Welcome to 2020! Missed any of the action around Europe this weekend? Have no fear: Gab Marcotti is here to catch you up with all the talking points in the latest Monday Musings. Jump to: Another wake-up call for Barca | Everton humiliated | Balotelli abused again | Fede Valverde the key for Real |
Frenkie De Jong
Shaka Hislop weighs up if Frank Lampard should focus on silverware or a Champions League spot for Chelsea. Gab Marcotti and Shaka Hislop believe Barcelona are dangerously overreliant on Lionel Messi. Gab Marcotti explains how Liverpool could give Chelsea a boost in the FA Cup. Liverpool and dominated the FIFA 20 team of the year
Steve Nicol is shocked by Lionel Messi’s underwhelming performance in Barcelona’s 2-2 draw with Espanyol. BARCELONA — Wu Lei‘s late equaliser dented 10-man Barcelona’s title hopes as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Espanyol in Saturday’s Catalan derby at the RCDE Stadium. David Lopez had headed the La Liga’s bottom club into a
The FC guys dismantle Shaka Hislop’s Power Rankings, where the surprise club remains at the top. Ale Moreno feels competing with Cristiano Ronaldo for the Ballon d’Or is the ultimate fuel for Lionel Messi. Julien Laurens says Lionel Messi separated himself from other Ballon d’Or finalists by carrying Barcelona. BARCELONA — Lionel Messi scored his
The demands at Barcelona mean that winning La Liga isn’t always enough to satisfy everyone. Last season, Ernesto Valverde’s side won the Spanish title by 11 points but it was a second successive Champions League humiliation for which their campaign is remembered. A 4-0 second-leg defeat to Liverpool last season ended the club’s Treble dream
Steve Nicol and Shaka Hislop praise Frenkie de Jong’s game, particularly his composure on the ball in the Netherlands’ win over England. ESPN FC’s Shaka Hislop explains what it will take for new signing Frenkie de Jong to adjust to life at Barcelona. Alejandro Moreno delves into the benefits a departure would have for Philippe
If all the transfers fall into place for Barcelona, will they be able to play Messi, Suarez, Griezmann and Neymar all at the same time? Frenkie de Jong revealed that a visit from Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu in Amsterdam convinced him to sign for the Spanish champions ahead of Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City.
De Jong, left, has become too big for Ajax already but the step-up in pressure and attention could prove testing in Barcelona. Frenkie de Jong receives a back-pass standing still in the Ajax half. Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior and Luka Modric charge at him but the Dutch playmaker, who seems to have all the time
It’s 2019. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are the dominant forces in soccer, winning nearly every individual award and leading their clubs to title after title. Yet both are in the twilights of their careers, at 31 and 34 years old respectively, and previous heirs to the throne such as Neymar and Gareth Bale haven’t come
Barcelona take a commanding 3-0 lead into the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Liverpool after a dominant performance at home. Donny van der Beek scored the lone goal as Ajax topped Spurs 1-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final. The ESPN FC panel don’t