Feb 26, 2020
Arsene Wenger speaking on Bein Sports during Chelsea vs Bayern:
They make you run too much and you cannot survive for 90 minutes. In the Champions League, if you lose the midfield, you’re in trouble. That’s rule number one because you play against such good teams. If they can feed their strikers, you will pay for it. We’ve all gone through that.
I agree with Wenger, which makes the last five years of the Champions League a fascinating exercise in analysis. Why have midfield dominant teams not been winning as much as they should have in the knockout stages? It just goes to show that the competition is so difficult and random, that even having the most important core ingredient can’t guarantee you success in it.
Feb 25, 2020
While not quite on the level of Leipzig’s dominance of Spurs, Bayern deserve their lead at Chelsea. No surprise that Thiago had a role to play in the goal. The Spaniard has been in control of the centre of the park.⚽️
Feb 25, 2020
Finishes don’t come any more stupendous than that. Couldn’t have asked for something better to become the club’s all time leading scorer. Mertens is a legend unlike few others. ⚽️
Feb 25, 2020
On the flip side, not sure that a side with Napoli’s quality on the ball have to sit back so much against Barca at home. At some point, probably in the second half, I expect Napoli to be more adventurous. ⚽️
Feb 25, 2020
Big night for Barca’s midfield at Napoli. Valverde’s Barca had many UCL demons on the road, but the fact that his midfield was poor with possession in those ties at Anfield and Rome isn’t talked about much. I am intrigued to see if Setien can get his midfield to play better.
Feb 25, 2020
Interestingly Frank Lampard has named the same eleven that beat Spurs for the Bayern tie. We’ll soon find out if Chelsea were genuinely attacking on the weekend. Gnabry and Coman are likely to occupy James and Alonso more than any threat offered by Spurs.⚽
Feb 25, 2020
My picks are based purely on the principle that away ties are still extremely difficult in Europe, especially in the knockout stages. There seemed to be little consciousness of this last week and I sense the same underestimating of home advantage this week as well. Hence, these are my picks.
Chelsea 1 Bayern 2
Napoli 2 Barca 2
Lyon 1 Juve 1
Madrid 1 City 1
Feb 22, 2020
Riyad Mahrez has been an underrated cog in Pep’s machine since joining City last season. There have been times where Pep hasn’t trusted him in big games. For my money he has to start at the Bernabeu in midweek. ⚽️
Feb 21, 2020
With the very best teams prioritizing system over individual, it’s hard to see Coutinho easily being part of a first team that is a genuine contender. Maybe the next step should be a 2nd tier team that aspires to be in the Champions League and is in genuine need of a game breaker. ⚽️
Feb 21, 2020
Coutinho starting against Paderborn means he won’t start against Chelsea, in keeping with recent big matches. Which in turn pretty much confirms Bayern won’t keep Coutinho beyond the season. How will Coutinho revive his career?
Feb 21, 2020
On any other weekend a game between second and third would be a highlight, but such has been the brilliance of Liverpool and such has been the average nature of those below third, that Leicester hosting City in this round quite simply doesn’t have an edge to it because both teams are secure in the top four. Not so secure in fourth however, are Chelsea. Frank Lampard’s men look like they are ill-equipped to deal with a difficult set of fixtures. Having gone winless in four, the chastened Blues welcome their former boss Mourinho to Stamford Bridge, with Spurs now only a point behind. The reverse fixture was lauded as an example of Lampard outthinking Mourinho, but coming up with smart tactics when the chips are down is another kettle of fish altogether. The momentum is with Spurs, though Mourinho’s men are hardly playing with any sort of clarity themselves. Both defences are there for the taking, but which attack is better equipped to take advantage?
There’s also an interesting fixture between Arsenal and Everton at the Emirates. The reverse fixture was notable for Messrs Ancelotti and Arteta being in the box, both just being announced as new managers of their clubs. There was a school of thought prevalent back then, that maybe Ancelotti and Arteta were better fits the other way around. As things have panned out since, both have done a good job with improvement in performance evident at Arsenal and Everton. Notwithstanding the results of City’s appeal against their Champions League ban, this game could yet have some European permutations. Here are my picks.
Chelsea 1 Spurs 2
Palace 1 Newcastle 0
Burnley 2 Bournemouth 0
Sheffield Utd 1 Brighton 1
Southampton 2 Villa 1
Leicester 1 City 2
United 2 Watford 2
Wolves 2 Norwich 0
Arsenal 2 Everton 1
Liverpool 3 West Ham 0
Last Round Score - 4/7
Season Score - 40/80
Feb 21, 2020
La Liga goes head first into the battle for Champions League qualification this weekend as the teams from third to eighth are in action against each other. First up on Saturday, Real Sociedad welcome Valencia with the hosts just a point behind the visitors, who in turn are just two points off Atletico in fourth. Albert Celades’ men had a humbling experience in Milan against Atalanta in the Champions League and the way they’ve been blown off the park in their last two tough away games doesn’t augur well for a trip to San Sebastian, where the hosts got a much needed break when their fixture at Eibar was postponed last weekend. Then Spain’s big success story — Getafe, host Sevilla. Considering how Getafe dominated Valencia and Ajax in their last two games at the Coliseum, the odds don’t look good for Julien Lopetegui’s men, who suddenly aren’t even creating the chances they were earlier in the season. Finally, Atletico Madrid host Villarreal, with only two points separating the sides. The Rojiblancos spirit must be soaring after an excellent victory over Liverpool, but the Yellow Submarines are no pushovers and they’ve frequently managed to get good results against Atletico, even on the road. It may not be a decisive weekend, but with the protagonists playing each other, the stakes are certainly high. Time for my picks.
Betis 2 Mallorca 0
Celta 2 Leganes 0
Barca 2 Eibar 0
La Real 3 Valencia 1
Levante 1 Real 2
Osasuna 1 Granada 1
Alaves 1 Athletic 0
Valladolid 1 Espanyol 1
Getafe 3 Sevilla 0
Atletico 1 Villarreal 1
Last Round Score - 4/9
Season Score - 27/59
Feb 21, 2020
After an intense top of the table clash last time around, Lazio and Inter have different tasks this weekend as they get involved in the relegation battle that is being fiercely contested between Marassi rivals, Genoa and Sampdoria. Lazio have to follow up what seemed like a statement win with a tie that can be considered trickier in some respects. Now that they are genuine title contenders, they have to deal with a different kind of pressure. Genoa themselves have been reinvigorated since the arrival of Davide Nicola, going four games unbeaten. Nicola pulled off a miracle when keeping Crotone in Serie A for an additional season and it looks like he is pulling off another Houdini act with Genoa. Inter’s tie at home to Sampdoria seems a little more straightforward in comparison, but Claudio Ranieri will be determined to make an impression against his former side, if not for anything else, to keep himself in the job as the pressure mounts. Here are my picks.
Brescia 1 Napoli 2
Bologna 2 Udinese 0
SPAL 0 Juve 2
Fiorentina 1 Milan 1
Genoa 1 Lazio 2
Torino 1 Parma 2
Verona 2 Cagliari 0
Atalanta 3 Sassuolo 2
Roma 1 Lecce 1
Inter 2 Sampdoria 0
Last Round Score - 7/10
Season Score - 29/70
Feb 21, 2020
Schalke welcoming Leipzig is the biggest game of the weekend in Germany, though the host's drop-off in form makes this tie look less appetizing than it would have been even three weeks ago. Nevertheless, Schalke’s fans will generate a hostile atmosphere for Leipzig and Julien Nagelsmann’s side will have the novel experience of following up a successful Champions League knockout tie with a tricky domestic tie away from home. Elsewhere Dortmund take on their bogey team of the last two years — Werder Bremen. Dortmund haven’t beaten Bremen in four games, with the nadir being an embarrassing Pokal defeat a few weeks ago. Surely if Lucien Favre’s men can’t beat this doomed version of Bremen, then any hopes of winning the title can be kissed goodbye. Time for my picks.
Bayern 3 Paderborn 0
Gladbach 3 Hoffenheim 1
Bremen 2 Dortmund 4
Hertha 2 Cologne 1
Freiburg 2 Fortuna 0
Schalke 1 Leipzig 2
Leverkusen 2 Augsburg 1
Wolfsburg 1 Mainz 0
Frankfurt 2 Union 1
Last Round Score - 4/9
Season Score - 21/44
Feb 21, 2020
On the back of three successive victories, Monaco have somehow pulled themselves into the battle for Champions League qualification in France. Robert Moreno’s men now stand only three points behind a stuttering Rennes, who’ve gone three games without a win. For now, that coveted third place is being contested by Rennes, Lille and Monaco, but the sheer inconsistency of the teams below Marseille means we can’t rule others joining the battle if results go their way. These are my picks for this weekend.
Nice 2 Brest 0
Metz 1 Lyon 2
Marseille 1 Nantes 0
Strasbourg 2 Amiens 1
Angers 0 Montpellier 1
Lille 2 Toulouse 0
Dijon 1 Monaco 2
St Etienne 0 Reims 0
Rennes 2 Nimes 1
PSG 2 Bordeaux 1
Last Round Score - 5/10
Season Score - 29/60
Feb 20, 2020
After the Champions League knockouts get underway it's easy to feel a little mentally fatigued by Wednesday night, because the intensity and drama is unparalleled. So naturally, the Europa League doesn’t generate the same interest on Thursday. That being said, I like the knockout stages of UEFA’s second competition on its own merits. I can’t pretend I am looking forward to all 16 ties in the round of 32, but nevertheless I have picked eight ties that I am interested in.
Getafe vs Ajax
Sporting vs Basaksehir
Shakhtar vs Benfica
Brugge vs United
Frankfurt vs Salzburg
Wolves vs Espanyol
Leverkusen vs Porto
Olympiacos vs Arsenal
Feb 18, 2020
I had put in quite a bit of work to produce some pieces in detail ahead of the resumption of the Champions League, but life got in the way and stuff happens. So quickly, my picks for the four knockout matches this week.
Atletico 1 Liverpool 1
I agree with many who predict Liverpool to win the tie on aggregate. Liverpool are the superior team, but I think Atletico have it in them to still produce a performance above themselves and display resilience at home. While Diego Simeone’s allure has reduced, he still hasn’t lost a home knockout tie with Atletico in the Champions League.
Dortmund 2 PSG 2
Deep in my heart, I actually believe this could even be 4-4! Such is the attacking power on display here. For me, the defining battle is how PSG’s defence will cope with the threat of Haaland, Sancho and Hakimi. I can say with confidence that Neymar, Mbappe and co. will score against this Dortmund defence.
Spurs 2 Leipzig 1
I think Leipzig are better as a team, but one of the truths of Champions League knockout ties is that there is a lot of scope for the lesser side to win and history is evidence of that. It is after all Leipzig’s first knockout tie in this competition. Going back a couple of years Spurs played Juventus off the park and still lost. I get the feeling Spurs might do the reverse of that to Leipzig.
Atalanta 1 Valencia 1
This is a head over heart prediction. At their best, I do believe Atalanta can play Valencia off the park. But Valencia qualified for the last 16 with a win away at Ajax, which is no mean feat. As glorious as Atalanta’s attack is, they can miss chances and misfire in random games. Valencia, despite being average for most of the season, have actually shown up in most of their big games.
Feb 14, 2020
2002 was crazy, probably the most memorable end to a Serie A title race. 2018 was incredible as well, probably the most memorable end to a race for fourth anywhere across Europe. What will 2020 bring? Amongst the myriad of big games in Italy, Lazio hosting Inter has a history of drama unlike any other. Their meeting on Sunday won’t be as defining as the aforementioned games — after all, they’ll still be another 14 games left in the season. But boy is it a big game! The hosts are just a point behind their visitors at the top of the table. Lazio are unbeaten in 18 games, Inter are unbeaten in 16. The last team to beat Lazio in the league? Inter, of course. Under Antonio Conte, Inter were expected to challenge. Under Simone Inzaghi, Lazio have surprised, in the process showing the value of how a team can develop if their best players aren't sold every season. Considering their resources, the Biancocelesti could make a case for being the best team in the league this season. They have scored more than everyone bar Atalanta, and have conceded the fewest goals along with Inter. Lazio have less to lose, but will they get stage fright as the chance of unlikely glory increases? Inter come into the game with momentum after a comeback for the ages in the Milan derby last weekend. They aren’t convincing for 90 minutes, but Conte has inserted trademark resilience and intensity into the Nerazzurri. Will anything give on Sunday? I just hope the game lives up to expectations.
I didn’t really want to write about anything else, but there is also a big game in the race for fourth. On Saturday, can Atalanta deal a decisive blow to Roma? Paulo Fonseca’s promising debut season is threatening to fall apart at the seams due to some unfortunate injuries and the defence having a collective meltdown since the Rome derby. One gets the sense it is a game that the Giallorossi can’t afford to lose. Atalanta on the other hand are flying. There is a growing sense of excitement as they prepare for their first Champions League knockout game against Valencia. More pertinently, they are in an excellent position to qualify again, which will enable the club to keep growing in the organic manner that has won so many hearts. Win and take a six-point lead over Roma and its hard to see them lose their grip on fourth. Another high stakes game. What a weekend!
Lecce 3 SPAL 0
Bologna 2 Genoa 1
Atalanta 3 Roma 2
Udinese 1 Verona 1
Sampdoria 2 Fiorentina 2
Sassuolo 2 Parma 1
Juve 3 Brescia 1
Cagliari 1 Napoli 2
Lazio 2 Inter 1
Milan 2 Torino 0
Last Round Score - 1/10
Season Score - 22/60
Feb 13, 2020
Underwhelming is one way to describe it. Mediocre may be more apt. There is certainly very little that’s positive about how this season has panned out for either Valencia or Atletico Madrid. Leading into the season there was some hope that both would push on, and in Atletico’s case in particular, genuinely challenge La Liga’s duopoly for the title. Now, a few days before they resume their Champions League campaign in knockout games for which neither are favourites, Valencia and Atletico face off at the Mestalla with the main aim focused on returning to Europe’s premier competition next season. It all feels a little drab for what should be one of the big games of the La Liga season. Valencia received a shellacking for the ages at Getafe last weekend, so fans of Los Che will demand a much better performance at home. Considering how rotten Diego Simeone’s men have been on their travels this season, it may not require much more than some focus and intensity to beat them. With only two points separating the teams and players riddled with doubt on both sides, it is possible that pressure may get the better of the game.
If one were predicting a match based on a side having a set identity established by a brilliant manager than Getafe would be favourites against Barcelona. But this is Barca at the Camp Nou and a Barca that played its best half of football under Quique Setien in their comeback win at Betis last weekend. That however, is still some way short of the Blaugrana at their best. There’s also some needle between the managers thanks to Setien being condescending towards Bordalas’ methods in the past. And this is after all a match between second and third (yes, it bares repeating, Getafe are third!), so expect it to be tight.
Elsewhere we have two Basque derbies this weekend, following another two last weekend. I actually think both Athletic and La Real could have done without another local game. Both teams have come to the front of the press cycle after their heroic wins over Real and Barca in the Copa del Rey, which was quickly followed by facing off against each other last Sunday. The pressure was evident in their semifinal first legs against lesser teams in midweek, and I think both are bound to have a bit of an emotional comedown against Eibar and Osasuna.
Valencia 1 Atletico 0
Mallorca 1 Alaves 1
Barca 1 Getafe 0
Villarreal 3 Levante 1
Granada 0 Valladolid 0
Sevilla 1 Espanyol 1
Leganes 1 Betis 1
Eibar 1 La Real 1
Athletic 0 Osasuna 0
Real 2 Celta 0
Last Round Score - 4/10
Season Score - 23/50
Feb 13, 2020
The staggering of fixtures thanks to the Premier League’s inaugural winter break almost felt like no significant football took place in England’s top flight last weekend. There can be no such illusions about this weekend as the race for fourth comes to a head with Wolves hosting Leicester and Chelsea facing off against United at Stamford Bridge. If any team was in need of a break, it was Wolves. This game marks a possible tipping point for Wolves. If they win, then committing to a chase for fourth in the league becomes a genuine objective. If they lose, its probably all eggs in the Europa League basket. Not that the Foxes are willing accomplices. Brendan Rodgers could do with a significant away win after a bit of an underwhelming January for Leicester.
When United beat Chelsea 4-0 on the first Sunday of the season, not many foresaw the Blues being six points ahead of the Red Devils by mid-February. This is not to say that Chelsea have played drastically better than United. In truth, after an excellent couple of months in October and November, Frank Lampard’s men have been as inconsistent as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men. Its only because the bar has been set low for fourth that Chelsea have managed to hold on without much pressure until now. Which makes me think that despite the high stakes around this game, one shouldn’t expect a feast of football; if the history of this fixture is anything to go by, tension is likely to outweigh quality.
Which brings us nicely to the final protagonist in the race for fourth — good old Spurs. In their last two fixtures, Jose Mourinho has pulled of the “masterclass” of being totally outplayed and yet somehow delivering wins against City and Southampton. Considering how Aston Villa tend to play on the front foot at Villa Park, what odds of Spurs doing it for a third consecutive game? Finally, a word about Spurs great rivals. Mikel Arteta has achieved his immediate aim of getting Arsenal to play with intensity and organization. It is a crucial first step. But this is still Arsenal we are talking about. Its time for the Gunners to at least get a convincing victory over a bottom half team. Not that Steve Bruce’s Newcastle are easy to breach, but it would be nice to see Arteta unlocking the potential of his attack and getting them to play with greater fluency.
Wolves 2 Leicester 1
Southampton 1 Burnley 1
Norwich 1 Liverpool 3
Villa 1 Spurs 2
Arsenal 2 Newcastle 0
Chelsea 2 United 1
City 3 West Ham 1
Last Round Score - 1/3
Season Score - 36/73
Feb 13, 2020
That PSG are winning the league as a mere formality is no surprise. However, not many would have predicted Marseille pulling well clear of the rest in second. Hence, its only natural, in what is becoming a bit of a trend on my weekly picks for Ligue 1, the main focus is again going to be the race for third and a place in the Champions League next season. Rennes, who looked like they were beginning to take control of the coveted spot, haven’t won in two, allowing Lille to reduce the gap to one point on account of three consecutive wins. Visiting Reims is a tough test for Rennes and if they slip up, Lille can overtake them provided they complete the difficult task of beating Marseille at home.
Elsewhere there’s all sorts of jostling for Europa League positions, with the obvious caveat that the likes of Monaco and Lyon actually aspire to be higher than that. In a battle between the last two champions not named PSG, seventh placed Monaco welcome Montpellier in fifth. Robert Moreno has eked out two consecutive victories, but a home win against a tough opponent will give everyone at Monaco the belief that they finally are on an upward trajectory, even if there isn’t much to salvage this season. Meanwhile, Claude Puel got some relief as St Etienne made it to the semis of the Coupe de France, but another victory is vital for Les Verts to not get dragged into an unexpected relegation battle.
Monaco 2 Montpellier 1
Amiens 0 PSG 4
Bordeaux 2 Dijon 1
Nantes 0 Metz 0
Toulouse 0 Nice 2
Nimes 3 Angers 1
Lyon 2 Strasbourg 2
Brest 1 St Etienne 2
Reims 1 Rennes 1
Lille 1 Marseille 1
Last Round Score - 7/10
Season Score - 24/50
Feb 13, 2020
The ramifications of last weekend’s two big games are likely to be felt in this round of Bundesliga action. Despite scoring thrice, Dortmund predictably lost at Leverkusen thanks to the innate defensive vulnerability in Lucien Favre’s team. Even with a home crowd behind them I am expecting their defence to have another torrid night on Friday as they welcome a Frankfurt side that finally looks like it has moved on from losing last season’s triple threat of Haller, Rebic and Jovic. Adi Hutter’s men are unbeaten since the restart, beating Leipzig once each in the league and cup and with Filip Kostic and Andre Silva in fine form, one can see the visitors getting something at Signal Iduna Park.
The feeling in Leverkusen meanwhile was that of a watershed victory, but Peter Bosz’s style has its own vulnerabilities and I wouldn’t be surprised if they came a cropper at Union, where the hosts have already had some memorable victories over Germany’s big guns in their first ever Bundesliga season. Moving on, the fact that Leipzig showed a different tactical side to their game at Bayern and more significantly, displayed tenacity and fortitude leads me to believe they may have just stopped the rot. I am expecting a comfortable home win for Julian Nagelsmann’s men against a Bremen side who look increasingly doomed with each passing round.
Amongst the other big guns, Bayern should manage to win at Cologne, though Markus Gisdol has completely revitalized the Billy Goats and its the kind of game where if the champions are complacent, things can get tricky. Gladbach have had some extended time off thanks to Storm Ciara which should enable Marco Rose’s early pacesetters to get back on the winning trail at Fortuna. Finally, in a weekend where I am not really backing the traditional favourites too much, I think Schalke could lose at Mainz considering the lull in form that David Wagner’s men are going through at the moment.
Dortmund 2 Frankfurt 2
Union 2 Leverkusen 1
Leipzig 3 Bremen 0
Paderborn 1 Hertha 1
Hoffenheim 2 Wolfsburg 1
Augsburg 1 Freiburg 1
Fortuna 1 Gladbach 3
Cologne 2 Bayern 3
Mainz 2 Schalke 1
Last Round Score - 2/8
Season Score - 17/35
Feb 12, 2020
Another farcical end to a Jurgen Klinsmann managerial tenure. First, the great man himself:
I am more than convinced that Hertha will reach its goal to stay up. But for this job, which is not done yet, as the head coach I need the trust of the acting persons. Especially in a relegation battle unity, team spirit and focus on the basics are the most important elements. If they are not guaranteed, I can't live up to my potential as a head coach and fulfil my responsibility.
That's why, after long consideration, I have come to the conclusion that I will leave my post as the Hertha Berlin head coach and return to my initial long-term task as a member of the supervisory board.
Then, Hertha’s sporting executive Michael Preetz:
We were surprised by the developments this morning. Especially after such a trustful cooperation during the intense winter transfer period, there were no signs at all for this.
So Klinsmann claims he doesn’t have the trust of those higher up, yet its ok in his eyes to continue as a board member sitting alongside those very people? How can Preetz justifiably discuss anything with a board member who just blindsided him at a crucial moment in the season? Ludicrous doesn’t do justice to the situation at Hertha. As for Klinsmann, I am desperately trying to remember him only for his playing days, but boy has he made it tough with his managerial gaffes.
Feb 12, 2020
I am not sure about Barca getting this exemption. Clubs have been given exemptions before in all of the big leagues, but the only cases I remember are for goalkeepers. It can be argued that playing a goalkeeper who has no first team experience in the middle of the season is not only a handicap for his team, but also unfair to the integrity of the league where certain opponents can take advantage of a weakness while others can't. But a novice goalkeeper can’t be compared to an untried striker. A 16-year old striker can play with a devil may care attitude and in some cases even galvanize a team. And even if Barcelona have just two strikers — Messi and Griezmann no less — with the squad they have, the solution should be to implement a different tactical system, regardless of how inconvenient it may be mid season. Finally, if said striker is indeed Angel from Getafe, then that would just be a big blow to a great La Liga story. I don’t want it to happen.
Feb 11, 2020
We are blessed with an abundance of writers on European football in today’s digital age. For most of the noughties however, this wasn’t the case. I used to look forward to a weekly column on soccernet (now ESPNFC) by Phil Ball about Spanish football. Though Phil writes less frequently nowadays, his prose still shines through and he remains one of my favourite writers. Have a read of his fantastic piece on the Copa del Rey.