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In short
Football Weekly episode covers three main areas: Arsenal’s Champions League quarter-final first leg at Sporting (Lisbon), Bayern’s 2-1 win at Real Madrid (Bernabéu), and an EFL/European leagues roundup.
Guests/panel
Barry Glendening (host), Max Rushden, Archie Rintoul, and Nicky Bandini (Guardian football writer).
Arsenal vs Sporting
Arsenal win 1-0 late; David Raya is praised as “extraordinary/magnificent” and Havertz scores after Martinelli’s pass.
Key claims
Arsenal aren’t entertaining but are effective in high-pressure games; Raya’s calm defending changes the team; squad depth and late goals matter.
Notable examples
Sporting’s 17-game home unbeaten run; Arsenal’s bench impact (38 goals/assists from substitutes); Havertz’s first touch/finish.
Bayern vs Real
Bayern win 2-1; Neuer is man of the match with nine saves; Kane scores early in the second half.
Key claims
Bayern’s pressing and mental fortitude; Real’s chances could have been bigger.
Notable examples
Diaz’s opener, Trent’s cross for Real’s goal, Vinícius one-on-one denied by Neuer.
EFL
Championship promotion/playoff race (Southampton surge; Millwall lose; Ipswich top two), League One promotion for Lincoln, League Two tight top/bottom, plus EFL results.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOArsenal's Performance in Lisbon
0:45 to 2:50
Discussion on Arsenal's recent match in Lisbon, including the quality of play and key moments.
“They lost to Norwich, helping Ipswich into the top two.”
Arsenal’s Strengths and Weaknesses
2:50 to 5:20
Analysis of Arsenal's strengths, including player performances and tactical approach.
“on a a nearby smaller screen and you kept wanting to watch the Bayern Real Madrid game because there just wasn't much happening.”
The Impact of David Raya
5:20 to 7:50
Exploring the influence of goalkeeper David Raya on Arsenal's defense and overall team performance.
“Ah, another still life goes begging as you're invested in the quarterfinals of the Champions League.”
Pressure on Arsenal to Win
7:50 to 11:10
Discussion on the pressure for Arsenal to secure wins and the implications for their season.
“draw but Arsenal gave up very little they have a very good goalkeeper I do think David Raya I'm trying to find Arteta's phrase for him in his notes.”
Team Dynamics and Player Enjoyment
11:10 to 14:01
Exploring whether Arsenal players enjoy their style of play and the impact of management on their performance.
“If I was an elite level professional footballer who could take my pick of European sides, I honestly think that Arsenal under Arteta is the last place I dream of going.”
Arsenal vs. Sporting Lisbon Analysis
14:01 to 17:50
A detailed analysis of Arsenal's performance against Sporting Lisbon, noting key players and strategies.
“And yet, actually, Sporting deserve great credit for getting this far.”
Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid Breakdown
17:50 to 22:45
An in-depth look at the Bayern Munich and Real Madrid match, highlighting crucial moments and player performances.
“Part two, we will look back on a brilliant game of football at the Bernabeu.”
Player Performances and Tactical Insights
22:45 to 27:00
Discussion on individual player performances, including Harry Kane and Michael Olise, and tactical nuances of the match.
“I feel like this is a game where you can simultaneously say the correct team won.”
Bayern's Midfield Dynamics and Key Players
28:00 to 29:50
Explore the importance of Bayern's midfield and standout players in recent matches.
“And then Lyme obviously comes into the midfield a lot.”
Liverpool's Challenges and Upcoming Matches
29:50 to 31:30
Discuss the current struggles of Liverpool and their potential to surprise in upcoming games.
“Lennart Karl didn't come off the bench last night and he could be a weapon as well.”
Show all 19 chapters
EFL Championship Updates and Results
31:30 to 32:50
Get the latest updates on the EFL Championship, including Southampton's impressive run.
“after all so they might come away from Paris with the tie still in the balance.”
League Two and Managerial Changes
32:50 to 37:30
Review the latest League Two results and managerial changes in the lower leagues.
“Go and find Pele Mattson's strike for Norwich in this game.”
World Cup Concerns and FIFA Peace Prize
37:30 to 41:40
Discuss concerns about the upcoming World Cup and recent controversies surrounding FIFA.
“Just the astronomical prices people are being asked to pay for tickets, for parking spots, for transport, for hotel rooms.”
Luchescu's Legacy and Italian Football Fallout
41:40 to 42:01
Reflect on the legacy of coach Luchescu and the fallout from Italy's World Cup failure.
Power Struggles in Italian Football
42:01 to 43:39
Explore the internal conflicts within the Italian Football Federation and managerial prospects.
“in Italy, a bun fight and a power struggle.”
Como's Surprising Rise in Serie A
43:40 to 45:00
Discuss Como's unexpected performance and its implications for Italian football.
“And it could become the story that makes everything more interesting next weekend.”
Bundesliga's Current State
45:01 to 46:26
Analyze the challenges Borussia Dortmund faces despite a seemingly good season.
“They have a standout talented Nico Paz, who of course is only on loan from Real Madrid and might go back.”
Wolfsburg's Financial Mismanagement
46:27 to 48:25
Examine Wolfsburg's struggles in the Bundesliga amid significant spending.
“Dortmund are going to qualify for the Champions League again.”
Running Inspiration and Marathon Prep
48:26 to 50:38
Hear about the Milan Marathon and get tips from fellow runners.
“but but on a completely different level because in the bundesliga there is like there are teams who have money and many teams do not.”
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:00Max Rushden:This is The Guardian.
0:30Nicky Bandini:Mikel Arteta won't rest David Raya again. He was excellent. A much better game at the Bernabeu. Bayern could have put this tie to bed. Huge chances before Luis Diaz put them ahead. Kerry Kane made it two immediately after the break, but Real rallied. Trent's perfect ball from Mbappe, and the tie is alive. There's a big Easter of EFL to look back on after bigging up Millwall on Thursday. They lost to Norwich, helping Ipswich into the top two. In League One, Lincoln are promoted, and the mighty Hughes concede two last-minute equalisers in a row. Not now, lads. We'll do that. Salute Aaron Ramsey, do a bit of Serie A and the Bundesliga.
0:59Nicky Bandini:What were you doing when the world ended? You were listening to the Guardian Football Weekly.
1:09Nicky Bandini:On the panel today, Barry Glendening, welcome. Hello, Max. Hello, Archie Rintut. Isn't there a ceasefire, Max? Okay, I'll delay that for two weeks, but thank you so much. Hello, Nicky Bandini. Morning, Max. Let's start then in Lisbon. As Chris says, if you can't let the hand break off on the last night of civilisation, when can you? But look, I mean, not the best game, Nicky. And Arsenal weren't brilliant, but sporting is not an easy place to go. They had a 17-game unbeaten run there. And Arsenal just needed a win to go in off their backside. And maybe that's a bit disingenuous. They were probably better than that.
1:44Nicky Bandini:But what a massive moment for you. God, I don't want to be flippant about world news. It's far more important. But you have made me think now if that was the last game of football you ever saw. Yeah, I know. Not much of a game of football, I have to say. But listen, people say it doesn't matter how many times people who don't enjoy seeing Arsenal win pointed out. Arsenal fans don't care. The team's not interesting if they win. And they did win. And in the end, this was a really, really good result. Sporting had won 17 games in a row at home. And I know it's easy to roll eyes at that and go, oh, well, they're just dominant domestically or whatever.
2:23but know that that includes Champions League games that includes beating PSG here in a game where they in fact that game I think they had 25 % possession they still won 2-1 so they are a very effective team they know how to get results they obviously in the last round turned over that 3-0 difference against Bordeaux and smashed them 5-0 they're a good team and it really was quite painful viewing I was obviously main screening this with the the Bayern Real Madrid game on a a nearby smaller screen and you kept wanting to watch the Bayern Real Madrid game because there just wasn't much happening.
2:57But Nicolau Teta won't care. Arsenal fans don't care. They got a really good win away from home and now they control the tie going into the return leg in London.
3:05Nicky Bandini:Yeah, and Baz, that Havertz goal is... I think it's interesting. He's such a graceful player and he becomes more graceful because he's sort of vying for a spot with Jokeres in a way and Jokeres doesn't control and finish like that and Havertz did.
3:21Max Rushden:Yeah, it was a great pass from Martinelli to Havertz near the penalty spot. His first touch was just wonderful. Killed the ball stone dead and then slipped it past Rui Silva. Lovely touch, lovely finish. Got a much-needed win for Arsenal. Any win after two straight high-profile defeats is a good one. any win away from home against a team that's so good at home and has turned the stadium into a fortress is good. And I suppose there are the positives you take out of this. It was a bad game of football. And I really wish Hartzell would play a match. There's absolutely no harm in going away from home in the quarterfinal of the Champions League, winning 1-0.
4:12Max Rushden:That's brilliant. It's a great result. But I wonder, does anyone apart from Arsenal fans enjoy watching Arsenal? Because when you sit down to watch a football match, you're investing two, two and a half hours of your time that could otherwise be spent watching a movie, putting a dent in a box set, painting a picture, reading a book, whatever, walking the dog. And they all seem, with the possible exception of painting a picture, because I'm no good at art. They all seem like much better alternatives to watching Arsenal play football. During the group stage, they played with the handbrake off. They played with a bit of vim and vigour and swagger and they were enjoyable to watch.
4:57Max Rushden:But increasingly in high-pressure games, it's laborious, it's slow, it's monotonous, it's dull, belt and braces football. And when you compare that to the other game which was on last night, which we'll get to, I mean, it's just two different sports. I like the idea of you staring longingly at the easel
5:18Nicky Bandini:as you have to watch this. Champions League football. Ah, another still life goes begging as you're invested in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. Do you agree with that, Archie, as a neutral? My main takeaway was Barry's become such a modern football fan. Entertain me or you do not have my attention. Forget it. And I was thinking 20 years ago, Baz would have watched anything. It wouldn't have mattered what it was. But now with all the distractions around him, he's like, oh, but do I have better things to do? But yeah, I mean, look, ultimately, I can't really disagree. As someone who's had to watch quite a bit of Arsenal live in the flesh recently, I have to say the difference that David Raya makes in the calmness with which that team defends and seeing the difference from Southampton on Saturday.
6:15When Southampton got in behind, it didn't seem quite as calm. And also just the difference, I think, that Arsenal have on the ball, as we saw in the Carabao Cup final, what Raya can do. He really does improve that team a lot. We've talked a lot about Arsenal's strength and depth this season. and we've seen that actually if you drill through their creative midfield depth like it has been and then you force Martin Odegaard to come back with zero rhythm, having not started a game since January it was until that Southampton game, I think it's even tougher for them to look vaguely interesting to the likes of Barry and myself.
7:03So, yeah, it's quite an interesting one because they still have to eke out results. And I think it's really tweaked the narrative, the fact that they did get that late goal last night. Because if they hadn't, then it would have been, well, three games without a win. What does this mean for Bournemouth? And it's ramped up even further. So it does feel like a huge goal for their season. I don't want to totally read on their parade.
7:27Max Rushden:That Martin Zubomendi finish that was ruled out for the Yonkers offside. what a strike of a ball that was that was a wonderful non-goal I think that's like builds into a bigger point which is you can say it's boring because because it is it's not exciting football but that doesn't mean this there's no method to it and there's no and there's no reason that you win games like this yes of course when it's nil nil that late it could easily end in a draw but Arsenal gave up very little they have a very good goalkeeper I do think David Raya I'm trying to find Arteta's phrase for him in his notes. He's extraordinary, magnificent, incredible, was the way Arteta put it.
8:05And it's true. I mean, David Raya is a great goalkeeper. Alan Shearer was talking about this on commentary last night. Listen, when you're playing elsewhere in the team and you know you've got a keeper like that behind you, it gives you a level of confidence that transforms things. But I do think it's worth saying again that these goals, even when they come late by accident 38 goals and assists Arsenal have had this season from players off the bench and it's a not particularly novel point to come back to you because we've made it since early in the season but Arsenal's squad depth is part of why they think they are ready to win trophies this season certainly there is a greater anxiety about that after losing two cups back to back but they are still in the Champions League.
8:52They are still top of the league and part of that is because you've built a squad of extraordinary depth and extraordinary quality. I mean, Kai Habits is a player who's been here and won it before and that makes a difference as well. Is it me or are the last 10 minutes of Arsenal games actually really exciting though? Yeah. Because there seems to be, they keep having big moments actually throughout this season where they get late goals and they do come up trumps I mean, it went the other way against Southampton. But if I think back to Martinelli scoring against Man City earlier in the season, the late Jocheres moment against Everton, against Wolves, for example, there is something in this team that still is there.
9:38And then, yeah, I contrast that, Max, with I contrast that with I was sat right behind the bench at the weekend, right behind the Arsenal bench at St. Mary's. And seeing how much Mikel Arteta bitches to his assistants about his players and seeing how at one point he turns around and Joe's like, where is Ben White?
10:04Nicky Bandini:Maybe he's like Barry, maybe he's sitting there going, I could be painting a picture. So it's the interesting thing, I think, is that when you look at the team, right, and you go, well, Saka or Madaweke are really exciting players. Martinelli's a really exciting player. Trossard's a super clever player. Odegaard's so creative. Eze as well. You've got like Calafiore's a really dynamic attacking fullback. You sort of think they've got all the ingredients to be like a really sort of swashbuckling team. And yet they aren't. I mean, producer Tyre, who people might know from the Tuesday Cup, is a big Arsenal fan, who had to mute the group on Saturday when people were getting excited about Southampton winning.
10:38Nicky Bandini:He said, we don't enjoy it either, but we have to. We have to watch it.
10:42Max Rushden:I do wonder if the players enjoy it. Being micromanaged by this control freak. We saw that thing from the training ground the other day with the, I don't know what they were doing, everyone holding byros and shuffling around like some sort of weird Scottish traditional dance. I have no idea what that was about. I presume there was some sort of reason or logic behind it. But if they don't win trophies and they haven't won trophies since 2020, what is the point of this? If I was an elite level professional footballer who could take my pick of European sides, I honestly think that Arsenal under Arteta is the last place I dream of going.
11:31Nicky Bandini:Winning is everything. I think this is probably any level of football. Like any level. if you come off and you've won you forget almost everything that has happened and and i suppose nikki that means it it feels so important that they win something this season right yeah i think to bring it back to the the smaller picture i guess of last night it wasn't the sort of performance that makes me think they can go on and win this competition when you're watching bayon and we'll get to bayon and i mean i i think it's easy for arsenal fans to go we already beat bayon in the group stage this is not the same Bayern it's not the same Arsenal in my opinion I think Arsenal playing worse Bayern are playing much better I think that's those those two things have shifted and I think the Champions League right now feels like a long way off for Arsenal even though in theory it's only what four games off now from from winning the whole competition um but they are still top of the Premier League they are still currently nine points clear all by it City have that game in hand in the Premier League and I do think that it's again as as unexciting as it will be to anyone who's not an Arsenal fan, winning the Premier League would be a really big deal for Arsenal and for all the players there.
12:34And I think that's worth saying. I do think on the excitement factor, there is one thing that, just to throw into as well, which is I could see on social media and I could feel as getting towards the end of that game, this feeling of, oh, well, Max Downwind can come on soon and that'll put a bit of vim into things. I just think, listen, I'm with everyone on the Max Downwind train. I'm excited for him. But I think that's another reminder of how desperately Arsenal need Saka back just because they need someone who can freelance. They need someone who can be that slightly more unpredictable element who isn't just this 16-year-old who is amazing and who's going to be great, but let's not put it all on him to be the one fun thing in the team.
13:15That's such an unfair expectation. Just on the point of, do these players want to play in this way? I think it's interesting because Mikel Arteta has the upper hand in that he can say of almost the entirety of this team, I made you into being this close to being a winner. Who came in on a bigger status to this club than where the club is? Not really anyone. I mean, Martin Zubemendi won the Euros with Spain. I think that that dynamic means that it's not quite as straightforward as well. You know, we want to play exciting football. The players have not got really other experiences of doing that.
13:56This is the closest that they've all come and this is the way that they know. so that also makes a difference for them and and when you're i think when you're playing a game in in their position you're just focusing on okay well what's the next scenario that we have to face and i think entertaining people is is of little interest yeah i mean it is worth mentioning we
14:20Nicky Bandini:talked about raya that the the save from the arauho strike because the you know i it took me about four replays to think he got anything on him it's a wonderful pass and it's a great strike and that was of the saves i thought that was the you know the really elite one wasn't it i don't have any i think we've done well to get 60 minutes out of that is what i think like you know you know i think we say sporting did well yeah i thought they were yes very good point actually take it away we continue to we continue even after the bordeaux game like it was it was more well bordeaux have lost this, haven't they?
14:57And yet, actually, Sporting deserve great credit for getting this far. And I think that when people look at the whole draw, they go, oh, all the usual teams. But Sporting are not really used to being here. And the fact that under Ruben Amorim, they really stepped up to becoming this third power in Portugal. And the fact that they have, and I mean that in terms of qualifying for the Champions League, was not a regular thing. that they were doing. So that they're in this position now is also thanks to Ruben Amorim and the legacy that he left. And this game is still not done. It's only 1-0. And Sporting actually went to the Emirates a few years ago in the Europa League and managed to win there and knock them out in similarly tight circumstances.
15:49They have some really good players who are good at combining with few touches around the box so this this could still be
15:58Nicky Bandini:interesting next week uh coefficient news this win for arsenal means five spots in the champions league for premier league clubs so that is good news for your liverpools and your chelseys and your astern villas and your manchester united's johnny says any chance of a eulogy for aaron ramsey's career one of the heroes of euro 2016 the welsh euro 96 one of those midfielders who could just decide to go up a gear and win a game by themselves. Yeah, he announced his retirement yesterday. Started out at Cardiff City. It was signed by Arsene Wenger in 2008. Spent more than a decade at Arsenal. Had stints after that with Juve, Nice, Cardiff and Rangers.
16:32Nicky Bandini:And his last club was Mexican side Pumas. At the end of the last year, he won three FA Cups, won the Serie A title, Coppa Italia and the Scottish Cup. Chris Coleman called him the best Welsh midfielder ever. Got 86 caps. You know, he was integral in that Euro 2016. run for Wales to the semi-final going to the team of the tournament Nicky what a great player I have this image it's Galatasaray away I was watching that goal he scored I don't know if you remember with his left foot it's sort of on the volley it bounces up and it's just the most beautiful strike but yeah a great footballer yeah and I think that was true even definitely into his time at Juventus there was that feeling that if he could just be on the pitch and stay consistent and he was, the talent was still there and especially that ability, frankly, to change a game just by having that finishing and by having that ability to score a brilliant goal out of nowhere.
17:28I think he was a really wonderful footballer and I think unfortunately for lots of us, you just always ask that question of if it's not for that injury at Stoke, do we have a different story to tell about this guy? Because it was pretty clear that his career never, normally it never showed moments of being the same, But it was never fully the same after that injury.
17:47Nicky Bandini:Yeah, well, we wish him well. And that'll do for part one. Part two, we will look back on a brilliant game of football at the Bernabeu.
18:02Nicky Bandini:Welcome to part two of the Guardian Football Weekly. So Real Madrid 1, Bayern Munich 2. This is the most played tie in European Cup history. 40 shots in total, 20 each. Manuel Neuer is 40 and got man of the match. made nine saves but it's weird it didn't feel like an even game to me Archie I mean I feel like Bayern will be kicking themselves that they are not further ahead after this game. In terms of performances this season this was not their best one and yet because of the challenge that going away to Real Madrid presents I think that this was mentally their best performance of the season and the biggest win of Vincent Company's time at the club so far because you saw it in that first half where Diopamacano has a chance where you think if if the roles are reversed and it's Kane who's on the end of Upamacano's cross then it's going in and you see that he struggles to adjust his weight you have the Serge Gnabry chance where Thiago Pizzac for the second game running somehow gets away with a bad piece of build-up play at the back and rescued by a goalkeeping...
19:17It's not quite as much of a goalkeeping miracle as the last one was. But anyway, the point is, I think you see that actually after that chance, Real Madrid go down the other end with Kylian Mbappe and create something out of nothing. And that's where you're thinking, are Bayern starting to wobble here? But to be honest, I think this was a victory of Bayern's mental fortitude that despite the fact that passing wasn't quite as precise as usual, that it seemed like players were a little bit off colour, the fact that they still found their way through and managed to win. and of course as you say Manuel Neuer even at 40 to see him have as much fun as he did with each save and kind of puffing out his chest after each one it tells a story of its own I don't think Bayern will be kicking themselves because they know that they will still create chances back home and actually that they can play better whereas Real Madrid it felt like were at their limits and could only cause Bayern so many issues I mean and lost made Barry of you know the the
20:24Nicky Bandini:strike force that Real Madrid have and it is good but actually like Diaz and Alise along you know either side of Kane is it feels like it's as good as it can be like it must be it's so hard to defend against that.
20:38Max Rushden:Yeah, I know Neuer got man of the match. I'd say Alise was very much in that conversation. He absolutely tore Alvaro Carreras, a new one, the Real Madrid left back. He had a nightmare game. Diaz's goal was brilliant. The build-up play between Kane and Gnabry, superb. Actually, Thomas Tuchel was at this game. I mean, he doesn't need to go to the Burnabout for that, to figure out that Harry Kane is an important player. But I think Trent Alexander-Arnold won't have done anything to convince him he should be in his World Cup plans because he made a couple of big mistakes and also provided a delightful cross for the Real Madrid goal.
21:25Max Rushden:That was a wonderful cross. We all know what he can do going forward. It's his defensive frailties that mean he isn't in the England squad. And Jude Bellingham, I thought, was good when he came on. He made a few rampaging runs forward. But this was a – I loved this game. It was so exciting. I think the speed and imagination with which Bayern Munich moves the ball around at times is almost mesmerizing. And Real Madrid, often calamitous at the back. There was one stage where Lunan, the goalkeeper, played just the mother of all hospital passes to a defender who had three Bayern Munich players surrounding him in close proximity.
22:10Max Rushden:What are you doing? And that probably should have cost him a goal. Vinicius Junior missed a big chance. Neuer made nine saves, as you say. It was a really good game. I think the better team won, but it could have gone either way.
22:26Nicky Bandini:Yeah, I don't know, Nicky, maybe it's sort of you're watching the game. And so mentally, by the time Real Madrid come back into it, and that was quite Bellingham inspired. You're like, Bayern should be three up. But like credit to Real Madrid. I mean, like you can never write off Real Madrid. You know of all the teams you can't write off. It's Real Madrid. And they did really rally in that last sort of half hour. Well, even at 0-0, there were some pretty big chances for Real Madrid. I feel like this is a game where you can simultaneously say the correct team won. Bayern were the better team, in my opinion.
22:54but I also don't think it would have been that unreasonable if Real Madrid had scored four I think they could have won five, four and you would have thought that's fair enough that's kind of how the game went and it was a very Real Madrid in the Champions League game because they tend to look like that, right? Every time you've got Vinicius and Mbappe on the pitch together when they go forward like this there's not many teams that manage to contain them very well Bayern were brave enough to come and try and play them and succeed at playing them, frankly and that's because they have attacking talents of their own who can stand up to those two.
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23:26I mean, Alicé is giving, at this point, has to be giving France a real selection dilemma up front because you have a number of forwards there that don't fit between Mbappe and Dembele and Alicé and all the rest. There's so much to go into that attack for France. I don't know what the answer is, but Alicé feels like since the winter, maybe since November or December, Archie could say better than me, but it feels like he's been cheat code level of good recently. He's been absolutely outrageous. on top of that harry kane is harry kane might be having the best season of his whole career um and and that goal that finish was exemplary of it especially coming off injury as he has been so both of these teams have such extraordinary attacking talent and then bayern also have as you guys have been saying this great goalkeeper i think even beyond the saves there was that one moment when Vinicius goes clean through on Neuer and it's one-on-one and Neuer just stands up to him it reminds me of my favorite one-on-one keeper always I say favorite I hated him at the time but the one I always think of as the best was Peter Schmeichel because he just made himself so enormous and didn't ever go to ground too early and Neuer did that to Vinicius and drove him wide and didn't let him get a shot off but that was another chance that Madrid could have scored from Madrid could have scored so many goals in this game and I still think that they deservedly lost The chances that Real Madrid create, it feels like only Real Madrid can create these chances.
24:53The whole concept of XG of Real Madrid in a Champions League game goes out the window because it feels like the kind of position and power that Kylian Mbappe can put on a shot is far superior to what a normal player can. And they do have just these pockets of extreme ability. And ultimately, it's a victory for Bayern as a team. And comparing the two philosophies of how they approach football, and you look at the way that both of Bayern's goals come out of their pressing traps of Real Madrid falling into that, and they win the ball, and they turn it over, and they create a fast chance. but also it's a victory for the medical team at Bayern for the fact that they've managed to get what has been their best starting 11 on the pitch at the right time last season against Inter they had nine injuries where it was a completely different picture and I've seen this season how Vincent Kompany rotates his team and has had every different combination has tried it out and it meant knowing coming into this game that this was the way to go.
26:06We do also need to say, because if Harry Kane doesn't score in this game, then the narrative is, well, Harry Kane, another big game, hasn't turned up. And now kind of he scores. It's like, oh, well, of course, Harry Kane scores. And the fact is, is that actually at the same stage of the competition last year against Inter, he misses a much easier chance at nil-nil. and I think it is still another step for him to come up with the coolness that he did even after actually not having a great first half by his standards in terms of doing the things that watching Bayern we're used to seeing him do so well which is spraying balls left, right and centre over 50 yard passes and that that wasn't going to shake him out of his head so credit to him as well I can't contradict anything Nicky's saying about Harry Kane what Michael Elise is doing.
26:59All I'd say actually about Michael Elise is it's been the whole season. And that's actually probably the most terrifying he's looked. I was also reminded a battle of ex-Preston against ex-Redding in the Champions League, which is also kind of fun to think about.
27:16Nicky Bandini:Yeah, Harry Kane, first Englishman to score 49 goals in a season for a team in Europe's top five leagues since Clive Allen for Spurs in 86-87. I wonder if Lunin could have done, I sort of feel, if Courtois had been there would he have saved that shot maybe that's harsh on you know Kane did take it very early and you know the answer for France Nicky will always be in the end with all their attacking talent somehow Olivier Giroud will be leading the line that's what I see happening I did Archie I did want to ask about that midfield of Bayern because it's sort of not it's not exciting necessarily but like you saw Pavlovich the way he like he wins that ball for the second goal Kimmich is You know, he might be 96 now, but like he's so good.
28:01Nicky Bandini:And then Lyme obviously comes into the midfield a lot. And I think he's such a great player. Usually we actually see a lot more rotations from this Bayern team in how they play and how they press the opposition. In the PSG game earlier this season, you saw Deo Upamecano being the first line of attack at certain points. So it is really dependent on the team dynamic and how well everybody knows everyone else's role and when to push up at the right time. Pavlovich has really grown this season. He has a greater aura about him and that game against Arsenal where Declan Rice ran the show so much. I think it set down a marker to Bayern's midfield of you need to be able to impose yourself on a game as much as Declan Rice is able to.
28:52Kimmich has always had this ability with the ball, but sometimes he gets caught off it. I think that he had a very good game last night as well. And Pavlovich actually in the first half was misplacing a few passes. But there I think we maybe saw the impact of Vincent Kompany's man management in the half time. it seemed like words have been said. Let's not forget, they scored 20 seconds into the second half. And just the energy with which Pavlovich came out in the second half was, okay, yeah, we're here to play. I've settled into this occasion now. Because let's also not forget, this is the first time Bayern have won at Real Madrid in 25 years.
29:30I know they've got through there in Champions League games before, in the semifinals, most famously in 2012, I think it was. But this was still a big result for them. But yeah, this was their best team. It's not quite as good with Leon Goretzka there, for example. And that they've still got players to come back into rhythm like Alphonso Davies, like Jamal Musiala, I think is a good sign for them. Lennart Karl didn't come off the bench last night and he could be a weapon as well. There are so many different components to this Bayern team that makes it very exciting. And as Barry was talking about with the way that they combine and how exciting that is to watch, I guess it's the kind of football that Real Madrid can't play.
30:16And the fact that they're able to break down Real Madrid in the way that they were, in ways that it made football look so simple. And yet it's really not that easy to pull apart a team like Real Madrid. So, yeah, still a second leg to come, but it's encouraging signs for Bayern. I think they're favourites to win the whole tournament for me I just wonder if you agree with that I think Bayern are the best team in Europe this season you know what the funny thing is because I've seen so much Bundesliga Bayern and I've seen in past years okay they're this good but what does it mean in Europe I sometimes struggle to trust my eyes and it's more like I don't want to overestimate what I've seen I am blathering on because the answer would just be yes they are the favourites
31:00Nicky Bandini:I didn't want to say but I felt it Barthas Letty tonight as well as PSG Liverpool I guess Baz is this kind of make or break for Arna Slott?
31:11Max Rushden:I don't know is the answer to that I don't know what the Liverpool hierarchy think of what's going on under Slott no one's giving Liverpool a prayer in this game I think they might surprise us it seems unlikely that they will do anything other than lose but it is Liverpool after all so they might come away from Paris with the tie still in the balance. The fans are upset at the moment because Liverpool have just announced, at a time of relative crisis at the club, the club hierarchy have announced that ticket prices will be increasing each year for the next three years. So that has further enraged, already unhappy fans.
31:55Max Rushden:The amount of money involved, it's significant for fans, but not significant for the club. I think it will result in maybe an extra£2 million revenue a year, which in terms of Premier League clubs is chicken feed pennies. So I don't know why they would make an announcement like this at a time when fans are already unhappy. It smacks of them not really reading the room properly. I know Spirit of Shankly have called on fans to protest through the medium of not spending any money at Anfield ahead of their game at the weekend to spend their money in businesses outside the ground. So that isn't going to help matters, but you would imagine PSG should beat them if they're on top of their game.
32:43Nicky Bandini:Well, we'll find out, and we'll talk about it on tomorrow's pod. Sid joining us for that. That'll do for part two, part three. We'll begin with the EFL.
32:57Nicky Bandini:welcome to part three of the guardian football weekly uh so then uh in the championship last night southampton continued their brilliant run they won 5-1 at wrexham uh so they overtake them they are in the final playoff spot at the moment and you certainly couldn't write them off winning the rest of their games the way they're playing so they have 66 hull have 68 then three teams on 72 two, Millwall, Middlesbrough and Ipswich. Millwall lost to Norwich. Go and find Pele Mattson's strike for Norwich in this game. Hull drew at Coventry, so close to promotion. And Ipswich were pretty lucky. They beat Birmingham 2-1, but they had one of those.
33:34Nicky Bandini:Did the Birmingham score or did the ball cross the line or not? It's a disgraced type thing. And at the bottom, Leicester failed to beat Sheffield Wednesday, which is sort of almost impossible. And actually, Leicester equalised late on. Poor Wednesday. I saw quite a lot of that game.
33:49Max Rushden:The Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper, Pierce Charles, who is the brother of Southampton's Shea, was quite extraordinary. Some of the saves he pulled off were just out of this world. And I needed a Leicester win to remain as one of only two people in a game of last man standing. And I was gutted. absolutely got it. But yeah, hats off to Wednesday. Apart from that, I felt really sorry for them. But yeah, Piers Charles, the saves he was pulling off are unbelievable.
34:29Nicky Bandini:In a really big game at the bottom as well, Portsmouth played with 10 men against Oxford for most of the game. And they drew, they were 1-0 up, then they were 2-1 down. They equalized late on a massive goal for them. That equalized Andre Dezel, son of Jason. So it means Sheffield Wednesday down, obviously minus five points. Oxford have 41, Leicester 41. Pompey 42 have a game in hand. West Brom 45. Blackburn 47. You'd probably think they're safe by now. Roy Hodgson, watch. Two wins on the spin for Roy, who still has his shades on. They beat Sheffield United, Bristol City. So well done, Roy. Lincoln City have been promoted to the championship.
35:09Nicky Bandini:Jack Moylan scored a 96-minute win to secure a 2-1 win at Reading. unbeaten in 24 games into the championship or the second tier for the first time in 65 years. A decade ago, they finished 15th in the conference. Have, I think, the seventh smallest budget in the league. So, unbelievable. Job from Michael Scubala and everyone at Lincoln. Friend of the show,
35:28Max Rushden:David Preece, is at Lincoln. He's their goalkeeping coach. I don't know how recently, but he also is set-piece coach and an awful lot of their goals. They're like the Arsenal of League One. An awful lot of their goals come from set pieces. I think over a third. Like you said, their budget is about five million a season, which is a third of some of the bigger teams in that division. So it's quite an extraordinary achievement for them to win promotion this early.
35:58Nicky Bandini:And as you call them the Arsenal of League One, it is worth pointing out that when they scored that winner in the 96th minute, it did look like they were enjoying it just for the record. Probably won last night in top of League Two. Massive win for them. They were 1-0 down to Shrewsbury. so they have their highest ever points tally with four games to go but the top of league two they've got 83 mk don 76 knott's county 76 cambridge 74 we let in a last minute equaliser to david squires not to david squires he wasn't playing it's come a long way to score that wow actually david squires actually apologized to me uh because swindle was so bad in that game on on Friday and then or Thursday night wasn't it and then uh we let in the last minute class to Cheltenham but anyway we're on 74 with a game in hand over everyone Swindon have 74 Salford have 73 Cambridge v Notts County on Saturday is going to be a big game I'm absolutely terrified uh but it's pretty tight in there and at the bottom of League 2 which is normally always done the bottom five all lost their last game over Easter Harrogate have 33 Barrow 33 Newport 34 Tramere 36 Crawley 37 so very tight but Crawley did get a win under Colin Kazim Richards in their first game first game or maybe he won two in a row so well done the the 2000s 2010s names of of of uh of managers who are down in league two or or the conference like Jermaine Defoe's at Woking yeah Christian Fuchs is at Newport County you're now telling me that Colin Kazim Richards is where I think he's the manager of Crawley unless I've completely invented that I love it nice guy if the soccer glory is or anything to be remembered matt says the world cup is going to be fun i mean i just feel like barry we can't really do today's pod without reminding everyone that gianni infantino gave donald trump the inaugural fifa peace prize i mean we all knew we all knew it was bullshit but just wait i've been looking to see if if gianni's piped up now his mate has threatened the destruction of a civilization which i mean like you just can't be any less peace than that can you
38:01Max Rushden:Archie earlier in the pod talked about someone coming up Trump's and I think it's a saying we should really shelve given the current climate because coming up Trump's is a good thing generally but the inaugural winner of the FIFA Peace Prize seems to have completely lost his mind or what little of it remained. some of his most ardent former loyalists are speaking out against him and we're joking about it it's quite scary that he threatened to basically vaporise a country but yeah the World Cup look we always worry about or well we have in the recent World Cups worry about them ahead of time and they usually end up being good but I'm genuinely concerned about this one.
38:54Max Rushden:Just the astronomical prices people are being asked to pay for tickets, for parking spots, for transport, for hotel rooms. Who's going to be at these games that has that kind of money?
39:07Nicky Bandini:I just don't know. Yeah. Anyway, look, more on that, obviously, as we get closer to the tournament. Colin Miller writing the journalist how many managers win a top division with two different clubs. He did that in three different countries, in Romania, in Ukraine, and in Turkey. Absolutely ridiculous. This is Maciel Luchescu, the former Romania coach, who was actually their coach for the playoffs despite being pretty unwell. He's died at the age of 80. Andy Brassel, our mate, says it's an overused word, but he genuinely was a real legend of the game. Never stopped loving it or learning about it.
39:40Nicky Bandini:Knitted together nations and cultures with football via his passion for it in all forms. His death was confirmed by Bucharest University Emergency Hospital on Tuesday. He'd been taken to hospital after being reportedly having a heart attack on Friday morning. It was his second spell with the Romanian national team until he stepped down last Thursday. Three days earlier, Romania had missed out on qualification for the World Cup. He won 64 caps, capped in his country at the 1970 World Cup. And yeah, we send his friends and family our absolute best. Probably you could do a whole podcast on Lucescu, an incredible career, obviously.
40:15And I think that certainly some of the most successful chapters, Shakhtar winning the Ukrainian Premier League over and over again, winning the UEFA Cup, won the Turkish League with Galatasaray and Besiktas. But he was in Italy for a while. He launched Andrea Perlo's career at Brescia. But I think there's just so many great stories about him that when you start digging into it, you find. And I mean, this is obviously before I was still not even a teenager yet. I was a child, so I can't pretend I remember this one, but I was reading just this morning about one in 1994 when Italy had just added a third substitution in games, but you could only use it to bring on your sub-goalkeeper.
40:57And he was coaching Brescia at the time in a cup game against Surgiana, and so he decided he could get around this role a bit more creatively by sending on his sub-goalkeeper and then sending his existing goalkeeper, Ballotta, up front. So instead of taking off his goalkeeper, he used this rule to get himself an extra striker, which didn't work. And apparently if it had worked, they would have given them a loss anyway, because that wasn't really how the rule was intended. But certainly a creative mind. And I think there's thousands of stories I've had about Luchescu. And I think we couldn't do him justice here, but he left a big impression.
41:32Nicky Bandini:Can we ask, Nikki, about the sort of fallout of Italy not qualifying for the World Cup again? yeah I don't know how much it's moved on everything is is slow we're not going to get new people in place until until the summer but maybe when I was last on no one had resigned yet now everyone's resigned from Gattuso the manager to Cravina there to the football federation so we are in this period of waiting to see what happens next it's going to be as it always is in Italy, a bun fight and a power struggle. The board that makes decisions for the Italian Football Federation is made up of all sorts of different power bases from political ones through to ones representing the different levels of the game domestically.
42:17And there's already been people from Serie A, I think Arreda De Laurentiis, the Napoli owner was complaining again the other day that, well, we spend all this money and we give all this money to the Football Federation, but our voice is no bigger than the amateur leagues. They have the same voting power that we do and that's not right so there's going to be there's going to be a ban fight in terms of what comes next on on a managerial level there's a few names that are jumping out and there's been talk incredibly of Guardiola which I think for me is even though he's a great manager would probably not be the right choice for lots of reasons I think that there are lots of strong Italian names being put forward but I did think it was interesting this weekend when Antonio Conte was asked who of course has been the manager before I think a lot of people would think was a good as strong appointment besides the fact maybe that the next World Cup is four years away and when does Conte ever stay anywhere that long um but I uh I thought it was interesting that when he was asked about it after a happy game this weekend uh he said if I was in charge I would ask Antonio Conte so I suppose that's a very Antonio Conte answer but he also it sounds like someone who would think about it doesn't it you probably would say something different if you weren't interested
43:25Nicky Bandini:in it at all so I guess looking at the Serie A table and in the WhatsApp group both you and Archie was saying, listen, the domestic leagues aren't totally fascinating at the moment. But Como, someone who doesn't look at the Serie A table a lot and sees Como in fourth place, you know, in a Champions League spot at the moment. Is that the story of the season? It's certainly one of them. And it could become the story that makes everything more interesting next weekend. Because right now, as you say, Inter are seven points clear after they got a big win against Roma at the weekend. Needed that win because they had been wobbling before that.
43:52They didn't win a single game in the month of March. But they're still seven points clear. but their next game is in fact away to Kormor. Now if they lose to Kormor and Napoli win a game, that gap goes down to four points and suddenly you might be talking about a title race going into it. Inter also have Kormor again in the semi-final of the Coppa Italia. They drew the first leg in Kormor. So Kormor are absolutely one of the stories of the season in Serie A. They have the tightest defence in all of Serie A. Cesc Fabregas has without question, I think, this season proved his managerial chops. I think he's really done a really impressive job there.
44:28And listen, they are not an out-of-nowhere fairy tale story. They are owned by the Hartone brothers, who are extremely wealthy, some of the wealthiest football owners of anywhere in Europe. And money, serious money, has been invested in this project. It's also becoming a bit of a lightning rod project at this specific moment because they don't play any Italian players. They have only a couple in the whole squad and they barely play. So is this more evidence of why Italian football isn't doing well on the international stage? Because all the domestic teams are turning to foreigners instead. But they are a great team.
45:02They have a standout talented Nico Paz, who of course is only on loan from Real Madrid and might go back. But there's been so many others this season who've really stood up and been super impressive. From Bacirina, the Croatian midfield, to Dubikas, the Greek striker. They've really done a lot good this season. They play good football, entertaining football, and they are the one team, I suppose, that could reopen this title race as well, even though they're not going to be in it. So, yeah, very impressive team this season.
45:31Nicky Bandini:How's Jamie Vardy doing? He's had lots of goodwill. I think there was a sort of a desire in England for him to have this transformative late chapter at Cremones. He scored five goals, one in January, but the rest have been close to the beginning. lots of willing. I think that this idea that slightly got fuelled by an over-enthusiastic English press that he'd shown up in Italy and was smashing everybody was a little bit over-optimistic. Right. Archie, the big story from the Bundesliga is what? It's not very good.
46:12It's a really tough season to watch, to be honest, apart from Bayern Munich being amazing. The table makes it look like Borussia Dortmund are having a really good season and yet the feeling around that club is not that, even though, look, they've lost two games this season and both of those have been to Bayern and you can make the argument, well, if they'd won both of those games, then they'd be above Bayern and yet the truth is there are light years between how these two teams play. Dortmund are going to qualify for the Champions League again. It feels like they're going around in a loop. They have sacked their sporting director, Sebastian Kael, and brought in a guy called Niels Ollebuck, who has achieved amazing things with Elversberg, helping to bring them, sporting director, bringing them from the fourth tier to the second tier.
47:03And they are on the cusp of promotion. But there's so many different things at play with the Dortmund hierarchy and how that works and so many voices. and it feels like Dortmund are just too happy at qualifying for the Champions League and not winning anything for them to really challenge Bayern and for them to be ready like Leverkusen were when they won the league two years ago. But yeah, it lacks Xabi Alonso and all the players that were there for him. At the bottom of the table, Wolfsburg could get relegated, which is really amazing given, from a financial point of view, Max, If you look at the teams from 12th to 18th, Wolfsburg is 17th, but if you look at the teams around them, so Gladbach, Bremen, Cone, St.
47:49Pauli, Heidenheim, in the last five years combined, they have spent$255 million on transfers. Wolfsburg alone in that same period has spent$307 million. so the fact that they are on the cusp of relegation it is an amazing feat of mismanagement one of the greatest we have seen in german football it is incredible how they have flip flopped between well i think we need to go for a possession based coach no wait let's go transition and just back and forth and yeah uh sounds like top sounds like tottenham to me but but on a completely different level because in the bundesliga there is like there are teams who have money and many teams do not.
48:35And I feel a bit sorry for Christian Eriksen, to be honest, that having endured what he did at Manchester United, for him to then go, I'm going to go to Wolfsburg this season and be part of this shower. Yeah, it is really not looking good for them.
48:52Max Rushden:To be fair, he has endured worse.
48:56Nicky Bandini:Yes, he's got some perspective, we hope. Yeah, and listen, maybe like me, He didn't know he was playing for Wolfsburg until just now, in which case he's only just found out because that's when I found out. But good luck, Christian. Come on. Tom got in touch finally. I want some running inspiration from fellow running enthusiast Barry Glendening. Hi, Max. Me and my uni mates really love the pod. I've somehow managed to convince them to do the Milan Marathon with me on Sunday. I think this will be the first and last for at least two of them. But we'll all be listening to the most recent pod before Sunday on the way around.
49:29Nicky Bandini:and a shout out from fellow long distance runner barry would really give us a much needed boost we're two toms a mark and a joe but our group chat is called mike oliver's weird run because mike oliver did a slightly weird run when the chat was made in 2019 i'd like to hear other whatsapp group names with uh members of the pgmol anyway feel free to just shout out mike oliver's weird run if that saves barry some time many thanks tom over to you barry yeah but mike oliver's
49:57Max Rushden:weird run are embarking on a very ambitious run which is twice as long as the one i'll be doing on sunday um so good luck to them i could i just cannot wait for this to be over one way or the
50:12Nicky Bandini:other well you said to me barry you said you said uh before the pod side that you were tapering which is sort of how i felt you'd been your entire life had been tapering but you are actually tapering and you're so close now you are so close to i mean this is all about obviously tom and your mates in the milan marathon but oh never mind then it's all about me never mind it's all about barry number two on the sorry i made a donation but late i don't know if it would have taken you over the edge barry i saw that five pounds thank you very much yeah yeah that's all right yeah i just i just wanted to ask barry you know as we close in on the big day what high performance basics are you doing to get yourself over the line well i plan to get up very early on sunday
50:56Max Rushden:morning uh hit myself with a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire several times have an ice bath write a list of what i hope to achieve that day and prominent on the list will be run 13.1 miles have some lunch, go and get pissed.
51:19Nicky Bandini:I was going to say, before you get wasted in celebration, make sure you have a proper meal. This is Mark Glendening talking. Make sure you have a proper meal. Okay.
51:31Max Rushden:So I suspect my performance on Monday mornings pod will not be especially high. So I may need to be carried in every sense of the word.
51:43Nicky Bandini:both to my chair and through the pod. Can you do a voice note post-race, please? As soon as you cross the line, please. Just want to hear the excitement. Anyway, look, we'll talk about this over the next two pods, I'm sure, if you'd like to wish him footballweeklyattheguardian.com or just send him some final thoughts before his demise.
52:05Max Rushden:I'd rather have sent money to Barry Landenning at JustGiving. if anyone out there hasn't yet. But I think pretty much everyone has because the generosity of our listeners has been both extraordinary and annoying because I'm under far too much pressure.
52:25Nicky Bandini:Anyway, that'll do it for today. Thanks, everybody. Thank you, Archie. Thank you. Thanks, Nicky. Don't die, Baz. That's right. Great advice. That's what you can shout if you're there and you see him running around. Thank you, Baz.
52:38Max Rushden:Yeah, I'm saying to you, on Sunday, Max. On the back of your number, you have to write the details of your next of kin. Yeah. So that position is up for grabs because all my next of kin live in other countries. Sure. Well, listen, I'll be your next of kin
52:55Nicky Bandini:if I get the flat if you don't. That's not going to happen, Max. Okay, that's a shame. Okay, well then I don't mind if you live. That's okay. Football Weekly is produced by Taya Papula and Jesse Howard. Our executive producer is Joel Grove. back tomorrow.
53:18Max Rushden:This is The Guardian.
53:29Max Rushden:A father's absence can have a serious effect on a child. Fatherless children are twice as likely to drop out of school and 11 times more likely to exhibit violent behavior. I'm attorney Jeffrey Leving, and I've been protecting the rights of fathers for more than 30 years. Dads, don't lose your important relationship with your children. Call 312-356-DADS. That's 312-356-DADS for help and a free father's rights information kit. For more information, visit dadsrights.com.