Man City slump, Real Madrid injuries, Chelsea-Arsenal, more

Before the final two-week international break of 2024, the weekend of European football gave us plenty of talking points. In a surprising twist, Pep Guardiola has suffered four consecutive losses across all competitions for the first time in his managerial career. What does this tell us about Manchester City's current state? On the other hand, Real Madrid bounced back with an emphatic 4-0 win over Osasuna, though the victory was overshadowed by a serious knee injury to defender Éder Militão.

There's also a lot happening with Bayern Munich, who didn’t look as convincing in their 1-0 win over St. Pauli as the scoreline suggests, Liverpool, who continue their winning streak, Borussia Dortmund, who stumbled in a loss to Mainz, Manchester United, who bid farewell to interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy with a win, and Roma, who have now fired their third manager in 2024.

It’s Monday, and Gab Marcotti is here to break down the key moments from around the football world.

Regarding Manchester City's four consecutive defeats, I don't think the losses themselves are as significant as they may seem. Yes, they were knocked out by Tottenham in the League Cup, but that match featured many regular starters, and Erling Haaland was available, even if he didn’t play. The loss to Bournemouth was poor, both in terms of the result and the performance. Against Sporting, City lost 4-1, but they had several chances to score early in the game. In their match against Brighton, Haaland could have easily scored a hat trick in the first half, but defensive mistakes and a lack of intensity led to a late collapse.

What this shows is that City haven’t been at their best recently, and while they didn’t play well in these four games, some of the outcomes could have easily been different. That’s often the case with top-tier talent, as individual brilliance can cover up collective flaws. The key takeaway is that City have not been playing at the level we’ve come to expect from them.

Defensively, there are concerns. Last season, after 11 league games and four Champions League matches, City had conceded just 11 goals. This year, they’ve already allowed 17. The issue seems to stem from Guardiola’s decision to play with four center-backs, which is intended to give his attacking players more freedom, but it's left the defense exposed.

Rodri’s absence has undoubtedly hurt City, but let’s not exaggerate its impact. While Rodri is irreplaceable, players like Mateo Kovacic, Rico Lewis, and Ilkay Gündogan can step in and provide quality, though Guardiola hasn't yet found a system that works without him. Injuries have also disrupted City's lineup—Phil Foden, last season’s Player of the Year, has started fewer than half of their 15 matches, while Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish, and Jérémy Doku have all missed significant time. Haaland has played nearly every minute of the season, putting a heavy burden on him and Bernardo Silva, who is now 30.

This all contributes to a City team that, especially in recent weeks, has appeared tired, lacking sharpness, and prone to second-half collapses. As for Haaland, while he’s still scoring at a remarkable rate, he’s been slightly underperforming his expected goals (xG), which is rare for a player of his caliber.

Looking at the broader picture, it feels like the end of an era for City. With sporting director Txiki Begiristain leaving in June and Guardiola’s future uncertain, the club seems to be in a state of transition. Add to that the ongoing 115 charges against the club, and the outlook is somewhat uncertain. In terms of transfers, this summer’s business didn’t seem to focus on long-term planning—just one year for Gundogan at 34 and a player from another City Football Group club, Savinho, who is still an unknown quantity.

Despite all this, there’s still time to turn things around. City are second in the Premier League and only two points off the top eight in the Champions League. If they progress to the knockout rounds, they remain a dangerous side. After the international break, their fixtures include Tottenham at home and an away game against Liverpool on December 1st—key matches that could define their season.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid put their frustrations from recent losses to Barcelona and Milan behind them with a dominant 4-0 victory over Osasuna. Vinicius Jr. continued his excellent form, reaching 12 goals for the season, and Jude Bellingham also found the net, a welcome sight for Madrid supporters hoping for a return to his best. Though he hasn’t quite replicated last season's stellar form, it’s important to remember he’s only 21 and still adapting to his new role under Carlo Ancelotti.

However, the win came at a significant cost. Éder Militão suffered a torn ACL, just seven months after returning from a previous knee injury. This is a major blow not only for the player but also for Madrid, who were already dealing with injuries to other defenders. With Dani Carvajal and David Alaba out, Ancelotti had to field an inexperienced backline, including Fede Valverde and Raúl Asencio. Given these injuries, it’s clear that Madrid need to sign reinforcements in January, particularly in central defense, as the current depth isn’t enough.

Madrid’s injury woes extend beyond defense—Thibaut Courtois and Aurélien Tchouaméni are also sidelined, though both are expected to return soon. But for now, the team’s priorities must include reinforcing their defense, especially with the uncertainty surrounding Alaba’s return.