Ronaldo out as Fernandes lead Portugal to win​​

As Man City spiral, Liverpool open historic lead in title race​​

With Man City slumping, Liverpool look like they could put the Premier League title race to bed. That and more in this edition of Weekend Review.

​With Man City slumping, Liverpool look like they could put the Premier League title race to bed. That and more in this edition of Weekend Review. With Man City slumping, Liverpool look like they could put the Premier League title race to bed. That and more in this edition of Weekend Review.   

While Manchester City were slumping to their fifth straight defeat across all competitions, Liverpool extended their lead atop the Premier League table with a come-from-behind win over Southampton. The Reds now sit eight points ahead of the four-time defending English champions.

In Spain, Valencia returned to action following a month away in light of the devastating, deadly flooding that has overwhelmed the area. From the players on the pitch to the fans in the stands, the Mestalla was full of emotion, but the home support went home with the subtle satisfaction of witnessing Los Che‘s second win of the season.

In the Bundesliga, meanwhile, Bayern Munich picked up where they left off before the international break: keeping balls out of the back of their net. The league leaders recorded their sixth straight win, while also keeping their sixth consecutive clean sheet. An impressive feat, even if the attack was far less convincing.

What else did you miss around Europe this weekend? ESPN’s Julien Laurens, Alex Kirkland and Constantin Eckner recap all the action in this edition of ESPN’s Weekend Review.

Top takeaway: Spiralling City put Liverpool in title race driver’s seat

With Ruben Amorim debuting with Manchester United at Ipswich Town on Sunday and Manchester City’s crisis continuing to unfold with their latest defeat, the Premier League was not short of storylines this weekend, but Liverpool going eight points clear at the top of the table over Guardiola’s men is the main takeaway. Their 3-2 win at Southampton wasn’t convincing, but Mohamed Salah‘s brace, massively helped by the Saints’ defensive howlers, got them over the line after being 2-1 down.

After 12 games, eight points is a massive gap. It’s a chasm. A gulf. Only Sir Alex Ferguson’s Man United in 1993-94 had a bigger lead at this stage of the season in Premier League history.

With a mouthwatering clash between Liverpool and City next weekend at Anfield, could the title be done by early December? Chelsea, Arsenal and Brighton & Hove Albion (third, fourth and fifth in the table, respectively) are nine points behind.

It is hard to see the Reds continuing this incredible run of form (10 wins, one draw, one loss), but it is also hard to see them collapsing so badly that their rivals make up the necessary ground. This is the Premier League, though, and anything is possible.

Best match: Man City 0, Spurs 4

This was the game of the weekend across Europe, as much for the result plunging City firmly into crisis as for Spurs’ outstanding performance on the day. This encounter rarely disappoints, and it was quite extraordinary again on Saturday when the Londoners engineered a 4-0 win at the Etihad.

Best goal: Saka vs. Forest

Matheus Cunha, James Maddison and Kaoru Mitoma all could have won this week’s award, but Bukayo Saka‘s beautiful strike for Arsenal against Nottingham Forest on Saturday is a worthy winner. Cutting inside from the right onto his left foot, the England star unleashed an unstoppable strike from just inside the box.

MVP of the weekend: Matheus Cunha

What a weekend he’s enjoyed and what a player he has been in the past few weeks: six goals and three assists in his past nine Premier League appearances. Two beautiful goals and a great assist on Saturday at Fulham led Wolves to back-to-back wins. — Julien Laurens

Top takeaway: Valencia win, grieve in return to action

Valencia’s 4-2 win over Real Betis on Saturday wasn’t just about three points. It was an opportunity to remember those whose lives were lost in the region’s deadly floods last month (221 fatalities to date) and reflect on the reconstruction effort in the team’s first game back at Mestalla since the disaster.

Before kickoff, players, staff and officials gathered around a giant Senyera, the Valencian flag, covering most of the pitch. In the stands, a banner listed the names of towns and villages devastated by floodwater, where rebuilding will be ongoing for some time.

When Valencia defender César Tárrega scored the opener, he held up a shirt with the message, “We’ll get through this together.” Betis celebrated their equaliser, from an Aitor Ruibal free kick, by holding aloft a Valencian flag.

Outstanding goals from Hugo Duro and Diego López followed in an emotionally charged game. Many of Valencia’s players were personally affected by the tragedy and took to the streets in its aftermath to help. The win, only Valencia’s second of the season, took them off the bottom of the LaLiga table, but this was a day when the team’s recovery on the pitch was secondary to recovery off it.

play

Valencia cruise past Real Betis with quick-fire second half goals

Relegation-battling Valencia defeat Real Betis 4-2 in a shock LaLiga win.

Best match: Celta 2, Barça 2

When Raphinha hit the post in the 77th minute — missing the chance to put Barcelona 3-0 up at Celta Vigo — only one outcome looked possible at Balaídos. How quickly things change. Five minutes later, Barcelona midfielder Marc Casadó was sent off. Two minutes after that, Alfon Gonzalez made it 2-1. And two minutes later, Hugo Álvarez scored a brilliant second, levelling at 2-2. Leaders Barça were stunned. With Celta this season, entertainment is guaranteed.

Best goal: Rodríguez vs. Valladolid

OK, so it might not have been the best goal in LaLiga this weekend, but it must have felt like it to Getafe‘s long-suffering fans. Álvaro Rodríguez‘s 70th-minute strike in their 2-0 win over Real Valladolid on Friday was Getafe’s first goal from open play all season — as a reminder, we’re now on Matchday 14, three months into the campaign. It was a smart finish, and an important goal too, helping Getafe climb clear of the bottom three.

MVP of the weekend: Federico Valverde

Real Madrid went into their game at Leganés without any fit right backs. No drama, said Valverde, who stepped into a makeshift defence and performed admirably in the role, even scoring Madrid’s second in a 3-0 away win with a trademark long-range shot. Even out of position, Valverde is still Madrid’s Mr. Reliable. — Alex Kirkland

Top takeaway: Can Bayern continue stacking up clean sheets?

Ever since Bayern Munich slipped to a 4-1 UEFA Champions League defeat to Barcelona, Vincent Kompany’s side have been on a roll. Bayern’s 3-0 home win over FC Augsburg on Friday marked their sixth consecutive win and clean sheet.

However, as they have so often in league play, Bayern had to remain patient: Despite controlling up to 80% of possession, Kompany’s side looked increasingly frustrated and bereft of ideas during the first hour inside a snow-dusted Allianz Arena. If there’s anything to criticise about Bayern’s performance, it is the fact that most of their attacking plays looked interchangeable.

The ball repeatedly moved from Joshua Kimmich to Alphonso Davies to Kingsley Coman, who was usually positioned close to the left touchline. As Coman received little to no room to force a one-on-one with Augsburg wing-back Marius Wolf, the France international retreated and the process started over again. Frequent crosses were expertly defended by Augsburg.

It was eventually a handball by Mads Pedersen, who made an unnecessary error while trying to head the ball away, that gave Bayern the chance to open the scoring from the penalty spot. Harry Kane again serenely kept his composure from 12 yards out and repeated the feat again in stoppage time after Keven Schlotterbeck had pushed the England captain inside the box.

Pessimists might say that Bayern may run out of luck at some point if teams keep defending as intensely as Augsburg and previous opponents have. In the end, though, the constant pressure through crosses and ground passes into the penalty area forces opponents into making mistakes.

Best match: Leverkusen 5, Heidenheim 2

Gone are the days when Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen side were able to cruise to wins almost effortlessly. Instead, they have to fight for every point this season. Against Heidenheim, the Werkself were in trouble early on as they conceded twice in the opening 21 minutes before staging a remarkable comeback, eventually winning 5-2 at BayArena. Following three draws in a row, it was a much-needed victory for last season’s champions.

Best goal: Kane vs. Augsburg

Kane has set a new Bundesliga record by scoring his first 50 goals in only 43 league games. His 50th was also a beauty, with the England skipper picking up the ball in mid-air after a pinpoint cross, sending Augsburg goalkeeper Nediljko Labrovic flying as the Croatia international expected a direct header. Instead, Kane used his first touch to put the ball on his head, pushing it across the goal line while Labrović was laying on the ground.

play

Harry Kane grabs his hat trick in incredible fashion for Bayern

Harry Kane takes an impressive touch in front of net to set up his own header to give Bayern Munich a 3-0 lead.

MVP of the weekend: Patrik Schick

Kane was not the only player in the Bundesliga to notch a hat trick. In light of Victor Boniface‘s thigh injury that could potentially sideline him until the winter break, Schick showed once again what an outstanding striker the Czechia international can be if he is healthy, scoring three goals against Heidenheim to secure Leverkusen their first win in the month of November. — Constantin Eckner

What else you missed this weekend

Hamburg dispense with Baumgart

Hamburg were once upon a time known as the dinosaurs of the Bundesliga because of their 55-year uninterrupted stay in Germany‘s top flight, but ever since being relegated to the 2. Bundesliga in 2018, the club have failed time and time again to secure promotion. When the club hired Steffen Baumgart in February, they were hoping that the former Cologne manager, who had been a self-confessed Hamburg fan for decades, could push them over the finish line.

Instead, Hamburg’s performances regressed.

Baumgart could neither convince with his results nor with the style with which his team were playing during the first few months of the season. While Hamburg were an attacking-minded side under former manager Tim Walter, they have played much more conservatively under Baumgart. Gathering only 20 points in the first 13 matchdays of the 2. Bundesliga season, Hamburg decided to sack Baumgart on Sunday.

Whoever gets hired in the coming days will be the seventh manager since Hamburg were relegated to Germany’s second division six-plus years ago. — Eckner

​www.espn.com – SOCCER

With Man City slumping, Liverpool look like they could put the Premier League title race to bed. That and more in this edition of Weekend Review.

Madrid to consider new ownership model – Pérez​​

Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez has said he’ll propose a “corporate reorganization” of the club, with members to vote on whether a change in ownership structure is necessary to protect its financial assets.

​Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez has said he’ll propose a “corporate reorganization” of the club, with members to vote on whether a change in ownership structure is necessary to protect its financial assets. Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez has said he’ll propose a “corporate reorganization” of the club, with members to vote on whether a change in ownership structure is necessary to protect its financial assets.   

play

Nov 24, 2024, 07:37 AM ET

Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez has said he will propose a “corporate reorganisation” of the club, with members to vote on whether a change in ownership structure is necessary to protect its financial assets.

Madrid are one of just four Spanish clubs — with Barcelona, Athletic Club and Osasuna — which remain member-owned, and weren’t obliged to become public limited companies under a 1990 law.

In a 90-minute speech to the club’s annual assembly, Pérez claimed that a dispute with LaLiga over the CVC investment deal — which saw other clubs receive a total of €2 billion in exchange for future broadcast income — and the way the league collectively negotiates TV rights meant that a new structure was needed to guarantee the club’s independence.

“We’re working on defending ourselves on attacks on our financial wealth,” Perez said. “Our club should have a structure which protects us as an institution. We’ll do everything necessary so that the club belongs to its members, so that nobody can take away our financial assets.

“I can confirm that we’ll bring a corporate reorganisation proposal to an assembly, which guarantees members are real owners of our club. They wanted to take away our income to give it to LaLiga.”

Pérez did not give details of what the reorganisation would involve.

“I’ll keep you informed, we’ll have an assembly to explain it clearly,” he said. “You’ll understand it perfectly … I’ll give everything so that Madrid’s income continues to be Madrid’s, Barcelona’s continues to be Barcelona’s and Athletic Club’s continues to be Athletic’s. Our club should have a structure to protect us.”

The speech also saw Pérez criticize the decision not to hand Vinícius Júnior the 2024 men’s Ballon d’Or, reiterate his opposition to UEFA and support for the Super League, and dismiss concerns over lost revenue due to postponed concerts at the new Bernabéu.

“Rodri [Hernández] is a great player, he’s from Madrid, and he has our affection,” Pérez said. “He deserved a Ballon d’Or, but not this one. He deserved it the year before. This year, the Ballon d’Or should have gone to a Real Madrid player: Vinícius, or our captain Dani Carvajal, or even Jude Bellingham.

“Some of [the voters] didn’t even include Vinícius in the top 10. Can anyone understand journalists not thinking Vinícius is one of the best in the world? Nobody knows who [the journalists] are … The Ballon d’Or should be independently organized, and it should be in the hands of people who are recognized.”

In recent years, Pérez has used his speech at the assembly to repeatedly express his opposition to UEFA and the new Champions League format, and insist on the need for radical change in European football.

“We don’t want to go down in history like Blockbuster,” he said, referring to the once-dominant video rental chain, and comparing it unfavourably with Netflix. “We want to embrace new technology … There’s a real opportunity for a change of direction, to restore football’s greatness. This system doesn’t work. The moment is critical. It’s time to act.”

Pérez said the club’s decision in September to postpone all planned concerts at the rebuilt Bernabéu stadium after complaints from neighbors over noise levels was a minor issue in terms of its financial impact.

“The organization of concerts isn’t especially lucrative for the club,” he said. “We only rent out the stadium. The income is around 1% of our annual budget.

“But we understand this activity is important. It means that all the citizens of Madrid benefit [from the stadium]. We’re at the disposition of the local authorities.”

​www.espn.com – SOCCER

Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez has said he’ll propose a “corporate reorganization” of the club, with members to vote on whether a change in ownership structure is necessary to protect its financial assets.

Arsenal could look to strengthen their squad in the January transfer market as they look to establish another Premier...

Madrid click after position swap for Mbappé, Vini​​

Carlo Ancelotti praised Kylian Mbappé’s performance after the Real Madrid forward scored from a new, left-sided role in their 3-0 LaLiga win at Leganés on Sunday.

​Carlo Ancelotti praised Kylian Mbappé’s performance after the Real Madrid forward scored from a new, left-sided role in their 3-0 LaLiga win at Leganés on Sunday. Carlo Ancelotti praised Kylian Mbappé’s performance after the Real Madrid forward scored from a new, left-sided role in their 3-0 LaLiga win at Leganés on Sunday.   

​www.espn.com – SOCCER

Carlo Ancelotti praised Kylian Mbappé’s performance after the Real Madrid forward scored from a new, left-sided role in their 3-0 LaLiga win at Leganés on Sunday.

Valencia’s first game since devastating floods was an emotional release for club, players and city​​

After last month’s flooding claimed at least 221 lives, Valencia’s return to action at Mestalla provided a place for unity, support and respect.

​After last month’s flooding claimed at least 221 lives, Valencia’s return to action at Mestalla provided a place for unity, support and respect. After last month’s flooding claimed at least 221 lives, Valencia’s return to action at Mestalla provided a place for unity, support and respect.   

play

VALENCIA, Spain — César Tárrega does not score many goals, but he knew exactly how he was going to celebrate when he gave Valencia the lead against Real Betis. The central defender peeled away and grabbed a shirt which had printed on it: “We will come through this together.”

That has been the message across Spanish football since deadly floods hit Valencia and the surrounding areas at the end of October, leading to 221 fatalities. That was the message at Mestalla on Saturday when, after three postponed games, Valencia finally made a hugely emotional return to LaLiga action.

This was the club’s first fixture since a year’s worth of rain fell on the region in just eight hours on Oct. 29, leading to flash floods across many towns and villages. It was Valencia’s first home game since Oct. 21. It would prove their first win since Sept. 21, too, but it was an occasion that meant more than three points as football became a vehicle to remember the victims of the flooding.

Tárrega was one of many inside the stadium brought to tears by the homage laid on by the club before the game. The 22-year-old’s family home in Aldaya, to the east of Valencia, was one of those flooded. The lives of his friends and family have since been turned upside down. It will take months, if not longer, to repair the damage inflicted on Aldaya and many other towns like it. It felt fitting that he should score the first goal.

Betis did briefly level, Aitor Ruibal‘s free kick turned by Valencia striker Hugo Duro into his own net. Ruibal started to celebrate but quickly apologised to the home fans, instead making his way over to the bench to grab the flag of the Valencian community. He held it aloft with teammate Marc Bartra; then he apologised again.

Duro, meanwhile, made amends with two quick-fire goals in the second half as Valencia went on to win 4-2, climbing off the foot of the table courtesy of just their second win of the campaign. It completed a roller coaster of an afternoon for the forward, who was another who had been overcome with emotion in the moving moments before the game, like Tárrega and many fans among the 43,000 crowd.

“I knew I would cry,” Duro told reporters postmatch. “The last few weeks have been tough for Valencia, and there is still a lot of work to be done. It’s hard to see the city as it is, but the homage was incredible, and I think the performance lived up to the occasion.

“I’m someone who cries easily. Experiencing this all in person is tough because it’s like there has been a war here. Since I got wind of what the homage would be, I knew I was going to cry. In the team talk I was already holding tears back. We wanted to pay homage with a win, but the points were secondary today.”

With the city’s metro still out of action and many people’s cars washed away, Valencia laid on buses to Mestalla for supporters in the affected areas. They also pledged to donate all the matchday revenue to help support and regenerate the towns and villages hit hardest. Owner Peter Lim said he would personally match the figure raised, too.

Before the match, a giant Senyera — the flag of the region — covered the playing surface as the two sets of players emerged from the tunnel to the song “Voces de Valencia,” carrying a giant black memorial symbol onto the pitch.

The region’s anthem was then played as an enormous tifo was unveiled displaying the names of the towns and villages affected. It was at this point, and in the minute’s silence that followed, that some of Valencia’s players, dressed in black instead of their usual white as a mark of respect, became visibly affected by the occasion.

It has been a gruelling month for them and a testing time for Spanish football. On Nov. 2, Valencia were supposed to host Real Madrid. Instead, Mestalla was being used as a makeshift warehouse for aid. That was one of six games eventually cancelled that weekend across the top two divisions in the country, including matches involving Villarreal and Levante.

Many felt that was not enough. Those were the clubs directly implicated, but there were players and staff at almost every team with some link to the area either directly or indirectly. Osasuna coach Vicente Moreno’s hometown of Massanassa was one of those flooded. He took charge of his team on the Saturday, and on the Sunday returned home, shovel in hand, to help with the cleanup.

Barça’s Ferran Torres, the Valencia-born forward currently out injured, announced that he did not have the strength to attend his team’s derby against Espanyol. Girona‘s Miguel Gutiérrez dedicated his goal to a friend whose mother was missing. The list goes on. Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone said it made no sense for football to continue.

LaLiga president Javier Tebas argued the game continued to place the spotlight on the catastrophe. Television broadcasts displayed a phone number on the screen whereby, in collaboration with the Red Cross, viewers could pledge money to help the victims. Clubs across Spain chipped in. Real Madrid donated €1 million. Castellón raised €410,000. Real Betis gave €100,000.

At a lower level, the devastation has been much greater. Clubs like seventh-tier CF Paiporta have seen their grounds completely destroyed by the flooding.

Meanwhile, Valencia’s Copa del Rey tie against Parla Escuela was also delayed, and the Nov. 9 trip to Espanyol was then postponed. The other clubs in the region did begin to return to action, though. Villarreal did so wearing black. Levante, also based within the city of Valencia, did so with a special shirt coated in a mud effect to represent the catastrophic images seen as the muddy waters subsided to reveal wrecked cars piled up and impossibly high water marks on buildings.

On Saturday, it was Valencia’s turn. Arrigo Sacchi famously said football is the most important of the least important things, but it is also so often linked to the most important things in one way or another. That was certainly the case at Mestalla, as football provided a platform for unity, support and respect.

“I believe that these difficult moments we have been through have made us see that together we can change things and try to help people recover their lives,” Valencia coach Rubén Baraja said in his postmatch news conference. “We have to work hard so that people can have a normal life again.

“Today may well have been the most emotional moment I’ve experienced in football, certainly one of them. The emotions, the atmosphere, the respect the Mestalla showed, it gave you goose bumps. The victory is dedicated to all of the victims and all of those affected. We want them to know that their club will help them and support in them in the reconstruction of the [towns and villages].”

And it may well have been only a small detail in the grand scheme of things, but there could not have been a more suitable opening scorer than Tárrega.

“César’s one of those who’s been really close to this tragedy,” Diego López, scorer of the fourth goal, told reporters.

“He’s from one of the places which has been hit the hardest. He deserved that goal. He has suffered a lot and there’s no better reward for him than scoring a goal and being able to dedicate it to everyone from Valencia and his hometown. I am delighted for him.”

​www.espn.com – SOCCER

After last month’s flooding claimed at least 221 lives, Valencia’s return to action at Mestalla provided a place for unity, support and respect.