Bayern thump Dortmund (again), VAR chaos for Arsenal, more

Another European soccer weekend is within the books, so let’s evaluation! Bayern Munich shrugged off some latest woes with (yet one more) complete win over rivals Borussia Dortmund within the German Bundesliga, whereas Arsenal have been left raging after a controversial 1-0 defeat at Newcastle United within the Premier League that once more concerned VAR and its varied purposes. Oh, and in LaLiga, Barcelona wrapped up a dramatic (and fortunate) late victory at Real Sociedad whereas Real Madrid fail to beat mid-table Rayo Vallecano. (The outcomes additionally meant that Girona, a outstanding story, stay high of the league in Spain.)

Elsewhere, there have been speaking factors round Manchester United, Liverpool, Juventus, Napoli, Manchester City and more.

– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga & more (U.S.)

It’s Monday, and Gab Marcotti reacts to the most important moments on the earth of soccer.

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The finest treatment for Bayern’s woes? Bring on Borussia Dortmund … or is it that straightforward?

Looking on the 4-0 rating, of us will in all probability conclude the above. The final time Bayern confronted Borussia Dortmund, issues have been removed from mellow on the Sabenerstrasse. There was in-fighting — director of soccer Hasan Salihamidzic can be dispatched a couple of weeks later — that they had simply sacked supervisor Julian Nagelsmann and appointed Thomas Tuchel, they have been second within the desk, it was April Fools’ Day after a global break … every part was primed for Dortmund to reap the benefits of the scenario.

What occurred? Dortmund keeper Gregor Kobel had one in every of his worst outings in dwelling reminiscence and Bayern have been main 3-0 inside 23 minutes. It completed 4-2 to the Bavarians and will have been far worse for their rivals.

Fast ahead to Saturday. Coming into the sport, Bayern are once more at sixes and sevens. Midfielder Joshua Kimmich is suspended, they’re coming off a shock Cup exit towards third division Saarbrucken in midweek and Tuchel is a bundle of nerves, complaining about switch exercise and sparring with former Bayern legends turned TV pundits Lothar Matthaus and Dietmar Hamann. On high of that, this recreation is occurring away from house with Dortmund, nonetheless undefeated within the league, having an actual probability to not solely leapfrog them within the desk, however go away Bayern in fourth place, 5 factors off the highest of the Bundesliga.

What occurred? A raft of horrendous defending — collectively unhealthy, however given how nicely Nico Schlotterbeck had been taking part in this season, you count on more from him — and inside 10 minutes, Bayern are 2-0 up and the Yellow Wall has been silenced. Bad Dortmund, with all their bottling and insecurity, had returned. It completed 4-0 to Bayern, the house facet put collectively a few probabilities (Donyell Malen and Marco Reus), no one would have blinked if the guests had racked up six or seven objectives, both: this time, Kobel was arguably Dortmund’s Man of the Match.

What did we be taught? You should be considerably cautious together with your evaluation, as a result of going 2-0 up (or 2-0 down) so early in a recreation has an outsized impression in matches like this. But it is secure to say that proper now, Harry Kane is more than dwelling as much as the value tag — 17 objectives in 14 video games, together with his third hat-trick — Leon Goretzka stays a drive when match and Leroy Sané is near unplayable proper now. (If he has lastly persistently harnessed his enormous talent set and reached full maturity at 27, you may make a case that he is a high 10 participant on the earth.)

Oh, and Bayern are ridiculously efficient on the counterattack, once you mix the passing of Kane and Jamal Musiala with the flat-out velocity of Kingsley Coman and Sane.

Tuchel is way more pragmatic than a few of his predecessors within the position and in contrast to them, he is not obsessive about the excessive press and taking part in your entire recreation within the opposition half with 60-70% possession. Equally although, he is aware of Bayern will not have the posh of being gifted an early multigoal lead in most video games and whereas the hole in expertise will see them by way of towards most opponents, that will not be the case towards higher sides. That’s what his critics, like Matthaeus, imply after they say Bayern “aren’t developing.” And that is why, in a feisty postmatch face-to-face with Matthaus, Tuchel could not assist however fireplace again.

Even in victory, he seems like a bundle of nerves — he obtained booked when Bayern have been main 3-0 — and you’re feeling that if Bayern are to succeed, a more centered Tuchel will likely be a part of the answer.

As for Dortmund, Emre Can was undoubtedly missed in midfield, however there’s additionally an evident hole in high quality and concepts. Niclas Füllkrug is not Erling Haaland up entrance — he’ll supply nothing if you do not get him service, as occurred on Saturday. Midfielder Marcel Sabitzer is not Jude Bellingham: he is not going to single-handedly paper over cracks. Meanwhile full-backs Julian Ryerson and Marius Wolf aren’t going to offer you what you bought from Raphaël Guerreiro and Thomas Meunier on the attacking finish.

Terzic wants to seek out patterns of play that work, as a result of particular person high quality is not going to chop it. Not when Karim Adeyemi exhibits indicators of regression, Donyell Malen has an off-day, Julian Brandt goes AWOL and Marco Reus exhibits his age.

VAR chaos and Arteta fury outline Arsenal’s defeat at Newcastle

Let’s get the sport out of the way in which earlier than we get to the refereeing choices. Because sure, this was a soccer match — and a full of life one at that — not only a sequence of VAR non-calls. It was bodily and intense, which you’d count on from Newcastle at house (much less so maybe from Arsenal), however they confirmed that they can also maintain their very own in a full-blooded match. And as offended as Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was with the result, he may be inspired by that.

Both sides have been affected by the unavailable gamers. On the Newcastle finish, it isn’t that Sven Botman and Alexander Isak are essentially significantly better than Jamal Lascelles and Callum Wilson in defence; it is that their absence provides Eddie Howe fewer choices on the right way to play. As for Arsenal, you recognize Gabriel Jesus more when he is not there, whereas Martin Odegaard’s absence was a giant blow by way of management and high quality. His sickness — because the membership defined it — might or might not should do with the useless 11 minutes plus damage time he performed away to Arsenal within the League Cup after they have been 3-0 down, but when it does, Arteta will likely be kicking himself.

On to the officiating. As I see it, the Kai Havertz on Sean Longstaff sort out might have gone both approach — Havertz ended up with a yellow card, not purple — however the non-call for that Bruno Guimarães whack on Jorginho is more durable to just accept. Referee Stuart Attwell had his again to the incident on the time, so this was completely on VAR. They evidently did not really feel that his forearm smash was intentional, however it’s onerous to clarify why Bruno would have his arm there, if to not smack the again of Jorginho’s head. And, in any case, we must remind ourselves that VAR additionally exists for incidents that referees do not see. At a minimal it needs to be Attwell who needs to be making this name, with the advantage of an on-field evaluation.

As for Anthony Gordon’s game-winning objective, this was difficult as a result of there have been three components to it, which is why the evaluation took so lengthy.

The first was whether or not the ball went out of play. I’ve no concern with Attwell lacking this as a result of he was distant, and I perceive how there isn’t a definitive digital camera angle, as a result of, nicely, the ball is spherical and pictures can get distorted by angles. Fine.

The second was whether or not Gordon was offside. Here, the difficulty was that they could not discover a digital camera view that definitively confirmed the place the ball was when it caromed off Joelinton to Gordon. And subsequently, they could not decide when Gordon was offside and when he was again on. It’s a clunky rationalization, however honest sufficient. You surprise about their resolution to not put money into semi-automatic offside expertise. They have been fast to say that UEFA’s model would not have helped on this scenario, as a result of it would not embody a chip within the ball. OK, however FIFA’s model does embody a chip. Why not think about that? In any case, with out video proof, you may perceive why they could not give the offside.

What’s mysterious to me is the third component: Joelinton’s contact with Gabriel. It appeared like a foul in actual time, and it appeared even more like a foul on replay. Attwell did not give it and when you watch it once more, it might have one thing to do with the truth that he was nicely outdoors the penalty space, with loads of gamers in his approach. This needs to be very a lot the kind of scenario the place VAR makes all of the distinction; as an alternative, as explained on the Premier League web site within the phrases of former referee Dermot Gallagher: “Attwell didn’t think it was a foul … the VAR didn’t think there was enough contact to overrule the referee, so therefore the on-field decision stood.”

That’s fairly twisted considering. Unless Gallagher obtained to hearken to Attwell’s dialog with VAR — through which case, they need to make it public — he cannot know what Attwell thought. Maybe he did not assume it was a foul, possibly he did not have a transparent view so determined to not make the decision, understanding VAR had all the images.

Additionally, Gallagher’s language is all mistaken right here: the VAR is not there to “overrule” the referee. The VAR’s job is to see if there’s sufficient video proof to name for an on-field evaluation by the referee. It’s his name, not the VARs. And so long as there’s the mindset that they should determine whether or not to “overrule” the referee — versus merely serving to him make the proper resolution — we will have an issue.

A livid Arteta stated “after 20 years in England” he was “embarrassed” on the poor degree of officiating, and Arsenal doubled down the next day with a statement of support for their supervisor.

I get Arteta shedding his cool in a heated postmatch interview. I’m undecided what the membership assertion achieves, aside from making Arteta really feel higher in understanding his employer backs him (after all they do). Arsenal supplied to work with chief refereeing officer Howard Webb and stated they might welcome “working together to achieve the world-class officiating standards [the Premier League] demands.” That’s nice, however it’s finest accomplished privately since, in any case, Arsenal are league shareholders and Webb is employed by the league.

One closing level, and this isn’t to be imply, however there is a parallel universe the place David Raya would not make an uncoordinated flap for the ball and none of this ever occurs.

Thinking too far outdoors the field hurts Pioli as Milan lose forward of pivotal Champions League conflict

With the essential go to of Paris Saint-Germain developing on Tuesday and a number of accidents to deal with, Milan coach Stefano Pioli’s objective was prone to get the three factors at house to Udinese with as little fuss as attainable. The guests hadn’t gained all season and he, presumably, anticipated a parked bus from new boss Gabriele Cioffi. So he figured he’d spring a shock, ditching his common system in favour of 1 with two centerforwards (Olivier Giroud and Luka Jovic), whereas taking part in Rafael Leão and Yunus Musah out huge.

The upshot? Milan’s worst efficiency of the season and a 1-0 defeat.

Never thoughts that the penalty transformed by Roberto Pereyra was tender. It would not have modified how poor Milan have been, or how offended and befuddled the San Siro crowd was. It’s too simple to play Captain Hindsight and say this was no time to alter the system and, even more so, put Jovic on the pitch with all that it entails: Milan undermanned in midfield, Rafael Leao having to function additional away from objective, Musah requested to play a place he hasn’t performed in years.

I do not thoughts managers getting inventive and making an attempt one thing totally different, however this was simply too excessive. That stated, the broader concern with Milan is that they really feel they should go for the double battering room to beat a facet with zero wins at house. It exhibits that he would not have sufficient religion in his patterns of play, and the way sorely they miss a inventive midfield presence (just like the injured Ismaël Bennacer). They’ll must kick it up a number of notches towards PSG if they’re to have a prayer.

Standout Maguire matches Manchester United, for higher or worse

OK, so possibly “standout” is simply too robust a phrase, however Harry Maguire was one in every of United’s higher, more dedicated gamers within the weekend’s 1-0 win at Fulham. This was the man who the membership tried each which solution to transfer on in the summertime. He caught round, now he is beginning once more, and whereas that could be right down to damage, odds are he is not going wherever in January.

You can take this as an indication of how requirements have dropped. In a “can’t lose” match away to Fulham, Bruno Fernandes (who else?) delivered the win with a late objective after a gaggle of deflected clearances and Keystone Kops moments from the Fulham again line.

United misplaced the anticipated objectives battle (1.01 to 0.69) and appeared worryingly flat for lengthy stretches. In reality, whereas they took the three factors to offer the embattled Erik ten Hag some respiration room, they did not seem like a facet intent on combating for their supervisor, not like earlier video games the place they performed worse. That needs to be a priority for Ten Hag, who is aware of his future could be determined by a mixture of when Jim Ratcliffe acquires his portion of management of the membership (and cuts the primary verify for funding) and the outcomes of two upcoming away journeys within the Champions League, towards Copenhagen and Galatasaray.

As for Maguire, he was proved proper. He has performed his approach again into the crew. Whether or not he has a future on the membership stays to be seen, however he is actually a giant a part of their current.

Ter Stegen and Araujo rescue Barcelona from defeat away to La Real

Maybe it was a Clasico hangover, as some have urged. (If that is the case, Xavi must kick some rear finish.) Maybe it is Real Sociedad, who’re more gifted than some understand. Or possibly there are deeper points. Whatever the case, the truth that Marc-André ter Stegen was named, rightly, man of the match and that Ronald Araújo’s winner got here late in damage time solely tells you all it is advisable learn about Saturday’s 1-0 outcome.

Barcelona have been outplayed for a lot of the sport, creating their first two actual probabilities with Gavi and Araujo (the objective) nicely into damage time. Before that, La Real had gone shut three or 4 instances, and have been denied what appeared like a penalty (Jules Koundé on Mikel Oyarzabal). Barca’s buildup play was negligible, their assault impalpable and so they have been far too leaky defensively.

Sure, accidents — each the fellows who got here again and are nonetheless busy (Robert Lewandowski, Kounde, Pedri) and the fellows who’re nonetheless out (Frenkie De Jong, above all) — are part of it, however it feels as if Xavi is not serving to himself.

This was a recreation the place Oriol Romeu may need taken a number of the sting out of the opposition in midfield. If Kounde goes to play like that, you may as nicely keep on with Andreas Christensen in defence, and also you hope the João Cancelo-as-winger experiment is over. There’s a sure irony to the truth that Barca have not had a premium proper again since Dani Alves was in his pomp and, now that they’ve one, Xavi shifts him within the entrance three, when he is obtained guys like Raphinha and Lamine Yamal on the bench.

Luis Díaz lifts Liverpool at Luton with late, emotional objective

It was onerous to not be moved when, having scored Liverpool’s equalizer within the fifth minute of damage time away to Luton, Luis Diaz lifted his shirt to disclose the message “Freedom for Dad.” His father’s kidnapping has dominated his life over the previous 10 days. He missed the previous two video games; that he was concerned on this one means that typically, work can supply much-needed distraction.

Liverpool in all probability deserved the 1-1 draw given the numerous probabilities they created, however failed to complete — Darwin Núñez once more revealing that whereas his talent set is thrilling, there’s nonetheless a rawness to him — although Jurgen Klopp stated they didn’t play significantly nicely. As I see it, it had loads to do with Luton’s deserves on the day as they turned in maybe their finest efficiency of the marketing campaign.

Chameleonic Inter Milan keep high of Serie A and ideal on the street with win at Atalanta

Something needed to give when Inter visited Atalanta. Simone Inzaghi’s crew had gained 4 of 4 on the street, Atalanta had but to concede at house and as so typically occurs, it was Inter who outlasted the opposition en path to a 2-1 victory that retains them high of the league.

You can concentrate on people — Hakan Calhanoglou placed on a master-class in midfield, Lautaro Martínez scored a surprise objective (he is as much as 13 in 14 matches in all competitions) — however what stands out about this Inter crew is their means to, as Inzaghi put it, “play four or five matches in one.” By this he means change method — from direct to construct up and again, from sitting deep to urgent — a number of instances throughout a recreation. It’s one solution to preserve the opposition off stability. Throw in his love of substitutions, each deliberate and extemporaneous, and also you get a facet that is onerous to organize for and play towards.

He’s not modern and he would not give off “winner” vibes, however Inzaghi is working extraordinarily nicely in difficult circumstances.

Real Madrid huff and puff, however Rayo’s home stays intact

Rayo Vallecano aren’t the punching bag they as soon as have been, and have completed midtable in every of the previous two LaLiga seasons. Even with supervisor Andoni Iraola gone, they’re within the high half of the desk. That stated, there’s an expectation that Real Madrid ought to stomp throughout them on the Bernabeu and when that does not occur — as was the case Sunday within the 0-0 draw — fingers will get pointed.

Regular readers will know I fear when groups do not create probabilities; I fear much less after they merely do not end them. Fede Valverde missed a one-on-one with the keeper in the beginning of the sport, and Joselu alone might fluffed a hat-trick of alternatives. Real Madrid put collectively an xG of two.19, whereas Rayo — who defended in numbers — had zero photographs on track en path to 0.10.

Sure, it is annoying to drop two factors and possibly, if Jude Bellingham hadn’t performed harm for a lot of the sport, issues may need been totally different. But the efficiency was there from Madrid (and that is not all the time the case), so I feel you may be comparatively relaxed about this.

It wasn’t all the time fairly, however Juventus get a giant win in Florence to remain two factors off the highest

An early Fabio Miretti objective despatched Juventus on their solution to a 1-0 street win towards Fiorentina which means they’ve taken 16 of the previous 18 factors at stake and are simply two behind Inter. Some will see it as some kind of vindication of Max Allegri’s method, however I’d pump the brakes little. Wojciech Sczcesny needed to make some enormous saves, Fiorentina are the everyday facet that dominate play, however lack leading edge, and the house crew did not get pleasure from their Ultras, who boycotted the match. (They have been absent in protest at the truth that the sport was not postponed following the flooding that hit the area and had resulted in seven deaths.)

Still, you can provide Allegri credit score for sticking with the in-form Moise Kean forward of Dusan Vlahovic (the latter is a greater participant, however he is nonetheless getting back from damage), for getting his substitutions proper and for seeing out the win. Lest we overlook, Juve are with out their captain, Danilo and two massive items like Nicolo Fagioli and Paul Pogba in midfield (each suspended, albeit for totally different causes).

Can this kind of Allegri method work, maybe with a signing or two in January? This season, with no European soccer, presumably — in the event that they win their head-to-head video games. Long-term, I do not assume so.

Devastating Doku powers Man City to make it 22 straight wins at house

Jérémy Doku is simply 21 years outdated and has been on the membership lower than three months, however it’s honest to say he stole the present on Saturday regardless of his many heralded teammates, scoring one objective and establishing one other 4 in Manchester City’s 6-1 drubbing of Bournemouth. It’s City’s twenty second consecutive house win in all competitions and it lifts them to the highest of the desk, at the very least till Spurs play Chelsea on Monday night time.

Doku typically will get described as a “find” by City’s scouting division, which is sort of humorous on condition that he made his debut for Anderlecht at 16 and for Belgium at 18, starring of their Euro 2020 facet. City paid roughly €60m in switch charges to deliver him in from Rennes, which is way from exorbitant when you think about that guys of a comparable age and place — like Manchester United’s Antony and Chelsea’s Mykhaylo Mudryk — value more.

The knock on Doku had been two-fold: he will get injured, plus he is undisciplined and generally is a bit egocentric together with his dribbling and capturing. On the previous? Well, you hope he stays match as a result of he is a pleasure to look at. On the latter, when you think about his give-and-go with Rodri, his service to Bernardo Silva, his urgent efforts off the ball … nicely, he seems far more polished than his critics had recommend.

Credit to Pep Guardiola? Sure, however credit score Doku too for in a short time proving the doubters mistaken.

Bayer Leverkusen roll on … however they are often their very own worst enemy

Bayer Leverkusen’s 3-2 away win towards Hoffenheim was enormous, as a result of it means they’ve taken 43 of a attainable 45 factors in all competitions this yr. Nobody in Europe’s Big Five leagues comes shut.

They did look as in the event that they have been slowing down considerably in comparison with latest outings, which is more than comprehensible. But towards Hoffenheim, they bumped into a special concern: they’ll beat themselves.

At half-time, they have been 2-0 up — that Florian Wirtz-Victor Boniface partnership is devastating — and so they had restricted the house facet to 3 photographs and 0.09 xG. But when you dwell by taking part in out from the again, you typically get harm by taking part in out from the again.

Hoffenheim hit twice within the house of two minutes by benefiting from Leverkusen shedding the ball in their very own half and whereas Alex Grimaldi scored to safe the three factors ultimately, it ought to function a reminder to Xabi Alonso. You need not go all safety-first when you’ve got a lead, however, equally, there’s some stability available. This might have been actually pricey.

Yes, it is true: Girona are high of LaLiga

Until 2017, that they had by no means even tasted the Spanish high flight and so they play in a stadium that seats roughly 14,000 folks, however Girona sit in first place in La Liga, two factors forward of Real Madrid and 4 forward of Barcelona. Sure, their schedule has been fairly tender — they’ve performed solely two sides within the high 9, shedding to Real Madrid and drawing with Real Sociedad on opening day — however they’ve crushed all people else and so they’ve performed some good soccer too.

It’s not fairly the fairytale it might sound — the membership’s two greatest shareholders are City Football Group (as in Manchester City) and Marcelo Claure, who beforehand owned Inter Miami CF — however it’s fairly outstanding.

Will they regress to the imply as soon as they begin going through harder opposition? Probably, and the truth that they’ve scored 28 objectives from open play on an xG of 19.42 suggests they have been fairly lucky to this point. But heck, why not take pleasure in it for so long as it lasts?

Raspadori retains Napoli ticking over … and Rudi Garcia is secure

It had been a extremely tough October worldwide break for Napoli boss Rudi Garcia, between tales of conferences between his membership proprietor, Aurelio De Laurentiis, and the damage to Victor Osimhen, his high scorer. He could not have requested for more upon his return: three wins and a attract all competitions, and again into the highest 4 within the league.

The catalyst in Osimhen’s absence? It’s little Jack Raspadori, who has scored in every of the final three video games. Salernitana, whom they beat 2-0 on Saturday, are in final place for a cause (they’ve but to win this season), however it’s nonetheless a neighborhood derby and nonetheless the kind of recreation you might have seen this crew screwing up in September. That they did not is a giant deal to Garcia, who’s now counting down the times till Osimhen’s return.