What a game as City faced Chelsea at Stamford Bridge! Napoli's frustrations continued with a home defeat while Girona have taken La Liga by storm this season. This and more in this week's European Football Wrap!
Chelsea hold City in 4-4 thriller
Chelsea are certainly the team to watch if you are keen on a bit of insanity with your football matches. Their 4-1 victory at nine-man Spurs remains the most unique game of football you are likely to see all season (it’s not often that a home team will lose 1-4 and still come out with the plaudits).
Chelsea’s 4-4 draw with three-time defending champions City was an old-fashioned basketball match that really could have gone either way. Mancunian old-boys Sterling and Palmer terrorized an uncharacteristically shaky looking City backline, exposing the counterattacking weaknesses that have always occasionally Guardiola’s all-conquering outfit.
You almost get the impression that this Chelsea side could become kingmakers in this year’s Premier League title race. They have taken points from all the principal players (City, Arsenal and Liverpool) and those reverse fixtures could end up proving pivotal in deciding the destiny of this season’s Premier League trophy.
FT: CHELSEA 4-4 MAN CITY
— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 12, 2023
AN INSTANT PREMIER LEAGUE CLASSIC 🍿🔥 pic.twitter.com/7pqEt7WNCH
Leverkusen romp to victory while Kane continues to plunder
You have to admire the continued excellence of Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen. He has channeled his possession-centric Spanish sensibilities into something really special. They routed a misfiring Union Berlin side 4-0 this weekend, with left wingback Alex Grimaldo further underling his status as arguably the most explosive fullback currently operating in European football.
Remarkably acquired on a free from Benfica in the offseason, Grimaldo scored a wonder-goal to register his 6th strike of the season. Leverkusen are exceptional at monopolizing possession and it will be interesting to see how far Alonso can stretch this squad. For their part, Bayern managed to get the job done this weekend, ultimately seeing off Heidenheim 4-2. Tuchel will feel slightly annoyed with the way they relinquished their two-goal advantage.
But you always knew they had something extra in the tank. Harry Kane continued his monstrous form, scoring a slick brace to make it 17 goals in his first 11 Bundesliga appearances. At this rate, he is well on his way to breaking Lewandowski’s 41-goal Bundesliga scoring record.
Bayer Leverkusen head into the international break top of the Bundesliga:
— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 12, 2023
▪️ 10 wins
▪️ 1 draw
▪️ 0 losses
▪️ 34 scored
▪️ 10 conceded
One of the best teams in Europe right now 📈 pic.twitter.com/EH1EVXLrzA
Napoli in disarray while Inter and Juventus hold firm
Rudi Garcia is reportedly on the brink of being sacked following Napoli’s dire 1-0 home defeat to lowly Empoli. This was always on the cards, wasn’t it? How on earth were Napoli going to sustain the energy that saw them collect their first Scudetto in three decades?
Title-winning manager Luciano Spalletti probably knew this better than anyone when he decided to take a break from football to focus on his wine-making ventures. I really think that the club’s decision to ostracize Victor Osimhen- currently injured- was one of the most astonishing self-inflicted wounds I have seen in recent times.
Rumours are swirling that Fabio Cannnavaro may indeed be in line to replace the unfortunate Garcia. In any event, Napoli looked destined to fail in their quest to defend their Serie A title.
Inter- on the other hand- look like a team possessed. Their routine 2-0 home win over Frosinone took them to the top of the Serie A standings (Allegri’s resurgent Juventus had temporarily usurped them with victory over Caligari).
Inter now sit a stunning eight points ahead of bitter city rivals AC Milan. The Rossoneri had yet another Jekyll and Hyde performance at the weekend, surrendering a comfortable 2-0 home lead against Lecce. Milan were actually fortunate not to lose the match, with Lecce having a potential winner ruled out due to a controversial VAR call. In any event, Milan looked bereft of ideas without Pulisic.
It was actually another American who created the headlines this week- though for all the wrong reasons. Yunus Musah was drafted in at half-time by Pioli and the naive youngster committed two atrocious errors that let Lecce back into the game. Pioli just doesn’t have the same in-game management skills of either Allegri or Inzaghi and I can see this Serie A title race devolving into a two-horse affair.
Napoli lose at home to Empoli after conceding a 91st-minute winner.
— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 12, 2023
Empoli were 19th in Serie A before the game 😬 pic.twitter.com/Hp6WJjKizI
Girona reign supreme in La Liga
Girona- who are in only their 4th ever top-flight campaign and possess the league’s smallest stadium- are amazingly setting the La Liga pace. Their 2-1 victory at Rayo Vallecano means they have won 10 of 12 matches this season.
It’s crazy to think that Girona’s outstanding recent success can actually be traced back to Manchester. In 2017, Girona became part of the global Manchester City Football Group (CFG) network. This has seen them benefit from City’s organizational structure and from their players. Former City man Alex Garcia is a prime example.
He has fitted in brilliantly since arriving back in his native country and its wonderful to see the mega-clubs being challenged by a side with such a specific vision.
Real Madrid were in sparkling form this weekend, taking down Valencia 5-1 without talismanic figure Jude Bellingham (ruled out due to a shoulder injury). Vinicius Jr is really growing into that more central role and he and compatriot Rodrygo ran rings around a hapless Valencia defence, scoring four goals between them in a brilliant display of twin Brazilian wizardry.
Barcelona were really in desperation mode this week following that galling Champions League defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk. I really think Xavi could have been on the unemployment line had his side not got all three points against Alaves today. And it didn’t start well, with Omorodion incredibly scoring in the first 20 seconds of the match.
The Nou Camp faithful were growing increasingly frustrated with Xavi’s tactics and it was left to marksman extraordinaire Robert Lewandowski to spare Xavi’s blushes, equalizing with a fantastic header before he slotted home the winner from the penalty spot. Xavi’s side managed to get the job done but we all know how hard it is to turn the tide of Nou Camp sentiment.
Girona are leading La Liga 🤯 pic.twitter.com/xjFM9TWRmv
— GOAL (@goal) November 12, 2023
Player of the Week – Kylian Mbappe
This selection does feel a bit weird. I think it’s clear to everyone that neither Kylian Mbappe nor PSG is incredibly satisfied with their current arrangement (which almost feels like a two-way hostage situation). I think Mbappe is dejected that Real Madrid have reportedly lost interest in him and Luis Enrique has openly stated that he wants the Frenchman to be more of a team player. Still, Mbappe scored a brilliant hat-trick this weekend to help PSG overcome a dogged Reims outfit. It was a victory that saw them move a point ahead of Nice in the Ligue A standings. There has obviously been some massive off-field drama, with Enrique still going two-footed on his star player after the match. But you can’t deny his ability and it feels like it’s only a matter of time until he parts ways with the Parisian giants.
🔴🔵 Hat-trick today… and 15 goals in 15 games this season for Kylian Mbappé.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 11, 2023
2 goals in Champions League. 🇪🇺
13 goals in Ligue1. 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/BvEQmpuSt9
