvels at each the spectacle of Barca’s skills and Madrid’s never-say-die angle.
The worst factor Real Madrid might do proper now’s inform themselves that they’ve something by any means to do with that parallel universe. Instead, after the 5-2 shellacking, approaching the again of a 4-0 humiliation on the Bernabeu in October and with one other Clasico developing in Barcelona in direction of the top of the season, one of the best factor to do is interact in some accountability.
It essentially begins with Carlo Ancelotti, after all. He units the crew and sends them out; pondering you would cram Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham into some form of 4-2-4 in opposition to this Barcelona aspect proper now was an enormous blunder. Having gone extra conservative within the prior Clasico, he went out weapons blazing on this one and acquired his bottom handed to him from the beginning — let’s not neglect the 2 enormous early Thibaut Courtois saves.
Ancelotti will bear the brunt of the criticism and, to be truthful, he is used to it. But let’s not neglect the elephant within the room: how this crew was put collectively.
We’ve touched on it earlier than. You’re one of many best-resourced golf equipment on the earth and also you go into the season with a squad whose three greatest forwards are all pure left-wingers (and whose predominant midfield attacking menace, Bellingham, additionally gravitates to the left). Toni Kroos, your midfield common, retires and also you suppose you will be aggressive with a man who turns 40 in September (Luka Modric) and one other man who’s, effectively, Dani Ceballos. You’ve acquired two central defenders coming off season-ending ACL accidents, and it does not happen to you so as to add one other centre-back to the squad.
This is basic “Panini sticker” method: carry within the massive names and let the coach determine it out. Mbappe is essentially the most coveted participant on the earth? Got to have him — regardless of that Vinicius performs the identical place. I’m out of central defenders? No sweat: Aurélien Tchouaméni is tallish, so he can play on the again. That Endrick child who’s the following massive factor? Bring him in as effectively, despite the fact that he’ll by no means get taking part in time.
Ancelotti could have solved these tactical conundrums up to now — typically by means of strokes of genius, typically as a result of it is soccer and you may beat most opponents in case you have higher gamers and a standout keeper — nevertheless it doesn’t suggest he (or anybody else) can achieve this in perpetuity. And it definitely doesn’t suggest it is smart to proceed constructing squads like this one, even when they do find yourself with silverware on the finish of the marketing campaign.
There’s one other damaging aspect impact to the superstar-driven method too. When they wrestle, it is tougher to make changes. That’s why, you presume, Vinicius stayed on the market for 76 minutes regardless of enduring one in every of his worst performances in current reminiscence. The man is already banned in LaLiga for the purple card he picked up in opposition to Valencia; he has been coddled and advised the ban was unfair, so what would taking him off earlier have executed for his frame of mind? I am unable to say for certain, however I think about that is exactly what went by means of Ancelotti’s head.
Word from the membership is that they will not purchase anybody new in January. If you are a Madrid fan, you hope Sunday modified their thoughts.
As for Barcelona, Madrid’s deficiencies and self-inflicted wounds mustn’t take something away from their efficiency. However a lot Madrid performed into their arms, Barca’s stars carried out. Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and, after all, Lamine Yamal will get the headlines — righty so, given the technical high quality they confirmed — however credit score has to go to the center of the park. Marc Casadó, Gavi and Pedri performed with an depth and an intelligence that gave Barca the required platform to carry out the way in which they did.
That’s about them, certain, however that is additionally about Hansi Flick. Game-planning for this second Clasico given the circumstances (the Dani Olmo state of affairs, the legacy of the primary Clasico assembly this season) couldn’t have been simple and but he acquired nearly the whole lot proper. Barcelona aren’t excellent and there are sure to be lots extra bumps alongside the way in which. It’s nonetheless excessive threat/excessive reward with Flick, particularly as a result of they’ve struggled in opposition to smaller golf equipment that sit deep, although with Gavi now absolutely match which may change. But this Clasico win is an enormous confidence enhance.
Making up the six-point hole in LaLiga — particularly as a result of it isn’t simply Real Madrid they’d must catch, however Atletico too — is likely to be past them. Yet after days like this, you’d must put them among the many high two or three favourites for the Champions League.
1:04
Burley: Clinical ending let Arsenal down
Craig Burley believes Arsenal are missing a medical edge up entrance following their FA Cup exit to Manchester United.
Ruben Amorim received on Sunday, and Mikel Arteta misplaced. That would even have been the case even when the spot kicks had gone the opposite method, and it was Arsenal who superior to the following spherical. Why? Because of what we noticed within the previous 120 minutes, and since the prize — staying alive within the FA Cup — is price lower than what occurred on the pitch.
I do not imply to gratuitously diss the competitors right here. Yes, it is a trophy and an necessary one, nevertheless it’s not how both of these managers goes to be judged. Don’t consider me? Ask Erik ten Hag. He received it final 12 months and is now unemployed (and largely unloved).
More necessary, for each these coaches, was to get an emotional enhance and supply a way that their membership is transferring in the fitting path. That half was settled within the 120 minutes earlier than any penalty was taken.
Arsenal may need created extra possibilities and bossed the anticipated objectives (3.22 to 0.27), however most of that got here within the practically one hour of soccer they performed with a person benefit. Oh, and it was in that hour of soccer that they missed a penalty and didn’t capitalise. The upshot? More doubt about what they will obtain with Kai Havertz at centre-forward. It’s not a view I share: I’m a Havertz believer, although it will be good to have another choice off the bench — and with out Bukayo Saka on the pitch. Doubt is not what Arteta wants proper now, and a win on penalties would not have modified that.
As for United, sure, they created little or no earlier than and after Diogo Dalot‘s purple card, however they stayed within the sport and performed with depth and goal. A bit just like the Liverpool sport, they regarded like a aspect that was rising into what the supervisor needed them to do.
Random moments just like the Matthijs De Ligt block obtain outsize significance. It felt as if little lightbulbs have been going off up and down the lineup. They punished their opponent’s errors, saved their tactical form and grew extra disciplined with a person down at the same time as their foe grew extra frantic. Confidence in your supervisor is a factor and as soon as once more, they confirmed it. And simply as with Arsenal, the result of the spot kicks wouldn’t have impacted this.
One other thing on the penalty “received” by Havertz when he collided with Harry Maguire‘s arm. I settle for that some of us hate VAR; effectively, we acquired to expertise a sport with out VAR, and we did not simply see a participant conning the referee into awarding a penalty (as Havertz did, I’m sorry to say) — we additionally noticed a full-on melee afterwards with little in the way in which of disciplinary motion. Not as a result of the referee was dangerous, however as a result of it is merely unimaginable for one refereeing crew to maintain observe of a 20-man brawl.
Did not having VAR (as is customary within the third spherical of the FA Cup) actually make the sport extra pleasant? Or did it supply an incentive for gamers to get away with stuff?
The current comeback wins in opposition to Juventus and Inter en path to the Super Cup have been exhilarating, nevertheless it was apparent that Milan have been going to be judged by how effectively they do the bread-and-butter of cranking out victories within the league and transferring up the desk. And that is the place issues below Sérgio Conceição felt like they did below Paulo Fonseca, which might be why boos rang out on the finish of Saturday’s 1-1 draw at dwelling to Cagliari.
Against an opponent that parked the proverbial bus — and understandably so, contemplating that they are combating to keep away from relegation — Milan had loads of the ball and the possibilities, however didn’t capitalise. Their 2.75 xG and 24 pictures on purpose (11 on course) find yourself which means little when it is one other two factors missed. And including insult to damage, there have been no fewer than three distinct particular person errors on Nadir Zortea‘s equalizer, from Youssouf Fofana‘s revolving door defending, to Theo Hernández getting misplaced, to Mike Maignan fumbling the shot.
It’s the form of stuff that infuriates followers — and doubtless Conceicao, too — the form of stuff that performed a giant a part of what price Fonseca his job on the finish of December. That stated, Milan have been aggressive and front-footed, the alternatives have been there (consider Christian Pulisic hitting the woodwork or Tammy Abraham‘s missed one-on-one) and so they did greater than sufficient to win. That’s an indication the inspiration is extra stable than the desk suggests. And it is OK if this seems to be like Fonseca’s Milan as a result of that crew, regardless of the self-inflicted errors, acquired a number of issues proper.
Conceicao does not must tear it down; he simply must iron out the kinks.
Quick hits
10. It’s now 14 wins in a row for high-flying Atletico: The narrative out of Sunday’s 1-0 win over Osasuna was that this was old-school Atletico Madrid: defending staunchly and never dominating, however taking their possibilities on the different finish. I’m undecided I agree, and the xG (2.33) again me up on the attacking finish. They weren’t overwhelming, and Julián Álvarez‘s purpose felt like a collective mind fart from Osasuna’s again line — regardless of having three central defenders, Alvarez is in some way left all on his personal? — however the alternatives they did create have been top quality and so they have been stingy in their very own field. They stay some extent away from Real Madrid on the high of LaLiga and their confidence is barely rising.
1:16
Gab & Juls not satisfied Kvaratskhelia is a brilliant signing for PSG
Gab Marcotti and Julien Laurens query if Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, one other winger, is a brilliant signing for PSG.
9. Antonio Conte has his sport face on as Napoli say goodbye to Kvaratskhelia: Sunday’s 2-0 victory over Verona makes it 5 wins on the bounce for Napoli (within the league, that’s, as a result of that is the one competitors they’ve left). It was dominant in a Conte method: an early purpose, tight defending after which a second (attractive) purpose from André-Frank Zambo Anguissa after the break for insurance coverage functions. More telling have been his phrases on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who’s formally on his method out. Conte stated he was disenchanted that he wasn’t in a position to persuade him to remain; Kvaratskhelia would have stayed, after all, if he had been in a position to get the pay rise everybody agreed he deserved. (What they disagreed on, after all, was the measurement of the pay bump.)
8. It’s not the contract talks, it is Trent Alexander-Arnold: I made the purpose final week — as did Arne Slot — after the horror present in opposition to Manchester United, and it is legitimate this week after his shock begin in opposition to Accrington Stanley, through which he was the one holdover from final weekend’s XI: you may’t blame his contractual state of affairs and the truth that he is a free agent in a number of months when issues are dangerous, as a result of that very same state of affairs exists when issues are good. And they have been superb on Saturday as he led the crew out as captain and notched a peach of a purpose in a 4-0 drubbing. The actuality is that Alexander-Arnold is outstanding going ahead however typically suffers large lapses defensively. That occurred earlier than his contract talks, and it’ll possible occur once more after he indicators a brand new deal, whether or not with Liverpool or anybody else.
1:45
Did Alexander-Arnold make a press release to Slot with FA Cup efficiency?
Steve Nicol and Shaka Hislop react to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s efficiency in Liverpool’s 4-0 win vs. Accrington Stanley.
7. Inter’s bounce-back win is necessary, however so too have been the late wobbles: Sunday’s 1-0 win at Venezia is important as a result of it retains the crew inside 4 factors of table-topping Napoli: that is manageable with two video games in hand. More vital, I feel, is the way in which they bounced again from the gut-punch of the Super Cup defeat to Milan, through which a 2-0 Inter lead was a 3-2 defeat. Despite additional proof that they are not the identical crew with out Hakan Calhanoglu, they have been largely in cost for a lot of the sport — no less than till the final quarter-hour or so, once they conceded extra possibilities than Simone Inzaghi would have appreciated. If there’s a trigger for concern proper now, it is in all probability on the again.
6. Unlocking Joao Felix is a delight for the eyes: Imagine should you might try this. Imagine should you might get Joao Felix to frequently supply what we noticed him give Chelsea within the 5-0 drubbing of Morecambe on Saturday. He was dealing with a aspect one spot above the underside of your entire English Football League, however no, your eyes didn’t deceive you. In the great thing about his two objectives, you noticed his grace, contact, steadiness, ending, creativity — all of the issues which are supposed so as to add as much as a famous person. Except in his case, they do not. He is likely to be essentially the most technically gifted participant on the membership, however 5½ years after his absurd €126 million to Atletico Madrid — that is proper, he is nonetheless the fourth-costliest participant ever — he nonetheless cannot discover a supervisor to provide him common taking part in time. (The most damning Joao Felix stat is likely to be that since turning 21, he has by no means began greater than 18 video games in a season). Enzo Maresca would love to alter that, however he is not so conceited that he thinks he’ll succeed the place so many others have failed.
1:18
Leboeuf: Chelsea’s win vs. Morecambe virtually excellent
Frank Leboeuf reacts to Chelsea’s 5-0 win over Morecambe within the FA Cup third spherical.
5. Harry Kane‘s penalty rescues wasteful Bayern Munich: Some in Bayern-land are so involved about not killing each sport early that Saturday’s 1-0 win away to Borussia Monchengladbach was seen as a disappointment. Gladbach had a few possibilities after the break and it was 0-0 till Kane’s spot kick with simply over 20 minutes to go. Could Bayern have dropped factors? Sure, however additionally they put collectively an xG of 4.28 (to 0.35) and did not concede a single shot till the second half. That they created a lot with out Jamal Musiala in opposition to a midtable opponent is not a foul factor. If you are going to fear as a Bayern fan, fear about free agents-to-be Joshua Kimmich and Alphonso Davies, each of whom have been usually glorious.
4. Tottenham scrape previous nonleague Tamworth, and it could possibly be the top of additional time within the FA Cup: Tiny Tamworth away was precisely what Tottenham did not need within the FA Cup: small floor, synthetic pitch, a fired-up opponent, second-stringers not taking possibilities (learn: Timo Werner), each impartial hoping for an upset within the title of the “Magic of the FA Cup.” Tamworth saved it scoreless for 90 minutes, however the floodgates opened in additional time with an personal purpose paving the way in which to a 3-0 Spurs win. Maybe it is a coincidence, however The Times reported Monday that the Football Association was contemplating scrapping additional time and going straight to penalty kicks. With replays having already been eradicated, the traditionalists is likely to be incensed, however the harsh fact is that the much less precise soccer you play, the extra probability the smaller membership has of an upset, and going direct to identify kicks would have given a crew like a Tamworth a greater probability. As for the larger golf equipment, you watched the very last thing they need to do is play an additional half hour on a frozen pitch in January.
3. Paris Saint-Germain reaping far lower than they sow: It has been like this for some time now and theories fluctuate, however Sunday’s victory over Saint Etienne felt like peak Luis Enrique. The defending champions took 25 pictures on purpose and put collectively an xG of 4.07, however managed solely to win 2-1. It’s simple to level to the entire “recognised striker” trope, aside from the truth that Gonçalo Ramos truly began on this sport. (Randal Kolo Muani was elsewhere, presumably ready to discover a new dwelling within the January switch window.) With rumours that they are near signing Kvaratskhelia, you surprise what number of winger sorts are sufficient provided that they have already got Bradley Barcola, Lee Kang-in, Désiré Doué, Marco Asensio and Ousmane Dembélé.
2:07
Why Khusanov is ready for a big-money transfer to Man City
Gab and Juls focus on the deal between Lens and Man City for 20-year-old Abdukodir Khusanov.
2. Let’s all decide on Jack Grealish? It somewhat feels that method. You may need thought that his first purpose for Manchester City since December 2023 (in Saturday’s 8-0 demolition of Salford City within the FA Cup) would have earned Grealish some respite from the critics. Instead, we acquired loads of reminders that it had been 392 days for the reason that £100m man’s final purpose. (Heck, as a result of it was a penalty, when he subsequent scores from open play — if he scores from open play — we’ll get a reminder that it is his first purpose from open play since 2023. Won’t that be droll?) There’s no query that Grealish has been a bust and that there have been much better methods for City to spend that cash, however citing his lack of objectives kinda appears like punching down. Grealish is what he’s: a man who was vastly overrated by one of the crucial profitable coaches in historical past, who then could not match him into his system in a productive method and who didn’t reside as much as his switch payment or large contract. Plus, he has the look the form of participant opposing followers like to hate. But he cannot be the one scapegoat right here.
1. Juventus disappoint (once more) in derby, however look exhausting and you will find two shiny spots: As boring as Juve have been within the 1-1 draw with Torino, and as offended as Thiago Motta was — he even acquired himself despatched off, raging afterwards about how sad he was along with his crew’s lack of aggression — there are two factors of sunshine. One is Kenan Yildiz, who scored and was a relentless thorn in Torino’s aspect. I’ll go away it to others to find out whether or not he is one of the best Turkish teenager round (or whether or not it is Arda Güler), nevertheless it’s wild to me that some have been linking him to an exit over doubts about whether or not he match Motta’s system. The different is Douglas Luiz, who made his first begin since October and bossed the midfield. I don’t know how or why he ended up on Motta’s naughty step after his massive summer time transfer, nevertheless it’s evident he can contribute to this crew. Beyond that, Juve confirmed all their limitations (Dusan Vlahovic‘s absence isn’t an excuse) en path to their twelfth league attract 19 video games. Nobody in Europe’s Big 5 leagues has drawn extra.
