PHILADELPHIA — Fred Johnson was seen on the sideline with a sleeve and a brace on his left leg. The Philadelphia Eagles left tackle didn’t practice, but that was a best-case scenario compared to what could have been.
Johnson injured his knee after Jacksonville Jaguars safety Andre Cisco put his helmet on his knee during Jalen Hurts’ 18-yard touchdown run in the third quarter of Sunday’s victory. Cisco received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for the hit, allowing the Eagles to advance half the distance to the goal on the extra point attempt (the Eagles went for two and missed).
Johnson only missed one play and returned to play the rest of the game, but the injury could have been much worse.
“Does anyone know if he was fined?” Johnson asked when speaking to some reporters about how the knee injury occurred Wednesday. “If not, we have to talk to the league. It hurts.”
Johnson went into more detail about the knee injury, which could have been significantly more painful than simply missing a day of practice. He figures to start his fourth straight game at left tackle for the Eagles against the Dallas Cowboys, which could also be Jordan Mailata’s last game on injured reserve.
“Yeah, I feel good about Sunday. It’s leaning that way,” Johnson said. “We have practice tomorrow. Obviously we’ll see. That hit could have been a lot worse than it looked on film. I just saw him fall and I lifted my leg trying to land on him.
“They said if I had my foot planted, I could have been out all year.”
If Johnson can’t play Sunday, Tyler Steen would be the primary backup at left tackle. Right guard Mekhi Becton was also getting some reps there.
Johnson avoided something much worse, but he’ll be paying attention when the league announces weekly fines.
John Keim covers the Washington Commanders for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2013 after a stint at the Washington Post. He began covering the team in 1994 for Journal Newspapers and later for the Washington Examiner. He is the author/co-author of four books. You can also hear him on ‘The John Keim Report’, which airs on ESPN Richmond radio, and follow him on Twitter @john_keim.
ASHBURN, Va. — Washington Commanders players received a clear message from the front office after they acquired cornerback Marshon Lattimore from the New Orleans Saints on Tuesday.
“We want to win and we want to win now,” linebacker Bobby Wagner said. “It was great for them to do that.”
The Commanders (7-2) traded three picks to New Orleans (2025 third-, fourth- and sixth-round picks) to get Lattimore and a 2025 fifth-round pick. He instantly improves a defense that ranks 18th in pick rating. opposing quarterback and 21st in net yards per pass attempt.
Lattimore, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, said his arrival brings Washington closer to the goal of competing for a Super Bowl.
“Definitely,” he said. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t do it. They made it clear what they gave up to get me. I just have to do what I have to do.”
Which, he said, is “going out and doing everything you can for the team, just being a dog.”
Lattimore did not practice Wednesday due to a hamstring injury that kept him out of New Orleans’ loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. It’s unclear when he will practice, much less if he will play Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2).
But the Commanders will be cautious with Lattimore and will want him to be healthy for the rest of the season.
Lattimore gives Washington a true No. 1 cornerback, something it has lacked for years. The organization’s last Pro Bowl cornerback was DeAngelo Hall in 2010. Their last cornerback with multiple Pro Bowl appearances was Champ Bailey from 2000-2003.
Washington can now mix and match its other corners. The Commanders have Benjamin St-Juste, who adds length at 6-foot-3; Mike Sainristil, selected as a cornerback but moved outside out of necessity; and Noah Igbinoghene.
“He can take away half the field for us,” St-Juste said of Lattimore, “so we can work with so many different people.” [coverages] on the other side of the field.”
St-Juste echoed Wagner’s sentiment.
“It shows that they have confidence in us and see that we will go far this season,” St-Juste said.
Washington general manager Adam Peters said he and other members of the front office had been talking to several teams for a while about various players. The commanders wanted a particular corner. They also did their homework on Lattimore, but Peters said they didn’t think he would be available, until late in the process.
And while Peters wants to build through the draft, he didn’t mind giving up the picks because they started the day with nine and still have seven. Washington still has a third-round pick acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles in August for receiver Jahan Dotson. Peters also said the Commanders weighed what might be available in free agency and the draft, and that they might also need to find another cornerback in the offseason.
But they had no problem delivering what they did for a player of Lattimore’s caliber.
“He fits into any defense,” Peters said. “So whatever we’re playing, zone or man, he’s going to be able to do all of that. He’s a very, very smart player. He’s a really instinctive player. He’s physical, and those are things we’re looking for.” “
Washington coach Dan Quinn said he watched Lattimore cover top receivers in the past and said he would make things difficult on contested catches for top receivers.
Quinn also told a reporter, “You’re barking up the right tree,” when asked if Lattimore’s presence increases what they can call defensively.
“Not everyone can go and match up different players in different spots, on the left side or the right side of the slot,” Quinn said. “You have to be smart to be able to do that. And he’s shown throughout his career the ability to move in and out and stay connected with receivers. He’s a good tackler, so we’re excited that he’s here.
“We’re adding a real competitor to a group of guys who like to fight and wrestle.”
With four wins in four games, Arne Slot seems to be allergic to losing points. A hat trick from Luis Díaz in the second half set the pace for Liverpool and every week a different attacker shows why they should be feared.
2
Barcelona
+1
There is no team in the world that can stop this attack. Behind two other goals from Robert Lewandowski, Barcelona lost five goals to Red Star in an important route.
3
Bury
+4
This is a team that could win this competition. By converting a penalty just before half-time and then maintaining that lead thanks to important saves from Yann Sommer, even when they are not at their best, Inter can take wins from anyone.
4
city of manchester
-3
Without Rodri it has become too easy to play in Manchester City’s midfield. Sporting CP dealt quickly and Erling Haaland missed a penalty. It’s not time to hit the panic button yet, but they’ve moved it so it’s within reach.
5
Arsenal
—
A penalty is enough to lose a game at this level. Arsenal created many chances but could not find the finishing touch.
6
Atalanta
+4
Even without conceding a goal in the Champions League, Atalanta earned more points with a victory over Stuttgart. Ademola Lookman continued his strong play and this is a team that turns heads.
7
Monaco
+8
Another professional performance from Monaco and another three points, there are only six unbeaten teams left in the league stage, and Monaco are among them.
8
Lisbon Sports Club
+5
Behind Viktor Gyokeres’ hat-trick, Ruben Amorim and Sporting CP managed to dismantle Manchester City. There are doubts about what comes next with Amorim’s departure to Man United, but he leaves this team in an excellent position.
9
Lille
—
Have a nice day Jonathan David. With his efforts in the first half, he now has six goals in the Champions League. Lille are at the top of their game and are taking points from some of the best teams in the world.
10
Bayern Munich
+1
Bayern Munich did enough to overcome Benfica, but everything counts the same as it was an important result for Vincent Komapny’s men.
11
Bayer Leverkusen
-3
Going to Anfield and losing is one thing. Arriving at Anfield and losing 4-0 is another. This is not something that costs Bayer Leverkusen much, but it does temper expectations about how far they can go in this competition.
12
real Madrid
-8
Los Blancos have a problem with Kylian Mbappé. This attack is crying out for a proper nine and so far they have been unable to get it from the Frenchman. To win another Champions League title, this team needs a restructuring.
13
Villa Aston
-7
Villa’s lovely life has been affected. With just one shot on goal in Belgium, they are no longer undefeated in the UCL. The lack of depth would surely catch up with them, but now Unai Emery needs to regain his footing.
14
Milan
+8
Behind another assist from Christian Pulisic, Milan entered the Santiago Bernabéu and left with three points in a huge result. This could be the beginning of a trend in which Rafael Leao is also doing well.
15
Brest
-1
Even away from home, Brest’s strong play continues while the French teams are putting in good performances. Located in fourth place in the table, Brest’s inaugural Champions League is shaping up to be unforgettable.
16
Borussia Dortmund
+2
It took longer than expected to find a winner at home, but keeping a clean sheet and picking up three points equals a job well done.
17
Atlético de Madrid
+2
We had to wait until well into added time but Ángel Correa gave the finishing touch for Diego Simone’s men to achieve their second victory of the league phase. Having only six points in four games is not enough, but at least they are inside the top 24.
18
Juventus
-6
A draw is a good result, but Juventus had to be rescued with a penalty. Since Bremer went down, this hasn’t been the same team.
19
Celtic
+2
It is still difficult to assess who the real Celtics are, but a comprehensive victory over RB Leipzig is another step towards advancing beyond the league stage, which would be a success for the Scottish team.
20
PSV
—
Beating Girona was a historic victory this campaign for PSV and USMNT man Malik Tillman was integral, scoring one goal and assisting another.
21
Benfica
-4
It was a good start to the league phase for Benfica, but after losing two consecutive games, they need to quickly regain their form in the competition.
22
Paris Saint Germain
-8
Concern increases for PSG after losing a winnable match at home against Atlético de Madrid. With only three goals in four games, Kylian Mbappé is greatly missed.
23
Dinamo Zagreb
+5
Don’t look now, but the Croatian team is quickly moving up the table after remaining undefeated in their last three games. This could be one of the surprise teams to overcome the league phase.
24
Stuttgart
—
Stuttgart is present in all the games, but cannot take advantage of it. Four points out of four is good, but Denis Undav has to go back to what Serhou Guirassy was.
25
Club Bruges
+4
Finally, his good play has been rewarded. Beating Aston Villa in Belgium is the type of victory Bruges need to advance.
26
Girona
-3
Another team with a debut in the Champions League to forget, Girona’s defeat against PSV was quite damaging. The Spanish team will need to quickly find its balance.
27
Feyenoord
-2
After a big win with a damaging defeat, Feyenoord still haven’t come close to matching last season’s form.
28
Sparta Prague
-2
A good start to the league phase has now turned into two consecutive defeats. This match was winnable against Brest and those lost points could hurt.
29
RB Leipzig
-2
Four games, zero points. They may be second in the Bundesliga, but without points in the Champions League, concern arises.
30
Shakhtar Donetsk
+2
The first victory in the Champions League is the most difficult and now that Shakhtar has achieved it, it is time to start looking forward.
31
RB Salzburg
+4
Finally, with a victory, RB Salzburg played part of the game with a man less, but they will take points any way they can find them.
32
Bologna
-2
Still searching for their first Champions League goal, Bologna’s defense will only get them so far.
33
young boys
-2
Another week of being in a game but another loss in the tournament.
34
Red Star
-1
Another tough defeat in Serbia, this time against Barcelona, and it has simply been a bad run for Red Star.
35
SK Sturm Graz
-1
Close defeats can be nice, but they still don’t count for much, even if they are against Borussia Dortmund. Austria’s bad streak in the Champions League continues.
36
Bratislava Slovakia
—
Allowing goals left and right, Slovan Bratislava could set a record for the most goals conceded in six games if they allow nine more to hit the back of the net in their next two games.
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John Keim covers the Washington Commanders for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2013 after a stint at the Washington Post. He began covering the team in 1994 for Journal Newspapers and later for the Washington Examiner. He is the author/co-author of four books. You can also hear him on ‘The John Keim Report’, which airs on ESPN Richmond radio, and follow him on Twitter @john_keim.
ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Commanders began the season enjoying their roster and thinking it still needed work. Even a month ago, it’s doubtful they would have planned to do what they did Tuesday: strengthen their roster for a stretch run. But a 7-2 start accelerated Washington’s thinking, resulting in the Commanders sending three draft picks to the New Orleans Saints for former Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore.
The cost was not cheap. Washington gave the Saints third- and fourth-round picks, plus a sixth-round pick it acquired from them in the summer. Nor was it prohibitive; He filled a glaring need with a proven No. 1 cornerback still in his prime. In all, as one league source put it, Washington addressed an immediate need without mortgaging its future.
Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels has earned praise (and calls for MVP votes from experts) for his performance this season. That, plus having a rookie contract, made this trade desirable, giving the NFL’s third-highest scoring offense a better defense to back it up.
The addition of Lattimore allows Benjamin St-Juste to be the No. 2 cornerback, which will give him better matchups on the outside. It also allows rookie Mike Sainristil to return to the interior, where Washington envisioned him after drafting him in the second round last spring. Sainristil had moved out of necessity, but Washington now has two bigger corners for the roles of Lattimore and St-Juste. At 5-foot-10 and 183 pounds, Sainristil fits better than speedy inside receivers.
Lattimore, 28, has excelled in man coverage throughout his eight-year career, which should give defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. more variety in his plays. Playing in the NFC East, Washington has to face receivers like Philadelphia’s AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith, Dallas’ CeeDee Lamb and New York’s Malik Nabers twice a year, and the addition of Lattimore helps Washington match up better.
The trade was also symbolic. This time last year, as the first step in dismantling previous regimes, the Commanders traded former first-round defensive ends Chase Young and Montez Sweat at the deadline to the 49ers and Bears, respectively.
The franchise finished 4-13, but since then, an organization that had failed for more than two decades under previous owner Dan Snyder has transformed itself. The players are excited, the fans are excited, the team is winning… and it’s been a long time since those three statements could be included together.
Financially, Lattimore, who is under contract through 2026, counts $16 million and $16.5 million against the cap in those years. But without guaranteed money, Washington could rework his contract and perhaps soften the cap hits.
General manager Adam Peters has often said he wants to build through the draft and fill needs in free agency. That does not change with this movement. Washington still has seven draft picks in 2025 and can bolster the roster with picks in each of the first three rounds. Washington has a third-round pick acquired from Philadelphia in exchange for catcher Jahan Dotson as well. The Commanders also received a fifth rounder from New Orleans.
The Commanders entered Tuesday with the second-most cap space in 2025, according to Roster Management System. His cap space was around $95 million before the trade. But they can free up another $17 million by releasing veteran defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, who is on injured reserve with a torn pectoral muscle. They also have approximately $23 million in cap space that they can potentially carry over to next year. Lattimore costs just $605,000 against his cap this season.
Despite that cap space, Washington will have plenty of roster spots to fill. The Commanders have 30 players under contract for next season, and key veterans such as linebacker Bobby Wagner, tight end Zach Ertz, running back Austin Ekeler, defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. and safety Jeremy Chinn signed one-year contracts last offseason. .
However, a big key to making the deal a success will be Lattimore’s health. He hasn’t played a full season since 2021 and has missed a combined 19 games over the past three years, including two this season with a hamstring injury. If he is fully fit, he will be a huge boost for Washington’s defence.
A year ago, Washington was heading toward a collapse with great uncertainty.
Today, the Commanders continue to build toward a promising future, one that arrived much sooner than anticipated.
Goals came in droves across Europe on matchday four of the UEFA Champions League as some treble heroes took center stage. Liverpool’s Luis Diaz and Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres each scored three goals and led their teams to lopsided victories over highly regarded rivals Bayer Leverkusen and Manchester City respectively. Meanwhile, Barcelona’s Jules Kounde scored an unconventional hat-trick on Wednesday with three assists in a 5-2 win over Red Star. Some other stars from other big wins, such as AC Milan’s 3-1 victory over Real Madrid, also earn a place on the list for their heroics.
Here is this week’s Team of the Week.
Goalkeeper: Mike Maignan, AC Milan
Mike Maignan played a huge role in what was arguably the most important result of matchday four, helping to ensure that AC Milan escaped the Santiago Bernabéu stadium with three valuable points. He made nine saves against Real Madrid on Tuesday, equaling the most by goalkeepers in the Champions League this week. It’s a particularly impressive feat as Real Madrid fired 23 shots at Milan’s goal and generated 2.66 expected goals, although the hosts’ lone goal did little to weaken Maignan’s performance as he came off a penalty.
RHP: Jules Koundé, Barcelona
There was some competition for this position, but in the end it was difficult not to select Jules Kounde after a three-assist performance for Barcelona. He arguably stood out in his team’s 5-2 victory over Red Star on Wednesday thanks to his performance, also creating four chances along the way.
Central: Ryan Flamingo, PSV
The lopsided victories came in force on matchday four, and the list includes PSV’s 4-0 dismantling of Girona. Ryan Flamingo had an excellent day on defense, posting 94.1% passing accuracy and winning 83.3% of his duels, including 100% of his aerial duels, as well as making four recoveries during his shift. It helps his case that he also scored his first Champions League goal on Tuesday.
Central: Emre Can, Borussia Dortmund
Emre Can did well to set the tone at the back as Borussia Dortmund took 21 shots at Sturm Graz’s goal and only faced seven in return. He completed 92.3% of his 104 passes and won 66.7% of his duels. He also earned perfect scores for his passing accuracy in the attacking third, as well as his tackling.
LI: Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich
The margin of victory over Benfica may have been narrow for Bayern Munich, but it was not for lack of effort. That includes Alphonso Davies, who took advantage of his team’s dominance. He made 128 touches and attempted 108 passes, ranking among the top 10 players in both categories on matchday four, and also had a pass accuracy of 90.8%. Davies also created two chances and then handled his defensive responsibilities well, completing 100% of his tackles and 75% of his duels.
CM: Curtis Jones, Liverpool
Tuesday was a fantastic day for several Liverpool players and that includes Curtis Jones who had an exceptional night as the Reds scored four goals in the second half against Bayer Leverkusen. The highlight of his performance was an assist on Luis Díaz’s first goal, although his 90% passing accuracy and three chances created also contribute to a strong outing for the 23-year-old.
CM: Malik Tillman, PSV
While Christian Pulisic usually receives the made-up honor of the United States men’s national team’s most outstanding player of the day, the distinction this week goes to PSV’s Malik Tillman. He recorded two assists in his team’s victory over Girona and played an important role in the smooth running of their offensive operation by creating six chances on Tuesday.
CM: Arne Engels, Celta
Celtic’s surprisingly successful Champions League campaign continued on Tuesday with a 3-1 victory over winless RB Leipzig, with Arne Engels’ work in midfield a crucial part of the performance. He got the assist on Nicolas-Gerrit Kuhn’s equalizer and in total created five chances as the hosts found success with an attack-first strategy.
Forward: Luis Díaz, Liverpool
Scoring a hat trick makes it pretty easy to make the team of the week, so it’s no surprise that Diaz tops the list. He also generated 1.64 expected goals of his own, a big chunk of Liverpool’s collective total of 3.49 expected goals on Tuesday, and did so with just four shots. He mixed efficiency with style, mixing some impressive finishes into an impressive finishing day.
Forward: Mohamed Salah, Liverpool
You can’t mention Diaz’s great performance on Tuesday without acknowledging Mohamed Salah, who was equally important in Liverpool’s victory. He finished the game with two assists out of an impressive 1.11 expected assist total and also created five chances and took three shots along the way. Diaz and Salah formed something of a double act, allowing the Reds to continue a successful transition to life under new coach Arne Slot.
Forward: Viktor Gyokeres, Sporting Lisbon
Speaking of hat-trick heroes, these days it almost seems like a given that Europe’s fittest striker would be on a list like this. He made all five of his shots on goal and provided 2.41 expected goals, more than half of the 3.79 expected goals Sporting Lisbon collectively scored in their 4-1 win over Manchester City. While many will point to the victory as a sign that outgoing Sporting manager Ruben Amorim was a good Manchester United pick, it is also a sign that the team Amorim built is in good shape to achieve impressive results without him.
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FRISCO, Texas – After a three-game losing streak that brought the Dallas Cowboys’ record to 3-5 through the first nine weeks of the 2024 season, there was many reasons to sell of the players who could at the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday.
Instead, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones was a buyer, trading a 2025 fourth-round pick to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for 2023 second-round wide receiver Jonathan Mingo and a 2025 seventh-round pick. Jones explained all his rationale to Micah Parsons, injured running back and three-time All-Pro why he chose to make such a move with the quarterback Dak Prescott deals with hamstring injurybetween issues.
The inspiration was partially fueled by a phone call Jones had with Football Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach, who reminded Jones of the 1971 season. That’s when Dallas was rotating between Staubach and Craig Morton at quarterback. the team’s starting outfield player, but after a 4-3 start, the Cowboys installed Staubach as the full-time starter. They then won their last 10 games in a row en route to a Super Bowl VI title.
“I talked to Jerry. He came and watched me practice last weekend,” Parsons said Wednesday. “He was like, ‘I’ve been here before.’ Staubach called me and said, ‘We were 3-5 and we still made a run.’ [in 1971 after going 4-3].’ That gives Jerry his old school beliefs. When your owner believes in it, and really believes that these are the right guys, that gives confidence to the guys in the locker room because your owner believes in you. Even though you haven’t had much success and things aren’t going your way, he still believes that you can do great things. And honestly you should. This has proven to be a winning team, a 12-5 team over the last three years. We obviously have more losses right now than ever. But the high hopes placed on the players are still there. “We just have to stop punishing ourselves, and that’s penalties and things like that.”
There were some in the football world who suggested a nuclear option: trading Parsons for a host of picks in a Khalil Mack type transportBut Parsons himself hopes to remain a Cowboy for a long time because of his connection with Jones.
“Honestly, I’m flattered. But at the same time, there’s always a trade level,” Parsons said of hearing others talk about his potential trade value. “Jerry and I love each other. I always thank Jerry for giving me the opportunity [to play in the NFL]. He has done many wonderful things to change my life on and off the field. More than people will ever know. He trusts me. I mean, Jerry picked me up on the side of the road and said, ‘Come watch the Super Bowl with me.’ That just lets you know what kind of owner Jerry is. He left early and gave us [Parsons and friends] the suite and [said]’Here, you and your friends enjoy.’ Honestly it flatters me. “I think if Jerry ever had a problem with me, he would call me into his office and we would sit down before anyone on national television could.”
They ended up sharing a suite at Super Bowl LVIII last February after each meeting at the Wynn hotel in Las Vegas, not on the side of the road, further cementing Parsons’ ties to the Dallas Cowboys and increasing the likelihood of to sign an extension that will reset the market in the 2025 offseason.
“On the side of the road. I was outside the Wynn Hotel, and Jerry comes out of the Wynn Hotel and says, ‘Micah! Where are you going? … Are you going to the game?'” Parsons said. “I said, ‘No.’ He said, ‘Do you want to come?’ I was like, ‘Yeah.’ He brought me to the game. I was like, ‘Cool.’ We got a chance to talk for a few hours. That shows how generous and caring he is. the players, how he sees the team and where he wants to go. “The fact that he did that with me shows that our relationship is growing and that he trusts me.”
Some would say that being so close to his players could make it more difficult for Jones to make smart but difficult personnel decisions at key moments in terms of when to cut certain players, etc. However, Parsons, of course, argues that Jones’ passion and enthusiasm, which is regularly displayed in the post-game media and on the radio, is an advantage, not a disadvantage. Some Cowboys fans may disagree with the 2023 NFL quarterback rushing leader on that issue, but Jones’ hands-on involvement in Dallas football operations is never going to change.
“I think it’s a good thing,” Parsons said. “Because, honestly, a lot of owners don’t care. Jerry cares about how comfortable we are, he cares about these facilities. When you walk into the building you say, ‘It’s a privilege, not a right, to wear the star.’ I think when you have an owner like that, he really cares and he really wants to be involved in this process, rather than saying, ‘This is a way to make money, to me it’s about money.’ And when someone’s heart is in it. In that, think about family, family doesn’t always do the right things or make the right decisions, but you still love them because they really care about the meaning of what they’re doing.”
There are plenty of European heavyweights still outside of those top eight positions, with city of manchesterin 10, and Arsenal12th after losing to Inter Milan,with seven points and therefore not on pace to reach the goal of 16 points.
However, Pep Guardiola’s team remain favorites to win the competition for a second time, still with a 91.1% chance of reaching the round of 16 and a 19.3% chance of taking the trophy.
Arsenal have an 80.0% chance of progressing to the round of 16, but also a 58.4% chance of having to go through the knockout round play-off to achieve it.
City have Juventus and Paris St-Germain among their remaining games, while Arsenal must face Sporting and Monaco in their next two.
Celtic They are in 15th place and also on seven points, having raised their hopes with a second victory, beating Leipzig 3-1 on Tuesday. They will visit Villa in the final match on Wednesday, January 29, when all 36 teams will play at the same time.
Celtic’s latest victory means that Brendan Rodgers’ team, with the same points as players like Juventus (11), Bayern Munich (17) and real Madrid (18th): They have a strong chance of making the top 24 (78.2%), with their last 16 hopes valued at 40.2%.
french champions Paris Saint Germain They are the biggest name outside the top 24, having won just one of their first four games and with City and Bayern Munich to come. The 2020 finalists now have just a 43.4% chance of reaching the round of 16.
Check the complete Champions League classification here.
PARIS — Diego Simeone’s Atlético Madrid picked up three big points at the Parc des Princes with a 2-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday that has left Luis Enrique’s team outside the top 24 and a place in the bottom 24 first for the moment. The narrow victory at the Parc des Princes puts the French giants with four points out of a possible 12 to worsen Luis Enrique’s already unflattering winning percentage with Paris and places Atleti in a potential knockout spot.
Warren Zaire-Emery’s first goal following a goal from Ousmane Dembélé in the 14th minute hinted at a goal-filled game on Wednesday, but Nahuel Molina’s equalizer four minutes later was not the extent of the scoring action until Ángel Correa won . it’s late. Instead, it was a match marked by Simeone’s fighting spirit that was reflected in the final score, in which Jan Oblak shone in the visiting goal and the few views of the home goal resulted in goals for a team that had lost the course since the opening day. .
“I have no words,” Luis Enrique said after the game. “I think we have been infinitely superior to our rivals in our last three home games, but luck has not been on our side. We have four games left and we will fight as long as we have those games left. It is difficult but I cannot explain this result. I have I’ve been in football for over 30 years and I can’t understand it.
Nobody knows where PSG will go from here, as Bayern Munich and Red Bull Salzburg will be on the road to Europe before anyone visits the French capital and having lost to Arsenal and Atleti while in the hands of PSV Eindhoven puts the kings of Ligue 1 in a difficult situation. weak position. To make matters worse, Stade Brestois 29, AS Monaco and Lille OSC have overtaken Les Parisiens, who are now lowering France’s UEFA coefficient after maintaining it for years almost single-handedly.
Paris are now on the verge of an embarrassing exit in the League Phase that was previously unthinkable despite a fixture list that looked complicated when the draw was first made and which still includes a currently vulnerable Manchester City at home. Luis Enrique has a lot of work to do to salvage the positivity that has generally prevented him from being criticized until now, which will likely change in the wake of Simeone’s success on French soil, when PSG were expected to emerge victorious.
Paris doesn’t have much to do other than aim for wins over Bayern and Salzburg and see where that leaves the team by the end of 2024, but the immediate situation requires attention and shows that the current level of performance will not take them to the top. knockout phase. The start of 2025 isn’t much better, with City the only home game left and a trip to VfB Stuttgart also part of the planning between now and the end of the League Phase.
It is tempting to say that it is no longer in PSG’s hands whether or not they can reach the knockout stage, but given that this is their first edition, it is too early to tell, although at least six points out of 12 are needed, which is not the current proportion. . If they lose to Bayern next time, the chances of Luis Enrique’s men advancing much further will understandably be reduced to the point of being among the favorites to go down and suffer a humiliating and unexpected premature exit.
The Spaniard can complain all he wants about bad luck and his team creating opportunities, but at some point those opportunities have to be taken and this is not an isolated incident with PSG – it cost them a place in last year’s final. It remains to be seen whether the return of Gonçalo Ramos will solve those problems or not, but at the moment this Parisian team is not clinical enough to advance to the knockout stage and that will bother Luis Enrique between now and the game against Bayern at the end of this month.
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Bukayo Saka cuts off his left foot, sees his man at the back post and bends him excellently. You can’t ask for much more from a center in open play, but he flies just past his target. No wonder. Even when you have one of the most reliable delivery methods in the game, a cross, whether from a live or dead ball, tends not to be the most effective method of scoring.
Especially when they were the type that Arsenal delivered tonight. They were not attacking the backline, placing their central forwards and attacking midfielders to make cuts. The Gunners hung the ball high and told their big men to go up and get it. And they did it quite well. They should have scored at least one or two of the 46. They even had some open playmaking. This was not dissimilar to Inter’s encounter with Manchester City earlier in this league phase. You never felt that Simone Inzaghi’s team (a heavily rotated version of them) were buckling under the weight of attacking pressure, but a couple of better headers and the Italian champions would have been beaten.
The biggest difference this time was a penalty that could reasonably be considered unofficial. It is the type that occurs in UEFA competitions, but it raises the question of whether defenders have considered simply not having arms. That might have been the only way Mikel Merino would have ensured that Mehdi Taremi’s shot missed his target. Hakan Calhanoglu missed from the penalty spot. A good first part was undone. A good second half wouldn’t be enough.
After a nervous start, Arsenal came out on top in this contest. It is rare for a team to arrive at San Siro and finish the first half with more possession, more territory and more shots. Mikel Arteta’s men seemed to have the measure of Inter, a team that is not used to being pressured with the intensity with which Kai Havertz led the attack.
As is often the case, set pieces caused all kinds of difficulties for Arsenal’s rivals. Twice in the first 48 minutes, William Saliba found himself in a position to do better with a header, shortly after Denzel Dumfries had to kick off the line when, for the first time, Yann Sommer had misjudged one of the infallible Bukayo Saka delivers from the right.
Also in open play, Arsenal intended to live and die on the ability of their wide men to deliver a ball in an instant. They really can. Saka was throwing every corner into the corridor of uncertainty while Gabriel Martinelli responded to the double teams Inter threw at him by working an angle to deliver. When he did well, Sommer ended up hitting Mikel Merino’s head much more than the ball.
It was not a particularly fortuitous night for the Spaniard, who might wonder why an unfortunate deflection into his own hand at one end is so much more worthy of a penalty than a goalkeeper’s clearance at the other. Merino is still finding his feet in a midfield role that looks even more complicated in Arteta’s 4-2-4, which manages to have many more players behind the ball than you might imagine. It was therefore no great surprise to see the Spaniard withdraw at half-time, the introduction of Gabriel Jesus allowing Arsenal to drift towards a more familiar 4-3-3.
Even in a better setup, it took time for Arsenal to get going. Sommer wasn’t really tested in open play for an hour. Havertz found space in the right corner of the box, firing the ball high left. Even their best shots were crossed, and their best chance from open play came from something resembling a missed Leandro Trossard cross that landed favorably for Havertz to volley. Yann Aurel Bisseck dived for the ball just in time.
Arsenal’s attacking half-pass map in their 1-0 loss to Inter
TruMedia
That was going to be the best chance of a second half in which Arsenal played like the best version of themselves they could be. Without Martin Odegaard, who was only fit for the last three minutes, it seems all they can do is move the ball to the flanks and see if Saka or Martinelli can do something against a double team. Ben White and Jurrien Timber could have overlapped more. They seem to be the embodiment of Arteta’s conservatism, a coach who so far this season seems more obsessed with mitigating risk than creating it for the opponent.
Not to say that Inter’s goal was not in danger tonight. With so many crosses flying over their bows, it was always going to be a messy ending. However, if Arsenal had had more means to assess the defence, their dominance could have been reflected on the scoresheet.
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The decisive moment of the match came seconds before half-time, when a penalty was awarded after a Mehdi Taremi corner hit Merino on the hand.
It was a decision that perhaps would not have been awarded in the Premier League as referees stopped awarding “soft penalties” from this season.
“In our approach to handball, there is just a slight change and adjustment in the direction we are going to take,” former referee Kevin Friend revealed before the season., external
“Last season we saw some soft penalties in handball. “So basically we are looking for examples where he clearly hits the arm in an unjustified manner, with his hands above his head or away from his body to deliberately block the ball entering the area or entering the goal.”
This differs from the rules of UEFA competitions, and that variation left experts frustrated on Wednesday.
Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown said on TNT Sports: “Is the arm in an unnatural position? It’s not. We’re having that debate again and it’s ruining the game.”
“It’s fine margins, I don’t think it’s a penalty. The unnatural rule, who makes those rules? Have they played the game?”
Former Gunners defender Matt Upson added on BBC Radio 5 live: “It bothers me the way they apply that law in Europe.
“We are way ahead of that in the Premier League, the referees understand the proximity, the speed of the ball and all those things are tick, tick.
“It’s just a little common sense.”
Regarding the incident between Merino and Sommer at the other end of the pitch, former Arsenal striker Theo Walcott told Match of the Day: “Merino is in a good position and [Yann] Sommer comes and physically hits him.
“It’s very unfortunate not to get the penalty and Arsenal were a bit unlucky.”
