Pulisic inspires in the Supercoppa as the Dani Olmo saga continues
Jan 7, 2025
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Football is back with a bang as AC Milan stages a stunning comeback in the Supercoppa, showcasing Pulisic’s brilliance. Meanwhile, Roma flourishes under Ranieri, claiming a solid derby win. The Dani Olmo saga continues, complicating Barcelona's strategies as he faces registration issues. Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham redeems himself with a last-minute heroics, while PSG clinches silverware thanks to Dembele's late goal. As the Bundesliga gears up, humor and touching anecdotes spice up the lively discussions.
Sérgio Conceição's leadership has revitalized AC Milan, leading to a dramatic comeback against Inter in the Supercoppa.
Dani Olmo's registration issues with Barcelona highlight the complexities and challenges within player contracts in competitive football.
Deep dives
Emotional Reunion in Marseille
A memorable moment occurred in a recent match when André Ayew scored for Le Havre against his former club Marseille, prompting a touching standing ovation from the entire Velodrome. Despite being five goals down, the display of respect illustrated the deep emotional connection between Ayew and the Marseille fans, underscoring his legacy as a past captain and player for the club. The gesture was unexpected but deeply moving, showcasing football's ability to foster communal respect and emotional bonds among players and supporters alike. This incident not only highlighted Ayew's importance to the Marseille community but also emphasized the unique nature of relationships formed in football, where past and present can intermingle significantly during matches.
Sergio Conceição's Impact at AC Milan
Sergio Conceição's arrival as AC Milan's new manager has instilled a fresh energy within the team, enabling them to achieve a remarkable comeback in the Italian Super Cup. His straightforward approach, emphasizing winning rather than intricate tactics, has resonated well with the players, leading to an immediate improvement in performance. This managerial shift is exemplified by Milan's thrilling victories, particularly their resilience demonstrated when they overcame a two-goal deficit against Inter. The stark contrast in the team's demeanor under Conceição echoes a shift towards a more aggressive and decisive style of play, signaling a promising chapter for Milan under his leadership.
Dani Olmo's Contractual Turmoil
Dani Olmo faces an uncertain future as Barcelona's failure to register him due to a missed deadline has rendered him ineligible for both club and national team play. Initially brought in with the expectation of integrating him into the squad, Olmo now finds himself in contractual limbo, with a clause allowing him to leave for free should he choose. Barcelona is engaged in a legal battle to salvage the situation, relying on previously dubious financial maneuvers to attempt to create room for his registration. The unfolding drama illustrates the complexities surrounding player contracts and the financial strains many clubs endure, particularly in La Liga, highlighting both the competitive nature of football and the precariousness of player situations.
Real Madrid's Formidable Title Chase
Real Madrid's ascent to the top of La Liga has been characterized by gritty performances, including a recent comeback against Valencia that demonstrated their resilience. After falling behind and facing challenges like a missed penalty from Jude Bellingham, Madrid managed to capitalize on defensive errors from Valencia to secure victory. The team's ability to grind out results, even when not at their best, exemplifies their championship mentality and underscores the importance of individual contributions from players like Bellingham. As they aim to maintain their lead over rivals Atletico Madrid, Madrid's capacity to navigate tough matches positions them strongly in the title race.
Jimbo’s back for the first time in 2025 and he’s got James Horncastle, Pol Ballús and Julien Laurens alongside him to run the rule over all the latest action from across Europe.
AC Milan kicked off the new year in style as they fought back from 2-0 down to beat rivals Inter 3-2 in the Supercoppa over in Saudi Arabia as new boss Sérgio Conceição got off to the perfect start. Meanwhile, back on home soil Roma continued their resurgence under Claudio Ranieri with a 2-0 victory in the derby with Lazio.
In La Liga the Dani Olmo debacle rumbles on… He’s with Barcelona in Saudi Arabia, but he’s not eligible to play after Spain's football authorities rejected the club’s attempt to register the midfielder. On the pitch, Jude Bellingham atoned for his missed penalty with a 95th-minute winner as 10-man Real Madrid snatched a dramatic victory at Valencia to move top of the table.
And in France, PSG picked up the first silverware of the season courtesy of Ousmane Dembele’s stoppage-time winner in their 1-0 victory over Monaco in the Trophée des Champions over in Doha. Back in Ligue 1, Marseille closed the gap at the top of the table to 7 points courtesy of their big 5-1 win over Le Havre.
No German action to speak of as die Winterpause continues - BUT we do have Dortmund v Leverkusen to look forward to on Friday night as the Bundesliga finally returns.
Produced by Lucy Oliva.
RUNNING ORDER:
• PART 1: Moments of the weekend (00.45)
• PART 2: Serie A review - Milan stun Inter in the Supercoppa while Roma beat Lazio (08.15)
• PART 3: La Liga review - Olmo saga rumbles on as Real leave it late to go top (20.00)
• PART 4: Ligue 1 review - PSG lift first silverware as Marseille and Lyon continue good form (32.55)