Farewell to Carlo Ancelotti, applause for PSG, tip-of-the-hat for Chelsea, celebration for the Chicago Fire, and a scremer for Gareth Bale, and more in 90 Minutes’ Top Five of the action-packed midweek:
1. Bayern-Ancelotti
There where consequences to be had, alright.
Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge seemed to be reading Carlo Ancelotti’s Last Rites at the team’s midnight dinner, which looked more like the Last Supper after PSG’s thrashing of Bayern in Champions League. Not 24 hours passed before Ancelotti was sent packing, and what looked like smoke coming out of Munich has become a full-blown fire. As it tends to be the case, the next few weeks will tell the real tale of Ancelotti’s real effect on the team’s subpar level thus far.
And a couple of guys with last names Tuchel and Naglesmann will be watching very closely.
2. Drama? What drama?
On the other side of the issue, it is all rainbows and unicorns again in Paris.
About 20 minutes notwithstanding, Paris-Saint Germain looked every bit of the team Nasser Al-Khelaifi and his truckloads of money dreamed about after the summer shopping spree. This time around, Kylian Mbappe stole the show. The 18-year-old flashed all the tremendous skill that has wowed the soccer world since his Monaco days, in addition to a calmness and maturity beyond his years in a big stage. Neymar shredded the much-criticized Bayern back four, Cavani was ever dangerous as a result, the midfield frustrated most of the attacks, and the defense, including an impressive Alphonse Areola, was solid all around.
For those scoring at home, Neymar and Cavani did, in fact, hug in the three goals.
3. Chelsea’s Wanda-full performance
That was not the kind of European housewarming Atletico Madrid was hoping for.
But there was not too much Diego Simeone’s team could really do about it, because Chelsea put on one of the best performances at least in the Antonio Conte era. Except for David Luiz’s unnecessary foul that led to Antoine Griezmann goal from the penalty spot, Chelsea outclassed Atletico by a mile, both tactically and technically. N’Golo Kante was in full display, covering the lenght and width of the field, a fully-healthy Eden Hazard returned to his best version of himself, and Alvaro Morata continued to be the killer striker he has grown to be in London, just to mention a few aspects.
Chelsea better get over the euphoria quickly, though, because Manchester City is coming to town on Saturday.
More Top Picks Best Humidifiers For Large Rooms
4. Where there’s Fire…there’s postseason
Five long years had to pass before the Chicago Fire returned to the MLS playoffs. But alas, the reconstruction is complete
Without the presence of Bastian Schweinsteiger, the Fire overwhelmed the San Jose Earthquakers, beating them 4-1, and clinching a playoff spot that not too long ago looked to be in danger. To realize how big of an acheivement this is, it only takes a short gander at the team’s situation a year ago, already eliminated from the playoffs and toiling away at the bottom of the standing with little in terms of prosperity. Veljko Paunovic and Nelson Rodriguez have led a remarkable turnaround with the aquisitions of proven, quality players like Dax McCarty and the record-breaking Nemanja Nikolic, along with the coup of importing Schweinsteiger mid-season.
Add in a promising crop of homegrown talent, and Fire may be on the brink of its next golden era in the Second City, if not an MLS title come December.
5. Bale puts his best foot forward
Real Madrid qwelled the doubts and uncertainties by doing what it does best: winning on the road in Champions League when needed the most.
Garerth Bale starte the party with a beatiful piece of technical prowess and precision, placing Dani Carvajal’s long ball upper 90 with a simple one-touch tap, and providing the 90 Minutes Goal of Midweek.