Champions League
We are now in the home strait of the Champions League qualifiers with two more rounds in December and most of the usual suspects will proceed to the round of 16.
England and Spain should have four representatives, respectively Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea and Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Seville.
If Leipzig beat Istanbul and PSG fail to win at Old Trafford then the French club will not qualify and Germany will have four – Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Borussia Munchengladbach and Leipzig.
If Ajax beat Atalanta then Juventus will be Italy’s sole representative.
Last night I followed Inter Milan v Real Madrid. Real easily won 2-0 and Inter under Chelsea ex-boss Antonio Conte were very poor.
Their Artur Vidal so contested a decision that he was sent off.
It’s quite incredible that such an experienced campaigner could commit such folly.
Real’s 17 year old starlet Rodrygo looked the best player on the night.
Time was when the two Milan clubs dominated Europe. Football moves in cycles and I thought the Iberian reign might be over as Zidane at Real and Ronald Koeman at Barcelona have not impressed in the Liga.
I said to Pargie that Athletico look a good each way bet. They may not be pretty on the eye but Diego Simeone’s side are effective.
Talking of Diego, the death of Maradona cast a pall and what with his loss, Covid and the international break, this week’s round of matches was distinctly lack lustre.
