
<p>Tuesday’s round of 16 first legs in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/champions-league-tv-schedule/">Champions League</a> delivered no shortage of fireworks. In one game, last season’s <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/europa-league-tv-schedule/">Europa League</a> winners Eintracht Frankfurt took on the most in-form team in Europe. In the other, UEFA treated fans to a rematch of <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2022/05/28/vinicius-strikes-as-real-madrid-beat-liverpool-in-champions-league-final/">last season’s Champions League Final</a> between Real Madrid and Liverpool.</p>



<p>The drama was unmatched. At Anfield, Liverpool jumped out to a two-goal lead inside the first quarter of an hour. However, a miraculously vicious comeback allowed the visitors to return to Spain with an advantage on the aggregate score.</p>



<p>Real Madrid certainly made a habit of that a season ago. It had dramatic comebacks in each of the knockout stages before defeating Liverpool in the Final. This one did not require a 90th minute prayer. Instead, it was level at halftime, and separated by the end of the game.</p>



<h5>Real Madrid emerge from a stunned Anfield</h5>



<p>For the first 15 minutes, though, it was Liverpool back at its brilliant best. Darwin Núñez scored a stunner with a flick between his legs. Thibaut Courtois did gift the hosts and Mohamed Salah a goal. Real Madrid matched the brilliance and botchery of Liverpool, though. Vinícius Júnior scored a stunner of his own. Then, with 35 minutes played, Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson sent a clearing attempt off of the Brazilian and in. Two freak misplays by either goalie combined with sumptuous goals at either end. </p>



<p>In the second half, it was all Real Madrid. Eder Militao put <em>Los Blancos </em>ahead off a set piece header. Then, Karim Benzema sent a shot off Joe Gomez that sputtered past Alisson. In a flash, it was 4-2, a seemingly insurmountable mountain for the Reds. Karim Benzema added another on the counter attack to make it five.</p>



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<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Liverpool vs. Real Madrid: Extended Highlights | UCL Round of 16 - Leg 1 | CBS Sports Golazo" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qCm0uKgQxvc?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
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<p>Jürgen Klopp will have to summit that mountain in another patented Liverpool comeback in a few weeks time.</p>



<h2>Napoli continues unbeatable form to match Real Madrid’s display</h2>



<p>In the other game, Napoli showed why it is lighting up <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/serie-a-tv-schedule/">Serie A</a> and doing the same in the UEFA Champions League. Despite Kvicha Kvaratskhelia missing a penalty in the first half, his forward partner in <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/dominance-of-victor-osimhen-taking-napoli-to-new-heights-20230221-WST-419166.html">Victor Osimhen</a> made the difference. The Nigerian striker continued to put the ball in the net with his 10th goal in his last nine games in all competitions.</p>



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<p>The second half was not as dominant as Real Madrid’s, but it served its purpose for the Italians. A second goal for some security arrived from Giovanni di Lorenzo. Then, Randal Kolo Muani, one of Eintracht Frankfurt’s top talents up top, picked up a red card. Kolo Muani is Frankfurt’s top scorer on the season, but will miss out on the return leg at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.</p>



<p>That game at Napoli, and the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/champions-league-tv-schedule/">second leg of the Real Madrid-Liverpool tie</a>, are March 15.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Pro Sports Images</em></p>


Real Madrid and Napoli looked near unstoppable on Tuesday as both picked up wins on the road in the UEFA Champions League

Real shocks Liverpool, Napoli dominates in Champions League

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<p>Bayern Munich stumbled to a third consecutive draw in the Bundesliga as they were held at home by <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/stvs_team/eintracht-frankfurt/">Eintracht Frankfurt </a>on Saturday evening. </p>



<p>The result meant that the Allianz Arena side are only one point clear of Union Berlin at the top of the table. It was billed to be a routine win for the hosts despite Frankfurt being unbeaten in five league games.</p>



<h5>Gnabry dropped to bench</h5>



<p>Much of the pre-game talk revolved around<a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/21144047/serge-gnabry-gucci-for-paris-fashion-week/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Serge Gnabry </a>who had attended the Paris Fashion Show in midweek. </p>



<p>Despite the German midfielder being dropped to the bench, Bayern took the lead in the 34<sup>th</sup> minute when Leroy Sane slotted home Thomas Muller’s cross from the right flank. &nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Leroy Sané with a quick finish to give Bayern the lead ⚡ <a href="https://t.co/sTANeHNHOJ">pic.twitter.com/sTANeHNHOJ</a></p>— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNFC/status/1619400366394572800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Two minutes later Dayot Upamecano could have doubled the lead, but the defender missed his header from just six yards from Kingsley Coman’s cross following a corner.</p>



<p>The away side hardly offered anything in the first half but soon got into their stride after the restart. They limited Bayern’s midfield who could hardly carve out any openings in the final third. &nbsp;</p>



<h5>Equalizer for Eintracht Frankfurt</h5>



<p>Randal Kolo Muani then equalized in the 69<sup>th</sup> minute after Daichi Kamada’s brilliant hold up play. The Japanese forward did his best to keep possession and drag the Bayern defenders out of position before feeding Muani. The Frenchman held off Upamecano before smashing into the far corner from a tight angle to restore parity on the night.</p>



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">KOLO MUANI EQUALIZES AGAINST BAYERN 😱<br><br>Kamada with the no-look assist 👏 <a href="https://t.co/J6QNtPEUMO">pic.twitter.com/J6QNtPEUMO</a></p>— ESPN+ (@ESPNPlus) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNPlus/status/1619414230993625091?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Both sides ringed on the changes from the bench in search of a winner and it Muller whose header from the center of the box was well saved by Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp. Joshua Kimmich then fired wide from just outside the box before Frankfurt got a late corner as the game ended all square at the final whistle.</p>



<p>Frankfurt would feel they deserved the draw over the course of the game and the result sees them trail Bayern in fifth place with only 5 points behind. The Bundesliga title seems to be close this season as only three points separate the top four teams. </p>



<p>It’s back to the drawing board for Julian Nagelsmann as the German manager must sort out his best starting eleven as they travel to Wolfsburg next weekend before the round of 16 clash against Mainz in the DFB Pokal in midweek.</p>



<p>Photo credit: IMAGO / Eibner</p>


Bayern Munich stumbled to a third consecutive draw in the Bundesliga as they were held at home by Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday evening.

Bayern held at home by Eintracht Frankfurt - World Soccer Talk

Bayern held at home by Eintracht Frankfurt

<figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-381446" src="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Barcelonas-resurgence-under-Xavi.jpg" alt="Barcelona&apos;s resurgence under Xavi" width="1200" height="725" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/04/Barcelonas-resurgence-under-Xavi.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/04/Barcelonas-resurgence-under-Xavi-600x363.jpg 600w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/04/Barcelonas-resurgence-under-Xavi-150x91.jpg 150w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/04/Barcelonas-resurgence-under-Xavi-768x464.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure>
<p>Barcelona’s resurgence under Xavi seemed to reach a head in early April.</p>
<p>Barcelona defeated second-place Sevilla courtesy of a magnificent Pedri strike in the 72nd minute. The squad trotted around the field applauding fans. At the time, Barcelona shot itself into second in the LaLiga table, a far cry from where it was just six months prior. The win also came on the back of the club’s biggest result of the year.</p>
<p>Two weeks earlier, just before the March international break, Barcelona went to Madrid and dismantled its biggest rivals. As Piqué, one of Barcelona’s leaders, put it, “<a href="https://twitter.com/3gerardpique/status/1505664571138351105">we are back</a>.”</p>
<p>It was Barcelona’s first win over Real Madrid since 2019. The confidence and emotion on the pitch heavily contrasted just months prior. <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/barcelona-news-antoine-griezmann-messi-24888792">Lionel Messi and Griezmann left</a>, <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11833/12413637/ronald-koeman-sacked-by-barcelona">Barcelona sacked Ronald Koeman</a>. Now, Barcelona was on top of the world Barcelona was on top of the world, at least based on form and potential.</p>
<p>It would not be possible without the person at the helm. Xavi’s innovative tactics and calculated transfers revolutionized an awry Barcelona club. In just a couple months, he appeared to return the Catalan side to one of the better clubs in Europe.</p>
<p>However, what makes the extraordinary story even more unbelievable was what came before it. Billions of dollars in debt, a self-inflicted storm nearly destroyed Barcelona.</p>
<h5>Koeman and chaos</h5>
<p>As a player, Ronald Koeman scored the game-winning goal for Barcelona’s first European Cup in 1992. Like other clubs in Europe, Barcelona sought to revitalize the squad’s energy with a former player as manager. Understanding the history of the Blaugrana, Koeman had successful stints at Ajax and PSV in the Eredivisie.</p>
<p>Koeman started off poorly, as Barcelona looked like a shadow of its old self. Barca finished third, its worst finish in LaLiga since 2008, in 2020/21. In the Champions League, a 5-2 aggregate loss against PSG sent the club packing in the round of 16. Despite the struggles, Koeman maintained some hope by leading Barcelona to a Copa del Rey title.</p>
<p>Then, Koeman oversaw relative disaster at the club. Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann departed in the summer, much as a result of the Barcelona board’s irresponsible finances. Using a rag-tag squad of unproven players, Barcelona only brought in Sergio Aguero, Memphis Depay and Eric Garcia to replace the outgoing stars.</p>
<p>Unsurprisingly, Barcelona floundered. It fell to an eye-opening ninth when Barcelona sacked Koeman.</p>
<p>They failed not only in Spain, but they did in Europe as well. They found themselves frequently <a href="https://www.barcablaugranes.com/2021/9/29/22700768/benfica-barcelona-champions-league-final-score-match-report-recap-reactions">outclassed by Benfica and Bayern</a>. Despite two wins against Dynamo Kyiv, it suffered relegation to the Europa League.</p>
<p>Koeman walked into the Camp Nou as a storied Barca star who had both Messi, Griezmann and more stars at his disposal. Following a string of mediocrity, disappointment, and heartbreak, Koeman left Barcelona as a frail shell of itself.</p>
<h3>Barcelona’s resurgence under Xavi</h3>
<p>Despite Koeman’s messy reign as Barcelona manager, Barca rebounded like no other. Appointing club hero Xavi provided glimpses of the Barcelona identity that players and managers like Johan Cruyff or Pep Guardiola helped to build. From matchday 18, Barcelona kept an unbeaten streak in league play spanning around four months.</p>
<p>Their recent results are thanks to the <a href="https://themastermindsite.com/2022/01/09/xavi-hernandez-fc-barcelona-tactical-analysis/">penetrative off-ball movements</a> and the <em>tiki-taka</em> playstyle Xavi perfected in his playing days. Instead of the quick, rapid-fire counter-attacks favored in modern-day football, Xavi, like prior iterations of Barcelona, elects for a possession-based offense complete with flashy wing play. His reliance on wingers and full-backs helps overwhelm opposing defense and get the ever-common goals Barca desperately needs.</p>
<p>Big wins over the two Madrid clubs accented Barcelona’s return to the upper echelon of Spanish football. In early February, Barcelona trounced Atletico Madrid 4-2 with the help of their explosive attack. Jordi Alba, Gavi, Ronald Araujo, and Dani Alves all found the net as Barcelona rocketed up the table.</p>
<p>In late March, Xavi and his squad headed to the Santiago Bernabeu looking to close a seemingly impossible gap with Real Madrid. While the league may have been out of reach, El Clásico is always a game to play for. Pride was also at stake, as Barca had previously dropped the last four games against Real in LaLiga play.</p>
<p>Barca showed they were a new team, reformed under the leadership of Xavi. Aubameyang’s brace, complemented by goals from Araujo and Torres, helped show Barcelona was nothing like what the world laughed at in November.</p>
<figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-356558" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20220425_CMS_381411_Xavi-Unveiling_3253a09d.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=800" alt="Former Players as managers" width="1200" height="800" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/11/Xavi-Unveiling.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/11/Xavi-Unveiling-300x200.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/11/Xavi-Unveiling-600x400.jpg 600w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/11/Xavi-Unveiling-150x100.jpg 150w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/11/Xavi-Unveiling-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure>
<h5>Stumble near the end</h5>
<p>Barcelona’s rampant form hit an unpredictable and screeching halt in mid-April.</p>
<p>Eintracht Frankfurt, a mid-table side in the Bundesliga, beat Barcelona at Camp Nou in the Europa League. the German side advanced 4-3 on aggregate. Even more disheartening for Barcelona fans was the number of Frankfurt fans in the stands. White shirts stood out among the red and blue supporters.</p>
<p>Following this loss, two losses over Barca’s next three games transpired. Rather than losing to a club like Sevilla, Real Sociedad or another strong team, these losses came at the hands of teams in the bottom half of the LaLiga table. Cádiz and Ray Vallecano both won in Barcelona in monumental victories for those clubs.</p>
<p>It is more than likely that Barcelona gets back to the Champions League next season. That being said, there is still reason to compete in the league. Seeding in the Champions League is one thing, but qualification to the Supercopa de España provides financial support. Clearly, that is something Barcelona desperately needs.</p>
<p>Plus, the Catalans still must prove they can hoist the world’s biggest trophies without Lionel Messi. That starts in LaLiga.</p>
<p>Under this manager, it is achievable. Barcelona’s resurgence under Xavi will be under the microscope with slim margins and narratives at play.</p>
<h5>Fire in the market</h5>
<p>For a side that got crashes out of Europe, remains millions of dollars in debt, has an unproven manager in European soccer and plays a very particular style under said manager, Barcelona acquires interest from notable players.</p>
<p>This season alone, Xavi managed to acquire Ferran Torres, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Adama Traore from Premier League clubs for a combined $60 million. Of course, Aubameyang and Traore came on free transfers.</p>
<p>The three of them have had ups and downs with Barcelona, contributing important moments along the way. Aubameyang has been especially impactful. Nine goals in 12 league games is a strong return.</p>
<p>The Gabonese attacker and legendary player rapidly fell out with Arsenal fans and Gunners gaffer Mikel Arteta. Disciplinary issues and a row with Arteta surrounding Auba’s messy exit from the Emirates.</p>
<blockquote><p>“My last few months at Arsenal were complicated, that’s football sometimes. For my part, I never wanted to do anything wrong. My problem was only with Arteta. I can’t say much more, I wasn’t happy. It was just him and he made that decision. He wasn’t happy, I can’t tell you more. He wasn’t very happy, I was very calm,” Aubameyang claimed.</p></blockquote>
<p>Journalists like <a href="https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1508556777201229828">Fabrizio Romano report</a> that Barcelona’s shopping in the transfer market is not over yet. AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie and Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen are set to play in the blue and red of Barcelona in the coming summer, and club president Joan Laporta says there could be more signings to come. That is notwithstanding the financial obstacles Laporta and company must overcome.</p>
<p>It is an encouraging sign for fans. Barcelona’s resurgence under Xavi comes as a result of pulling consistency out of what was a mediocre side. Now, it looks to form one of the most solid squads in LaLiga to rival Real.</p>
<p><em>PHOTO: Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images</em></p>

Barcelona’s resurgence under Xavi still strong despite struggles

Barcelona's resurgence under Xavi took a hit over recent struggles. However, the squad is in a comfortable spot to learn from this.

Barcelona's resurgence under Xavi still strong despite struggles - World Soccer Talk

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