The race for soccer's top individual accolade has never been more open. With Lionel Messi and Cri...

<p><em>The race for soccer's top individual accolade has never been more open. With Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's duopoly well and truly over - neither was nominated for the Ballon d'Or last year - opportunity beckons. Rodri took full advantage in 2024. Who will do the same this year? Each month until the award is presented in October, we'll publish fresh rankings looking at the top contenders. Here are the 10 leading candidates to win the trophy right now.</em></p><h3>10. Jude Bellingham</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-GQ1jF" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/GQ1jF/2/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="101" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>Bellingham ranked third in Ballon d'Or voting last year with 23 goals in his first season with Real Madrid. He's less than halfway to that number with just two months remaining in his sophomore year, but the English midfielder still has an impact on Carlo Ancelotti's side. </p><p>While opponents continue to treat Bellingham as a two-way threat, he's helped shore up a midfield that's sacrificed a bit of its goal-scoring tendencies for more defensive solidity. Bellingham's lost a bit of discipline along the way this season - he was suspended for two La Liga matches for abusive language - but continues to drive the ball forward.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>9. Pedri</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-1KqAK" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/1KqAK/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="101" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>Attacking players almost always win the Ballon d'Or. A defender hasn't taken home the award since Fabio Cannavaro in 2006, and even that took a Herculean, World Cup-winning effort. Scoring goals is simply the easiest way to garner individual acclaim and always has been. But Rodri's triumph last year, and Luka Modric's win in 2018, proved that majestic midfielders can get the recognition they deserve in this category.</p><p>Pedri, arguably the smoothest, most aesthetically pleasing midfielder in the sport right now, has an outside shot at ensuring the Ballon d'Or remains with a Spaniard for another year. Similar to his teammates on this list, the all-around operator could come away with several trophies this season after being central, literally and figuratively, to everything for Barcelona.</p><h3>8. Vinicius Junior</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-lpBe4" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/lpBe4/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="101" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>Vinicius, and everybody associated with Real Madrid, will tell you that the Brazilian winger should already have one Ballon d'Or to his name. They're <em>still</em> rankled by Rodri's win last year. The 24-year-old is once again in the mix, but his path to the coveted golden trophy is more complicated than it was in 2024, thanks largely to the presence of his teammate Kylian Mbappe.</p><p>Nevertheless, Vinicius can't be ruled out. He has 24 goals in all competitions this season and could yet win La Liga, the Champions League, and the Club World Cup in the summer. He'll likely need to either fully outscore Mbappe or deliver a signature goal, as he has in recent Champions League finals, to leapfrog his French teammate in this race.</p><h3>7. Robert Lewandowski</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-N0bTg" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/N0bTg/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="101" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>Barcelona's veteran striker has already scored 36 goals across all competitions - his highest tally since leaving Bayern Munich in 2021. He'll surely reach 40 with at least 13 matches remaining in the season. Droughts haven't been an issue: La Liga's leading scorer hasn't gone more than three games without a goal. But he's providing more than just offensive production.</p><p>Lewandowski, working again under Hansi Flick, has become the perfect foil in Barcelona's multi-faceted attack, pulling defenders with him as his younger teammates run into space. Flick's game plan could simply involve long balls to Lewandowski, but the 36-year-old, who's been remarkably healthy this season, has been willing to work for the team.</p><h3>6. Harry Kane</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-axEdt" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/axEdt/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="101" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>Things really could change for Kane this season. He's expected to win his first career title with Bayern Munich, who lead the Bundesliga by six points, and could even eclipse the 44 goals he scored last season. Kane <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/harry-kane-ballon-dor-england-bayern-munich-b2718874.html">admitted</a> the change in "aura" at the club should boost his chances of winning the Ballon d'Or and that he couldn't have possibly won it while going trophyless at Tottenham Hotspur.</p><p>He's also elevated his play in big matches, scoring three of Bayern's five goals in the Champions League last-16 clash against Bayer Leverkusen. Kane's 10 Champions League tallies narrowly trail Raphinha's 11 this season.</p><h3>5. Lamine Yamal</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-1KqAK" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/1KqAK/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="101" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>While not as prolific as his rivals, Yamal, who's still only 17, has become a clear reference point for Barcelona's plentiful attack. The Spanish winger is a menace down the right: His 4.2 successful dribbles per game lead La Liga by a wide margin, and no one touches his 11 assists in the top flight. Barcelona are incredibly lucky to have a ready-made replacement for Lionel Messi directly in-house.</p><p>Yamal has missed some time due to injury this season, and his health remains of utmost importance as Barcelona lean ever more on his talent. They need only look at Ansu Fati down the long side of the bench to see the devastating impact injuries can have on a promising career.</p><h3>4. Ousmane Dembele</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-C4mtZ" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/C4mtZ/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="101" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>Nobody has rocketed into contention quite like Dembele, who, at long last, has put all the pieces together after years of untapped promise. The French winger, embracing the role as PSG's main man after Mbappe's departure, is backing up his blistering pace and spellbinding dribbling with prolific finishing. He has more league goals this season (21) than in his last five years combined and is the current leader in the race for France's Golden Boot.</p><p>PSG are shoo-ins to win Ligue 1 and are heavy favorites for the Coupe de France. They also look like the best team in Europe right now and have a very real shot at finally claiming a Champions League title. Should they accomplish all that, with Dembele leading the charge, the 27-year-old's case for the Ballon d'Or will be hard to ignore.</p><h3>3. Mohamed Salah</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-o6I8O" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/o6I8O/36/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="101" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>Salah's authoring an all-time great season. With 27 goals and 17 assists through 29 games, he's well on his way to breaking the record for goal involvements in a single Premier League campaign (47). Plus, Liverpool are cruising toward a 20th English top-flight title. Just a few weeks ago, Salah was the overwhelming favorite here.</p><p>However, he's since cooled off, and Liverpool's Champions League exit in the round of 16 seriously dented his chances in a year where the competition will loom large on voting. Liverpool's League Cup final loss didn't help either. What once looked like a potential quadruple-winning season has petered out somewhat, likely taking Salah's Ballon d'Or chances down with it.</p><h3>2. Kylian Mbappe</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-TN0dq" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/TN0dq/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="101" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>Mbappe has burst into life at Real Madrid, overcoming personal issues that cost him time with the French national team while acclimating himself to his new club. He took the keys to Madrid's attack with a second-leg hat-trick in their 3-1 win over Manchester City in the Champions League knockout playoff round. He also outperformed teammates Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior in the lead-up to the March international break.</p><p>Mbappe has his pace back - he was missing that final step in the opening months of the season - and is forcing defenders to backpedal as they did when he spearheaded Paris Saint-Germain's attack. If Madrid make another deep Champions League run, Mbappe, who's on 30 goals and counting, could conceivably finish as top scorer in La Liga and Europe.</p><h3>1. Raphinha</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-WE8ZY" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/WE8ZY/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="101" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>As evidenced by having three other players on this list, Barcelona's success this season has been a collective effort. But make no mistake, Raphinha is leading the way. The Brazilian, a club captain, has benefitted most from Flick's direct style that emphasizes quick, vertical play.</p><p>Raphinha's creativity and clinical finishing have helped lift Barcelona to the top spot in La Liga, where he has 21 goal involvements. He's been even better in the Champions League, leading the competition with 11 tallies in 10 games. This summer's lack of marquee international events means the Champions League will carry more weight for voters, putting him in a strong position to become the first Barcelona player since Messi to win this award.</p><p><strong>Keep an eye on</strong>:</p><ul>
<li>Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool and Netherlands)</li>
<li>Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid and Argentina)</li>
<li>Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich and Germany)</li>
</ul>

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And then there were eight. The Champions League field has been whittled down once again after the...

<p><em>And then there were eight. The Champions League field has been whittled down once again after the round of 16 came to an exciting conclusion Wednesday. Below, a collection of theScore's soccer editors review the last-16 action, providing one major takeaway from each of the fixtures.</em></p><h3>Yamal, Raphinha dazzle for Barca</h3><p><em>Barcelona beat Benfica 4-1 on aggregate</em></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774714/cropped_GettyImages-2203979066.jpg?ts=1741723002" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774714/w220xh124_GettyImages-2203979066.jpg?ts=1741723002 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774714/w320xh180_GettyImages-2203979066.jpg?ts=1741723002 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774714/w640xh360_GettyImages-2203979066.jpg?ts=1741723002 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774714/w768xh432_GettyImages-2203979066.jpg?ts=1741723002 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774714/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2203979066.jpg?ts=1741723002 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">JOSEP LAGO / AFP / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Raphinha and Lamine Yamal assisted each other's goals in the 3-1 win over Benfica on Tuesday, once again proving their connection is as smooth as any in European competition. It's not that they simply look for one another but that their sweeping style of play - which leans heavily on dribbling and finding pockets of space - culminates in a cross or pass through the penalty area that lands in their path. </p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Barcelona could just as easily thump the ball at Robert Lewandowski and hope he converts from range, but head coach Hansi Flick instead asks his talented wingers to make inverted runs into dangerous areas, and they end profiting off each other's trickery. - <em>Anthony Lopopolo</em></p><h3>Steady Inter a serious threat</h3><p><em>Inter Milan beat Feyenoord 4-1 on aggregate</em></p><p>Simone Inzaghi's team is arguably the least glamorous of the title contenders remaining in the Champions League. But Inter might just be the most dangerous. They lack the mystique of Real Madrid, the youthful exuberance of Barcelona, or the slick interconnected passing of PSG. But what they have, in abundance, is veteran experience, solidity, and robustness.</p><p>The Serie A leaders never looked under any threat in their businesslike last-16 dismissal of Feyenoord. They've conceded only two goals in the entire tournament - the best defensive record thus far - and, with Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram, have genuine game-breakers up front. A very similar recipe got them within touching distance of the trophy two years ago. It could carry them all the way this time. - <em>Gianluca Nesci</em></p><h3>PSG finally put all the pieces together</h3><p><em>PSG beat Liverpool 4-1 on penalties (1-1 on aggregate)</em></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774752/cropped_GettyImages-2204011929.jpg?ts=1741734209" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774752/w220xh124_GettyImages-2204011929.jpg?ts=1741734209 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774752/w320xh180_GettyImages-2204011929.jpg?ts=1741734209 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774752/w640xh360_GettyImages-2204011929.jpg?ts=1741734209 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774752/w768xh432_GettyImages-2204011929.jpg?ts=1741734209 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774752/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2204011929.jpg?ts=1741734209 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Ousmane Dembele and PSG's forwards - along with a dazzling midfield - get most of the attention, but the French club doesn't reach the quarterfinals without shutting down Liverpool's potent attack over two legs. Liverpool besieged PSG's defense for large portions of Tuesday's second leg after Dembele's early goal brought the visitors level on aggregate. But Liverpool's breakthrough moment never came, and PSG went on to prevail after Gianluigi Donnarumma saved a pair of penalties.</p><p>PSG's defensive heroics at Anfield got them to the shootout in the first place. Willian Pacho was a standout performer Tuesday, producing key interceptions, blocks, and clearances. Nuno Mendes also produced critical interventions that were vital in keeping PSG alive in the tournament they're so desperate to win. - <em>Gordon Brunt</em></p><h3>Leverkusen crumble against Bayern</h3><p><em>Bayern Munich beat Bayer Leverkusen 5-0 on aggregate</em></p><p>Leverkusen hadn't lost any of their previous six matches against Bayern Munich. But that was in domestic competition. "The Champions League is a bit more emotional," Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3232457" href="https://thescore.com/news/3232457">pointed out</a> before the teams' last-16 tie. "Emotional control is most important. Five bad minutes, and you're gone."</p><p>Gone they are after losing handily to their German rivals for exactly those reasons. Leverkusen conceded 9 minutes into the first leg and finished the game down to 10 men. Armed with a 3-0 aggregate lead, Bayern struck another two goals while restricting space for Leverkusen to attack. Alonso's side didn't have a shot on target until the 65th minute, by which point the tie was long gone. - <em>Lopopolo</em></p><h3>Guirassy keeps swinging for Dortmund</h3><p><em>Borussia Dortmund beat Lille 3-2 on aggregate</em></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/773198/cropped_GettyImages-2198430636.jpg?ts=1741012416" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/773198/w220xh124_GettyImages-2198430636.jpg?ts=1741012416 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/773198/w320xh180_GettyImages-2198430636.jpg?ts=1741012416 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/773198/w640xh360_GettyImages-2198430636.jpg?ts=1741012416 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/773198/w768xh432_GettyImages-2198430636.jpg?ts=1741012416 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/773198/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2198430636.jpg?ts=1741012416 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">picture alliance / picture alliance / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Serhou Guirassy has been the only constant in Borussia Dortmund's seesaw of a season, and his skillful efforts in Wednesday's 2-1 win over Lille ensured his side's continued progress in the Champions League.</p><p>Just as everything seemed to go wrong - a pair of goal-line clearances and a couple of unbelievable point-blank saves unnerved Dortmund in the first half - Guirassy won the penalty that leveled the tie and assisted the goal that won it. He now has 14 goal involvements in the Champions League, the joint-most by an African player in a single season. Guirassy hasn't gone more than two games without having some material impact on the score line, showing the kind of consistency Dortmund have lacked in a year in which they've reached the Champions League quarterfinals while toiling in 10th place in the Bundesliga. <em>- Lopopolo</em></p><h3>Asensio adds extra element for Villa</h3><p><em>Aston Villa beat Club Brugge 6-1 on aggregate</em></p><p>When January transfers work as intended, they provide a critical midseason boost that can ignite a team and push it over the top. Marco Asensio's move to Aston Villa is a prime example. The Spaniard, who arrived in Birmingham on loan from Paris Saint-Germain on deadline day of the January window, was largely a non-factor in the French capital for the first half of the campaign, scoring two league goals in limited minutes.</p><p>But his quality has never been in doubt, and he's reminding anyone who might have forgotten about that. The 29-year-old scored twice in Wednesday's second-leg win over Club Brugge, bringing his tally to seven goals in eight games since joining Aston Villa. Asensio, a three-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid, can bring crucial big-game experience to a club that will now feature in its first European Cup quarterfinal in 42 years. Together with manager Unai Emery, another continental expert, Villa have every chance to continue their unlikely run. To do so, they'll need to defeat none other than PSG, the squad that jettisoned Asensio, in the next round. - <em>Nesci</em></p><h3>Arsenal capitalize on rare breather</h3><p><em>Arsenal beat PSV Eindhoven 9-3 on aggregate</em></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/773419/cropped_GettyImages-2202729922.jpg?ts=1741124756" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/773419/w220xh124_GettyImages-2202729922.jpg?ts=1741124756 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/773419/w320xh180_GettyImages-2202729922.jpg?ts=1741124756 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/773419/w640xh360_GettyImages-2202729922.jpg?ts=1741124756 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/773419/w768xh432_GettyImages-2202729922.jpg?ts=1741124756 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/773419/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2202729922.jpg?ts=1741124756 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">NurPhoto / NurPhoto / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Arsenal's last-16 affair with PSV Eindhoven played out <em>perfectly</em> for Mikel Arteta. With a quarterfinal berth virtually sealed after a ruthless 7-1 first-leg win last week, the Gunners coach jumped at a rare opportunity to rotate his bruised and battered squad Wednesday. Seldom-used loanee Raheem Sterling delivered a solid first-half display in a makeshift attack that also saw left-back Kieran Tierney start on the wing and midfielder Mikel Merino line up as the No. 9 through the middle.</p><p>Arsenal padded their lead to progress with a 9-3 win on aggregate before a difficult quarterfinal test against holders and 15-time winners Real Madrid. But Arsenal's Champions League adventure could get a huge boost by April with Gabriel Martinelli at full strength and Bukayo Saka's expected return. Their Premier League title push is all but over, but don't discount an Arsenal side that could put all their eggs in the Champions League basket. - <em>Brunt</em></p><h3>Real Madrid always find a way</h3><p><em>Real Madrid beat Atletico Madrid 4-2 on penalties (2-2 on aggregate)</em></p><p>As Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid approached penalties, only one team seemed like the clear winner. Not because they dominated or deserved to go through, but because they have always come out on top. Madrid, of course, obliged, beating Atletico in a shootout for the sixth time in six attempts. An unlucky double touch annulled Julian Alvarez's penalty, opening up the win for Madrid and serving up an excruciating reminder of their historical supremacy over Atletico.</p><p>It really felt different when Conor Gallagher leveled the tie on aggregate just a minute into the second leg. Atletico often defended with six at the back but still produced the lion's share of chances, forcing Madrid shot-stopper Thibaut Courtois into seven saves. Even Vinicius Junior missed a penalty, which he had done only twice before in his pro career and never before for Madrid. There wasn't much more Atletico could do. But the Champions League is a funny tournament. Sometimes only the tiniest margins count. And Madrid live in those margins. <em>- Lopopolo</em></p>

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Key thoughts and analysis from Champions League round of 16

Antonio Rudiger's penalty kick squeaked past Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak to seal a drama...

<p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/16577" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/16577">Antonio Rudiger</a>'s penalty kick squeaked past Atletico Madrid goalkeeper <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/14778" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/14778">Jan Oblak</a> to seal a dramatic 4-2 shootout win for Real Madrid in an epic Champions League last-16 encounter between historic city rivals at a raucous Metropolitano on Wednesday.</p><p>It's the fifth time in 11 years that Madrid have eliminated Atletico from the Champions League.</p><p>Los Blancos have won <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCMOTD/status/1899962401149141361">all six of their shootouts</a> against Los Rojiblancos, including in the 2015-16 Champions League final.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Arsenal will be the next team that tries to dethrone the 15-time European champions. The Gunners will host the first leg at the Emirates on April 8.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/182721" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/182721">Julian Alvarez</a> thought he had tied the shootout at 2-2 with a strike into the upper netting, but the VAR canceled out the Argentine's penalty after Madrid's vocal protests, ruling he had touched the ball twice as he slipped on the spot.</p><p>In normal time, a penalty taker who touches the ball twice would end up conceding a free-kick to the opposing team. That doesn't apply in a shootout, and a retake isn't an option.</p><p>Oblak gave Atletico a second wind by turning away <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/49943" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/49943">Lucas Vazquez</a>'s effort, but <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/36960" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/36960">Marcos Llorente</a>'s follow-up for the hosts struck the bar, leaving Rudiger to finish off a wild sequence of events.</p><p>"It hurts. I think we played a great match, but unfortunately we lacked a bit of luck," Oblak <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3240728" href="https://thescore.com/news/3240728">told</a> Movistar. "The truth is that one feels pain. It hurts a lot."</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/160089" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/160089">Conor Gallagher</a>'s opportunistic first-minute opener Wednesday gave Atletico a 1-0 lead that leveled the tie 2-2 on aggregate.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/101248" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/101248">Vinicius Junior</a> wasted a chance to win it before extra time, skying his penalty attempt in the 70th minute.</p><p>Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti took off Vinicius with minutes remaining in extra time, denying him an opportunity to redeem himself in the shootout.</p><p>It didn't matter in the end.</p><p>Madrid took a 2-1 advantage into the second leg thanks to goals from <a href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/160984">Rodrygo</a> and <a href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/86731">Brahim Diaz</a> at the Santiago Bernabeu last Tuesday. Alvarez's stunning away goal gave Atletico an important building block.</p><p>Gallagher was a substitute a week ago but made an instant impact as a starter Wednesday, cleaning up Alvarez's wayward touch with a sweeping finish from close range.</p><p>Atletico's resolute defense held firm until <a href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/66967">Kylian Mbappe</a> raced into space and drew contact from <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/69635" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/69635">Clement Lenglet</a> in the penalty area. But Vinicius curled the potential tie-clinching spot-kick high and wide. </p><p>"We came out as if it was already won and in the first move they scored a goal against us, and that messed us up a lot," Madrid midfielder Fede Valverde added.</p><p>"We went to penalties. By the end we were very tired, it was very noticeable, and thank God we won."</p>

MADRID, SPAIN - MARCH 12: Players of Real Madrid celebrate at the end of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second-leg match between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid at Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, Spain on March 12, 2025. Real Madrid won through penalty shootouts.

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Real Madrid win wild shootout to eliminate Atletico from UCL once again

Gianluigi Donnarumma watched counterpart Alisson Becker make save after save but couldn't produce...

<p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/43614" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/43614">Gianluigi Donnarumma</a> watched counterpart <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/55092" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/55092">Alisson Becker</a> make save after save but couldn't produce one himself when it mattered most, as his Paris Saint-Germain lost 1-0 to an at times overwhelmed Liverpool in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie Wednesday.</p><p>Liverpool substitute <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/103076" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/103076">Harvey Elliott</a> scored mere seconds after replacing <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/17673" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/17673">Mohamed Salah</a> in the 86th minute to steal a win. It was the Reds' only shot on target and second overall compared to PSG's 28.</p><p>Alisson made nine saves, including diving efforts and fingertip stops, to frustrate PSG on a night they dominated in virtually every category but the one that mattered most. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/154299" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/154299">Khvicha Kvaratskhelia</a> also had a goal ruled offside in the first half.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"It was probably the performance of my life," Alisson said.</p><p>The two sides will meet again Tuesday at Anfield for the decisive second leg.</p><p>PSG entered the contest on the back of 10 straight wins and immediately took the game to Liverpool.</p><p>Kvaratskhelia, who joined PSG in January in a €70-million move from Napoli, thought he had shot his team into a deserved lead when his curler eluded Alisson's grasp in the 20th minute. But replays later showed that Kvaratskhelia was offside by an ankle in the lead-up.</p><p>PSG continued to mount pressure on Liverpool's uncharacteristically disorganized back line and appealed for a penalty when <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/93761" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/93761">Ibrahima Konate</a> appeared to push <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/185073" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/185073">Bradley Barcola</a> in the back.</p><p>A similar story played out in the second half. Alisson produced arguably his best save of the match in the 70th minute, diving spectacularly to his left to deny <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/187930" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/187930">Desire Doue</a>'s effort.</p><p>But Elliott landed the sucker punch. Fellow substitute <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/162705" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/162705">Darwin Nunez</a> had the composure to find Elliott in a sea of bodies, and the streaking midfielder's shot was strong enough to squeeze past Donnarumma's outstretched arm.</p><p>"I am still optimistic because we would have been more than worthy winners with our performance," PSG midfielder <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/165381" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/165381">Vitinha</a> told Canal Plus.</p><p>"I know that in football goals are all that matter, but the truth is that playing like that takes us closer.</p><p>"I am sure it will happen in Liverpool, that we will play with the same character and we will win."</p>

PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 05: Alisson Becker of Liverpool celebrates with team mate Virgil van Dijk after Harvey Elliott of Liverpool (not pictured) scores his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 first leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool FC at Parc des Princes on March 05, 2025 in Paris, France.

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Alisson's sensational game gives Liverpool edge over PSG in UCL tie

The 32 teams competing in the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup in June and July will earn more than ...

<p>The 32 teams competing in the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup in June and July will earn more than $1 billion in prize money, sources told <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cgl0zrxl8z9o">BBC Sport's Nizaar Kinsella</a>.</p><p>Each club will reportedly receive a participation fee and earn more by advancing from the group stage and into the knockout round.</p><p>Twelve of the 32 clubs are European and will likely gain a higher share of total revenue given their importance to the tournament and headlines they'll generate, according to Kinsella.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The European Club Association is reportedly in the process of closing the deal for 11 of those clubs, including Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich, Benfica, Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, Inter, Juventus, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Porto, and Red Bull Salzburg.</p><p>Real Madrid are the 12th European team but ended their membership with the ECA in 2021 to pursue a breakaway European Super League. Unlike Juventus, who were part of Madrid's initial push for a Super League, Madrid haven't reacquired membership.</p><p>FIFA will keep none of the revenue generated from the tournament and provide significant solidarity payments to non-participating teams, <a href="https://x.com/SkyKaveh/status/1897330879699001737">Sky Sports' Kaveh Solhekol</a> reports.</p><p>FIFA only recently announced a $1-billion deal with the DAZN to broadcast the tournament's 63 matches globally.</p><p>The Club World Cup kicks off June 14 in Miami and runs through to the final in New Jersey on July 13.</p>

MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 05: FIFA President Gianni Infantino presents The FIFA Club World Cup Trophy during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Draw at Telemundo Studios on December 05, 2024 in Miami, Florida.

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Report: FIFA Club World Cup prize money to surpass $1B for 32 clubs

Real Madrid are a step closer to eliminating rivals Atletico Madrid from the Champions League for...

<p>Real Madrid are a step closer to eliminating rivals Atletico Madrid from the Champions League for the fifth time in 11 years.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/86731" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/86731">Brahim Diaz</a> skipped past defenders to deliver the winning goal in a game full of fantastic finishes at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday, handing Madrid a 2-1 advantage after the first leg of their last-16 tie.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/160984" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/160984">Rodrygo</a> embarrassed Atletico full-back <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/66792" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/66792">Javi Galan</a> in a foot race to score the game's first goal four minutes after kickoff. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/182721" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/182721">Julian Alvarez</a> restored parity with a beautiful curling strike after 32 minutes. However, Atletico couldn't build on their superior first-half possession and allowed Diaz to waltz in 10 minutes into the second to tilt the tie in Madrid's favor.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"I think we played a complete game today, (my) goal was good and it earned us the win, but it's not over," Diaz said after the match. "There's still the second leg and we have to give everything, like we did today."</p><p>Atletico must win the second leg on March 12 to have a chance of progressing.</p><p>Madrid have already beaten Atletico in the Champions League quarterfinals, semifinals, and twice in the final since their first European encounter in the 2014 showpiece event. In fact, Atletico have only ever beaten Madrid once in the Champions League, and even that result was inconsequential as it came in the second leg of their eventual semifinal elimination in 2017.</p><p>Atletico manager Diego Simeone has been at the helm for all those heartbreaking defeats. He <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3231964" href="https://thescore.com/news/3231964">admitted</a> before Tuesday's match that Madrid had history on their side, but he remained optimistic that his team could compete with Los Blancos.</p><p>Compete they did in a game that didn't flare up as previous derbies had and instead provided incredible glimpses of their quality.</p><p>Diaz was the only player to be booked all match - and only for jumping into the stands to celebrate his winner.</p><p>Neither side had claimed a win against each other in regular time in their five previous meetings, with the last three ending 1-1.</p><p>Madrid and Atletico are also neck and neck in La Liga. Simeone's side sits in second, one point behind leaders Barcelona and two ahead of Madrid.</p><p>"For a moment we had the game under control, but we knew that it would not be an easy match, because they were at home and they have great players," Alvarez explained after Atletico's narrow defeat.</p><p>"But we know there are 90 minutes to go ... it's one goal, and another game, at home with our fans."</p>

Madrid, Spain - March 4: Rodrygo of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring his team's first goal with teammates during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 First Leg match between Real Madrid C.F. and Atletico de Madrid at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu on March 4, 2025 in Madrid, Spain.

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Real Madrid put Atletico in another hole in Champions League

Canadian men's national team coach Jesse Marsch implored U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday...

<p>Canadian men's national team coach Jesse Marsch implored U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday to end his "ridiculous" attempts to make Canada the country's 51st state, expressing regret as an American over the "hate-fueled" climate Trump has caused in his home nation.</p><p>Marsch launched an impassioned defense of Canada during a news conference promoting the upcoming CONCACAF Nations League semifinals. His comments come as Trump continues to threaten Canada with punitive 25% tariffs on exports on March 4. Trump said Canada would avoid tariffs and gain better military protection if it became the 51st U.S. state.</p><p>"For me, I couldn't be prouder to be the Canadian national team coach. I've found a place that embodies for me the ideals and morals of what not just football and a team is, but life is. That's integrity, respect, and the belief that good people can do great things together," Marsch, a Wisconsin native who made two appearances for the U.S. men's national team and served as an assistant coach from 2010-11, <a href="https://x.com/onesoccer/status/1894824846170956246">told</a> reporters. "So, if I have one message to our president, it's lay off the ridiculous rhetoric about Canada being the 51st state. As an American, I'm ashamed of the arrogance and disregard that we've shown one of our historically oldest, strongest, and most loyal allies."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Marsch is the only American to coach Canada's men's team and has held the position since replacing John Herdman in May. He led the Canadians to the Copa America semifinals in his first major tournament as coach.</p><p>Marsch <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/40158711/jesse-marsch-unhappy-us-soccer-usa-coach-canada">said</a> he was approached by U.S. Soccer about the head coaching gig when Gregg Berhalter's contract expired in December 2022 but that he "wasn't treated very well in the process." U.S. Soccer ended up rehiring Berhalter before firing him in July as a result of the national team's group-stage elimination from the Copa America.</p><p>Former Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea coach Mauricio Pochettino now leads the program.</p><p>The political landscape supercharged interest in the 4 Nations Face-Off final between Canada and the U.S. and could do the same if both countries advance to the Nations League final on March 23 in Los Angeles.</p><p>Canada faces Mexico in the semifinals, while the U.S takes on Panama.</p><p>Marsch said Trump's comments will drive his players to show what it means to be Canadian.</p><p>"Canada is a strong independent nation that's deep-rooted in decency. It's a place that values high ethics and respect, unlike the polarized, disrespectful, and often now hate-fueled climate that's in the U.S.," he added. "Canada values a lot of fairness and unity. It's a place that I've learned as the national team coach where people really believe that their differences make them stronger.</p><p>"Honestly, it's one of the things that I've enjoyed the most about our team, is that they exemplify this as human beings and as a team. They're almost all first- and second-generation Canadians coming from different heritage and cultures, but they uniquely are incredibly proud to be Canadian, to represent their country, to give everything to each other."</p>

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 09: Head Coach Jesse Marsch of Canada speaks during a mix zone ahead of the match against Mexico at AT&T Stadium on September 9, 2024 in Arlington, Texas.

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CanMNT coach Marsch urges Trump to drop 'ridiculous' talk of annexing Canada

Juventus joined Atalanta and AC Milan on their way out of the Champions League on Wednesday, roun...

<p>Juventus joined Atalanta and AC Milan on their way out of the Champions League on Wednesday, rounding off a damaging 48 hours for Serie A in the knockout playoffs.</p><p>Inter are the last Italian team standing in Europe's top competition, having secured direct passage to the round of 16 by way of a fourth-place finish in the league phase.</p><p>They'll either face either PSV Eindhoven or Feyenoord in the next round. PSV beat Juventus 3-1 on Wednesday to clinch the tie 4-3 on aggregate. Feyenoord's 1-1 draw with 10-man Milan on Tuesday allowed them to advance 2-1 on aggregate.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Atalanta suffered the most shocking result of the midweek fixtures, losing 3-1 to Club Brugge on Tuesday en route to a 5-2 defeat on aggregate.</p><p>The results will rock Serie A's UEFA coefficient, which decides which countries get an extra qualification spot. Only the top two teams in the rankings receive an additional berth, and England and Spain currently hold those spots with significant margins, according to <a href="https://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/_/id/43040290/the-race-five-places-next-seasons-champions-league">ESPN's Dale Johnson</a>.</p><p>Italy is currently in third but has just four of its original eight teams remaining in European competition.</p><p>Juventus arrived in Eindhoven with a 2-1 lead from the first leg in Turin and were in position to advance when <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/99646" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/99646">Timothy Weah</a>'s powerful finish canceled out <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/8225" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/8225">Ivan Perisic</a>'s 53rd-minute goal. But PSV midfielder <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/168157" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/168157">Ismael Saibari</a> pounced on a goalmouth scramble to level the score at 3-3 on aggregate with 16 minutes remaining in regular time.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/199864" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/199864">Ryan Flamingo</a> tapped home in the first half of extra time to confirm the upset.</p><p>Brugge's three first-half goals - including a wallop of a finish by <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/102686" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/102686">Ferran Jutgla</a> seconds after a dramatic goal-line clearance at the other end of the pitch - proved to be too many for Atalanta to claw back despite their best efforts Tuesday. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/61577" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/61577">Ademola Lookman</a> scored immediately after the interval but botched a penalty following a lengthy VAR check.</p><p>Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini later <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3221302" href="https://thescore.com/news/3221302">called</a> Lookman "one of the worst penalty takers I've ever seen."</p><p>Atalanta's flickering hopes were extinguished in the 87th minute when Atalanta captain <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/59629" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/59629">Rafael Toloi</a> was sent off for charging at Brugge defender <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/165173" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/165173">Maxim De Cuyper</a> in a moment of unadulterated rage.</p><p>Brugge nearly missed out on the playoffs altogether, finishing 24th in the league phase to nab the final qualification berth. Atalanta would've advanced directly to the round of 16 but fell outside the automatic places after a 2-2 draw with Barcelona.</p><p>Milan also blew a chance to qualify for next round on the final day of the league phase, losing 2-1 to eliminated side Dinamo Zagreb to drop into the playoffs.</p><p>They were the first Italian side to disappoint Tuesday. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/67855" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/67855">Theo Hernandez</a> was sent off in the 51st minute after receiving a second yellow card for diving in the penalty area. The dismissal hamstrung the Rossoneri and allowed Feyenoord back into a game they had trailed by a goal. </p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/165233" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/165233">Julian Carranza</a>'s header off <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/175654" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/175654">Hugo Bueno</a>'s excellent cross was enough to send Feyenoord to the next round.</p>

EINDHOVEN, NETHERLANDS - FEBRUARY 19: Nicolas Gonzalez of Juventus reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off second leg match between PSV and Juventus at PSV Stadion on February 19, 2025 in Eindhoven, Netherlands.

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3 Serie A teams eliminated from UCL in huge blow to league's UEFA coefficient

Erling Haaland watched from the sidelines as Manchester City's Champions League campaign came to ...

<p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/159222" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/159222">Erling Haaland</a> watched from the sidelines as Manchester City's Champions League campaign came to an end Wednesday with a 3-1 loss to Real Madrid.</p><p>Haaland was named to the bench for the playoff second leg after appearing to tweak his knee during City's 4-0 win over Newcastle United last Saturday.</p><p>City manager Pep Guardiola <a href="https://x.com/footballontnt/status/1892294133802303526">said</a> Haaland didn't feel good enough to start, and he ultimately opted to rest the Norwegian entirely as <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/66967" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/66967">Kylian Mbapp</a>e's hat-trick at the Santiago Bernabeu put the tie out of reach.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Madrid won 6-3 on aggregate to reach the round of 16.</p><p>Haaland scored twice in the first leg but couldn't prevent City from losing 3-2 at the Etihad.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/166016" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/166016">Omar Marmoush</a> played in Haaland's place, and his free-kick in second-half stoppage created the consolation goal.</p>

Manchester City's Erling Haaland before the UEFA Champions League Knockout Phase Play Offs Second Leg match at Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid. Picture date: Wednesday February 19, 2025.

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Injured Haaland held out of Man City's UCL loss to Madrid

Canada women's soccer team blew a 1-0 lead en route to a 1-1 draw with China in Casey Stoney's fi...

<p>Canada women's soccer team blew a 1-0 lead en route to a 1-1 draw with China in Casey Stoney's first match in charge of the national team Wednesday at the Pinatar Cup in Murcia, Spain.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///olymsw/players/122105" href="https://thescore.com/olymsw/players/122105">Julia Grosso</a> opened the scoring in the 16th minute with a composed finish off <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///olymsw/players/122107" href="https://thescore.com/olymsw/players/122107">Gabrielle Carle</a>'s overhead pass, but Canada's offense sputtered and China equalized in the 58th minute after a goalmouth scramble.</p><p>Substitute <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///wwcup/players/47686" href="https://thescore.com/wwcup/players/47686">Adriana Leon</a> had a goal chalked off for offside in the 76th minute and had appeals for a penalty dismissed despite drawing contact deep inside the penalty area.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Canadian 'keeper <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///olymsw/players/83805" href="https://thescore.com/olymsw/players/83805">Sabrina D'Angelo</a> saved a low driven shot in the 91st minute to preserve the draw.</p><p>Canada had won each of its previous seven matches against China.</p><p>The Canadians will face No. 31-ranked Mexico on Saturday and No. 42 Taiwan next Tuesday in the invitational round-robin tournament.</p><p>Former Manchester United Women manager Stoney, who captained England's women's team during her career as a defender, replaced Bev Priestman on Canada's bench following a spying scandal that forced a major review of practices within Canada Soccer.</p><p>Priestman was fired in November after an independent review confirmed she had "<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3126720" href="https://thescore.com/news/3126720">directed, approved, and condoned</a>" the use of drones to spy on New Zealand's practices before a game at the Paris Games.</p><p>"My message is about turning the page, moving forward, being open-minded to the new ideas that we're going to bring to the team," Stoney told reporters Tuesday, according to the <a href="https://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/canadian-women-start-new-chapter-at-pinatar-cup-in-spain-under-coach-casey-stoney/article_7e45db41-5448-594c-bf4d-9b72b186f16c.html">Toronto Star</a>. "And about focusing from this day onward and what it takes to prepare to win a World Cup."</p>

MARSEILLE, FRANCE - AUGUST 03: Adriana Leon #11 of Team Canada looks on prior to the Women's Quarterfinal match between Canada and Germany during the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de Marseille on August 03, 2024 in Marseille, France.

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Canada's women's team opens Stoney era with draw in Pinatar Cup

Following every weekend of Premier League action, theScore examines the most important developmen...

<p><em>Following every weekend of Premier League action, theScore examines the most important developments and biggest talking points to emerge from the slate of matches. Below, we dissect Matchweek 25 of the 2024-25 season.</em></p><h3>What's behind rise in goalkeeper assists?</h3><p>Ederson became the goalkeeper with the most assists in Premier League history (six) and broke the record for the most in a single campaign (three) when his searching ball culminated with the first of Omar Marmoush's three goals in Manchester City's 4-0 win over Newcastle United. Brighton &amp; Hove Albion's Bart Verbruggen got an assist Friday when his whack upfield was excellently tamed by Kaoru Mitoma and then steered into the bottom corner of Chelsea's net.</p><p>Brentford's Mark Flekken, Fulham's Bernd Leno, and Everton's Jordan Pickford have also supplied assists this season.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Taking such a direct route to goal appears to be a trend rather than an anomaly. The current number of assists by a goalkeeper this season is seven, which is the most since eight were tallied over the full 2007-08 campaign. The season average was just two over the 10 years preceding this term.</p><p>It's not hit-and-hope, ugly, mid-1900s English hoofball, though. Goalkeepers playing it short rose in popularity after Pep Guardiola dumped Joe Hart for the ill-fated Claudio Bravo at City in 2016, and that tactic remains popular in the Premier League. However, modern goalkeepers now have the ability and vision to pick their moments to send raking, and often accurate, passes toward their attackers.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770705/cropped_GettyImages-2199064338.jpg?ts=1739639419" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770705/w220xh124_GettyImages-2199064338.jpg?ts=1739639419 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770705/w320xh180_GettyImages-2199064338.jpg?ts=1739639419 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770705/w640xh360_GettyImages-2199064338.jpg?ts=1739639419 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770705/w768xh432_GettyImages-2199064338.jpg?ts=1739639419 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770705/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2199064338.jpg?ts=1739639419 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Ball-playing 'keepers aren't the only factor behind the rise in route-one assists. Long balls would be aimed at physical, but not necessarily quick, target men in the more traditional form of English football; now, teams are trying to catch out the high defensive lines regularly deployed in the top flight with deliveries over the top that pacey and technically gifted forwards can race onto and control.</p><p>Perhaps this trend is also a byproduct of the congested schedule: There's less time on the training ground to compose intricate playing patterns. As a result, more balls are simply being pinged from goalkeeper to attacker, quickly toward the wingers (like at Nottingham Forest), or, at the other end of the scale, straight to the other team or out of play (Crystal Palace). And, obviously, direct passing can be an effective way to prey on the mental and physical fatigue of opponents.</p><p>The rise of goalkeeper assists is a modern take on an English classic. Somewhere, Sam Allardyce is patting himself on the back.</p><h3>Quick free-kicks 📝</h3><p><strong>Arsenal holding it together</strong></p><p>The "how" doesn't matter right now for Mikel Arteta. Injury-ravaged Arsenal need wins any way they can secure them to keep pace with Liverpool. Some days that'll mean getting a late brace off the bench from makeshift striker Mikel Merino to beat one of the league's worst teams. Three points is three points. It's fair to question and critique Arsenal's decision not to sign another No. 9 in January, but any team would struggle to score with all four of its best forwards sidelined simultaneously with long-term ailments. That the Gunners labored in their 2-0 win over Leicester City wasn't a surprise. At this point in the season, and with a title on the line as Liverpool start to show the first signs of vulnerability, the process is largely irrelevant. Just win, baby.</p><p><strong>... but Liverpool pulled off the same trick</strong></p><p>Wolverhampton Wanderers were much better than Liverpool after the interval Sunday. The visitors pulled a goal back through Matheus Cunha's beautiful curler from the edge of the area and had nine more shots in the second half as they tried to level. Liverpool didn't record a single shot after the break - the first time that's happened to the Reds in a Premier League fixture since Opta started tracking efforts on goal in the 2006-07 campaign. But aside from the morale boost that a positive display can give Wolves for the rest of their survival mission, nothing else matters aside from a 2-1 win that maintained Liverpool's seven-point lead at the summit. "It says a lot (that) we kept fighting and kept going and got the three points," captain Virgil van Dijk told <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/c78w071g71gt?post=asset%3Aec82f650-fe31-48d5-b31b-3b44925ed00a#post">BBC Sport</a> post-match.</p><p><strong>'Light at the end of the tunnel'</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/767178/cropped_GettyImages-2195299774.jpg?ts=1737835587" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/767178/w220xh124_GettyImages-2195299774.jpg?ts=1737835587 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/767178/w320xh180_GettyImages-2195299774.jpg?ts=1737835587 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/767178/w640xh360_GettyImages-2195299774.jpg?ts=1737835587 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/767178/w768xh432_GettyImages-2195299774.jpg?ts=1737835587 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/767178/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2195299774.jpg?ts=1737835587 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Yui Mok - PA Images / PA Images / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>After three wins in 19 matches, Everton were sitting just one point clear of the relegation zone when David Moyes replaced Sean Dyche in January. What a turnaround he's engineered upon returning to the club. Saturday's win over Crystal Palace gave the Toffees 13 points since "The Moyesiah" took over. No team in the Premier League has more in that time. Moyes' tally of four wins is <em>already</em> more than Dyche managed to procure this season. Previously braced for a nervous race to avoid the drop, Everton supporters can instead look ahead to next season and the promise of greener pastures in their new stadium. The outlook has flipped entirely. "Everton have had a difficult period, but I certainly think there's light at the end of the tunnel now," Moyes said.</p><p><strong>Traore revives Fulham's European bid</strong></p><p>Fulham used Nottingham Forest's specialty against them to reignite their bid for European football. Entering the weekend as the lowest-scoring Premier League side from set-piece situations, the Cottagers nodded in one sublime delivery and another corner kick to earn back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time since November. The 2-1 result also gave them their first home win in six league matches. Fulham are now four points behind the European places and could close the gap if Adama Traore continues to energize their attack. Traore whipped in the cross for Emile Smith Rowe's opener, and his runs down the right flank put defenders in danger. He accounted for nine of Fulham's 33 crosses, and it's that kind of direct game that's won Fulham points this season.</p><p><strong>Spurs must kick on from here</strong></p><p>Ange Postecoglou promised over and over that Tottenham would turn a corner once their best players returned from injury. While they didn't always look their best during Sunday's 1-0 win over Manchester United - allowing the kind of chances a more polished opponent would've put away - Spurs were able to get a result thanks in part to the performances of fit-again Guglielmo Vicario and James Maddison. Vicario made six saves, including a couple of difficult diving efforts, to keep Tottenham's first clean sheet at home in the Premier League since August. Maddison, of course, scored the winner off a rebound, but most importantly, he gave Spurs a level of confidence and creativity on the ball that they'd missed in the five games he sat out. Tottenham still have six key players out injured but have enough back to make it three Premier League wins in a row when they face Ipswich Town next Saturday. They haven't put three league wins together since December 2023.</p><h3>Star performer 🌟</h3><p><strong>Omar Marmoush (Manchester City)</strong></p><p>Marmoush joined Manchester City at the most difficult period of Guardiola's reign - and that dour spell still isn't over - so it was no surprise that the Egyptian's first goal (and second, and third) didn't come until his fifth appearance.</p><p>There were glimpses of how dangerous Marmoush could be before Saturday's visit from Newcastle. He had some promising link-ups with Erling Haaland in his debut against Chelsea and provided a team-high three key passes in the otherwise disastrous 5-1 defeat at Arsenal.</p><p>But a hat-trick crammed into 14 first-half minutes truly announces Marmoush's arrival. He opened the scoring with a sumptuous lob after latching onto Ederson's missile and shrugging off Kieran Trippier, followed that goal with a deflected finish, and tapped home Savinho's cutback to complete his treble. Marmoush should take a lot of the scoring burden off Haaland's shoulders; he'll explore areas all around the attacking third, but his positioning on the penalty spot for his third goal clearly showed he's comfortable taking up spaces usually occupied by No. 9s.</p><h3>Best XI 😎</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=643228:Palmer,1400227:Minteh,263653:Stones,877401:Bassey,894803:Spence,439369:Christie,1280132:Gonz%C3%A1lez,493647:Traor%C3%A9,1128965:Alcaraz,839204:Marmoush,574645:Merino&amp;formation=4-2-3-1&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2025" srcset="https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=643228:Palmer,1400227:Minteh,263653:Stones,877401:Bassey,894803:Spence,439369:Christie,1280132:Gonz%C3%A1lez,493647:Traor%C3%A9,1128965:Alcaraz,839204:Marmoush,574645:Merino&amp;formation=4-2-3-1&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2025 220w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=643228:Palmer,1400227:Minteh,263653:Stones,877401:Bassey,894803:Spence,439369:Christie,1280132:Gonz%C3%A1lez,493647:Traor%C3%A9,1128965:Alcaraz,839204:Marmoush,574645:Merino&amp;formation=4-2-3-1&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2025 320w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=643228:Palmer,1400227:Minteh,263653:Stones,877401:Bassey,894803:Spence,439369:Christie,1280132:Gonz%C3%A1lez,493647:Traor%C3%A9,1128965:Alcaraz,839204:Marmoush,574645:Merino&amp;formation=4-2-3-1&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2025 640w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=643228:Palmer,1400227:Minteh,263653:Stones,877401:Bassey,894803:Spence,439369:Christie,1280132:Gonz%C3%A1lez,493647:Traor%C3%A9,1128965:Alcaraz,839204:Marmoush,574645:Merino&amp;formation=4-2-3-1&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2025 768w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=643228:Palmer,1400227:Minteh,263653:Stones,877401:Bassey,894803:Spence,439369:Christie,1280132:Gonz%C3%A1lez,493647:Traor%C3%A9,1128965:Alcaraz,839204:Marmoush,574645:Merino&amp;formation=4-2-3-1&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2025 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution"></span></figcaption></figure><p>(Source: <a href="https://www.fotmob.com/">FotMob</a>)</p><h3>Stat of the weekend 🔢</h3><p>Ay, caramba! Brighton goalkeeper Verbruggen's assist strengthened Barts' creativity superiority over footballing Simpsons like Danny, Fitzroy, and Paul.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">players with Bart in their name now have four times as many PL assists as those with Simpson in theirs</p>— Duncan Alexander (@oilysailor) <a href="https://twitter.com/oilysailor/status/1890520645001216445?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Social media moment 📱</h3><p>No matter where they are, Evertonians continue to savor the thrilling midweek result in the Merseyside derby.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Went the ice cream museum in New York earlier… couldn’t resist 🤣🤣 <a href="https://t.co/EEdCtKJXo3">pic.twitter.com/EEdCtKJXo3</a></p>— Neilo (@Neilo_m) <a href="https://twitter.com/Neilo_m/status/1890551542433886468?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Where we stand 👀</h3><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Pos.</th>
<th>Club</th>
<th>Played</th>
<th>GD</th>
<th>Points</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Liverpool</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>+36</td>
<td>60</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2.</td>
<td>Arsenal</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>+29</td>
<td>53</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3.</td>
<td>Nottingham Forest</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>+12</td>
<td>47</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4.</td>
<td>Manchester City</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>+17</td>
<td>44</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5.</td>
<td>Bournemouth</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>+15</td>
<td>43</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6.</td>
<td>Chelsea</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>+14</td>
<td>43</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7.</td>
<td>Newcastle</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>+9</td>
<td>41</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8.</td>
<td>Fulham</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>+5</td>
<td>39</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9.</td>
<td>Aston Villa</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>-3</td>
<td>38</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10.</td>
<td>Brighton</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>37</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11.</td>
<td>Brentford</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>+1</td>
<td>34</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12.</td>
<td>Tottenham</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>+13</td>
<td>30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13.</td>
<td>Crystal Palace</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>-3</td>
<td>30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14.</td>
<td>Everton</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>-4</td>
<td>30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15.</td>
<td>Manchester United</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>-7</td>
<td>29</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16.</td>
<td>West Ham</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>-18</td>
<td>27</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17.</td>
<td>Wolves</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>-19</td>
<td>19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>18.</td>
<td>Ipswich Town</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>-27</td>
<td>17</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>19.</td>
<td>Leicester City</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>-30</td>
<td>17</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20.</td>
<td>Southampton</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>-38</td>
<td>9</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><em>View more stats <a href="thescore:///epl/leaders">here</a>.</em></p>

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EPL Review: Goalkeeper assists, winning ugly, and Bart Simpson

Real Madrid could've finished off Manchester City a lot earlier. Kylian Mbappe had five shots, an...

<p>Real Madrid could've finished off Manchester City a lot earlier. Kylian Mbappe had five shots, and Federico Valverde fired three from the right-back position. Madrid ended up with 20 in all, the most City have allowed at the Etihad in nearly a decade. Mbappe's worst attempt - a shank of a volley from a set-piece situation - was the one that went in. There were near misses and blocked shots and, if you ever looked away, you'd wonder how City managed to gain a 2-1 lead in the first leg of their Champions League playoff.</p><p>Erling Haaland scored twice, including a well-struck penalty, to retake control of a game that was slipping away. City were doing to Madrid what the Spanish giants have done to so many other teams in this competition: winning without playing much.</p><p>But leads have often been City's heaviest burden this season - especially in the Champions League. They went Istanbul in a 3-3 draw with Feyenoord, lost 4-2 to Paris Saint-Germain after building a 2-0 advantage, blew a two-goal cushion in a 2-2 draw with Brentford, dropped points to Everton after taking an early lead, and took a late one-two punch to the chin a 2-1 loss to Manchester United.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>They ultimately fell 3-2 after conceding the winner in stoppage time, marking the fifth time they lost from a winning position. They lost five times with a lead in the previous four seasons combined.</p><p>City began to panic with minutes remaining Tuesday, showing the alarming lack of composure that's compromised their campaign. Madrid substitute Brahim Diaz had the ball in the back of the net seconds after Ederson played an errant pass. City were dazed and confused at 2-2 but could well have taken positives from a draw. They just had to see it out.</p><p>But they couldn't make the most of their second chance. John Stones was under absolutely no pressure but somehow undercooked his cross-field pass and watched as Jude Bellingham pounced. What followed appeared to be a temporary let-off - Bellingham should've drawn a foul from his resulting run - but instead prefaced what was to come. Mateo Kovacic couldn't deal with a simple long ball, Rico Lewis lost a duel, and Madrid bagged the winner.</p><p>The problem hasn't been tactical or technical or a matter of fatigue. These players haven't lost games because they can't sprint or win difficult individual battles or score in big moments. They can still do those things.</p><p>What's happening is purely human. We have never had more data to explain away every team's problems, and the temptation is to apply it to City's situation. Players <em>must</em> be running less. Their expected-goals ratio <em>must</em> be worse than previous seasons. The number of injuries <em>must</em> be a factor. More players <em>must</em> be in the red zone in terms of fitness.</p><p>But there doesn't have to be a mathematical or scientific explanation. It can simply come down to poor decision-making, a loss of confidence, and poor execution.</p><p>"We love football for its imprecision, its moments of genius and its mistakes, when the ball bounces badly and the left-back plays terribly because he's had a fight with his girlfriend before the game. And there's no equation that can explain that," World Cup winner Jorge Valdano wrote in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jun/29/jorge-valdano-love-football-opposite-of-science">The Guardian</a>.</p><p>What's hard to understand is how exactly the four-time defending Premier League champions have lost so much of themselves in such a short period of time.</p><p>This team used to be so secure with the ball. Now no one seems to want it. It's a grenade bouncing around the field, blowing up what's left of their season. You could understand if Pep Guardiola was asking his players to take more risks and do things they had never done before. But that isn't happening here.</p><p>No specific tactic or strategy will get City out of this tailspin. They can repeat the same patterns that helped them win so many titles, and it won't help. That's probably what keeps Guardiola up at night - and probably what's keeping him here for another couple of years.</p><p>"I am not good enough to give the composure to the team to manage this situation," he <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3215986" href="https://thescore.com/news/3215986">said</a> afterward.</p><p>Maybe, though, composure isn't his to give.</p>

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Man City are imploding before our eyes. Can they do anything about it?

The 2025 winter transfer window has closed in most European countries. Get caught up on deadline ...

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Breaking down all the major deals, rumors from transfer deadline day

<p><em>Following every weekend of Premier League action, theScore examines the most important developments and biggest talking points to emerge from the slate of matches. Below, we dissect Matchweek 24 of the 2024-25 season.</em></p><h3>Arsenal have flipped Man City rivalry</h3><p>Arsenal didn't just beat Manchester City on Sunday - they conquered a demon. The Gunners have truly eclipsed their rivals, leaving them behind after trailing them for years. The only tragedy is that Arsenal may finally finish above City in the table but once again miss out on the Premier League title.</p><p>We all know how far Mikel Arteta and his staff have gone to find the antidote to City's sting. He hired pickpockets to test his players' mental sharpness in a casual setting. He brought an olive tree into a team meeting and described his players as branches and his staff as the roots. He adopted a dog named Win and tried as hard as he could to identify the margins City seemed to have cornered for so long.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>City beat Arsenal in 15 of 16 matches from the start of the 2017-18 season to the end of the 2022-23 campaign. Arsenal failed to score in many of those games. It was complete annihilation.</p><p>But the rivalry changed at the start of last season. A 1-0 win in October 2023 ended City's dominant run. Back-to-back Premier League draws followed, including the 2-2 result that John Stones salvaged with a late header in September.</p><p>If those last three contests closed the gap for Arsenal, Sunday's 5-1 win flipped the script entirely, leaving City with a gap of their own.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">5 - Mikel Arteta is now unbeaten in five games against Manchester City (W2 D3); the joint-longest run by a manager against Pep Guardiola, after Thomas Tuchel (2016-2021) and Jürgen Klopp (2021-2022). Equals. <a href="https://t.co/tUVbtRs3jH">pic.twitter.com/tUVbtRs3jH</a></p>— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) <a href="https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/1886121487381241877?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>While Pep Guardiola's players have looked unrecognizable this season - worlds apart from the slick-passing team that won four straight league titles - they were downright bullied at the Emirates. No one could make a pass or a good decision under pressure. Arsenal forced the issue by pressing high and asking questions of City's fragile defenders. The response was usually some kind of giveaway.</p><p>Above all, City's buildup play lacked reason. Take, for example, the lunacy that led to Arsenal's first goal. Manuel Akanji wouldn't have coughed up possession if Stones had built up play using the free man on his left instead of the one teammate crowded by opponents.</p><p>Arsenal didn't relent and dunked on City whenever they had a chance. It may have looked like they were beating a dead horse, but they were really proving to themselves that the tables have indeed turned.</p><h3>Quick free-kicks 📝</h3><p><strong>Liverpool ride their luck</strong></p><p>"We weren't unlucky, let's put it this way." That was Arne Slot's refreshingly honest <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3206896" href="https://thescore.com/news/3206896">assessment</a> of his team's performance following Saturday's 2-0 win over Bournemouth. Liverpool didn't have it all their own way. The Cherries, riding an 11-match unbeaten run, made it tricky. Margins were fine. Liverpool were on the right side of match-swinging offside calls in either direction, while Bournemouth were thwarted by the post twice. Call it what it was: Liverpool got a little lucky. That's okay. Every team that goes on to win a title gets some fortuitous bounces along the way. They just happen to be magnetized when dealing with a title race, which gives off the illusion that <em>every </em>call is going the way of the leaders. Liverpool are excellent, and they're getting the slices of luck you need to hold off the chasing pack. That's a tough combo to beat.</p><p><strong>Tempering expectations</strong></p><p>Ruben Amorim could have been right when he said last month that this may be the "worst" Manchester United team in club history - a statement he later admitted to regretting. Against that backdrop, and on the back of <em>another</em> humbling home loss Sunday, this time to Crystal Palace, there will be an obvious desire to anoint any new signings as the singular savior who can help turn things around. That would be a disservice to Patrick Dorgu, the 20-year-old Danish international who arrived Sunday from Lecce for an initial £25 million. And, should the club make an 11th-hour move for another central defender in the wake of Lisandro Martinez's seemingly serious knee injury, they'll get hit with the same label, too. But no one player can turn this around fully, and certainly not immediately. This rebuild is going to take time. Being patient is hard, but it's the only sustainable path back to success for Manchester United and their dejected fan base.</p><p><strong>Cunha's mind finally clear</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/768549/cropped_GettyImages-2197125631.jpg?ts=1738528936" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/768549/w220xh124_GettyImages-2197125631.jpg?ts=1738528936 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/768549/w320xh180_GettyImages-2197125631.jpg?ts=1738528936 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/768549/w640xh360_GettyImages-2197125631.jpg?ts=1738528936 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/768549/w768xh432_GettyImages-2197125631.jpg?ts=1738528936 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/768549/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2197125631.jpg?ts=1738528936 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Naomi Baker / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Matheus Cunha has been on a whirlwind ride during the January transfer window. He was initially tabbed as an option for some of Europe's elite clubs looking for more scoring punch, then reportedly had an agreement in place to extend his contract with Wolves, then got called out publicly by his manager, inciting a new round of rumors about the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United being interested, and then, finally, put everything to bed Sunday by inking the aforementioned extension, not long after scoring to seal a 2-0 win over Aston Villa. Transfer speculation can absolutely have a tangible negative impact on player performance, though few admit it. With the window closing and his immediate future decided, Cunha can now focus exclusively on his play. Until we start doing this all over again in the summer, of course.</p><p><strong>Aston Villa's secondary scoring</strong></p><p>Ollie Watkins needs help in the wake of Jhon Duran's transfer to Al-Nassr. Strictly financially, getting €77 million upfront for a player who was in Major League Soccer just two years ago was a masterstroke. Offered that deal, you take it every single time, especially at a time when financial rules are always top of mind. On the pitch, though, losing the Colombian marksman puts a lot of pressure on Watkins, whose 10 league goals this season make him the club's leading scorer. Morgan Rogers has six tallies, but nobody else has more than three. Duran had seven. Villa need more from Leon Bailey, while January signing Donyell Malen has to get up to speed quickly. Unai Emery will hope that Marcus Rashford can hit the ground running and recapture some of his early-career scoring form.</p><h3>Star performer 🌟</h3><p><strong>Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest)</strong></p><p>Mohamed Salah, Erling Haaland, and Alexander Isak unsurprisingly occupy the top three spots in the Premier League's Golden Boot race. The top two, especially, were to be expected. Not many would have predicted Wood would be right in the mix, though. The imposing 33-year-old's renaissance since joining Nottingham Forest has been inspiring as it has been unexpected. Wood joined Forest in January 2023 when he was on the wrong side of 30 and had scored only seven Premier League goals since the start of the 2021 season.</p><p>He's gone on an almighty tear since then, scoring 32 league goals for Forest. His hat-trick in Saturday's 7-0 annihilation of Brighton brought him to 17 on the current campaign, including seven in his last six league outings. For a team that likes to attack directly and at pace using different combinations of wing-backs and more traditional wingers, the New Zealander is a perfect fit as the target man in the middle. It's working like a dream for Nuno. </p><h3>Best XI 😎</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=319784:Alisson,894803:Spence,243138:Tarkowski,950485:Lacroix,1406436:Lewis-Skelly,769166:Bellegarde,654096:Rice,292462:Salah,1050166:Elanga,706297:Mateta,169719:Wood&amp;formation=4-2-2-2&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2024" srcset="https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=319784:Alisson,894803:Spence,243138:Tarkowski,950485:Lacroix,1406436:Lewis-Skelly,769166:Bellegarde,654096:Rice,292462:Salah,1050166:Elanga,706297:Mateta,169719:Wood&amp;formation=4-2-2-2&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2024 220w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=319784:Alisson,894803:Spence,243138:Tarkowski,950485:Lacroix,1406436:Lewis-Skelly,769166:Bellegarde,654096:Rice,292462:Salah,1050166:Elanga,706297:Mateta,169719:Wood&amp;formation=4-2-2-2&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2024 320w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=319784:Alisson,894803:Spence,243138:Tarkowski,950485:Lacroix,1406436:Lewis-Skelly,769166:Bellegarde,654096:Rice,292462:Salah,1050166:Elanga,706297:Mateta,169719:Wood&amp;formation=4-2-2-2&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2024 640w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=319784:Alisson,894803:Spence,243138:Tarkowski,950485:Lacroix,1406436:Lewis-Skelly,769166:Bellegarde,654096:Rice,292462:Salah,1050166:Elanga,706297:Mateta,169719:Wood&amp;formation=4-2-2-2&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2024 768w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=319784:Alisson,894803:Spence,243138:Tarkowski,950485:Lacroix,1406436:Lewis-Skelly,769166:Bellegarde,654096:Rice,292462:Salah,1050166:Elanga,706297:Mateta,169719:Wood&amp;formation=4-2-2-2&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2024 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution"></span></figcaption></figure><p>(Source: <a href="https://www.fotmob.com/">FotMob</a>)</p><h3>Highlight of the weekend 🎥</h3><p>If you look up "defense-splitting" pass in the dictionary, you'll find this gorgeous assist from James Garner during Everton's dominant 4-0 win over Leicester City.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The perfect pass does not exi- <a href="https://t.co/xHFB9tB375">pic.twitter.com/xHFB9tB375</a></p>— Everton (@Everton) <a href="https://twitter.com/Everton/status/1885812873353470295?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Stat of the weekend 🔢</h3><p>The "Theatre of Dreams" is giving Manchester United nightmares nowadays.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">13 - Since the beginning of last season only Wolves (16) have lost more Premier League home games than Manchester United (13). Pantomime. <a href="https://t.co/55zP2PohoY">pic.twitter.com/55zP2PohoY</a></p>— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) <a href="https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/1886081657762980044?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Social media moment 📱</h3><p>Time to get a green piece in there after Southampton's win this weekend.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">southampton’s past 14 matches : <a href="https://t.co/jXw23QCpIw">https://t.co/jXw23QCpIw</a></p>— TWTDcorey 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🚜 (@CoreySh1elds) <a href="https://twitter.com/CoreySh1elds/status/1885321873921060975?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Where we stand 👀</h3><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Pos.</th>
<th>Club</th>
<th>Played</th>
<th>GD</th>
<th>Points</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Liverpool</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>+35</td>
<td>56</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2.</td>
<td>Arsenal</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>+27</td>
<td>50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3.</td>
<td>Nottingham Forest</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>+13</td>
<td>47</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4.</td>
<td>Manchester City</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>+13</td>
<td>41</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5.</td>
<td>Newcastle United</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>+13</td>
<td>41</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6.</td>
<td>Chelsea</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>+15</td>
<td>40</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7.</td>
<td>Bournemouth</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>+13</td>
<td>40</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8.</td>
<td>Aston Villa</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>-3</td>
<td>37</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9.</td>
<td>Fulham</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>+4</td>
<td>36</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10.</td>
<td>Brighton</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>-3</td>
<td>34</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11.</td>
<td>Brentford</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>31</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12.</td>
<td>Crystal Palace</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>-2</td>
<td>30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13.</td>
<td>Manchester United</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>-6</td>
<td>29</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14.</td>
<td>Tottenham</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>+11</td>
<td>27</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15.</td>
<td>West Ham United</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>-16</td>
<td>27</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16.</td>
<td>Everton</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>-5</td>
<td>26</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17.</td>
<td>Wolves</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>-18</td>
<td>19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>18.</td>
<td>Leicester City</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>-28</td>
<td>17</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>19.</td>
<td>Ipswich Town</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>-27</td>
<td>16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20.</td>
<td>Southampton</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>-36</td>
<td>9</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><em>View more stats <a href="thescore:///epl/leaders">here</a>.</em></p>

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EPL Review: Arsenal flip script, Man City crumble, Liverpool ride luck

It's finally over. A whole 135 days after UEFA's newly formed Champions League league phase offic...

<p><em>It's finally over. A whole 135 days after UEFA's newly formed Champions League league phase officially kicked off, we have our top eight and 16 playoff contestants for the round of 16. theScore covers the fallout from the 18 simultaneous games that took place on Matchday 8.</em></p><h3>Who's in?</h3><p><strong>Liverpool</strong>, <strong>Barcelona</strong>, <strong>Arsenal</strong>, <strong>Inter</strong>, <strong>Atletico Madrid</strong>, <strong>Bayer Leverkusen</strong>, <strong>Lille</strong>, and <strong>Aston Villa</strong> earned byes to the round of 16 as the top eight sides.</p><p>Liverpool finished in first place despite losing 3-2 to PSV Eindhoven and blowing their shot at a perfect 8-0-0 record. Barcelona needed a win against Atalanta to leapfrog the Reds but could only muster a 2-2 draw.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Lille bulldozed their way into the upper bracket with a bruising 6-1 win over Feyenoord that helped them finish seventh on goals scored. Villa oscillated all night between the automatic berths and playoffs but ended up joining the octet following a wacky 3-2 victory over Celtic in which they led 2-0 after just five minutes.</p><p>Each of the top eight finishers will face the eight teams that come through the 16-team playoff. The playoff clubs include heavyweights <strong>Real Madrid</strong>, <strong>Bayern Munich</strong>, <strong>AC Milan</strong>, <strong>Paris Saint-Germain</strong>, <strong>Juventus</strong>, and <strong>Manchester City</strong>, who overcame a 1-0 deficit to beat Club Brugge and pull themselves out of the elimination zone.</p><p><strong>Atalanta</strong>, <strong>Borussia Dortmund</strong>, <strong>Madrid</strong>, <strong>Bayern</strong>, <strong>PSV</strong>, and <strong>Benfica</strong> will be seeded for the playoff draw, while <strong>Monaco</strong>, <strong>Brest</strong>, <strong>Feyenoord</strong>, <strong>Juventus</strong>, <strong>Celtic</strong>, <strong>City</strong>, <strong>Sporting CP</strong>, and <strong>Club Brugge</strong> are unseeded.</p><p>Goal difference served as the initial tiebreaker in the standings. Goals scored was referenced when teams were tied on goal difference.</p><h3>Who's out?</h3><p>Nine of the bottom 12 teams were eliminated from knockout-round contention before Wednesday's action.</p><p><strong>Dinamo Zagreb</strong>, <strong>Stuttgart</strong>, and <strong>Shakhtar Donetsk</strong> joined Bologna, Crvena Zvezda, Sturm Graz, Sparta Prague, RB Leipzig, Girona, Red Bull Salzburg, Slovan Bratislava, and Young Boys on the way out of the competition.</p><p>Zagreb finished a place short of a playoff spot despite beating 10-man Milan on Wednesday. The Croatians briefly moved up to 23rd but lost ground when City roared back from their halftime deficit.</p><p>Stuttgart could've advanced with a draw against PSG but capitulated early and eventually lost 4-1 at home.</p><p>Donetsk needed a near impossible combination of results - including a big win over Dortmund and straight-up losses for both City and Zagreb - to go through. But the Ukrainians couldn't even clear the first hurdle as they lost 3-1 to Dortmund.</p><p>Bratislava and Young Boys finished the league phase as the only two clubs without a point. No team conceded more than Bratislava's 27 goals. Young Boys could only manage a paltry three goals in eight matches.</p><h3>What's next?</h3><p>The top eight get a well-earned rest before the round of 16 begins March 4.</p><p>Clubs ranked ninth to 16th will face teams ranked 17th to 24th in two-legged playoffs starting Feb. 11.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Who will make it all the way to Munich? 💬<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UCL</a> <a href="https://t.co/G6LlEYn1Q4">pic.twitter.com/G6LlEYn1Q4</a></p>— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChampionsLeague/status/1884743199287021870?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>The playoff bracket couples teams by table position, showing them a potential pathway before Friday's draw (6 a.m. ET). For example, ninth-placed Atalanta or 10th-placed Borussia Dortmund will face 23rd-placed Sporting CP or 24th-placed Club Brugge.</p><p>The most tantalizing matchup involves City, who are guaranteed to face either Bayern or Madrid in the playoff round. Milan could also meet Juventus, with the winner facing one of Arsenal or Inter in the round of 16; there's nothing stopping teams from the same country meeting in the playoff round. PSG are in tough, too, with a round-of-16 matchup against Liverpool or Barcelona awaiting them if they win their playoff.</p><h3>The final table</h3><p><strong>Bound for round of 16</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Rank</th>
<th>Club</th>
<th>PL</th>
<th>GD</th>
<th>Points</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Liverpool</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>+12</td>
<td>21</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Barcelona</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>+15</td>
<td>19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Arsenal</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>+13</td>
<td>19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Inter</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>+10</td>
<td>19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td>Atletico Madrid</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>+8</td>
<td>18</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6</td>
<td>Bayer Leverkusen</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>+8</td>
<td>16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7</td>
<td>Lille</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>+7</td>
<td>16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8</td>
<td>Aston Villa</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>+7</td>
<td>16</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><strong>Bound for playoff round</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Rank</th>
<th>Club</th>
<th>PL</th>
<th>GD</th>
<th>Points</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>9</td>
<td>Atalanta</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>+14</td>
<td>15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10</td>
<td>Borussia Dortmund</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>+10</td>
<td>15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11</td>
<td>Real Madrid</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>+8</td>
<td>15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12</td>
<td>Bayern Munich</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>+8</td>
<td>15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13</td>
<td>AC Milan</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>+3</td>
<td>15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14</td>
<td>PSV Eindhoven</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>+4</td>
<td>14</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15</td>
<td>Paris Saint-Germain</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>+5</td>
<td>13</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16</td>
<td>Benfica</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>+4</td>
<td>13</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17</td>
<td>Monaco</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>13</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>18</td>
<td>Brest</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>-1</td>
<td>13</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>19</td>
<td>Feyenoord</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>-3</td>
<td>13</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20</td>
<td>Juventus</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>+2</td>
<td>12</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>21</td>
<td>Celtic</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>-1</td>
<td>12</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>22</td>
<td>Manchester City</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>+4</td>
<td>11</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>23</td>
<td>Sporting CP</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>+1</td>
<td>11</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>24</td>
<td>Club Brugge</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>-4</td>
<td>11</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><strong>Eliminated</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Rank</th>
<th>Club</th>
<th>PL</th>
<th>GD</th>
<th>Points</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>25</td>
<td>Dinamo Zagreb</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>-7</td>
<td>11</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>26</td>
<td>Stuttgart</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>-4</td>
<td>10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>27</td>
<td>Shakhtar Donetsk</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>-8</td>
<td>7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>28</td>
<td>Bologna</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>-5</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>29</td>
<td>Crvena Zvezda</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>-9</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>30</td>
<td>Sturm Graz</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>-9</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>31</td>
<td>Sparta Prague</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>-14</td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>32</td>
<td>RB Leipzig</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>-7</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>33</td>
<td>Girona</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>-8</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>34</td>
<td>Red Bull Salzburg</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>-22</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>35</td>
<td>Slovan Bratislava</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>-20</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>36</td>
<td>Young Boys</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>-21</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure>

General View of the UEFA Champions League trophy prior the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 final match between Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid CF at Wembley Stadium on June 1, 2024 in London, England.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30033201/related

Who's in, who's out? How UCL league phase unfolded, and what comes next

Only 18 matches remain in the league phase of the Champions League - and only a few knockout bert...

<p><em>Only 18 matches remain in the league phase of the Champions League - and only a few knockout berths are still up for grabs. theScore takes stock as we head into Matchday 8 today and approach the knockout stages.</em></p><h3>What's at stake?</h3><p>It's simple: The top eight seeds advance automatically to the round of 16, while the 16 teams that finish below them enter the playoff round. Clubs between 25th and 36th will be eliminated from Europe altogether and won't even get to play in the Europa League.</p><p>If two or more teams remain tied at the end of Wednesday's eighth and final matchday - when all 36 sides play at 3 p.m. ET - goal difference will break the deadlock. If the teams are tied on goal difference, UEFA will account for goals scored, then away goals scored, then wins, and, if necessary, away wins.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>If teams are somehow level on away wins, UEFA will determine how many points their opponents collectively amassed and award berths to the teams that effectively faced more challenging opposition. UEFA will extend the calculation to goal difference and goals scored if necessary.</p><p>Disciplinary records would then come into play. If teams <em>still</em> remain tied, UEFA will use the highest club coefficient to determine which moves on.</p><p>Seeding is important as the higher you finish, the less likely you are to face a high performer in the knockout round. For example, the top two won't play against each other until the final, as they'll be on opposite sides of the bracket. The same goes for the teams that make the playoffs. Clubs ranked ninth to 16th will earn seeds and host the second leg of their two-legged ties. The higher seeds will be drawn against teams ranked 17th to 24th.</p><p>The playoff draw is Friday, and the matches will begin Feb. 11 and end the following week on Feb. 19. The draw for the round of 16 takes place Feb. 21, with play beginning March 4.</p><h3>Who's in?</h3><p><strong>Liverpool</strong> and <strong>Barcelona</strong> are the only two teams to officially book their tickets to the round of 16 so far.</p><p>The 16 teams below them in the standings are guaranteed at least a playoff spot but will jockey for better positions Wednesday.</p><p>Liverpool have a perfect 7-0-0 record but haven't quite locked down the No. 1 spot. A loss to PSV Eindhoven on the final day and a win for Barcelona against Atalanta would allow the Blaugrana to leapfrog the Reds. Only six teams can catch Barcelona, meaning they'll finish no lower than eighth.</p><p><strong>Arsenal </strong>and <strong>Inter </strong>were already guaranteed playoff berths before playing on Matchday 7 and virtually sealed their passage to the round of 16 with victories over Dinamo Zagreb and Sparta Prague.</p><p><strong>Atletico Madrid</strong> need a point from their final match against Red Bull Salzburg to confirm their place in the round of 16.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766699/cropped_GettyImages-2194648655.jpg?ts=1737574029" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766699/w220xh124_GettyImages-2194648655.jpg?ts=1737574029 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766699/w320xh180_GettyImages-2194648655.jpg?ts=1737574029 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766699/w640xh360_GettyImages-2194648655.jpg?ts=1737574029 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766699/w768xh432_GettyImages-2194648655.jpg?ts=1737574029 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766699/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2194648655.jpg?ts=1737574029 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">SOPA Images / LightRocket / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>AC Milan</strong>, winners of five straight in the Champions League, jumped from 12th to 6th on Matchday 7 by narrowly beating Girona. They close out the league phase with a trip to Dinamo Zagreb.</p><p><strong>Atalanta</strong>'s 5-0 clobbering of 33rd-placed Sturm Graz wasn't enough to guarantee them a place in the top eight. Like Atletico, they will, at worst, end up in the playoff round.</p><p><strong>Bayer Leverkusen</strong> are one of six teams on 13 points but are holding onto the eighth and final automatic qualification spot due to their superior goal differential.</p><p><strong>Monaco</strong> posted their first win in five matches in a 1-0 contest against <strong>Aston Villa</strong> on Matchday 7 to ensure they'll progress. Both sides could yet secure an automatic last-16 spot, but neither control their own fate, and are currently slated for the playoff round.</p><p><strong>Lille</strong>, and <strong>Brest</strong> also gained entry to the playoffs despite losses to Atletico and Shakhtar Donetsk on Matchday 7.</p><p><strong>Feyenoord </strong>shut out<strong> Bayern Munich </strong>3-0<strong> </strong>to put themselves in a good position to close out the league phase with 16 points. The Dutch side takes on second-last Slovan Bratislava on the final day.</p><p><strong>Borussia Dortmund</strong> and <strong>Juventus </strong>are through despite setbacks last week. Dortmund sacked coach Nuri Sahin after a 2-1 defeat, while Juventus sputtered to their 16th draw of the season against Club Brugge.</p><p><strong>Real Madrid</strong> and <strong>Celtic</strong> join Dortmund and Juventus on 12 points. Madrid improved their Champions League record to 4-0-3 with a commanding 5-1 victory over Salzburg, while Celtic needed a fluky own goal to take down bottom side Young Boys.</p><p>Twelve points is enough to reach the playoff round because the only teams that can catch them are the six sides occupying the final six qualification places. All of these clubs will be hoping to improve their standing on Matchday 8, though, as finishing anywhere from 15th to 18th would put them on a collision course with the likes of Liverpool and Barcelona in the last 16.</p><h3>Who's on the cusp?</h3><p>There are nine teams still looking to punch a ticket to the playoff round.</p><p>Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City are somehow two of them.</p><p>PSG have the advantage over their money-spinning rivals thanks to their 4-2 comeback win over the Premier League champions in the marquee encounter of Matchday 7. City are now on a measly eight points in 25th and need a win over Club Brugge to have a chance of progressing. Pep Guardiola's men will be eliminated with anything other than a victory over the Belgian outfit.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766747/cropped_GettyImages-2194722008.jpg?ts=1737588055" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766747/w220xh124_GettyImages-2194722008.jpg?ts=1737588055 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766747/w320xh180_GettyImages-2194722008.jpg?ts=1737588055 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766747/w640xh360_GettyImages-2194722008.jpg?ts=1737588055 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766747/w768xh432_GettyImages-2194722008.jpg?ts=1737588055 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766747/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2194722008.jpg?ts=1737588055 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Soccrates Images / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Ten points is considered the rough threshold for qualification, according to <a href="https://theanalyst.com/2024/09/champions-league-group-stage-how-many-points-qualify-knockouts">The Analyst's Ali Tweedale</a>, who ran 50,000 simulations in September to determine how many points a team would need to move on.</p><p>There are four teams currently on 10 points, including PSG and Stuttgart, who face each other on the final day. A tie would be enough for both to clinch in virtually every scenario. A tie would only prove fatal for Stuttgart if 26th-placed Zagreb somehow beat Milan by seven goals or more.</p><p>Shakhtar Donetsk haven't been mathematically eliminated but need a rare combination of results - a 3-0 win over Dortmund, a 3-0 loss for Stuttgart, and straight-up losses for both City and Zagreb - to go through.</p><h3>Who's out?</h3><p>Nine teams have already been eliminated, with three more set to follow them out of the competition.</p><p><strong>RB Leipzig</strong> are the most surprising on the list. They had a brutal run of fixtures against some of the best teams in Europe, including Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Liverpool, and Inter but at least broke their losing streak with a 2-1 win over Sporting on Matchday 7.</p><p><strong>Slovan Bratislava</strong> and <strong>Young Boys</strong> are the only two teams without a point thus far. Bratislava have conceded a league-high 24 goals, while Young Boys have scored a paltry three goals in six matches.</p><p><strong>Sparta Prague</strong> and <strong>Girona</strong> had the faintest hopes entering last week's matches and were put of their misery with defeats to Inter and Milan.</p><p><strong>Salzburg</strong>, <strong>Sturm Graz</strong>, <strong>Crvena Zvezda,</strong> and <strong>Bologna</strong> are also goners.</p><h3>As it stands</h3><p><strong>Bound for round of 16</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Rank</th>
<th>Club</th>
<th>PL</th>
<th>GD</th>
<th>Points</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Liverpool</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>+13</td>
<td>21</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Barcelona</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>+15</td>
<td>18</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Arsenal</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>+12</td>
<td>16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Inter</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>+7</td>
<td>16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td>Atletico Madrid</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>+5</td>
<td>15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6</td>
<td>AC Milan</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>+4</td>
<td>15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7</td>
<td>Atalanta</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>+14</td>
<td>14</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8</td>
<td>Bayer Leverkusen</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>+6</td>
<td>13</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><strong>Bound for playoff round</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Rank</th>
<th>Club</th>
<th>PL</th>
<th>GD</th>
<th>Points</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>9</td>
<td>Aston Villa</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>+5</td>
<td>13</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10</td>
<td>Monaco</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>+3</td>
<td>13</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11</td>
<td>Feyenoord</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>+2</td>
<td>13</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12</td>
<td>Lille</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>+2</td>
<td>13</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13</td>
<td>Brest</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>+2</td>
<td>13</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14</td>
<td>Borussia Dortmund</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>+8</td>
<td>12</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15</td>
<td>Bayern Munich</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>+6</td>
<td>12</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16</td>
<td>Real Madrid</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>+5</td>
<td>12</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17</td>
<td>Juventus</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>+4</td>
<td>12</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>18</td>
<td>Celtic</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>+1</td>
<td>12</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>19</td>
<td>PSV Eindhoven</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>+3</td>
<td>11</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20</td>
<td>Club Brugge</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>-2</td>
<td>11</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>21</td>
<td>Benfica</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>+2</td>
<td>10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>22</td>
<td>Paris Saint-Germain</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>+2</td>
<td>10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>23</td>
<td>Sporting CP</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>+1</td>
<td>10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>24</td>
<td>Stuttgart</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>-1</td>
<td>10</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><strong>Heading for elimination</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Rank</th>
<th>Club</th>
<th>PL</th>
<th>GD</th>
<th>Points</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>25</td>
<td>Manchester City</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>+2</td>
<td>8</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>26</td>
<td>Dinamo Zagreb</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>-8</td>
<td>8</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>27</td>
<td>Shakhtar Donetsk</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>-6</td>
<td>7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>28</td>
<td>Bologna</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>-5</td>
<td>5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>29</td>
<td>Sparta Prague</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>-12</td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>30</td>
<td>RB Leipzig</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>-6</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>31</td>
<td>Girona</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>-7</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>32</td>
<td>Crvena Zvezda</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>-10</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>33</td>
<td>Sturm Graz</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>-10</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>34</td>
<td>Red Bull Salzburg</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>-19</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>35</td>
<td>Slovan Bratislava</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>-18</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>36</td>
<td>Young Boys</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>-20</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure>

BARCELONA, SPAIN - OCTOBER 23: Raphinha of FC Barcelona celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD3 match between FC Barcelona and FC Bayern Munchen at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on October 23, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.

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Who's in, who's out? Permutations for final day of UCL opening round

The transfer window is a time of hope and excitement. It's a time to make transformative addition...

<p><em>The transfer window is a time of hope and excitement. It's a time to make transformative additions that can revive a struggling team or put trophy-chasing sides over the top. It's also a time when expensive, crippling mistakes are made. For every brilliant deal and shrewd piece of business, there are dozens of signings that go bust for one reason or another - some in spectacular fashion.</em></p><p><em>This week, while the wheeling and dealing is in full swing, we're ranking the 30 worst signings in soccer history. Compiled by theScore's soccer editors, our list features prototypical high-priced flops and some mystifying moves that ruined careers, damaged reputations, and set clubs back several years. The three-part series concludes below with the 10 most egregious transfers ever.</em></p><p><strong>Review the entire series</strong>:</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Part I</th>
<th>Part II</th>
<th>Part III</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3161825" href="https://thescore.com/news/3161825">30-21</a></td>
<td><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3161826" href="https://thescore.com/news/3161826">20-11</a></td>
<td><strong>10-1</strong></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><h3>10. Paul Pogba (Manchester United)</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/387730/cropped_GettyImages-1190519167.jpg?ts=1577464085" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/387730/w220xh124_GettyImages-1190519167.jpg?ts=1577464085 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/387730/w320xh180_GettyImages-1190519167.jpg?ts=1577464085 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/387730/w640xh360_GettyImages-1190519167.jpg?ts=1577464085 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/387730/w768xh432_GettyImages-1190519167.jpg?ts=1577464085 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/387730/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1190519167.jpg?ts=1577464085 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Martin Rickett - PA Images / PA Images / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><em><strong>Signed from Juventus for €105 million in 2016</strong></em></p><p>Manchester United paid a record fee to re-sign a player they had let go for nothing. That alone was difficult enough to swallow. Pogba left the club in 2012 for Juventus and won four championships in Italy. But he ultimately returned to England, feeling he had unfinished business there. He most certainly failed to accomplish whatever he sought to do. Pogba became a lightning rod for criticism and a scapegoat for United's failures. He was also injured for large stretches of his six seasons there. Pogba rarely hit the pitch for United with the vigor he showed for France. <em>- Anthony Lopopolo</em></p><h3>9. Nicolas Pepe (Arsenal)</h3><p><strong><em>Signed from Lille for €80 million in 2019</em></strong></p><p>"Arsenal spent a lot of money on me, and I paid the price for it," Pepe <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5934816/2024/11/25/nicolas-pepe-interview-arsenal-emery-villarreal/">said</a> in November about how he was harshly judged during his time in English football. Arsenal ripped up Pepe's contract one year early following a four-season spell that featured a few highlight-reel moments and little more. The staggeringly inconsistent winger scored 16 times and provided nine assists over 80 Premier League appearances, and he was rumored to be a disruptive presence in the squad. The transfer would've been more damaging for Arsenal without the timely emergence of academy graduate Bukayo Saka, but it was still an abject failure; Pepe remains the second-most expensive player in Arsenal history. - <em>Daniel</em> <em>Rouse</em></p><h3>8. Kaka (Real Madrid)</h3><p><strong><em>Signed from AC Milan for €67 million in 2009</em></strong></p><p>For a little while, Kaka was the most expensive player in the world before Cristiano Ronaldo joined him at Real Madrid. And rightly so. The Brazilian playmaker was an elite talent for years at AC Milan, becoming the last player to win the Ballon d'Or in 2007 before Ronaldo and Lionel Messi dominated the award for the next decade. Yet, when he changed allegiances, his best years were clearly behind him, as injuries and inconsistency plagued his Madrid career. After losing his place to Mesut Ozil, Madrid sent Kaka back to Milan four years later for a huge loss on the initial transfer. - <em>Gordon Brunt</em></p><h3>7. Neymar (Al-Hilal)</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755040/cropped_GettyImages-2182914650.jpg?ts=1731456160" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755040/w220xh124_GettyImages-2182914650.jpg?ts=1731456160 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755040/w320xh180_GettyImages-2182914650.jpg?ts=1731456160 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755040/w640xh360_GettyImages-2182914650.jpg?ts=1731456160 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755040/w768xh432_GettyImages-2182914650.jpg?ts=1731456160 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755040/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2182914650.jpg?ts=1731456160 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Yasser Bakhsh / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong><em>Signed from Paris Saint-Germain for €90 million in 2023</em></strong></p><p>Al-Hilal are too rich to care about the money they've wasted on Neymar. To the rest of us, it's truly sickening. Not only did the Saudi outfit pay €90 million to break the Brazilian's contract with PSG, but they agreed to pay him an estimated €101 million annually. But the oft-injured forward has only played seven games for Al-Hilal in one-and-a-half seasons and is currently unregistered for the Saudi Pro League. He's yet to score a league goal during his time in Saudi Arabia, which was blighted by a serious knee injury. If reports ring true and Neymar ends up leaving in January and returning to Brazil, he'll have earned €28.8 million per match, or around €472,000 for each minute he's played. <em>- Lopopolo</em></p><h3>6. Kepa Arrizabalaga (Chelsea)</h3><p><strong><em>Signed from Athletic Bilbao for €80 million in 2018</em></strong></p><p>Arrizabalaga remains the most expensive goalkeeper of all time. While he achieved some success at Chelsea and helped them win the Europa League in 2019, he ended up on the bench more often than not and was an unused substitute during the 2021 Champions League final. Arrizabalaga is best remembered for furiously refusing to be substituted during the 2019 League Cup final, which Chelsea eventually lost in a shootout to Manchester City. Now he's on loan at Bournemouth after again failing to convince Chelsea he deserved minutes ahead of No. 1 starter Robert Sanchez. <em>- Lopopolo</em></p><h3>5. Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea)</h3><p><strong><em>Signed from Inter Milan for €113 million in 2021</em></strong></p><p>Lukaku heralded his return to Chelsea as the endpoint of his "long journey" home. Even though he had just won Serie A with Inter - finishing behind only Cristiano Ronaldo in scoring - Lukaku couldn't pass up the opportunity to rejoin his childhood club. But the honeymoon was over after five months. Thomas Tuchel dropped Lukaku from his squad after hearing his striker wax lyrical about returning to Inter in an unauthorized interview with Italian TV. The Belgian complained about Tuchel's tactics, and while he would play for the Blues again, his relationship with the club didn't recover. A loan move back to Inter didn't kick-start his career. He moved to Roma for one season before reuniting with former Inter coach Antonio Conte at Napoli in the summer. Chelsea spent over €100 million on Lukaku and, in return, got eight league goals and plenty of headaches. <em>- Lopopolo</em></p><h3>4. Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona)</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/400807/cropped_GettyImages-1206470184.jpg?ts=1587145288" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/400807/w220xh124_GettyImages-1206470184.jpg?ts=1587145288 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/400807/w320xh180_GettyImages-1206470184.jpg?ts=1587145288 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/400807/w640xh360_GettyImages-1206470184.jpg?ts=1587145288 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/400807/w768xh432_GettyImages-1206470184.jpg?ts=1587145288 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/400807/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1206470184.jpg?ts=1587145288 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Quality Sport Images / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><em><strong>Signed from Atletico Madrid for €120 million in 2019</strong></em></p><p>It's not Griezmann's fault that Barcelona's recruiting department was tactically inept. They signed a left-footed playmaker with an appetite for goals despite already having the best player in the world occupying the same role in Messi. Griezmann's scoring output was decent for someone who regularly played on the left wing, away from his preferred central position where he was so lethal for Atletico Madrid. But tactics weren't the only problem. The massive financial commitment it took to sign Griezmann set the club back years, directly contributing to Messi's once unthinkable departure in 2021. Barcelona couldn't afford Messi due to the financial mess caused, in part, by matching Griezmann's release clause. Things didn't get any better after Messi's exit, and Barcelona sold Griezmann for a loss to Atletico. He, of course, has gone on to revive his career back in Madrid. - <em>Brunt</em></p><h3>3. Ali Dia (Southampton)</h3><p><strong><em>Free transfer from Blyth Spartans in 1996</em></strong></p><p>Dia is different from everybody else on this list: He wasn't a professional footballer. Somebody called Southampton's then-manager Graeme Souness and claimed to be 1995 Ballon d'Or winner George Weah, saying his cousin, Dia, would be a good signing. Dia was actually a 31-year-old university student. Then, a miracle happened. The phony footballer was brought in on trial, named on a Premier League bench against Leeds United, and brought on to replace an injured Matt Le Tissier in the 32nd minute of an official match. He lasted 53 minutes before he was hastily subbed off and never seen in the professional game again. - <em>Rouse</em></p><h3>2. Eden Hazard (Real Madrid)</h3><p><strong><em>Signed from Chelsea for €100 million in 2019</em></strong></p><p>Around 50,000 fans packed the Santiago Bernabeu to celebrate Hazard's unveiling in 2019. He told the crowd he'd been dreaming of this moment since he was a child playing in his "family's garden." Madrid went trophy-less the previous season and were hoping Hazard would lead them out of their post-Ronaldo drought. But he arrived overweight and went a year without scoring for the club. Then came the injuries. Hazard missed a total of 518 days due to injury, according to estimates from transfermarkt.com. Vinicius Junior eventually took his place, and the Belgian terminated his contract with Madrid in June 2023 after scoring just four league goals in four years. Hazard retired from football altogether three months later. <em>- Lopopolo</em></p><h3>1. Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona)</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/344537/cropped_GettyImages-1134734947.jpg?ts=1553271684" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/344537/w220xh124_GettyImages-1134734947.jpg?ts=1553271684 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/344537/w320xh180_GettyImages-1134734947.jpg?ts=1553271684 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/344537/w640xh360_GettyImages-1134734947.jpg?ts=1553271684 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/344537/w768xh432_GettyImages-1134734947.jpg?ts=1553271684 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/344537/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1134734947.jpg?ts=1553271684 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Quality Sport Images / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><em><strong>Signed from Liverpool for €160 million in 2018</strong></em></p><p>For the second time in less than a year, the search for Neymar's replacement was supposed to be over. Barcelona moved on quickly after Ousmane Dembele flopped, certain that Coutinho was the answer. The expensive January move to the Camp Nou was a no-brainer at the time for Coutinho, who didn't win anything in six seasons with Liverpool. Almost a decade later, the transfer is viewed as a watershed moment that triggered the drastic shift in fortunes for both clubs. While Liverpool went on to enjoy one of the most successful periods in club history, Barca started to go into a tailspin as Coutinho struggled to live up to his huge price tag. They won La Liga in his first full season, but the primary goal to reconquer Europa fell short. Barcelona loaned him to Bayern Munich shortly after, only to have Coutinho play a direct role in eliminating them from the Champions League while he was still on their payroll; he scored twice for Bayern in the infamous 8-2 drubbing in 2020 that remains one of Barca's most humiliating losses of all time. Off the pitch, Coutinho was a huge financial burden who was unsellable due to his gargantuan wages. It was a truly terrible transfer from all angles. - <em>Brunt</em></p><p><em><strong>What are the worst deals your favorite club has ever made? Let us know in the comments below!</strong></em></p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/29961773/related

The 10 worst transfers in soccer history, ranked

The transfer window is a time of hope and excitement. A time to make transformative additions tha...

<p><em>The transfer window is a time of hope and excitement. A time to make transformative additions that can revive a struggling team or put trophy-chasing sides over the top. It's also a time where expensive, crippling mistakes are made. For every brilliant deal and shrewd piece of business, there are dozens of signings that, for one reason or another, go bust. Some of them in spectacular fashion.</em></p><p><em>This week, while the wheeling and dealing is in full swing, we're ranking the 30 worst signings in soccer history. Compiled by theScore's soccer editors, our list features prototypical high-priced flops along with some of the more mystifying moves that ruined careers, damaged reputations, and set clubs back several years. The three-part series continues below.</em></p><p><strong>Follow the entire series this week</strong>:</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Part I</th>
<th> Part II</th>
<th> Part III</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3161825" href="https://thescore.com/news/3161825">30-21</a></td>
<td><strong>20-11</strong></td>
<td><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3161827" href="https://thescore.com/news/3161827">10-1</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><h3>20. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Barcelona)</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764835/cropped_GettyImages-92335903.jpg?ts=1736635045" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764835/w220xh124_GettyImages-92335903.jpg?ts=1736635045 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764835/w320xh180_GettyImages-92335903.jpg?ts=1736635045 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764835/w640xh360_GettyImages-92335903.jpg?ts=1736635045 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764835/w768xh432_GettyImages-92335903.jpg?ts=1736635045 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764835/w1080xh607_GettyImages-92335903.jpg?ts=1736635045 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">LLUIS GENE / AFP / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong><em>Signed from Inter Milan for initial €46 million, plus Samuel Eto'o in 2009</em></strong></p><p>Things got ugly after Ibrahimovic left Inter. He said the Italian club wouldn't win anything without him, only to have his proclamation backfire in spectacular fashion after he joined Barcelona for a huge package. But his ill-fated spell with Barcelona was even more acrimonious. A strained relationship with Pep Guardiola was a major factor why Ibrahimovic's stay lasted only a season. The situation came to a boil when Barca were knocked out of the Champions League in 2010 by none other than Inter. Ibrahimovic, substituted following a dreadful outing, claims he unleashed a furious tirade after the team's semifinal exit, calling Guardiola a "spineless coward." Eto'o, meanwhile, was vital in helping Inter win the treble in 2009-10. - <em>Gordon Brunt</em></p><h3>19. Lorenzo Insigne (Toronto FC)</h3><p><strong><em>Free transfer from Napoli in 2022</em></strong></p><p>Toronto FC have made many terrible marquee signings over the years, but Insigne tops the lot. Federico Bernardeschi, another Italian who arrived in 2022, has shown occasional glimpses of talent. Insigne is a different story altogether: 14 goals, 11 assists, and general indifference over 54 appearances; a guaranteed annual income of $15.4 million that's trumped by only Lionel Messi in MLS; constant injury problems; and a reputation for causing off-field drama. TFC are <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3181113" href="https://thescore.com/news/3181113">reportedly</a> trying to offload him before the 2025 season kicks off, but the financial burden and unrest that Insigne caused will be felt for some time yet. - <em>Daniel Rouse</em></p><h3>18. Luka Jovic (Real Madrid)</h3><p><em><strong>Signed from Eintracht Frankfurt for initial €65 million in 2019</strong></em></p><p>Jovic was coming off the best season of his young career when Real Madrid came calling with the offer of a lifetime. Jovic was 21 at the time and saw an opportunity to star in a team that had struggled to move on from Cristiano Ronaldo and coach Zinedine Zidane. But injuries and the COVID-19 pandemic made it impossible for Jovic to make his mark. Karim Benzema took charge of Madrid's attack, leaving Jovic on the sidelines. Madrid eventually cut their losses, sending the Serbian to Fiorentina on a free transfer in 2022 and even agreeing to cover his wages. Jovic finished his Real Madrid career with three league goals. <em>- Anthony Lopopolo</em></p><h3>17. Mykhailo Mudryk (Chelsea)</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764836/cropped_GettyImages-2187466475.jpg?ts=1736635135" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764836/w220xh124_GettyImages-2187466475.jpg?ts=1736635135 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764836/w320xh180_GettyImages-2187466475.jpg?ts=1736635135 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764836/w640xh360_GettyImages-2187466475.jpg?ts=1736635135 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764836/w768xh432_GettyImages-2187466475.jpg?ts=1736635135 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764836/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2187466475.jpg?ts=1736635135 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">picture alliance / picture alliance / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong><em>Signed from Shakhtar Donetsk for initial €70 million in 2023</em></strong></p><p>This one's still percolating, but Mudryk's transfer has all the hallmarks of being another expensive dud for Chelsea. Arriving as the possible solution to Chelsea's attacking problems, Mudryk has instead turned into the poster boy for the dysfunctional era under co-owner Todd Boehly. There was enough hype about Mudryk to spark a reported bidding war between the Blues and Arsenal after a breakthrough season at Shakhtar Donetsk. But Mudryk has only ever shown brief glimpses of the star many predicted him to be. Chelsea will hope he can figure it out before his contract expires in six years. With a possible doping suspension looming and the transfer fee potentially reaching €100 million, this move could easily end up being much higher if we revisit this list in a few years. - <em>Brunt</em></p><h3>16. Jack Rodwell (Sunderland)</h3><p><strong><em>Signed from Manchester City for £10 million in 2014</em></strong></p><p>Listing the worst Sunderland transfers from the past two decades would be difficult. There are so many. But the overall outlay on Rodwell was baffling. Sunderland signed the midfielder after two injury-hit and underwhelming seasons with Manchester City. His weekly pay packet of £70,000 was extremely generous, and the contract became an even bigger burden on the struggling club because it didn't include a clause to reduce his wages after relegation. Sunderland then suffered a second consecutive relegation as Rodwell logged only 105 Championship minutes. Rodwell defined an era where many Sunderland players just didn't seem to care. - <em>Rouse</em></p><h3>15. Gaizka Mendieta (Lazio)</h3><p><strong><em>Signed from Valencia for €48 million in 2001</em></strong></p><p>Mendieta helped Valencia reach back-to-back Champions League finals before joining Lazio in 2001 as the sixth-most expensive player of all time. Mendieta arrived as a kind of savior as Lazio had failed to defend their Serie A title and sold off Pavel Nedved and Juan Sebastian Veron. In reality, the move signaled the beginning of the end of the influential Spanish midfielder's career. Mendieta made just 20 Serie A appearances for Lazio, and subsequent attempts to revive his career at Barcelona and Middlesbrough yielded negative results. <em>- Lopopolo</em></p><h3>14. Danny Drinkwater (Chelsea)</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764837/cropped_GettyImages-847331666.jpg?ts=1736635206" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764837/w220xh124_GettyImages-847331666.jpg?ts=1736635206 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764837/w320xh180_GettyImages-847331666.jpg?ts=1736635206 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764837/w640xh360_GettyImages-847331666.jpg?ts=1736635206 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764837/w768xh432_GettyImages-847331666.jpg?ts=1736635206 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764837/w1080xh607_GettyImages-847331666.jpg?ts=1736635206 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Chelsea Football Club / Chelsea FC / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong><em>Signed from Leicester City for £35 million in 2017</em></strong></p><p>A year after signing N'Golo Kante, Chelsea went back to the Leicester City well, frantically adding Drinkwater on deadline day hoping for the same results. However, the pity for Leicester didn't last long after losing another one of the stars from their 2016 Premier League-winning team. Chelsea changed coaches after Drinkwater's frustrating debut season in a move that all but ended his Blues career. After failing to establish himself as a first-team player, Drinkwater's downward spiral gained momentum with controversial loan spells at Burnley and Aston Villa, which included a run-in with police and reportedly headbutting a teammate. He retired at 33 after his five-year Chelsea contract ended, ultimately making just five Premier League starts for the west London club. - <em>Brunt</em></p><h3>13. Antony (Manchester United)</h3><p><strong><em>Signed from Ajax for €95 million in 2022</em></strong></p><p>Few could understand why United paid top dollar for Antony. He ranked outside the top 10 in dribbles completed in the Eredivisie and outside the top 20 in goals scored. But Erik ten Hag coached him at Ajax and clearly convinced United he was worth the money. What a gross miscalculation. Antony famously went 31 games without scoring for the Red Devils and failed to make a single Premier League start this season. Now the coach who vouched for him is long gone, and the Brazilian himself is seemingly on his way to Real Betis on a loan deal that doubles as a wicked indictment of United's frivolous transfer policy. <em>- Lopopolo</em></p><h3>12. Andriy Shevchenko (Chelsea)</h3><p><em><strong>Signed from AC Milan for £31 million in 2006</strong></em></p><p>Shevchenko was one of the world's most feared marksmen over seven years at AC Milan, scoring 173 goals and winning the 2004 Ballon d'Or award. He joined Chelsea seemingly at his peak. Jose Mourinho <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/5035604.stm">said</a> the striker was his "first choice" since he took over at Stamford Bridge. But Shevchenko looked much older than 29 when he arrived in England and was injury prone. He tallied nine goals in 48 Premier League outings and even endured a miserable loan spell back at Milan, where he failed to register a goal in 18 Serie A appearances. He was broken. - <em>Rouse</em></p><h3>11. Carlos Tevez (Shanghai Shenhua)</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764838/cropped_GettyImages-632089098.jpg?ts=1736635303" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764838/w220xh124_GettyImages-632089098.jpg?ts=1736635303 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764838/w320xh180_GettyImages-632089098.jpg?ts=1736635303 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764838/w640xh360_GettyImages-632089098.jpg?ts=1736635303 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764838/w768xh432_GettyImages-632089098.jpg?ts=1736635303 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764838/w1080xh607_GettyImages-632089098.jpg?ts=1736635303 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Feature China / Future Publishing / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong><em>Signed from Boca Juniors for €84 million in 2016</em></strong></p><p>There's no better example of how ridiculous Chinese Super League spending became than Tevez's transfer to Shanghai Shenhua. The club made him the richest player in the world with a contract reportedly worth £615,000 a week. But that wasn't enough to motivate the Argentine, who was 32 at the time and struggled with poor form, weight issues, and home sickness. Tevez eventually engineered a return to Boca Juniors and admitted he was "on holiday for seven months" in China. His departure was followed by sweeping reforms that brought an end to the wild spending among Chinese Super League teams. - <em>Brunt</em></p><p><strong><em>The series concludes Friday with <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3161827" href="https://thescore.com/news/3161827">the top 10</a>.</em></strong></p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/29935320/related

Ranking the 30 worst transfers in soccer history (Part 2)

<p><em>The transfer window is a time of hope and excitement. A time to make transformative additions that can revive a struggling team or put trophy-chasing sides over the top. It's also a time where expensive, crippling mistakes are made. For every brilliant deal and shrewd piece of business, there are dozens of signings that, for one reason or another, go bust. Some of them in spectacular fashion. </em></p><p><em>This week, while the wheeling and dealing is in full swing, we're ranking the 30 worst signings in soccer history. Compiled by theScore's soccer editors, our list features prototypical high-priced flops along with some of the more mystifying moves that ruined careers, damaged reputations, and set clubs back several years. The three-part series kicks off below.</em></p><p><strong>Follow the entire series this week</strong>:</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Part I</th>
<th> Part II</th>
<th> Part III</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><strong>30-21</strong></td>
<td><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3161826" href="https://thescore.com/news/3161826">20-11</a></td>
<td><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3161827" href="https://thescore.com/news/3161827">10-1</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><h3>30. Leonardo Bonucci (AC Milan)</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764814/cropped_GettyImages-839929318.jpg?ts=1736625653" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764814/w220xh124_GettyImages-839929318.jpg?ts=1736625653 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764814/w320xh180_GettyImages-839929318.jpg?ts=1736625653 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764814/w640xh360_GettyImages-839929318.jpg?ts=1736625653 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764814/w768xh432_GettyImages-839929318.jpg?ts=1736625653 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764814/w1080xh607_GettyImages-839929318.jpg?ts=1736625653 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Claudio Villa. / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><em><strong>Signed from Juventus for €42 million in 2017</strong></em></p><p>AC Milan made Bonucci the centerpiece of their rebuilding project in 2017, handing him the captaincy shortly after signing him. Bonucci was a shell of the defender that co-anchored Juventus' defense and admitted he only left Juventus out of anger. It was largely because of his acrimonious exit that he had no problem celebrating a goal against his former team that season, something many Juventus supporters still haven't forgiven or forgotten. But by 2018, the Rossoneri no longer wanted Bonucci and sent him back to Juve for €35 million. The fact they recouped the majority of their initial investment is the only reason he isn't higher on this list. <em>- Anthony Lopopolo</em></p><h3>29. Kevin Davies (Blackburn Rovers)</h3><p><em><strong>Signed from Southampton for £7.25 million in 1998</strong></em></p><p>Davies reportedly cost 10 times more than Southampton paid for him just one year earlier - and the <a href="https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/6152356.rovers-blackburn-get-davies-knockdown-7-25m/">Lancashire Telegraph</a> still described what Blackburn Rovers stumped up as a "knockdown price." It's safe to say they didn't get much of a return on the bustling forward. He lasted one season, scored once in 21 appearances as the club was relegated from the Premier League, and was sent back to Southampton in exchange for Egil Ostenstad. Blackburn's failings with Davies were highlighted years later when he enjoyed a fruitful decade-long spell with Bolton Wanderers. - <em>Daniel Rouse</em></p><h3>28. Malcom (Barcelona)</h3><p><em><strong>Signed from Bordeaux for initial €41 million in 2018</strong></em></p><p>The hype over Malcom was intense the summer he chose to join Barcelona. He initially had an agreement to play for Roma but ultimately couldn't resist the chance to join Lionel Messi's team. A year later, after a horrific debut season, the Brazilian's exit was a relief for both sides. A lack of trust from then Barca coach Ernesto Valverde saw Malcom end the season with four goals in 24 games. The winger's poor campaign earned him a move to Russia, where he failed to salvage a career that was already in tatters by the time he was 22. - <em>Gordon Brunt</em></p><h3>27. Jonathan Woodgate (Real Madrid)</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764813/cropped_GettyImages-51429346.jpg?ts=1736625429" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764813/w220xh124_GettyImages-51429346.jpg?ts=1736625429 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764813/w320xh180_GettyImages-51429346.jpg?ts=1736625429 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764813/w640xh360_GettyImages-51429346.jpg?ts=1736625429 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764813/w768xh432_GettyImages-51429346.jpg?ts=1736625429 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764813/w1080xh607_GettyImages-51429346.jpg?ts=1736625429 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Denis Doyle / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><em><strong>Signed from Newcastle United for £13.4 million in 2004</strong></em></p><p>Woodgate joined fellow Englishmen David Beckham and Michael Owen in the Spanish capital, prompting <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/3580578.stm">BBC Sport</a> to run a story with the headline "Real invest in British steel." Woodgate's apparent steeliness was found wanting as he waited over a year for his debut due to fitness issues, and when his introduction finally came, he managed to score an own goal and get sent off. He was back in England a year later. The center-back's disastrous Real Madrid debut defined a playing career that could've been so much better without his persistent injury problems. - <em>Rouse</em></p><h3>26. Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City)</h3><p><em><strong>Signed from Leeds United for initial £42 million in 2022</strong></em></p><p>Roque Santa Cruz, Eliaquim Mangala, and Claudio Bravo are among many duds that Manchester City have signed since the 2008 takeover, but the acquisition of Phillips was both terrible business and ruinous for the player. Being in a team that hogged possession didn't suit the former Leeds favorite, and the injury-prone midfielder's confidence plummeted when Pep Guardiola publicly accused him of being overweight. Phillips started two Premier League matches in 18 months for City, had an error-strewn loan stay at West Ham United, and is now trying to rebuild his career on loan at Ipswich Town. - <em>Rouse</em></p><h3>25. Alexis Sanchez (Manchester United)</h3><p><em><strong>Henrikh Mkhitaryan sent to Arsenal in swap deal in 2018</strong></em></p><p>Sanchez wanted to leave Manchester United after just one training session. He famously asked his people if he could "rip up" his contract and return to Arsenal, and of course, they laughed. Manchester United had already sent Henrikh Mkhitaryan the other way and committed to paying Sanchez an enormous salary worth around £350,000 per week. But his gut was telling him the right thing. The next year and a half was miserable. Sanchez scored just three Premier League goals in 32 appearances for United and ended up leaving for Inter on a free transfer. <em>- Lopopolo</em></p><h3>24. Winston Bogarde (Chelsea)</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764811/cropped_GettyImages-1089635.jpg?ts=1736625247" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764811/w220xh124_GettyImages-1089635.jpg?ts=1736625247 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764811/w320xh180_GettyImages-1089635.jpg?ts=1736625247 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764811/w640xh360_GettyImages-1089635.jpg?ts=1736625247 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764811/w768xh432_GettyImages-1089635.jpg?ts=1736625247 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764811/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1089635.jpg?ts=1736625247 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Clive Brunskill / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><em><strong>Signed on free transfer from Barcelona in 2000</strong></em></p><p>Bogarde committed career suicide at 29. The English media accused him of kicking back and letting £40,000 per week - a huge wage at the time - roll into his bank account during his final four years as a pro. However, the Dutchman has since <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/27/winston-bogarde-chelsea-interview">blamed</a> his inactivity on Chelsea's insistence that clubs pay his <em>full</em> salary to sign him on loan. No one did, and the Blues' stubbornness was peculiar during a financially unstable period for the club. Bogarde played 11 times in his first campaign and appeared just once as a substitute over the three seasons that followed. - <em>Rouse</em></p><h3>23. Jordan Henderson (Al-Ettifaq)</h3><p><em><strong>Signed from Liverpool for £12 million in 2023</strong></em></p><p>In under six months, Henderson destroyed his reputation and harmed Saudi Arabia's expensive mission to make its league respected across the globe. Henderson, previously a vocal advocate of the LGBTQ+ community, was slammed for chasing the money to a Middle East nation where same-sex sexual activity is illegal. England fans jeered the midfielder, believing he didn't merit national team selection while playing in a weaker league. Henderson's miserable 19-game spell in Saudi Arabia also shed light on the oil-rich state having a weak appetite for the sport, with crowds not reaching 1,000 for some Al-Ettifaq games. It was a terrible transfer all around. - <em>Rouse</em></p><h3>22. Mario Gotze (Bayern Munich)</h3><p><em><strong>Signed from Borussia Dortmund for €37 million in 2013</strong></em></p><p>Gotze was on top of the world in the summer of 2014. Germany was a World Cup champion again thanks to his dramatic title-winning goal in the final in Brazil. All that was left was to repair his domestic reputation. The summer before, Gotze was one of the most sought-after midfielders, and he eventually decided to take the well-trodden path from Borussia Dortmund to Bayern Munich. However, unlike those before him, Gotze didn't enjoy success. His development stunted under Guardiola's guidance, and he ended up re-joining Dortmund. But the damage was done. Gotze has never been the same. - <em>Brunt</em></p><h3>21. Fernando Torres (Chelsea)</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764810/cropped_GettyImages-108663979.jpg?ts=1736624952" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764810/w220xh124_GettyImages-108663979.jpg?ts=1736624952 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764810/w320xh180_GettyImages-108663979.jpg?ts=1736624952 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764810/w640xh360_GettyImages-108663979.jpg?ts=1736624952 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764810/w768xh432_GettyImages-108663979.jpg?ts=1736624952 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764810/w1080xh607_GettyImages-108663979.jpg?ts=1736624952 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Darren Walsh / Chelsea FC / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><em><strong>Signed from Liverpool for £50 million in 2011</strong></em></p><p>It was awful from the beginning. Months went by before Torres scored his first goal after his shock move from Liverpool to Chelsea. The 14-game drought was initially viewed as a blip on the radar, but the worst was yet to come. Torres suffered long periods without a goal during crucial stretches over the next two seasons while producing some truly bizarre misses along the way. The once-revered forward was broken. He etched his name in Chelsea lore with a dramatic Champions League semifinal goal in 2012, but it wasn't enough to gloss over how much of a letdown he ultimately was at Stamford Bridge. - <em>Brunt</em></p><p><strong><em>The rollout continues Wednesday with <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3161826" href="https://thescore.com/news/3161826">Nos. 20-11</a>.</em></strong></p>

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Ranking the 30 worst transfers in soccer history (Part 1)

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