In this week’s edition of the European Football Wrap, Damien looks at Man City’s coronation, Roberto Firmino’s Liverpool farewell, defeats for Inter, Arsenal and more!
Man City secure threepeat and look towards treble
You have to hand it Arsenal: when they implode, they do it with panache. Last week they were played off the park by Brighton, essentially handing the title to Man City.
This week they looked utterly anaemic in possession, failing to break down Forest and actually handing the title to City. They afforded Pep the luxury of resting virtually his entire Real-conquering side at home to ‘Super’ Frank’s Chelsea.
And they looked tremendous in the opening stages, a carbon-copy of the side that humbled Ancelotti’s Real Madrid. Julian Alvarez showed why he has been the best understudy in European football this season, scoring his 14th goal of a season where he has been deprived of game-time.
But the weakened, undercooked City team flagged as the match went on. The Etihad faithful- no doubt lubricated by various libations- almost seemed impatient for the final whistle. City held on for the win and were left to celebrate the first leg of what is looking a likely treble.
It will be interesting to see how Guardiola juggles his troops for the last two away matches. There is always a fine balance between resting players and preventing them from losing match sharpness.
And your @premierleague champions... Manchester City! 🥇 pic.twitter.com/yGepxj7JTE
— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 21, 2023
Firmino bows out in bittersweet style
Affectionately known as ‘Bobby’ by the Kop, Roberto Firmino won literally every possible major honor as a Liverpool footballer. He also revolutionized the centre-forward role in the country, acting as essentially a link-up man for the explosive wingers (Salah and Mane).
His eccentric goal celebrations and languid style made him a huge fan favourite and yesterday marked his final home game for the Reds. And he equalized in the 89th minute, showing his trademark instincts to get on the end of a quality cross.
But Liverpool ultimately couldn’t put a stubborn Villa to bed, almost certainly ending their incredible late-season top-four surge n the process. United’s victory at Bournemouth means that both the Red Devils and Newcastle require just a point from their final two games to ensure Champions League football.
Casemiro has been indifferent in recent weeks, far from the colossus that he was earlier in the campaign. But he popped up with a nifty bicycle kick to calm the nerves around the entire Man United hierarchy.
Here’s to Bobby Firmino:
— Anfield Watch (@AnfieldWatch) May 20, 2023
🔴 361 games
⚽️ 110 goals
🎯 72 assists
🏆 UCL 2019
🏆 Super Cup 2019
🏆 Club World Cup 2019
🏆 Premier League 19/20
🏆 League Cup 2022
🏆 FA Cup 2022
Signed for £29m 🤯
𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂, Bobby 😍 pic.twitter.com/BljRWPQa60
Ancelotti suffers another embarrassing defeat
Barcelona’s home defeat to Rayo Sociedad didn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things. Xavi’s side had already enjoyed a parade through the streets of Barcelona to celebrate their first Las Liga title since 2019.
This was basically just an exhibition match ahead of the formal presentation of the trophy. Real Madrid’s defeat at Valencia felt a little heftier. Their fans probably felt like they deserved a bounce-back following their seismic European defeat to Man City. But this defeat also allowed bitter city rivals Atletico to sneak ahead of Los Blancos in the La Liga standings.
I wonder if this could affect the thinking of the mercenary Florentino Perez as he mulls over that Man City massacre. Diego Simeone’s side picked up a convincing 3-0 home victory over Osasuna. All three scorers- Carrasco, Niguez and Correa- are long-serving Simone acolytes who will no doubt be thrilled with getting a leg up over their bitter city rivals.
Valencia upset Real Madrid 😯🦇 pic.twitter.com/P9gt8dB6TE
— 433 (@433) May 21, 2023
Inter stumble at champions
Casual observers tend to stick their noses up to Italian football. It’s too slow, antiquated, etc. There is an Italian club in the final of every major European competition this year: Inter in the Champions League, Roma in the Europa League and Fiorentina in the Conference League.
I just feel like there’s a lot of lazy journalism in regards to Italian football. Inter will not have City’s luxury of just taking it easy in their domestic run-in. Their 3-1 away defeat to champions Napoli leaves them just two points above city rivals Milan in the quest for top-four football.
They need four points from their final two matches to guarantee Champions League football (this with a Coppa Italia final to worry about). They will also be sweating the fitness of midfield maestro Henrikth Mkhitarya. He limped off in last week’s Champions League semi-final and is touch-and-go for that mega-clash in Istanbul.
#SerieA
— Extra Time Indonesia (@idextratime) May 21, 2023
FT : Napoli 3-1 Inter Milan
⚽ Zambo 67'
⚽ Di Lorenzo 85'
⚽ Gaetano 90+5'
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🟥 Gagliardini 41'
⚽ Lukaku 82'
Ini calon lawan City? 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/QruBBXSEsq
Tuchel era headed for catastrophe
I knew that the sacking of Julian Nagelsmann was somewhat premature. But it was the appointment of Thomas Tuchel that really took the club to a farcical space. Why appoint firebrand Tuchel if you are looking to stabilize?
Also, why appoint such an arch-pragmatist with this level of talent at your disposal? Their performance against RB Leipzig was really a microcosm of the entire ill-fated Tuchel reign. Thomas Muller was left visibly frustrated as he tried to orchestrate an organized press.
But it just doesn’t seem as if Tuchel commands the respect of this squad. Bayern were still in the hunt for three trophies when Tuchel was appointed. The former Dortmund manager has never convinced in the Bayern dugout and one wonders how long the Bayern shot-callers will stand for it.
Especially with the news that both Joshua Kimmich and Sadio Mane are likely to leave the German giants this summer. Their loss left the door open for Terzic’s Dortmund. And they duly obliged, soundly beating Augsburg to move one win away from securing their first Bundesliga title since 2011/2012.
They just have to beat Mainz at home next week to secure that much-awaited title. They couldn’t possibly Spurs it come? Could they?
Bayern’s sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic: "Thomas Tuchel needs the pre-season with the team, then everything will be better." [Sky Germany] pic.twitter.com/WmaBIktxRB
— Bayern & Football (@MunichFanpage) May 21, 2023
Player of the Week – Sebastian Haller
This selection has a touch of the sentimental about it. Haller missed the first half of the season after a battle with testicular cancer. But since he has rejoined, he has given them something they sorely missed: a target man.
He helps hold the ball up for the likes of Malen and Moukoko to feed off of him. And he netted a crucial brace this weekend that has put the fate of the Bundesliga in Dortmund’s hands.
🏆 2011-12 title win
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) May 21, 2023
🏆 2022-23 title win?
Sebastian Haller has taken Borussia Dortmund one step closer to their first Bundesliga title in 11 years.#BBCFootball
