Barca, Real Madrid Supercopa fallout, Man United beat Arsenal

What a weekend! European soccer did not disappoint, per standard, with a ton of speaking factors to debate after a fascinating slate of video games. Barcelona thumped Clasico rivals Actual 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. Within the English FA Cup, Man United superior over Arsenal on penalties to achieve the fourth spherical, however each groups obtained what they wanted from Sunday’s fiery, full-blooded conflict.

Elsewhere, we have now loads 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. Listed here are musings and reactions to essentially the most memorable moments of the weekend.

Clasico beatdown will need to have penalties, extra for Actual Madrid than for Barcelona

Perhaps 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 straight 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 Actual Madrid may do proper now’s inform themselves that they’ve something in anyway to do with that parallel universe. As a substitute, 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 the direction of the top of the season, the perfect factor to do is interact in some accountability.

It essentially begins with Carlo Ancelotti, after all. He units the crew and sends them out; considering you might cram Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham into some form of 4-2-4 in opposition to this Barcelona aspect proper now was a large blunder. Having gone extra conservative within the prior Clasico, he went out weapons blazing on this one and obtained 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. However let’s not neglect the elephant within the room: how this crew was put collectively.

We have touched on it earlier than. You are one of many best-resourced golf equipment on the planet and also you go into the season with a squad whose three greatest forwards are all pure left-wingers (and whose essential midfield attacking risk, Bellingham, additionally gravitates to the left). Toni Kroos, your midfield normal, retires and also you suppose you might be aggressive with a man who turns 40 in September (Luka Modric) and one other man who’s, nicely, Dani Ceballos. You have obtained 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.

That is basic “Panini sticker” strategy: convey within the huge names and let the coach determine it out. Mbappe is essentially the most coveted participant on the planet? Obtained to have him — irrespective of that Vinicius performs the identical place. I am out of central defenders? No sweat: Aurélien Tchouaméni is tallish, so he can play on the again. That Endrick child who’s the subsequent huge factor? Deliver him in as nicely, though 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 will beat most opponents you probably have higher gamers and a standout keeper — however 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 detrimental aspect impact to the superstar-driven strategy too. Once they battle, it is more durable to make changes. That is why, you presume, Vinicius stayed on the market for 76 minutes regardless of enduring certainly one of his worst performances in current reminiscence. The man is already banned in LaLiga for the crimson 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 way of thinking? I can not say for positive, however I think about that is exactly what went by means of Ancelotti’s head.

Phrase from the membership is that they will not purchase anybody new in January. If you happen to’re 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. Nonetheless 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 best way they did.

That is about them, positive, however that is additionally about Hansi Flick. Recreation-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 obtained nearly all the pieces proper. Barcelona aren’t good and there are sure to be loads extra bumps alongside the best way. It is 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. However this Clasico win is a large confidence enhance.

Making up the six-point hole in LaLiga — particularly as a result of it is not simply Actual Madrid they’d should catch, however Atletico too — could be past them. But after days like this, you’d should put them among the many prime two or three favourites for the Champions League.

Increase for Ruben Amorim goes manner past Man United’s place within the FA Cup fourth spherical

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Burley: Medical 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 gained on Sunday, and Mikel Arteta misplaced. That might even have been the case even when the spot kicks had gone the opposite manner, and it was Arsenal who superior to the subsequent spherical. Why? Due to what we noticed within the previous 120 minutes, and since the prize — staying alive within the FA Cup — is value lower than what occurred on the pitch.

I do not imply to gratuitously diss the competitors right here. Sure, it is a trophy and an vital one, however it’s not how both of these managers goes to be judged. Do not imagine me? Ask Erik ten Hag. He gained it final yr and is now unemployed (and largely unloved).

Extra vital, for each these coaches, was to get an emotional enhance and supply a way that their membership is shifting in the proper route. That half was settled within the 120 minutes earlier than any penalty was taken.

Arsenal might need created extra possibilities and bossed the anticipated targets (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 did not capitalise. The upshot? Extra doubt about what they’ll obtain with Kai Havertz at centre-forward. It isn’t a view I share: I am a Havertz believer, although it could be good to have an alternative 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 crimson card, however they stayed within the recreation and performed with depth and goal. A bit just like the Liverpool recreation, 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 had been going off up and down the lineup. They punished their opponent’s errors, stored their tactical form and grew extra disciplined with a person down whilst 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.

Yet another factor on the penalty “gained” by Havertz when he collided with Harry Maguire’s arm. I settle for that some of us hate VAR; nicely, we obtained to expertise a recreation with out VAR, and we did not simply see a participant conning the referee into awarding a penalty (as Havertz did, I am sorry to say) — we additionally noticed a full-on melee afterwards with little in the best way of disciplinary motion. Not as a result of the referee was unhealthy, however as a result of it is merely unimaginable for one refereeing crew to maintain observe of a 20-man brawl.

Didn’t having VAR (as is customary within the third spherical of the FA Cup) actually make the sport extra fulfilling? Or did it supply an incentive for gamers to get away with stuff?

New coach, usual Milan? Perhaps, however it’s not essentially a foul factor

The current comeback wins in opposition to Juventus and Inter en path to the Tremendous Cup had been exhilarating, however it was apparent that Milan had been going to be judged by how nicely they do the bread-and-butter of cranking out victories within the league and shifting up the desk. And that is the place issues beneath Sérgio Conceição felt like they did beneath Paulo Fonseca, which might be why boos rang out on the finish of Saturday’s 1-1 draw at residence to Cagliari.

In opposition to an opponent that parked the proverbial bus — and understandably so, contemplating that they are preventing to keep away from relegation — Milan had loads of the ball and the probabilities, however did not capitalise. Their 2.75 xG and 24 pictures on objective (11 on the right track) find yourself which means little when it is one other two factors missed. And including insult to harm, 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 is the form of stuff that infuriates followers — and doubtless Conceicao, too — the sort of stuff that performed an enormous a part of what value Fonseca his job on the finish of December. That mentioned, Milan had been aggressive and front-footed, the alternatives had 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 is an indication the muse is extra strong 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, obtained a number of issues proper.

Conceicao does not must tear it down; he simply must iron out the kinks.

Fast hits

10. It is 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 am unsure I agree, and the xG (2.33) again me up on the attacking finish. They weren’t overwhelming, and Julián Álvarez’s objective 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 had been prime quality and so they had been stingy in their very own field. They continue to be a degree away from Actual Madrid on the prime of LaLiga and their confidence is simply rising.

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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 recreation 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 manner: an early objective, tight defending after which a second (beautiful) objective from André-Frank Zambo Anguissa after the break for insurance coverage functions. Extra telling had been his phrases on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who’s formally on his manner out. Conte mentioned 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 dimension of the pay bump.)

8. It isn’t 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, during which he was the one holdover from final weekend’s XI: you’ll be able to’t blame his contractual state of affairs and the truth that he is a free agent in a couple of months when issues are unhealthy, as a result of that very same state of affairs exists when issues are good. And so they had been excellent on Saturday as he led the crew out as captain and notched a peach of a objective in a 4-0 drubbing. The fact is that Alexander-Arnold is phenomenal going ahead however typically suffers large lapses defensively. That occurred earlier than his contract talks, and it’ll probably occur once more after he indicators a brand new deal, whether or not with Liverpool or anybody else.

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Did Alexander-Arnold make an announcement 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 vital, however so too had been the late wobbles: Sunday’s 1-0 win at Venezia is critical as a result of it retains the crew inside 4 factors of table-topping Napoli: that is manageable with two video games in hand. Extra important, I believe, is the best way they bounced again from the gut-punch of the Tremendous Cup defeat to Milan, during which a 2-0 Inter lead changed into a 3-2 defeat. Regardless of additional proof that they are not the identical crew with out Hakan Calhanoglu, they had been largely in cost for a lot of the sport — not less than till the final quarter-hour or so, after they conceded extra possibilities than Simone Inzaghi would have preferred. If there’s a trigger for concern proper now, it is most likely on the again.

6. Unlocking Joao Felix is a delight for the eyes: Think about in case you may do this. Think about in case you may get Joao Felix to recurrently supply what we noticed him give Chelsea within the 5-0 drubbing of Morecambe on Saturday. He was going through a aspect one spot above the underside of the whole English Soccer League, however no, your eyes didn’t deceive you. In the fantastic thing about his two targets, you noticed his grace, contact, stability, ending, creativity — all of the issues which can be supposed so as to add as much as a famous person. Besides in his case, they do not. He could 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 present him common taking part in time. (Probably the most damning Joao Felix stat could be that since turning 21, he has by no means began greater than 18 video games in a season). Enzo Maresca would love to vary that, however he is not so boastful that he thinks he’ll succeed the place so many others have failed.

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Leboeuf: Chelsea’s win vs. Morecambe virtually good

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 recreation 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. May Bayern have dropped factors? Positive, 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 had been usually wonderful.

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 identify of the “Magic of the FA Cup.” Tamworth stored it scoreless for 90 minutes, however the floodgates opened in additional time with an personal objective paving the best way to a 3-0 Spurs win. Perhaps it is a coincidence, however The Occasions reported Monday that the Soccer Affiliation was contemplating scrapping additional time and going straight to penalty kicks. With replays having already been eradicated, the traditionalists could 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 objective and put collectively an xG of 4.07, however managed solely to win 2-1. It is simple to level to the entire “recognised striker” trope, apart from the truth that Gonçalo Ramos really began on this recreation. (Randal Kolo Muani was elsewhere, presumably ready to discover a new residence within the January switch window.) With rumours that they are near signing Kvaratskhelia, you marvel 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.

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Why Khusanov is ready for a big-money transfer to Man Metropolis

Gab and Juls focus on the deal between Lens and Man Metropolis for 20-year-old Abdukodir Khusanov.

2. Let’s all decide on Jack Grealish? It fairly feels that manner. You might need thought that his first objective for Manchester Metropolis since December 2023 (in Saturday’s 8-0 demolition of Salford Metropolis within the FA Cup) would have earned Grealish some respite from the critics. As a substitute, we obtained loads of reminders that it had been 392 days for the reason that £100m man’s final objective. (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 objective from open play since 2023. Will not that be droll?) There is no query that Grealish has been a bust and that there have been much better methods for Metropolis to spend that cash, however citing his lack of targets kinda appears like punching down. Grealish is what he’s: a man who was vastly overrated by probably the most profitable coaches in historical past, who then could not match him into his system in a productive manner and who did not stay as much as his switch charge or large contract. Plus, he has the look the form of participant opposing followers like to hate. However he cannot be the one scapegoat right here.

1. Juventus disappoint (once more) in derby, however look laborious and you will find two brilliant spots: As boring as Juve had been within the 1-1 draw with Torino, and as indignant as Thiago Motta was — he even obtained himself despatched off, raging afterwards about how sad he was together with his crew’s lack of aggression — there are two factors of sunshine. One is Kenan Yildiz, who scored and was a continuing thorn in Torino’s aspect. I will depart it to others to find out whether or not he is the perfect Turkish teenager round (or whether or not it is Arda Güler), however it’s wild to me that some had been linking him to an exit over doubts about whether or not he match Motta’s system. The opposite 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 huge summer season transfer, however it’s evident he can contribute to this crew. Past that, Juve confirmed all their limitations (Dusan Vlahovic’s absence shouldn’t be an excuse) en path to their twelfth league attract 19 video games. No one in Europe’s Large 5 leagues has drawn extra.