Liverpool dropped points again, Barcelona’s high line cost them and Amorim’s system finally clicked. Here’s the stories you need to know.
Vinícius Júnior Starting to Rediscover Form
2023/24 Vinícius Júnior was amongst the best players in the world – he was widely considered the favourite for the 2024 Ballon d’Or before Rodri eventually took the top prize.
The arrival of Kylian Mbappé disrupted Vinícius Júnior’s form, with Ancelotti struggling to accommodate two world-class talents who thrive off making similar runs and operating in the same pockets of space.
Xabi Alonso appears to have found a system that both Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior are thriving in. Saturday’s victory over Villarreal saw Vinícius Júnior score twice and was consistently Real’s main threat in the final third.
With Mbappé limping off injured, Vini’s return to form could have come at the perfect time.
Grealish Rejuvenation Continues
Palace suffered their first defeat since April as Jack Grealish’s late winner topped off an impressive comeback from David Moyes’ men.
Having already contributed four assists this season, Grealish found the back of the net for the first time in an Everton shirt. His game has never been about goals – not even during his peak at Aston Villa did he reach double figures in a league season – but this winner came at a vital time for Everton.
Grealish wasn’t selected for England’s upcoming fixtures against Wales and Latvia, but Thomas Tuchel will be keeping a keen eye on his return to form as Grealish offers a different type of creative profile that is severely lacking amongst England’s stacked attacking options.
Three Horse Race Emerging for 2026 Ballon d’Or
Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé and Harry Kane are staking their claim for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, with all three forwards in red-hot form in front of goal. Haaland has 12, Kane 18 and Mbappé 14 goals in all competitions already.
The Ballon d’Or voting panel places significant emphasis on collective success, but goalscoring in these quantities will make it hard to argue against the trio being worthy favourites.
With Lamine Yamal still sidelined, is the young Spaniard falling behind?
Barcelona’s High Line Costs Them
Hansi Flick’s all-out attack tactics ensure every game is a blockbuster; the 4-1 defeat to Sevilla was no exception. It was the game of the season so far with genuine end-to-end action throughout the 90 minutes.
It was Barcelona’s first league defeat of the season, but has reignited concerns about their defensive setup. How can they feasibly challenge for both La Liga and the Champions League with such a vulnerable high line?
In a season where even Pep Guardiola is willing to sacrifice his tactical philosophy in the pursuit of victory, Hansi Flick will surely need to compromise on his all-out attack approach against stronger opposition.
Mbappé Comes Back to Haunt PSG
Kylian was in the stands but it was Ethan Mbappé who had the impact on the pitch.
Having been released from PSG in 2024, the younger Mbappé joined Lille and climbed off the bench to score the equaliser on Saturday.
The draw cut PSG’s gap at the top to just one point, with Marseille, Strasbourg and Lyon all close behind on 15 points.
A close Ligue 1 title race will have serious implications for PSG’s Champions League campaign as it will limit their ability to rotate and rest their star players – something that has always provided PSG with an upper hand over rivals in the Premier League, Serie A and La Liga.
Swedish Marquee Signings Not Delivering
For a country with a population of just 10 million, Sweden has had their fair share of world-class strikers.
The current pair, Viktor Gyökeres and Alexander Isak both made big money moves to Premier League giants over the summer.
7 league games in, neither have yet lived up to expectations.
Both had high-profile transfer disputes with their old clubs, which limited the pre-season preparations for both strikers, however it doesn’t just look like a lack of match fitness that is impacting the pair.
For Gyökeres, Arsenal have adapted their build up play to suit his strengths. Gyökeres doesn’t drop deep like Havertz, instead preferring the ball in behind the defensive line or crossed into the box. This service has been delivered, with Gyökeres having 23 shots, but only mustering up 3 league goals – one of which was a penalty. Arsenal are looking strong, but they will need a better conversion rate from their striker as they hunt for success domestically and in Europe.
In contrast, Alexander Isak has come into a Liverpool side that has looked disjointed all season. While Isak isn’t the problem, Ekitike currently looks more dangerous as the focal point.
United’s Best Game Under Amorim
Was this the game that finally kickstarts the Amorim era?
50 games into his reign, the home victory over the in-form Sunderland was a rare display of Amorim’s system at its best. So much so, Sunderland were forced into a first-half tactical substitution to try and deal with United’s dominance.
A clean sheet for debutant Lammens, another goal for Šeško and an assist for Mbeumo; United’s summer signings combined to give a glimpse of a brighter future for United.
The international break has come at the wrong time for Amorim – he would have wanted to build on the momentum that Saturday’s impressive performance would have delivered. Instead, a tricky visit to Anfield awaits.
Three points away at United’s old rivals would truly signal the turning of a corner for Amorim’s time at Old Trafford.
