Go upstairs
Real Madrid: Are the series champions finally on the move? The holders were sleepy and irritable amid the new format, while the problems of assimilating Kylian Mbappé played out in public. But in a crucial 3-2 away win over Atalanta, Mbappe played his part by scoring a fine goal before leaving with an injury. That left the stage open for Real’s other modern Galácticos, with Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham scoring the goals that took the match away from last season’s Europa League winners. Mateo Retegui’s late effort made Madrid’s hearts pound, but the ball flew wide and was probably offside anyway. To automatically qualify for a place in the top eight, Madrid must rediscover the belief that winning games at this level is their right. Their last two assignments, against Salzburg and Brest, look very winnable, even though Real are in 20th place, four points off the automatic qualification spots. If they qualify, the knockouts will be the time for Madrid’s machine to spring into action.
Brest: The team whose name keeps making Micah Richards giggle during the CBS broadcast punched above their weight. They are the miracle of this season. Beating PSV 1-0 took the Ligue 1 side, who were still an amateur club in 2004, to 13 points, making them one of the top eight to qualify automatically. Brendan Chardonnet is the inspirational captain of a team of unsung heroes, with the highest profile being Massadio Haïdara, who spent five years on the fringes of Newcastle’s first team. Once a cult hero of Sunderland, Éric Roy is on course to become the league’s Coach of the Year status if his team reaches the knockouts. An excellent goalkeeping performance from Marco Bizot against his Dutch compatriots set the scene, and Julien Cardinal tapped in the winner after a well-executed set piece.
ClubBruges: Belgian football was rarely on the rise in the Champions League era. In the old European Cup, Club Brugge was the only Belgian club to reach the final, losing to Liverpool at Wembley in 1978. After Sporting were defeated 2-1 in a comeback this week, there are two matchdays to negotiate. And if Juventus and Manchester City pose a huge challenge, Bruges may already have enough to be in the top 24. Brugge’s third win in six Champions League matches this season was secured as Casper Nielsen came off the bench to score the winner with his first touch. . When Sporting scored early through Geny Catamo, the team now coached by João Pereira looked set for victory, only for the Belgian club to show off their trademark resilience under Nicky Hayen, a manager whose previous clubs include Haverfordwest County in the Welsh League .
Sliding down
Manchester City: Are we witnessing one of football’s biggest collapses? When his team lost 2-0 at Juventus, Pep Guardiola’s pinched features wore a familiar look of submission. Has it come to the point that the Catalan genius is turning to delusions? “We played well: really, really well,” he said, defying the image most observers would have of another shockingly flat performance from City. “We missed the last pass, the last play when we arrived, and we conceded chances in some transitions. It happens, but I’m so proud of these players.” City will probably have to settle for a play-off place, which in itself is no shame considering other clubs are in a similar position, although they have to struggling to get there is a further indication that the Premier League champions have fallen from grace.
RB Leipzig: Up and down, six defeats from six for the biggest casualty so far in the group stage. Aston Villa, a team that is struggling in England, completed the damage on Tuesday with a 3-2 victory. Leipzig are behind in the Bundesliga – they are in fourth place – while the Champions League is catching up with them every time. Coach Marco Rose is under serious fire, so that according to the weekend speculation, Erik ten Hag would come in to replace him. With RB Salzburg barely doing better on three points, Red Bull’s new head of world football, Jürgen Klopp, has a sizeable tray to greet him.
Below: They had to concede a goal at one point this season and Nordi Mukiele’s 90th-minute winner for Leverkusen could hardly have come at an inopportune moment for the Italians. Inter looked set for a sixth straight clean sheet, although they were pinned back by Xabi Alonso’s side, with Yann Sommer busy in goal. Meanwhile, Inter’s attackers and midfielders struggled against Bayer’s high pressure; the defense failed to clear their lines as Mukiele netted the first goal Inter had conceded in a month. As Alonso danced on the touchline, Inter coach Simone Inzaghi was visibly furious. “We should have been more daring,” he said, annoyed that his team now has to negotiate Sparta Prague and Monaco to ensure a place in the top eight.
A good week for that
Alisson, Liverpool. Until his mistake at Newcastle last week, Caoimhin Kelleher’s performances seemed to indicate he could become Liverpool’s number one goalkeeper. But Arne Slot has never hesitated that Alisson is his number 1. In his first game since October, Alisson showed why he retains Slot’s confidence with a string of saves in the first half against Girona, denying Bryan Gil, Miguel Gutiérrez and Yáser Asprilla the trademark orders. . His five saves fueled Liverpool’s second-half improvement and eventual victory. Finally, scathingly for the rest of his team, he praised Alisson: “He showed again today why I have said so many times that he is our first goalkeeper, nothing to do with Caoimhin.”
Ferran Torres, Barcelona. Like Raphinha, Torres was written off as an expensive signing bought in haste, a waste at a time of financial crisis, but after his 14-minute cameo with two goals in a 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund, he shone. his reputation as the man of his club in a crisis. Robert Lewandowski, who had replaced Torres, led the congratulations for the match winner, whose goals lifted Barça to second place in the Champions League. Torres has scored four in his last three games as Barcelona steadied themselves after a messy November brought their runaway start to the season to a halt. He is behind Lewandowski, Raphinha and Lamine Yamal for a spot in the forward line, with Dani Olmo also close by, but has shown his full worth to Hansi Flick.
Weston McKennie, Juventus. Juventus’ second, decisive goal against Man City was scored in America, with Timothy Weah’s cross falling into the path of McKennie to volley home. The two USMNT members became the first Americans to score and assist in Champions League history. “As an American, being here, it’s something you have to deal with, but I like it,” McKennie said. “I like it when people doubt me, and sometimes I play my best football when people doubt me.” He has played a bit of a role in Thiago Motta’s attempt to take Juventus by storm. He made just five Serie A starts, but “Weston can do anything,” Motta said. McKennie ended his evening explaining to Micah Richards, a resident of the city, why he struggled in Leeds. “It was always gray, I had a window with sunlight in my house and the sun never came through,” he said. “No Sunday roast, nothing. I was alone. My area was like no area, nothing around. I went up to see Harry Potter World, which was about an hour away. Turin seems to suit him better.