One other weekend of European soccer is within the books and, as standard, there have been sufficient plot twists and upsets to speak about for the subsequent week. Giants like Bayern Munich look as weak as ever, whereas the FA Cup noticed the minnows preventing again with Wrexham and Southampton placing on thrilling performances.

Elsewhere, Valencia are doing so badly that their followers have had sufficient, AC Milan are in freefall, and Casemiro has been a revelation for Manchester United.

ESPN correspondents Julien Laurens, Rob Dawson, Alex Kirkland and Luis Miguel Echegaray break down essentially the most fascinating and necessary stuff it’s essential know concerning the weekend.

Soar to: Talking points | Best goals | Teams in trouble | MVP of the Weekend

Speaking factors

Bayern disaster opens the door for Bundesliga title race

What’s going on in Germany? Often by now, Bayern Munich are profitable matches relentlessly, scoring for enjoyable whereas the opposite groups behind them are dropping factors regularly and simply cannot compete. This season is totally completely different.

The champions and the Goliath of the Bundesliga will not be the profitable machine of outdated. Because the restart, they’ve simply drawn three league video games in a row 1-1, towards Koln and Frankfurt at dwelling and away at Leipzig. They’re often sluggish to begin after the winter break however that is worrying as a result of coach Julian Nagelsmann’s staff isn’t taking part in nicely, not defending nicely, and because of this isn’t profitable.

And the tensions will not be simply on the pitch. Serge Gnabry was reprimanded and benched for going to the Paris Fashion Week on his day off. Tony Tapalovic, the goalkeeping coach and Manuel Neuer‘s greatest buddy, was let go final week in an influence transfer from Nagelsmann. And Neuer is out till subsequent season after breaking his leg snowboarding whereas on vacation after the World Cup.

– Hollywood FC: Breaking down the drama and twists at Bayern Munich

Within the meantime, the competitors is gearing up for extra distress for Bayern. Union Berlin, the shock of the season, are second only a level behind the leaders. Then Leipzig, rejuvenated by supervisor Marco Rose, are only one behind Union with Freiburg and Dortmund one other one behind. The highest 5 of the Bundesliga inside three factors of one another in February has by no means been seen earlier than, and it places all of the extra stress on Bayern.

It is extremely thrilling — until you’re a Bayern supporter, after all. Their subsequent recreation is on Wednesday away at Mainz, a staff that sits eleventh within the desk. The stress on Thomas Muller & Co. shall be huge, certainly. –Julien Laurens

Welcome to Wrexham mayhem

Do not you simply love the FA Cup?

No, critically. Do not you simply like it? It is truthful to say that the conclusion of the match’s weekend motion on the Racecourse Floor between non-leaguers Wrexham AFC and Championship aspect Sheffield United delivered in additional methods than one with a 3-3 consequence.

The one factor that might have made the six-goal thriller even higher — not less than for the impartial — was a seventh by the house aspect. At that time, I believe even Ryan Reynolds would have misplaced all his senses and, identical to his cinematic anti-superheroic character Deadpool, the Hollywood actor and Wrexham’s co-owner would have jumped out of the stands and misplaced all his limbs on account of pleasure.

– Interview: Ryan Reynolds talks more about Wrexham than Deadpool now, and he likes it

The sport had the whole lot you may ask from an FA Cup tie, together with an awesome ambiance. The second half was particularly scintillating because it gave us 5 of the six objectives on the night — 4 in thirty minutes — agonizingly shut probabilities and a purple card towards the guests.

For the hosts, regardless of the additional man, it was sadly not a Hollywood ending as John Egan‘s stoppage-time aim rescued Sheffield United, thus sending this fixture to Bramall Lane for a replay.

Each soccer fan is aware of this sense 😭 pic.twitter.com/8OWWd1h4yH

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 29, 2023

Non-tangibles apart, it is necessary to recollect how nicely Wrexham have been doing since Reynolds and Rob McElhenney took over the Welsh aspect and appointed their man Phil Parkinson as coach.

Apart from the FA Cup, they’re additionally joint prime of the Nationwide League and play like they belong two leagues above. They had been greater than a match for Sheffield United, who have not misplaced a recreation since Nov. 8. Oh, and Paul Mullin has absolutely the items. He has no enterprise taking part in on this division.

No matter occurs within the replay, one factor is for positive: season two of “Welcome to Wrexham” goes to be insane. –Luis Miguel Echegaray

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Wrexham vs. Sheffield United six aim thriller units up FA Cup replay

Unbelievable scenes on the Racecourse Floor in Wrexham end in a 3-3 draw that provides Ryan Reynolds and co hopes in persevering with their FA Cup dream.

Can Southampton cup wins change Premier League course?

Southampton are all-time low of the Premier League desk and supervisor Nathan Jones is making an attempt to kick-start a survival bid within the cups. The two-1 victory over Blackpool within the FA Cup on Saturday was Southampton’s fourth win of their final six video games — it is only a disgrace for Jones that just one got here within the league.

Southampton have one other cup recreation on Tuesday — the Carabao Cup semifinal second leg towards Newcastle — earlier than two important Premier League clashes towards Brentford and Wolves. It will be simple for a supervisor to throw away cup ties to give attention to battling relegation however, on the very least, Jones has improved the temper round St. Mary’s with a run of optimistic outcomes.

Confidence and momentum is the whole lot while you’re preventing to remain up and Southampton ought to have each once they arrive at Brentford on Saturday. It is tight on the backside of the desk with solely three factors separating Southampton and Leicester in 14th.

If Jones can get his staff to duplicate their cup type within the league then they’ll give themselves an opportunity of staying within the Premier League –Rob Dawson

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Southampton reaches FA Cup fifth spherical after win vs. Blackpool

Romain Perraud’s double secures Southampton’s development within the FA Cup regardless of a late resurgence from Blackpool.

Barcelona hold eking by with out Lewandowski

Barcelona‘s 1-0 LaLiga win at Girona on Saturday was historic. Coming after a 1-0 Copa del Rey victory over Real Sociedad and a 1-0 win over Getafe, this was the primary time in 43 years that Barca have received three consecutive video games by that scoreline.

– Marsden: Pedri scores game-winner in his 100th appearance for Barca

Add a 1-0 win at Atletico Madrid on Jan. 8, a 1-0 win at Valencia on Oct. 29, a 1-0 win over Celta Vigo on Oct. 9 and a 1-0 win at Mallorca on Oct. 1, and there is a sample rising. It is not the one you may need anticipated when Xavi Hernandez, the non secular inheritor to supervisor Pep Guardiola and crown prince of tiki-taka, was appointed again in November 2021.

Context is necessary. Barca’s defensive report in LaLiga is outstanding, conceding simply six objectives in 18 video games. They’ve stored 14 clear sheets. A lot of that may be attributed to career-best type from Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, rivalling Thibaut Courtois for the title of Spain‘s most dependable keeper.

On the different finish of the pitch, it is no shock Barca struggled to attain towards Girona, Getafe and Atletico provided that they have been with out probably the greatest aim scorers on the planet, Robert Lewandowski. The staff are over-reliant on him, along with his 13 league objectives adopted by Pedri — who discovered the web on Saturday — and Ousmane Dembele, now injured, with 5 every.

Even with Lewandowski again from suspension, it is time for a slowly enhancing Ansu Fati, a yet-to-convince Raphinha and the underwhelming Ferran Torres to step up and play their half. –Alex Kirkland

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Pedri’s aim places Barcelona on the board

Pedri nets the aim to place Barcelona on the board first within the 61st minute.

Targets

Mitoma is an artist, and all of us want a ticket to his gallery

Kaoru Mitoma is the epitome of Brighton, and Brighton are the epitome of Kaoru Mitoma. The Japanese worldwide — who was taking part in in college three years in the past as a result of he did not really feel he was prepared for skilled soccer and ended up costing the membership a measly €3 million — scored an impressive, stoppage-time profitable aim for the Seagulls towards Liverpool on Sunday.

It was a type of objectives that deserved a microscopic re-watch. Coming into the ultimate moments of the sport, Brighton earned a free-kick outdoors of the field. From the free-kick, the ball hovered throughout the pitch to the ft of Ecuador‘s Pervis Estupiñán, who after an attractive contact, crossed it above Liverpool’s defensive unit and proper onto Mitoma’s orbit. There was nonetheless work to do for the Japanese winger, nonetheless, as Alisson was rightly in place, able to react.

– Response: Liverpool’s troubles this season deepen in loss to Brighton

What adopted, nonetheless, was a bit of artwork. Mitoma introduced it down along with his proper foot with a primary contact smoother than Luther Vandross’s vocal chords, then with the identical foot, proceeded to pretend everybody out with a second contact, and with out the ball touching the bottom, he smashed it previous the Brazilian keeper and into the far nook of the aim.

The Amex went insane, Mitoma’s teammates rallied and jumped on him and the FA Cup had no extra arguments for aim of the weekend, maybe the match. Mitoma is the personification of Brighton’s outlook on participant scouting and improvement: affected person, good and delicate. Whereas different golf equipment proceed to play checkers on the subject of participant acquisition, Brighton carry on profitable with 4-D Chess. –Luis Miguel Echegaray

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Mitoma scores a stunner to oust Liverpool from FA Cup

Kaoru Mitoma’s beautiful end within the field offers Brighton the lead within the 92nd minute over Liverpool.

All eyes on Lookman in Italy once more

Week in, week out, dwelling and away, scoring or aiding, Ademola Lookman is having the season of his life at Atalanta. And Saturday was no completely different.

The Nigerian worldwide scored one other worldie to guide Atalanta to a different win, 2-0 at dwelling towards Sampdoria. The previous England youth participant obtained the ball on the suitable hand aspect, close to the midway line, got here inside with a trick, ran with the ball, bought into the field, slowed down barely earlier than unleashing an ideal shot within the reverse backside nook.

It was his twelfth league aim of the season already in 14 begins, with three assists on prime of it. That is solely 4 objectives lower than by his all skilled profession within the prime flight in England (Leicester and Everton) and in Germany (RB Leipzig). Lookman is unstoppable and unplayable in the intervening time. He has netted seven instances in his final 4 video games in all competitions.

When he made his Premier League debut for Everton again within the 2016-2017 season as a prodigy, the hype round him was enormous and actual. It took him all that point to lastly profit from his excellent expertise. Gian Piero Gasperini unlocked his potential and at 25, Lookman is simply getting began. –Julien Laurens

Ademola fa quello che vuole 🤯

WHAT. A. SOLO from @Alookman_ 🥵#Lookman #GoAtalantaGo ⚫️🔵 pic.twitter.com/OdoQOFQr4y

— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) January 29, 2023

Fred’s cheeky end places a bow on Man United win

Manchester United had been already nicely on their solution to reserving a spot within the fifth spherical when Fred made positive of the consequence towards Studying however the Brazilian midfielder, on as a second-half substitute, made positive one of the best aim was saved till final.

Bruno Fernandes‘ whipped cross from the suitable was inviting a contact and Fred did it with a little bit of aptitude — flicking the ball into the web and making an outstanding little bit of talent look informal.

Fred has misplaced his common place in United’s staff this season however with Christian Eriksen recovering from an ankle harm, he may he wanted extra usually within the second half of the season. –Rob Dawson

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Manchester United take 3-0 lead behind Fred’s cheeky backheel

Fred faucets in Bruno Fernandes’ move to provide Manchester United a 3-0 lead over Studying.

Groups in bother

AC Milan go from unhealthy to worse

Here is AC Milan‘s latest stretch: three objectives conceded towards Inter Milan within the Tremendous Cup 10 days in the past, 4 conceded away at Lazio in Serie A on Tuesday and at last 5 towards Sassuolo, seventeenth within the desk, at dwelling on Sunday within the league. That is three defeats in row with 12 objectives given away, and AC Milan, the Italian champions, are going by the largest disaster of this period with Stefano Pioli as supervisor.

That is the primary time of their historical past that they shipped 4 or extra objectives in successive league matches. The final time somebody scored 5 objectives towards them at San Siro was Juventus again in April 1997.

Milan have received solely considered one of their seven video games because the restart and it was their first one, on Jan. 4 away at Salernitana, the place they needed to battle onerous to maintain their 2-1 victory in the direction of the top. After that, there have been disappointments after disappointments, defeats and attracts again to again.

In opposition to Roma, they had been 2-0 up with three minutes to go and so they drew 2-2. In opposition to Torino within the Coppa d’Italia, that they had 34 pictures however misplaced in additional time 1-0. At Lecce, they had been 2-0 down after 20 minutes and drew 2-2. Then there are the disasters towards Inter, Lazio and Sassuolo the place they had been outsmarted, outplayed and overwhelmed by groups extra environment friendly than them. They do not defend nicely and lack creativity and execution going ahead

The final time Milan misplaced three video games in a row was in September 2019 and the supervisor was Marco Giampaolo. He was sacked not lengthy after and was changed by Pioli. Pioli has sufficient credit score within the financial institution after profitable the Scudetto final season to outlive this horrible interval. However issues will not get higher with the derby towards Inter subsequent weekend… –Julien Laurens

Valencia’s personal followers are protesting their poor type

Valencia‘s report because the World Cup break makes for grim studying. They’ve gone 4 video games and not using a win in LaLiga and the final three specifically — a 1-0 dwelling defeat to Cadiz, a 2-2 draw with Almeria and Sunday’s agonising 1-0 loss at Real Valladolid, conceding within the ninetieth minute — have all come towards opposition {that a} staff with expertise like Jose Gaya, Yunus Musah, Samuel Lino and Edinson Cavani ought to be beating.

Their begin to the season was stable, at instances thrilling, however a dreadful October — once they went one other 5 league video games and not using a win — and this newest winless streak have seen Gennaro Gattuso’s staff thrust into the midst of a relegation battle. Valencia are simply three factors away from the underside three now, and though they’ve two video games in hand over most of their rivals, you would not financial institution on them profitable both on present type.

Livid followers protested outdoors Mestalla after their 3-1 dwelling Copa del Rey defeat to Athletic Club in midweek, leaving gamers struggling to get out of the stadium. And it isn’t going to get simpler anytime quickly: subsequent up it is a journey to the Bernabeu to play Real Madrid. –Alex Kirkland

Weekend MVP

Casemiro once more proves to be transformative for Man United

Casemiro wasn’t solely the MVP of the weekend — he’s shortly changing into the MVP of Manchester United‘s complete season.

The Brazilian received the FA Cup tie with Studying on Saturday with two objectives in 4 minutes — the primary with a intelligent scooped end from Antony‘s move and the second with a pinpoint effort from 25 yards out. It was a contribution that ensured a cushty night towards the Championship aspect simply as they had been threatening to make issues nervous.

Casemiro has solely been at Outdated Trafford for a few months however he is already been a transformational signing. Not solely have United stuffed a gaping gap of their midfield, they’ve accomplished it with probably the greatest gamers on the earth within the place. He is introduced some chunk in the midst of the pitch, calmness on the ball and, above all, a winner’s mentality. It is one thing that is been lacking since Sir Alex Ferguson retired.

Supervisor Erik ten Hag is going through a busy finish to the season in 4 competitions and the one participant he can’t do with out is Casemiro. The Dutchman has cowl in most key positions however nobody within the squad can change the previous Real Madrid man. United’s probabilities of success this season rely closely on Casemiro staying match. –Rob Dawson