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European Paper Review

Barça delighted that Iniesta is back, Madrid that Sergio Ramos keeps scoring late goals in big games. Bayern Munich briefly go top, while PSG lose again.



‘Solution Iniesta’ is the headline on the cover of Monday’s Catalan daily Sport. “He’s back and will become the main protagonist in the league. The Barça dressing room clings to the magic of Andres and hopes that he can store the best version of the team.”

Real Madrid were easily the better side in the first half of Saturday’s clasico. Barça took the lead in the second period and then played their best football when Iniesta was introduced as substitute. With Xavi gone and several of the club’s new signing failing to settle so far, Barça have missed Iniesta badly. Now he’s back, they hope he can inspire the team to close the six points gap on Madrid.

The theme is similar on the cover of rival Mundo Deportivo. Under the headline ‘Barca Create’ is a list of four points: ‘1. Iniesta offers another dimension for the team; 2. The defence is now complete after overcoming injuries; 3. They’re convinced they can pick up confidence; 4. Barca’s fixtures are lighter than those for The Whites.’ All cause for optimism.

Events are, naturally, viewed differently in Madrid.

“Sergio Ramos. King of the 90th minute goals,” is the cover of Monday’s AS, which also celebrates Barça’s dreadful home form. ‘Three wins, three draws and a defeat – that’s nine points dropped from 21’. There were other games in Spain at the weekend, but you have to work through 21 pages of Mundo Deportivo before you find them.

In Germany, Bayern Munich returned to the top of the Bundesliga for one night only after a comfortable 3-1 win away at Mainz. “New system, new hope!” said Munich’s Tageszeitung after Carlo Ancelotti opted to start Bayern’s “fantastic four” of Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery, Thomas Müller and Robert Lewandowski together for the first time this season.

For others, it was a blast from the past. BILD hailed a return to “Pep’s favourite attack” as Robben and Lewandowski wrapped up all three points, whilst Süddeutsche Zeitung said: “Bayern are drunk on Pep football!” They reserved special praise for goal-shy Thomas Müller: “Müller was a free spirit in his favourite role behind the front three, popping up alongside them, in front of them and behind them.”

The champions were top for less than 24 hours. The ever-popular RB Leipzig leapfrogged them on Saturday evening with a 2-1 victory over a resurgent Schalke, whose fans opted not to boycott the game but to display a banner reading “Founded by workmates and miners” - a dig at Leipzig’s creators.

RB’s win was clouded by controversy as top scorer Timo Werner dived for a penalty in the first minute, unleashing a debate over fairness and honesty in the German media. “Werner’s dive proves that RB Leipzig will do anything to achieve success – even if it’s not in the rule book,” commented Süddeutsche Zeitung. “Will this lead to a change in attitudes?” asked a doubtful Tagesspiegel, “It would be nice, but we all know that today’s cheaters are tomorrow’s cheated.” However, the immediate consequence, as the Leipziger Volkszeitung headlined, was that “RB reconquer their place in the sun.”

Borussia Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel labelled his team “wholly and utterly deficient” following last week’s 1-2 defeat to Frankfurt. This week, Marco Reus, Ousmane Dembélé and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang starred as the Schwarzgelben responded with a 4-1 hammering of Borussia Mönchengladbach to move up to 6th.

“BVB appease Tuchel” said the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. “Did Tuchel’s rant help?” asked Spiegel as “Dortmund’s magic trio” (Revier Sport) produced “a dominant and confident display” (Kicker) which proved too much for the struggling Foals.

At the other end of the table, Hamburg finally celebrated their first win of the season at the 13th attempt. “The dinosaur lives!” exclaimed Kicker, as the only Bundesliga founder-members never to have been relegated won 2-0 away at fellow strugglers Darmstadt. “We haven’t forgotten how to win!” cried a relieved Hamburger Morgenpost – “No longer bottom, the madness comes to an end!”

In France, Paris St-Germain crashed to a 3-0 defeat away at Montpellier. “PSG humiliated!” declared Le Figaro, “PSG were non-existent!” added Ouest-France. Le Parisien blamed “uncharacteristic, individual errors” for PSG’s first defeat in 12 games before lampooning “a debacle, the likes of which we haven’t seen in five years.”

The defeat leaves the champions four points behind leaders - and next opponents - Nice who, still without the injured Mario Balotelli, recorded a comfortable 3-0 win over Toulouse. “Following an easy win, Nice travel to the Parc des Princes next Sunday with a nice psychological advantage,” said Nice Matin. Meanwhile, second-placed Monaco “continued their unstoppable march” (L’Équipe) with a 5-0 hammering of Bastia – the tenth time already this season that Europe’s most potent attack has scored 3 goals or more in the league.

Elsewhere, Metz vs Lyon was called off in the 30th minute after Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes was struck by a firework thrown by Metz ultras. “That’s too far!” said an outraged Le Figaro, adding: “Human stupidity could cost Metz,” who risk severe punishment by the Ligue de Football Professionel (LFP).


In Italy, Diego Simeone’s son Giovanni has an interesting line on his father’s future. “My dad will be the coach of Inter. It’s just a matter of time,” reports the cover of Corriere dello Sport. While the country focussed on the referendum, a full weekend of fixtures saw Juventus overcome in-form Atalanta. “Juve celebrate and there’s Dybala, the extra man for Allegri,” writes Corriere. “The Argentine is almost ready for his comeback as the team seeks record number of victories.” Not wanting to be bogged down by draws, they’re currently four points clear after 15 matches, with 12 wins and three defeats.

Roma are second after the Rome derby saw them triumph 2-0. “Giallorossi take the derby with Strootman and Nainggolan,” writes Corriere. Like Roma, AC Milan are also on 32 points. They meet next week in a game every Italian paper is billing as the match which will determine who Juventus’ main challenger will be.