Milan secures significant derby victory; Arsenal faces FA Cup challenge; Yamal shines once more; and additional updates.

This weekend has certainly been eventful. The leading teams in Europe, along with their leagues and cup tournaments, provided ample entertainment and discussion points. Let’s begin in Italy with the Serie A title race and one of the most significant derbies in global soccer. AC Milan secured their second derby victory over Inter Milan this season, narrowing Inter’s lead at the top to seven points with 10 matches remaining. Suddenly, the Scudetto appears less certain, doesn’t it?

In the FA Cup in England, Arsenal made significant changes to their lineup ahead of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 midweek, which nearly cost them as they had to score late and introduce key players against Mansfield Town. Meanwhile, in LaLiga, Lamine Yamal once again demonstrated why he is the most promising young talent likely to shape the game for years to come, guiding Barcelona to a win over Athletic Club and increasing their lead at the top to four points over rivals Real Madrid.

– Ranked: The 10 worst Premier League teams, relative to spending
– Reaction: Chelsea provide Wrexham with a reality check
– Ogden: Why major PL clubs cannot afford to miss out on Champions League

There were also numerous talking points surrounding Juventus (do they genuinely need to extend their manager’s contract?), Real Madrid (who continue to win, albeit unconvincingly), the FA Cup (cheers to lowly Port Vale!), Chelsea (who disrupted Wrexham’s FA Cup narrative), and much more.

As Monday morning arrives, it’s an ideal moment for some reflections. Let’s delve into it.

Milan triumph in the derby, Serie A’s title race remains alive …

… at least for now. It’s close, but not entirely settled.

Before the match, the situation was quite clear. An Inter victory would have established a 13-point gap with 10 games remaining. At that point, the unscientific (yet often accurate) guideline applies: when the lead exceeds the number of remaining matches and there are no direct encounters left, the title is essentially secured, barring unforeseen circumstances. However, with a seven-point margin, it would be premature to celebrate.

Milan had the edge in quality during the match — Pervis Estupiñán capitalized on his scoring opportunity, while Fede Dimarco and Henrikh Mkhitaryan missed theirs — and in terms of narrative as well. By emphasizing throughout the season that his goal was simply to secure a Champions League spot, Max Allegri alleviated pressure on the rossoneri and framed his own performance as a significant achievement.

We can discuss whether this accurately reflects expectations, considering Milan did not have European commitments, did not need to change managers in the fall (unlike Juventus), did not face a severe injury crisis (as Napoli did), and brought in high-profile veteran free agents like Adrien Rabiot and Luka Modric. What remains clear is that the media — take note of the Allegri to Real Madrid rumors resurfacing — and (most) fans accept this narrative. It is made even sweeter by the fact that they have won both derbies in Serie A this season.

The underlying reality for Milan remains unchanged. Rafael Leão has experienced four different coaches with varying styles in three years and has yet to find his stride. Luka Modric is now 40 years old. Damage limitation appears to be the strategy in most matches. Beyond results — which are undeniably important but must be viewed in context — it is challenging to assess their growth and, more crucially, how they will continue to develop moving forward.

For Inter, the absence of Marcus Thuram, Lautaro Martínez, and Hakan Calhanoglu was significant. Just a year ago, it would have been unimaginable for the club to compete in the derby without that trio, yet here we are. This speaks to manager Christian Chivu’s commendable work in his first full season at the helm of any club.

Moreover, Inter’s resilience both in the autumn (recovering from the missed Treble) and more recently (after the Bodo/Glimt setback in the Champions League) should not be overlooked. While no one is claiming Chivu is the next Pep Guardiola, it is fair to say he has exceeded many expectations this season, including my own.

Arsenal risks jeopardizing their quadruple hopes: Was it truly necessary?

play2:25Beckford: Eze’s influence on the team is akin to Ronaldinho’s

Jermaine Beckford discusses Eberechi Eze and Arsenal’s performance in their 2-1 FA Cup victory over Mansfield Town.

I understand the situation. The fixture schedule is packed, Arsenal is competing on four fronts, the squad is deep but not limitless, and they have Bayer Leverkusen away in the Champions League on Tuesday night. And yes, they secured a 2-1 win against third-tier Mansfield Town, so all seems well. In fact, Mikel Arteta expressed his delight afterwards about how much he “enjoyed” what was a genuine cup tie.

I support rotation and prioritizing competitions, but there are boundaries. It’s not just that Arsenal was level until 24 minutes from the end. Or the fact that they conceded 18 shots — the highest since April 2022 — and 1.99 expected goals to a team sixty places below them in the football hierarchy. Deploying a back three when they typically use a back four sends a message. So does giving two 16-year-olds (defender Marli Salmon and midfielder Max Dowman) their debuts while asking Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke to play as wingbacks.

The message, whether intended or not, is: “Hey guys, enjoy running around out there and being placed in positions you’ll never actually occupy in the first team because we’re not genuinely taking this seriously.” I suspect Arteta recognized this himself in the 38th minute (!) when he introduced defender Piero Hincapié and reverted to a back four. (You know, the formation they actually practice.)

Any advantage he gained from resting the players who will start against Bayer Leverkusen was likely outweighed by the risk, however slight, of this backfiring and facing the inevitable criticism about “disrespecting the Cup” from commentators, along with doubts about whether they are “mentally tough enough” to succeed. Focus on the goal, Mikel.

play1:31Hislop: Dowman plays like he is on a school playground

Shaka Hislop discusses Max Dowman’s performance in Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Mansfield Town in the FA Cup.

Lamine Yamal to the rescue and comparisons are becoming increasingly difficult to avoid

With Barcelona evidently fatigued after their unsuccessful Copa del Rey comeback attempt against Atletico Madrid midweek and a significant Champions League trip to Newcastle approaching, Hansi Flick decided to make changes, resting Pedri, Fermín López, and Raphinha. Guess who remained on the pitch? Yamal, who has, in fact, started 14 of Barcelona’s last 15 matches across all competitions.

This proved beneficial: Away at Bilbao, against an equally fatigued opponent (they also participated in the Copa del Rey, a day later than Barcelona) in a match that was scrappy, it was Yamal who emerged with a stunning goal-of-the-season contender to secure the three points. (Credit is due to half-time substitute Pedri, who provided a delightful assist.) Three crucial points, as they maintain a four-point lead over Real Madrid with 11 matches remaining.

The match offered relatively few chances — aside from a spectacular attempted backheel from Ferran Torres and some saves from Joan García due to the high line — but when you have talents like Pedri and Yamal, sometimes that’s all you require.

play1:56Leboeuf compares Lamine Yamal to Pele & Lionel Messi

Frank Leboeuf praises Lamine Yamal’s accomplishments at 18 years old and draws comparisons between the Barcelona “megastar” and Pele and Lionel Messi.

Following this goal and his hat-trick last weekend, the hype surrounding Yamal is reaching new heights. Local media report that Yamal has now netted 50 goals (six for Spain, the remainder for Barcelona) as a senior professional, and he is only 18 years and 237 days old. Lionel Messi reached 50 at 20 years and 315 days, while Cristiano Ronaldo did so at 21 years and 297 days. While comparisons may not be helpful, Yamal’s achievements thus far warrant them: that’s the scale of what he is accomplishing. One can only hope his body allows him to sustain this progress.

Quick hits

10. Juventus comfortably defeat Pisa, but does Luciano Spalletti truly need a contract extension at this moment? There are reasons for optimism regarding Juventus currently. The comebacks against Galatasaray and Roma indicate that the players are not giving up, Kenan Yildiz is impressive, Bremer is fit, and the midfield is functioning well. Additionally, Dusan Vlahovic is back in training, which surely pleases those critical of Jonathan David. On Saturday, against a Pisa team that parked the bus (as expected), they were patient and created opportunities, ultimately breaking through after halftime for a 4-0 victory.

Amid all this, discussions about Spalletti receiving a new contract are circulating, although I question the urgency. He has a contract that runs until the end of the season, which automatically extends for another two years if Juve qualify for the Champions League. Certainly, he has done an excellent job, and his supporters would argue that Juve may wish to retain him even if they do not finish in the top four. Moreover, a show of confidence would bolster his standing. However, Juve should be cautious and remember why they initially offered him that conditional contract. The fundamental reality is that Spalletti is quite expensive, and if they fail to qualify for Europe and miss out on that additional revenue, he could become a luxury they cannot afford. Address that issue when it arises.

9. It wasn’t convincing, but Real Madrid secures essential three points ahead of Champions League: There is a perspective that suggests when your squad is depleted (Dean Huijsen and Franco Mastantuono suspended, Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, Éder Militão, Dani Ceballos, David Alaba, and Rodrygo injured), results take precedence over performance as you await better days. I understand the rationale, but if you fail to recognize that you haven’t played well, you may not attempt to rectify the issues. Next time, luck may not be on your side.

Real Madrid was fortunate in their 2-1 victory at Celta, securing the three points in injury time thanks to a deflected goal from Fede Valverde. Prior to that, we witnessed a couple of remarkable saves from Thibaut Courtois and Iago Aspas hitting the post. Trent Alexander-Arnold (once again) demonstrated his limitations one-on-one for the Celta goal. Vinícius Júnior — tasked with effectively leading the attack alone with Gonzalo García on the bench — also struck the woodwork in what would have been a spectacular goal. Positive aspects? Well, Alvaro Arbeloa started Thiago Pitarch, and all three substitutes were academy players. However, before we become overly enthusiastic, let’s remember that Arbeloa had limited options, and introducing young players when struggling is a well-known tactic to gain goodwill and avoid criticism. It does not bode well heading into the clash with Manchester City, but facing Real Madrid in knockout competitions is always a daunting task.

8. The proverbial “Magic of the Cup” continues at Port Vale: They are the bottom team in League One, sitting 11 points from safety. Interestingly, they have won more matches in cup competitions this season (7) than in the league (6), and they only progressed to this round on Wednesday after defeating Bristol City. (Yes, the FA Cup has a peculiar scheduling system.) Yet, little Port Vale eliminated Premier League mid-table side Sunderland on Sunday. Notably, on a weekend when many clubs fielded weakened teams or altered formations (or both, in the case of Arsenal and Chelsea), Sunderland fielded a squad close to their Best XI of available players.

This serves as a reminder that, despite all the discussions about players, tactics, and wage bills, once you step onto the pitch, it’s 11 vs. 11, and the unpredictable can and often does occur. That is the Magic of the Cup.

play0:46How Port Vale caused FA Cup upset over Sunderland

Examine the statistics behind League One side Port Vale’s 1-0 victory over Sunderland in the FA Cup.

7. Good news for Paris Saint-Germain is that they won’t face Monaco again until next season: PSG has played them four times this season, resulting in one win, one draw, and two losses, including Friday night’s 3-1 defeat at the Parc des Princes. Luis Enrique is fortunate that the two matches they did not lose against Monaco occurred in the Champions League, where they did not perform well and benefited from playing with an extra man for most of the second half.

There is no doubt that PSG is currently in a difficult position, even with Ousmane Dembélé’s return, who came on in the second half. The concerning aspect for PSG — heading into the Champions League match against Chelsea and now just one point ahead of Lens in Ligue 1 — is that aside from Fabián Ruiz and João Neves, they were largely at full strength, yet managed only one shot on target in the first half. It is true they were underwhelming in the first six months of last season as well, only to improve in the spring, but that is not a reliable strategy. Given the decline in goalkeeping quality (although Marat Safonov made some impressive saves against Monaco) and the current form of players like Désiré Doué and Willian Pacho, this season feels different.

6. A win for Borussia Dortmund as Julian Brandt confirms he won’t be returning: This development somewhat overshadowed Dortmund’s victory at Koln, as Brandt and the club have agreed to part ways when his contract expires at the end of the season. Brandt will turn 30 in May, and from a numerical standpoint, it makes sense to rebuild and refresh with younger players. Moreover, let’s be honest, he hasn’t appeared central to Nico Kovac’s plans this season: he has been included in the Bundesliga squad for 20 matches and started just 13 of them. From an emotional standpoint: well, seven seasons and over 300 appearances do matter, and in the right context, he may still find success.

Regarding the match itself, the three points are significant as the gap over fifth place remains a substantial eight points. The performance? It was somewhat typical of Dortmund. They took the lead in the first half while conceding more than they should have and, against 10 men (Koln had a player sent off in first-half injury time), eased off after going 2-0 up, only to experience a tense finish after conceding a goal with two minutes remaining. Some habits, evidently, are hard to break.

5. This time, squad players give Diego Simeone something to ponder: Atletico Madrid boasts one of the deepest squads around, and on Saturday, it proved crucial against Real Sociedad. Both teams made significant rotations following their midweek Copa del Rey exertions — they will meet again in the final — but it was Atleti’s second-string players who made the difference. Nico González, returning from injury, came off the bench to score two goals in the 3-2 victory, while Atleti was dominant and effective on the ball in the first half, with veteran José María Giménez, right back Nahuel Molina, midfielder Rodrigo Mendez, and of course, The Only Living Sorloth in Captivity (Alex, who netted the opener) all making substantial contributions.

There were defensive lapses, to be sure, and it’s hard to envision the Atleti of old conceding so readily after scoring as they did on Saturday. However, knowing they have numerous options and significant quality must be encouraging. Especially with a match against Real Madrid approaching just before the international break later this month, and — if they progress past Spurs in the Champions League — they could face Barcelona three times, plus play in the Copa del Rey final, all within 11 days.

4. Manchester City progresses in the FA Cup and we learn something about Pep Guardiola: If I had a dollar for every time someone suggested that Guardiola’s erratic behavior stems from him not caring since he’s “definitely leaving” at the end of the season, I’d be quite wealthy. Perhaps he will depart — honestly, I have no idea — but as long as he remains, he is invested. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have lost his temper at the referee, with his team leading 2-1 and cruising, when a foul on Jérémy Doku was not called. (When asked about the subsequent yellow card — his sixth of the season, which means he will receive a two-match ban — he joked that he would go on holiday. Of course, he won’t: he’s a workaholic, which means he will sit and stew.)

Guardiola made 10 changes against a fatigued Newcastle side — even their manager, Eddie Howe, acknowledged that “they held something back” — and, after a shaky start, won 3-1, dominating for extended periods. He welcomed back John Stones (for how long, who knows?) and witnessed a stunning goal from Omar Marm