Valencia v Real Madrid: replacing Vinícius is a question of spacing, not just a name on the team sheet.
Madrid's official squad excludes Vinícius, Rodrygo, Asencio and Mendy. Güler and Tchouaméni return. The club's preview records seven consecutive wins, with 21 goals scored and eight conceded, and Mbappé scoring in six straight matches.
My read: if Mbappé occupies the central defenders, Madrid need someone else to stretch Valencia horizontally. One option is width from the full-backs; another is Diomande holding a wider starting position if selected. Neither is a confirmed tactical plan.
The important connection is between that width and Güler's positioning. Pulling a defender outward only creates an advantage if Madrid then find a receiver in the inside channel. Otherwise, they risk circulating around the block without breaking it.
There is a defensive cost too. If both full-backs advance together, a lost pass can leave space outside Madrid's covering midfielders. This is their fourth consecutive away match, so maintaining that balance matters more than simply adding attackers.
I favour Madrid on their recent form, but an early Valencia goal would test their patience. Watch whether Madrid create useful inside access—not merely whether they dominate possession.
#RealMadrid #KylianMbappe
HALF-TIME: Nottingham Forest 2-0 Man City — the shock of the season is brewing at the City Ground. 😳
Forest came into this 19th, winless at home all season, without a goal at the City Ground in 512 minutes. Then a centre-back ended the drought. Jair Cunha robbed Gvardiol in the 6th minute and finished it himself — Forest's first home goal of the campaign.
Twelve minutes later, Liam Delap picked the ball up inside his own half and ran straight through the middle of City's defence, unchallenged, to beat Donnarumma. City's first shot on target didn't arrive until the 32nd minute — and when Haaland finally rounded Sels, it was Cunha again, sliding in to block on the line.
Arsenal are six points clear. Lose this, and the gap stays at six — City's chance to cut it to three is gone. Forest, meanwhile, are 45 minutes from climbing out of the relegation zone.
Second half. Can City save their title race?
Trae Young came home wearing the other team's jersey. That still feels surreal. 👀
In his first game back in Atlanta as a Wizard, he had 23 points and 10 assists—but also eight turnovers.
The Hawks won 139–132, led by Nickeil Alexander-Walker's 28 points.
My take: the emotional reunion was the headline. Atlanta's balanced offense was the bigger basketball story.
Did this game change how you feel about the Trae trade?
1-0 Nottingham Forest.⚽️⚽️
GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLL CUNHA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CUNHA CUNHA CUNHA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOTTINGHAM FOREST TAKE THE LEAD VS MANCHESTER CITY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥