We all know that there’s an element of absurdity to talk of a ‘title race’. The guilty verdict in the City corruption saga means that they will most likely be pushing to avoid relegation in the Championship next season (imagine the records that Haaland could break in that division).
All jokes aside, there is an appeal ongoing and I must cover this as if it were any other title race. In that case, this past weekend’s action saw Arteta’s reigning champs draw level on points with Maresca’s under-fire Citizens. City left the door open with a disappointing 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa, ending Maresca’s hopes of becoming the first manager in Premier League history to win his first eight games in charge. City dominated large swathes of possession but were undone by individual errors by serial offenders Donnarumma and Guehi. Nicolas Jackson was the chief architect of City’s demise, scoring a lively brace to end Maresca’s domestic dominance.
Arsenal didn’t need a 2nd invitation to draw level on points with the supervillains, easing past Everton 2-0 in another drably effective display. Arteta’s men dominated most key metrics, owning 58% of the possession while having 18 shots to Everton’s eight. But the fact that both sides only had three shots on target tells you everything you need to know about both Arsenal’s lack of firepower and defensive frugality. Basically, this was another result and performance that wouldn’t have looked out of place in George Graham’s era. The Emirates faithful must have anticipated a bloodbath after Ezri Konsa bundled the ball end at the far post for Arsenal’s first set-piece goal of the season. But the Toffees showed commendable resilience, with Tyrique George and Thierno Barry wasting decent first-half chances. Gabriel capped off a towering performance with a thumping header in the 68th minute, securing all three points for the Gunners. The Arsenal captain tormented Barry like a playground bully all afternoon and thoroughly deserved that moment. Just imagine how good Arsenal will look if their attacking players decide to finally come to the party.
Napoli and Roma tee up contender for match of the season
Inter and Lazio both marched onto 22 points with respective victories over Fiorentina and Parma, setting a pace that the rest of Serie A are struggling to match. Inter produced more late drama at the San Siro, scoring two stoppage-time goals to snatch all three points. But the real highlight of the weekend was a thrilling 3-3 draw between Napoli and Roma. Wow, that match wouldn’t have looked out of place in the Bundesliga! The end-to-end match really sprung into life in the 28th minute, when Anguissa’s wonderfully improvised bicycle kick set the tempo for things to come. Roma pushed their hardest, but it was Napoli who would double their lead, as McTominay ghosted in at the far post to meet Politano’s perfect delivery. Roma then staged the first of two courageous comebacks, netting twice in quick succession to level the match at 2-2. Scott McTominay then thought he had pinched all three points with a rasping low drive that evoked his iconic 2024/2025 campaign. But this incredible match still had a sting in its tail, as Balerdi drifted into the box to head home a dramatic late equalizer for Roma (and his 2nd goal of the night). It was all a bit too much for embattled Napoli manager Massimiliano Allegri, who was shown a red card for threatening language towards 4th official Juan Luca Sacchi.
Bayern cruise as Kane looks towards possible Ballon d’Or coronation
Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane will in London tonight as he looks to become the first Englishman to lift the Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen. To be fair, the Ballon d’Or was barely a thing back in 2001 (Owen has famously said that he didn’t even know what he received the award for). Kane arrives in London fresh off a solid 3-1 victory at surprise packages Freiburg. The game started in disjointed fashion until a swift Bayern counterattack took the energy out of the room in the 16th minute. Michael Olise provided the assist to a buccaneering Dayot Upamecano, who unexpectedly found himself bearing down 1-on-1 with Freiburg keeper Mio Backhaus. The ungainly defender did the rest, laying the foundations for a relatively stress-free canter in the Upper Rhine Valley. Upamecano was equally imposing in his own area, leading the game with 13 defensive interventions. Serge Gnabry provided the killer blow just before the break, latching onto a Nathaniel Brown ball before squeezing the ball in from an acute angle. Bayern appeared to be cruising towards victory before an unfortunate Tom Bicshof OG led to some late turbulence. Olise would have the final say however, connecting with yet another Brown assist to give the Bavarians a handsome, well-deserved 3-1 away victory.
Real tame Barca at the Nou Camp
Jose Mouinrho is officially back! Yes, we all know that the combustible Portuguese legend has been in the Real job for some time now. But stints at Spurs, Roma, Fenerbahçe and Benfica did little to diminish the notion that he may have been a spent force. Could the arch-pragmatist really challenge Hansi Flick’s high-flying Barca? Well, last night’s El Clasico gave us a definitive answer: yes. Mourinho’s side were full value for their 2-1 win at the Nou Camp (despite what the stats may suggest). They were more physically robust and always looked like a legitimate threat on the counter. Their star man- Kylian Mbappe- lit up the Nou Camp with two goals. Barca’s would-be Ballon d’Or contender- Lamine Yamal- was unfathomably anonymous last night, almost as if he had been tipped off that Kane was going to win the Ballon d’Or just before kick-off. Rodri looked prehistoric in midfield while Bellingham and Diomande threatened consistently. And while all the media fallout will invariably focus on Mbappe overcoming Yamal, Diego Simeone will be sitting somewhere malevolently thinking that everything is going exactly according to plan. A three-way LA Liga title race is just what the doctor ordered.
Player of the Week- Scott McTominay
Yeah, I know that Mbappe is the talk of the town following that Clasico performance. But I just couldn’t look past McTominay. A key figure in Napoli’s 2024/2025 title-winning campaign, lionhearted Scottish midfielder has taken some time to return to his best following minor heart surgery. But four goals in two games suggest that he is ready to regain his Lampard-esque aura. He scored two goals against BodØ/Glimt before picking up another crucial brace in Saturday’s megawatt clash with Roma. And you couldn’t have fashioned two more quintessentially McTominay goals. He nodded the first one in at the far post to give Napoli a 2-0 lead. He then added a signature long-range ankle cutter to make it 3-2.
