Futbol Americas: Messi Makes MLS History

23:50Vancouver FC Dallas on the other side. Philadelphia still waiting. Chicago or Orlando on, that's man, Orlando too. Charlotte against New York City FC. Inter-Miami, as we said, against Nashville and FC Cincinnati. Cincinnati, Columbus. That's tasty. First rounder. Yes, it is. A tasty dish to kick off our postseason for MLS. Sebi, who is the favorite to win MLS Cup? Inter-Miami, San Diego, Vancouver, Whitecaps, Philly Union, or LAFs? Yeah, I mean, people can see the odds there on the screen. They probably think I'm chasing the value here, but I'm not. I think it's LAFC. Third right now in the West.

24:27And this basically for me is down to two dudes. Denny Bowonga and Hung Min Son. They have been incredible together. So good. I don't know. It's only been like 10 games for Son. But 43 goal involvements combined between those two. They're also coming in pretty hot. Of their last eight games, they've only lost once. And they were putting up some big crooked numbers in some of those games. Four goals. Four goals. Three goals. Just racking up goals left, right, and center. I also think maybe a little bit of an emotional play here. Steve Terundolo getting ready to ride off into the sunset, maybe playing for their manager.

25:01Also a guy who, hello, knows how to win MLS Cup. Last dance vibes. Three years ago, exactly. I really think LAFC for me is not just the best value, but they're the team to pick here. I throw a word to Seattle. I think Seattle's a very, very good team that's always, you know, worthy of consideration this late. It'll probably come down to Seattle, LAFC for me in the West. And then, of course, you've got to mention Inter-Miami out of the East. I just think this. They lack the coaching, and they are so vulnerable defensively. Again, Nashville, who's not some great team, could have had three or four goals in the opening half hour of that game.

25:38And that's pretty much every Inter-Miami game you watch. And I don't think you can win it all with so little defense, no matter what Messi does. At some point, you're going to have a 1-0 or 2-0 game. And I just think they're going to have to rely on their back line more than they're ready to. Again, the Vancouver disrespect remains. LAFC would have to go through Vancouver, in Vancouver, to make it to the MLS Cup. Listen, you could say what you want about how hot Sun is and how hot Bwonga are. This is still an LAFC team that, for large stretches of the season, underwhelmed. And it's still an LAFC team that, in past editions— Have they underwhelmed since Sonsbinder?

26:16Because that's the team now. I hear you. The first half, I was like, I'll be honest here. At the beginning of the season, my cousin, El Primo, placed a futures bet on LAFC. Three months into the season, El Primo felt really bad about that. But the new LAFC is what I'm going on. Trust me, if it's the new LAFC, it's because LAFC in general, with Steve Chirundle, has just always been so Jekyll and Hyde. And if it's a scenario where you're placing all your chips on one player, because that's what you're going off, how Sung has changed LAFC, Yes, and the combo with Bologna. I'm going to place all my chips on Messi.

26:52I'm going to place all my chips on historic Messi, on Messi who's changed the game once, twice, three times over. Every single time we see him, he's just a difference maker. In a playoff setting where they have the benefit of three games against Nashville and then going on. And three games against Atlanta last year. Yeah, well, yeah, yeah. And that's the thing. I don't think that's going to happen again. And they're going to come off and face a Cincinnati team or a Columbus team who are going to come off beating the hell out of each other. I think they'll be physically fresher. I'm going to take Miami here.

27:21I think the value is good. It applies 500. And I just think it makes sense. The best footballer in the league plays for inner Miami. I've got no problem with that. It's just a little bit of a role reversal. You've always been the guy to kind of go against inner Miami, go against Messi. And what did you always say? Don't do it. You don't bet against Messi. That was exactly. You've always been kind of an inner Miami. And you don't bet against them. You've learned his lesson. But it's the moment, right? that LAFC has, and we know that when it comes to postseason, it's really of the moment right now.

27:52It seems to be more with LAFC collectively versus Inter-Miami. We've not seen them have the adversity yet. It's been smooth sailing for LAFC. So? And for the other shooter drop? Once you get punched in the mouth, that's when you find out who you are. They've not gotten punched in the mouth with Sun. I want to see who they are. I know who Miami is. I like what I see out of them going forward. And I don't think they're as bad defensively as Sev makes it out. I think this team... Maybe I'm being prisoner of the moment just off that Nashville game. I'm not exaggerating. They could have scored eight on Nashville.

28:23Not in the first half. It should have been 4-0 when Messi scores. It should always be something with Inter-Miami. It should always be something with Inter-Miami, yet it's not. You should never have a 30-year-old do what he does, and yet he doesn't. Somebody's going to take advantage of those mistakes. At some point in the playoffs, you're not going to run up against Nashville. You're going to run up against some real quality, and somebody's going to take advantage of the mistakes they make. You say the same thing about LAFC. Yeah, but LAFC has two studs. And those two studs don't measure Lionel Messi.

28:53I'd take two over one any day. I can't wait until MLS Cup is wrapped and we can come back to this segment too. That's 500. Book it. All right. All right. We want to remind you that ESPN FC is available daily on ESPN+. As you know, managing maintenance, repair, and operations is never easy. But for the ones who always rise to the challenge, Grainger has your back. From professional-grade products you can count on to fast, dependable delivery, they're there to help you keep things running smoothly. Plus, their technical product specialists are here to help answer your toughest questions. And because Grainger knows safety is always a priority, they're committed to being your partner in protecting both your people and your facilities.

29:38Call 1-800-GRANGER, click grainger.com, or just stop by. I like things my way. My coffee, my schedule, and my treatment. So I talked to my doctor about self-injecting with the Vivgard Hytrulo Pre-Filled Syringe, which contains F-Gartigamide Alpha and Hyaluronidase QVFC. It's injected under your skin subcutaneously. It means I can inject in my space on my time. It's my treatment, my way. Visit VivgardMyWay.com. That's V-Y-V-G-A-R-T my way dot com. And talk to your doctor about Vivgard Hattrulo. Brought to you by Argenics. All right, time to run it back. Starting with an injury return. Gio Reyna, after almost a month from a thigh injury, played 30 minutes in Gladbach's 3-1 win versus Berle in the Sebi.

30:28It's huge. You know, it doesn't sound like much, 30 minutes, but this guy has to be on the field, There else is no chance to even have an honest conversation about evaluating for the national team. So 30 minutes is a step. Hopefully soon it's a start. Yeah, got booked there as well from one injury return to another here with Ricardo Pepe. Also back from injury, played 19 minutes in PSV's 2-1 win against go-ahead Eagles. Yeah, it was the knee injury that then became a muscular injury. It's 19 minutes. He's got to find his footing. He's got to find more minutes because fall-arm balligans heated up.

31:03and Haji Wright continues to score. So if he wants to get into that lineup or into that roster, he's got to keep it up. Hey, you just mentioned him. Fuller and Balogun also on our run at back. Played 28 minutes, had his second goal of the season in Monaco's 1-1 draw to Anger Sebi. Good finish. Malagy just slams it home there. Not really looking for the exact spot on goal. Look, Balogun's coming into his moment. I think, you know, maybe in Monaco, but more so with the national team. This is a guy who we thought, when he joined the program, would eventually take over the number one spot. And between goals at the club level and what we saw in the last international window, I think right now, for me, he's number one.

31:43Yeah, Haji's coming on. I want to see from Pepe, but that's a player very much in form. Maybe not so much in form. Santi Jimenez playing 33 minutes and drew the game-winning Pique in Milan's 2-1 win against Fiorentina. He was not the one, though, to take the Pique, Herc. He drew the penalty kick, did not take the penalty kick, that was Rafa Leao. Starts on the bench with Salamacris who ended up playing as a double nine. Feels a little contact, goes down, draws the penalty kick. Alright, here's Scott Marcotti on Santi. Santi Jimenez, the Fiorentina defender Parisi. It looks like his hand maybe brushes his cheek.

32:27Santi Jimenez goes down, clutching his face. The referee who sees it in real time, assesses the situation, says no foul. The guy at the VAR, whose name is Abisso, which literally means abyss, as in like the depths of the ocean, as in like the depths of stupidity, realizes there must be a clear and obvious mistake because poor Santi Mendes is clutching his face, calls him over. The referee looks at it again a second time, says, well, if he called me over, it must have been a mistake. And they were the penalty last course. Fiorentina absolutely furious, as so they should be. I'm going to take my answer on Jimenez.

33:01Dude, you're cheating. Not the first time you've done this. Not the first time. You can't have it both ways. You can't be Mr. Angelic, I talk to God, God talks to me, and at the same time behave like this. This isn't cheating winning a foul. This is just really unseemly. Honestly, I wish Allegri would just shelf the guy and say this is embarrassing to us. Especially shelf him when Pulisic is back so you don't need him maybe. Gab, I really wish you were more honest on your show. That's how you really feel. Yeah, literally. Is this shots fired? It's beyond shots fired. He used the word embarrassing.

33:38I think that's embarrassing from Gab. No, no, really. Come on. What is a player's faith or what they publicly say about their faith? We don't know what anybody does privately. Have to do with how you behave on a field. And by the way, stone cold, to borrow a phrase from Alejandro Moreno, 100 % a penalty, not just a smack on the face, A tug on the shoulder while he's beat from Parisi. What the hell is Gab talking about? I don't think he watched the game. I don't think he – maybe he didn't – maybe he needs glasses. Wow. I mean – We watched the play. I can't say it's 100 % a stone-cold penalty. I have my doubts of that being a penalty kick.

34:10He grabs him here. He smacks him across the face. He's beat. He's about to hit the ball. There is no way – look how softly he goes down. There's no way. Of course he goes down. That's what strikers do. When somebody fouls you, you want them to stay up and not get a penalty? I would question who he was if he did that. Stop yelling. It doesn't make you right. This is why Gab is saying, I don't agree with the religious comment either. There. Thank you. That to me is not. But here's the thing. Hold on. Would you not have done the same thing if you were there in that field and somebody tugs you, snags you across the face?

34:40Yeah, but it doesn't mean it's a penalty kick. Now, this is the thing. When you're a defender. No, no, but he's not saying whether it's a penalty kick. He's going at Santi as a cheater. I just told you. I don't agree with his religious take. Would he say the same thing about an Italian player, Gab? Would you? Would you? I don't think so. Show me the tape then. Show me the tape. Get over yourself here. What do you mean? That's ridiculous. What did Jules say? Did we hear Jules' response? Surely he shot that down. What's going on? Do you agree with anything Gab said? This to me is not a penalty. I agree with that.

35:08But if you're a defender. Well, a trained referee didn't agree with you. The center referee. Are you a trained ref? Yeah. Live in the moment. Then he looks at BAR and it's very clear. Oh, yeah. Where's your referee certificate? Let me talk. Let me talk. if you are Santi Jimenez and you feel it, you go down I've got no issue with that, even though I thought it was soft if you're a defender and you put your hands across somebody's torso upper area or face, that's the risk you take, so I've got no issue with VAR overturning it, I didn't think it was a penalty kick, not whatsoever I don't agree with what Gav is saying I agree with probably what may come if Salamakers, and you can say what you want about Santi Jimenez had international duty but if Salamaker's playing as a nine with Rafael Leal the writing's on the wall for me for Santi Jimenez he needs to start scoring goals and start scoring goals quickly or he's going to find himself on the outside looking in but I don't agree with what I was talking about the religious like because you talk to God because he is religious that means you can't embellish a foul on the field I don't agree with that one bit but I do for my money not think it was a foul did you hear Allegri's explanation for why Santi didn't start because I thought it was weird too.

36:19He said that he wanted to have a striker on the bench, and had he started Jimenez, he wouldn't have had any strikers available to bring off the bench. And Allegri also pointed out. I don't think that's weird. Well, maybe it's not weird to you. What do you think if there's more space in a player like Santi in the game's later stages of the game? Sure. If I'm the player, I don't want you to not start me because you want to be able to bring me off the bench. But I understand. The other thing he said is that in the second half, playing with Santi, that Rafa Leal was much better and had more space.

36:48So I think there might have been actually a takeaway from this game where Allegri is saying, actually, I may need to start this guy. And he also came close to scoring a goal about 15 minutes from time. He had a really good chance. He always came close to scoring a goal. I know. It's coming. I know it hasn't happened yet this season. I don't mind Santi because of his work rate. I don't mind Santi because of the movements he makes. They're very intelligent. And you know I like Santi. But the reality is, if you're Santi Jimenez, you've got to put the ball on the back of the net. Because people like Gab, they wouldn't hate on Santi Jimenez if he was constantly scoring goals.

37:17Yep. No goals in six starts. So I can't argue that. That was my question because we see Gab really fired up. We know the pressure that's on Santi Jimenez. Where is this anger coming from, Seb? Well, if you know Gab, I don't think it's anger. I don't think it's anger. Where is this? No, it's frustrating. Gab is a Milan fan. I think Gab feels it. He wants AC Milan not to just do well. They've not spent money on a forward like they've spent on Santi Jimenez. And he also wants them to represent his worldview, whatever absurdity he just spewed there about being religion and not cheating. Sorry, Gab, that's not the real world.

37:53And if Allegri is going to bench this guy, it's not for perceived diving. I think Allegri would want Jimenez to do whatever was necessary for Allegri to get a win. If we know anything about Allegri, he doesn't care how it comes. That would be my point, my response to Gab. And my analysis as to why Gab is so heated. I don't think he's saying this, like I said, about an Italian player. And I also don't think he's talking this way. It's just not AC Milan. What he's saying is he talks to God. Obviously, Santihimen doesn't talk to God. But Santihimen is the first one to give all glory to God when he talks on the interview.

38:22He's very kind. Yes. Yes. And that doesn't mean he's not a dog competitive. Him and a lot of players, too. We see a lot of goalkeepers. But again, I do want to. I agree. Let's leave the religion part aside. God doesn't want diving. Is that the takeaway gap? Because maybe this frustration that Milan. Literally one of the dumbest things I've ever heard on this show. Well, that's saying a lot. Yeah, because I hosted for a while, so you know there's been some dumb stuff said. But my goodness, Gab, take a break. Have a breath. Gab's texted me. All right. With that, Seve. Always a pleasure. Come back.

38:56I will. I will. Come back. All right. Probably won't be invited to Gab and Jules anytime soon. Gab will crush you. That's all I got to say. Run. Yeah, so we will have to tune in to the Gab and Jules show available at ESPN's PodCenter and Apple Podcasts.

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41:07All right, let's take it to some La Liga action. Getafe hosting Real Madrid. And Herc, 15-second protests, as well as we saw across from La Liga, protesting the game that will be played in the United States. Were the fans protesting this game as well? Oh, looks like it. Oh, yeah. A little bit empty there. No, no, no, it's the weather. We'll be here all week. All right, 15 seconds later. Let's take it to the 55th minute. Vinny Jr. coming into this one. 76th minute, though. Alain Neum is subbed on. We point that out for a reason because 46 seconds later, Neum, a red card here, Herc? Wow. Yikes. This has been building up, and he's not even looking at the play.

41:54He just takes a lunge, kicks Vinicius. This referee deemed it was a reckless contact and endangering his opponent. And he gone. Yeah, Mordalas had a thing or two to say here with Jude Bellingham. Stay tuned. We will break that down. To the 80th minute we go. Who else, Herc? But Kylian Mbappe. Yeah, Arda Guller comes into this game. He did not start. And once he comes in, he finds that lane. And Kylian does what Kylian does. It's a beautiful turn control right there. Beautiful ball by Arda Guller. And as soon as he turns, he does exactly where it's going. Goalkeeper gets a touch to it. He's going to want to do better there.

42:32He's going to want that one back. But it's too much power off the post and in. And Real Madrid in the driver's seat. Yes, they were. 84th minute, though. All right, Vinicius Jr. Alex Sancrise receives his second yellow for that foul. It's a stupid challenge. He makes a meal of it. Yes, yes, he does. but it's just such a dumb challenge to make if you're already sitting on a yellow. He's got the better of his emotions, and he gone. Oh, yeah. Fetafe down to nine men to close it out. 96-minute last chance for them. Abu Kamara, Thibaut Courtois coming in to save that one. Abu Kamara with a brilliant chance, and if you're around Madrid, you cannot allow this.

43:14You cannot allow a last-second opportunity when you're in control. Madrid wins 1-0. Here's Bordalas.

43:23Well, he was not with Belligan later, but Vinicius was directed to me saying that he had a very good change. Then I told him to go for the inside and then he said to me that I had to be in the locker room and I said to him, you play and not talk much. Simplemente eso. Pero bueno, no tiene mayor importancia. Pero creo que Vinicio no tiene que venir a decirme, a provocar y a decirme el cambio muy bien, el cambio.

44:09But I want to start with the player side of it. Are you cool with Vinicius Jr. and Bellingham playing mind games with Bordalas? Absolutely. Absolutely. Because if you base your identity on being strong, being tough, being aggressive, playing mental games, this is what Getafe do. Their motto is, esto es fútbol, papá. This is soccer, daddy. So you need to play that game, but you need to also know how to endure the comebacks. El que se lleva se aguanta. Exactly. That's it. And Vinicius simply outplayed Getafe at the wrong game. And that's why they're so annoyed. Because Vinicius was super smart. He started playing mind games with not only the Getafe players, also the fans, also Pepe Bordalas.

44:57And he was better than them playing the wrong game. That's why they're so annoying. He was the game changer for Real Madrid with his attitude. And this is why Getafe players cannot stand him, because he beat them at the wrong game. It's as simple as that. Yeah, absolutely. For someone who's been so criticized for his attitude, it seems like he finally found a way to properly channel it, correct? Yeah. In the last two seasons, Vinicius Jr. saw 27 yellow cards. In this season, he has only seen one yellow card. So that tells you that there's a difference, that he has matured, that he knows when to talk, who to talk to, and having the right attitude.

45:40I really enjoyed Vinicius out playing Getafe at that dirty mind games game. It's unbelievable. And this is part of the game as well. Of course. If you remember, Michael Jordan was the pure, the sheer king of trash talking. This is also part of the game, and he was just better than Getafe at that. Yeah, it's a part of a game and we definitely welcome it. Yeah, Bordalas definitely can dish it, but clearly has a very difficult time of taking it because he has a higher rank of these players, truthfully, as a head coach versus what he's seeing in these rivals. But let's take it to the field here with Vinicius Jr.

46:16You just said he changed the game for Real Madrid. What do you make of him coming off the bench? It's not the first time that we see that this season. It's Xavi Alonso. Xavi Alonso dictating his hierarchy. He's telling the squad that he is the boss. And that's so different from Carlo Ancelotti. He managed the squad just taking care of the most successful players, caressing, giving them some love, love to Vinicius, love to Bellingham. Everyone was happy with Carlo Ancelotti. Xavi Alonso is totally different. He is the boss. He's in charge. And you play only if you deserve it. And that lifts the level of competitiveness in the squad.

46:57And Vinicius Jr. has to understand that if he wants to be an undisputed starter, he needs to start delivering and doing what Xavi Alonso requests from him. And it's as simple as that. And I saw a Vinicius Jr. very mature against Getafe. He totally accepted being on the bench for the first half. And then he did his part of the job, just changing the game and doing something profitable for Real Madrid. That was excellent for him. Yeah, absolutely. And Minister Jr. really understanding now, maybe a kind of new hybrid role now that he has with Real Madrid, because we know, as you said, the competition inside is really tough, which includes somebody and very young like Franco Mastantono and what we've seen from him as well this season as a starter coming off the bench.

47:40What has your overall impression been of someone who had interesting, I don't want to say really high expectations, interesting expectations from what we saw from him at River Plate and at such a young age here in La Liga? We need to trust the process with Franco Mastantuno. He's only 18. He only played 45 official games with River Plate before joining Real Madrid. They paid a lot of money for him. And we need to follow the patterns. Remember, especially talking about Vinicius Jr., remember Vinicius Jr. in his three first seasons with Real Madrid, he only scored 15 goals in all competitions in three seasons.

48:22So it took him a while to mature and to grow into what he was expected to be. Franco Mastantuono will go down the same path, same as Arda Guller. Arda Guller this season has grown a lot compared to the last season under Carlo Ancelotti. It's not only because there has been a managerial change. It is also because it takes you time. When you arrive to Real Madrid at such a young age, you need time to develop yourself. You need to establish confidence. You need to grow into your role. And they need time. I really like what I've seen of him, especially on the pitch, especially talking about his performance and especially in defensive duties.

49:05He's very disciplined, very obedient, and he executes Xavi Alonso's game plan perfectly. So yesterday against Getafe, he was asked to stay wide in wide areas to kind of try to stretch out the back five of Getafe. He delivered. Sometimes he spent a lot of the passages of the game not touching the ball, not having many, many interventions. But especially defensively speaking, we see this hit map. 12 tackles, 18 recoveries. So he's already a top five in this category on the team. And this is what Mastantuono brings on the table. Intensity, high pressure and obedience to Xavi Alonso. Yeah, and the young part of it, the youth part of it is only an added benefit as well.

49:55Absolutely. There's so much room for improvement. He's got amazing skills and qualities already, but he can still grow and become a superstar. Same as Vinicius Jr. did. Yeah, you mentioned the defensive side of him, but here's some video of his attacking skills as well. This is someone who's very quick as well and likes to get involved very much up front, Alex. And when he's given the freedom to roam around and to leave that right-hand side of Real Madrid's attack, he's been fantastic. He's been linking up with all different players. He's scored the goal already, this goal against Levante, which is kind of remarkable because he's a left-footer player and he scored this goal after with his right foot.

50:35So you've seen just little flashes here and there of what he could accomplish with more time on the squad. Yeah, absolutely. Like you said, patience with someone so young. And it's very different than what we see with La Minha Mal or any of the younger players here for Barcelona because they're very much used to La Liga, the Barcelona system, the Spanish playing way, and Masantono just getting started but showing positive signs, as you said. If you think about it, La Minha Mal was raised in Barcelona. He didn't have to change anything in his life. This kid is 18 years old, and he has moved from Buenos Aires to Madrid, so to different continents, to different lifestyles, a lot of pressure on him because the amount of money that Real Madrid paid for him.

51:20So he needs time, time and confidence. Yeah, absolutely. I mean, we know how tough it's been for someone like Enric Chu, who came at such a young age. Mastanduono just getting started. Let's take it to the flip side of things. with Barcelona facing Girona and what we saw from them this weekend. There's the man of the hour, every hour, La Minha Mal there. And, of course, we saw the 15 seconds of protest. Alex, did you expect this from Barcelona? I did expect this from Girona, but you could also expect it from Barcelona's players. If you remember Frankie de Jong's press conference when they announced his contract extension, he openly said that they're not okay with playing in Miami.

52:02Yeah, definitely not okay. This great play here and a great goal to get things started. One nil there for Pedri. Let's acknowledge how good Pedri is. Everyone talks about La Minya Malba. This goal is, do you remember Juan Román Riquelme? The quality, the ability that he had to freeze the time in any area of the pitch. Pedri didn't score. Pedri just played a pass to the back of the net. Yeah, absolutely. And he makes it look so easy. Girona trying to get a reaction here, and they do, Alex. Cesar, he goal from a 36-year-old, Axel Vizzo, signed for Girona in the last day of the summer transfer window after getting released by Atletico de Madrid.

52:45This is a true goal. Yeah, it's tough to ask Chesney maybe to do a little bit more there because it really just bounces perfectly. But the reaction from Araujo. And assisted by Frankie de Jong, another player that has been under question at Barcelona. This is exactly what the Uruguayan needed to regain confidence. Three points in the pocket for Barcelona. Here's Hansi Flick today. When we analyze the match against Gerona, it's something about... I always speak, you know that, I always speak about positioning. functioning. The right height, the right distance between the players and the opponent is very important.

53:28If you are too far away from that, you lose. You have to run too much, give the opponent a little bit more time to play out and this is also what kills us in the defence. It's about that. We have to find the right position. and from there we have to jump, we have to oppress. Yeah, we know Barcelona has had a long list of injuries here. La Minha Mal fortunately coming back as we saw, but we have Rafinha on the screen for a reason. How much have they been missing him, Alex? They've been missing him so badly, but not only when it comes to goals and assists and creating attacking plays. It's about the defence.

54:11And we've got a couple of examples of the game against Girona. Marcus Russell was playing on the left-hand side. Tony Fernandes has a false nine. But look how the lack of coordination, how disjointed the Barcelona players are, how much space in between the lines. There's always an open Girona player. Julio Cundé overloaded every single time on that left-hand side of Girona's attack because Lamin Jamal didn't track back. So Barcelona are missing Rafinha because Rafinha was the trigger of that pressure, especially when Barcelona lost the ball, the counterpress. Look how disjointed this effort is.

54:51Frankie de Jong looks like he's cornering his opponent, but they get away from this position. And pay attention to Pedri. Pedri looks like a police officer just directing the traffic, pointing out everyone. Pedri has to track to the right because La Minha Mal is not doing it. And Laminya Mal, who's the player who should be keeping track of Axel Witzel, is a player that is just watching the play unfold. This is a problem for Barcelona. They need to be fully committed to press. Otherwise, they're going to leave their defenders totally exposed. Yeah, you got so excited there. You wanted to jump in and help Pedri there.

55:31Come on, Pedri! We're like pointing everyone. I mean, Rafinha's been so valuable. And we know that it's kind of been this vice versa. It said a lot last season, too, that without Rafinha, without La Min, Rafinha wouldn't be the Rafinha that he is. But it's crazy how important in that domino effect that he has now with Barcelona. So how can Hansi counter this if it's not resulting in how we saw this game against Girona? Being more insistent, being more insistent on Marcus Rashford and especially to La Min, Jamal, to keep doing what they did last season, press relentlessly. And for some reasons, Lamin Jamal, maybe because he's nursing some injuries, maybe because he's considered the best player already on the squad, but he's not delivering that same level of defensive commitment.

56:22And Marcos Rafferty is not used to that level of defensive intensity at Manchester United. But Barcelona are not only missing Rafinha in the defensive aspect of the game. Remember at Clásico last year in October? He killed Real Madrid, bursting into the space. There's no other player in Barcelona's squad that can make those movements over and over, trying to find the back of the defenders, bursting into the space, running and creating space not only for himself but for his teammates. This is something that Barcelona are missing so badly. And look about the pressing. This is a goal that Barcelona scored in the last Clásico.

57:03So dispossessing Lucas Vázquez, linking up with Ferran Torres, and then mercilessly just scoring that goal. Just playing. Doesn't get tired. No, no, no. Just playing with Thibaut Courtois. But the thing is, they're missing Rafinha in both aspects. They're missing Rafinha in the offensive aspect, which is the most obvious to everyone, with goals, with assists, with those runs into the space. but they're also missing Rafinha in the defensive aspect of the game, triggering the pressure. And let's not forget that Rafinha is also one of the captains of the squad. And he can also just call someone out when they're not putting 100 % of the effort.

57:47Yeah, I mean, he's really stepped into a leadership role, as you just mentioned with Barcelona. I mean, they'll need all the leadership they can need coming this weekend. El Clásico, Alex, you know that. Clearly, we all have it circled on our calendar. How can Real Madrid take advantage of someone so important like Rafinha not being there? If Rafinha is not available for Hansi Flick, Barcelona cannot press as effective as we saw. And the problem for Barcelona is that Real Madrid have a lot of players that thrive in pocket spaces. So when there's space in between the lines, if the midfielders are too far away from the defenders and you allow a player like Jude Bellingham or Arda Guller to find the ball in that pocket space and turn, let's not forget that Arda Guller is the best partner of Kylian Mbappé.

58:37If Barcelona leave some gap in between the midfielders and the defenders and Arda Guller gets the ball there, they better run for cover. Arda Guller being one of the most important pieces of Madrid this season that was not in a lot of people's bingo cards this season, but he's really stepped into this role as well. A quick prediction before we say goodbye to you for the Clásico? It's going to be a game decided by little margins, and I give Real Madrid a little bit of advantage, especially because we've seen how weak Barcelona are, defensively speaking, and how ruthless is Kylian Mbappé in the start of the season.

59:13So kind of leaning over to Real Madrid. Yeah, like 2-1 for Real Madrid, maybe. All right, all right. And Alex, we trust, as always. Alex Pareja, Twinsy, thank you so much. We want to remind you what's coming up this weekend. El Clasico, Real Madrid vs. Fútbol Clube Barcelona, Sunday at 11.15 a.m. Eastern. Coverage beginning at 10 a.m. on ESPN+. And you can watch it anywhere. ESPN +, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, and the ESPN app.

59:42Looking forward to this weekend. Looking forward, though, for right now, for the first time on Football America, as it is, drum roll please, Hercules. Your top goals of the weekend? You ran over here fast. Top goals of the weekend. And we're going with number five. Andres Dreyer versus Portland. This was smooth. Give this man something to shoot at. Anywhere you want. Left-footed banger. I have some questions for the goalkeeper. No, no, no. He just kept swerving away from him. You got that bounce in Portland. he does what he wants, MVP candidate. I don't think he will win number two. But anyways, all right, number four.

1:00:25We've got one man who was a shoe-in for newcomer of the year, Sung Sung-Ming. I don't know what Colorado is doing. Colorado is playing for their playoff life, and he just cuts it to the left and smashes this. You've got to get closer. You cannot allow a player that talented little step over and just smash it. You can't just back up into your own half, into your own box. Little hops, I don't know what that was. Jonathan Osorio, career leader at Toronto FC in caps and appearances. He is not left-footed. He comes across this, and I'll be honest, I don't think he catches it as cleanly as he would like, which makes the shot even better.

1:01:08It's a little swerver. It's a little slicer into the upper net. Look at him. He's laughing about it with Richie Larea. Yeah, I got you. I got you. Next. Number two, Alex Mendez, Tampa Bay Rawlins. This is respect. This is respect. Look at the goalkeeper. Look at the goalkeeper. He doesn't move. That is respect. Like, why bother? Is this the same Alex Mendez that was with the U.S. soccer program? Is this the same Alex Mendez that... No, is that? Oh, wow. Okay, Alex. Tampa Bay, I see you. Number one, Lionel Messi, 38 years of age. Does anybody in a yellow jersey want to drop or press? Does anybody in a yellow jersey want to maybe not let him dribble and shoot?

1:01:55Does anybody in a yellow jersey want to defend? They were dead in the water until they weren't Lionel Messi. Number one debut on the Hercule list. So predictable. So predictable. I have one more for you. You do? I have one more for you. All right, let's go. We've got a bonus goal. Alejandro Moreno. No. Nadie is BNFC's Alejandro Moreno. His son, Ale Moreno, is in the house. Scores his first goal for Wofford. Watch this. A series of bounces. Oh, beautifully, beautifully controlled in midair with the left foot and then smashes it with the right. Oh, I love that that made the bonus. And? It wasn't from the Moreno distance that we're accustomed to.

1:02:45level of difficulty added in there and beautifully finished. Okay. So when it does come from that Ale Moreno distance, it'll be a lot closer to goal. And it will be in your Hercules. It won't be a bonus. It'll have a moment of its own. We will see. We will see. We will see. Congrats to Alejandro Moreno and the Moreno family celebrating the first goal. I love that. I love that it made it here. He's a defensive midfielder. He's more of a defensive player. Oh, so that goal tasted even sweeter. Exactly. Tasted even sweeter. We will be back on Thursday for a full recap of MLS wildcard. So we will see you then.

1:03:17Thanks. Let's go. Thursday.

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