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Champions League

Transfer window preview: Top 50 players who could move this summer

The era of €100-million signings may be over – for now, anyway – but that doesn’t mean there won’t be plenty of wheeling and dealing in the coming months. With that in mind, here are 50 high-profile players who could switch clubs during the summer transfer window.

Note: Estimated transfer values provided by transfermarkt.com

Premier League

Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)

Age: 27 | Position: Striker | Estimated value: €120M

Kane wants to leave Tottenham this summer in pursuit of silverware. All the top dogs in England are circling. Though Daniel Levy surely wants to retain his star man, cashing in may not be such a bad decision right now.

Paul Pogba (Manchester United)

Age: 28 | Position: Central midfielder | Estimated value: €60M

Another transfer window, another round of Pogba speculation. With the Frenchman’s contract slated to expire next summer, now is the time for Manchester United to make a move if they don’t think an extension is likely.

David De Gea (Manchester United)

Age: 30 | Position: Goalkeeper | Estimated value: €18M

De Gea has never been closer to leaving Old Trafford than he is now. His lack of heroics in the Europa League final aside, the presence of Dean Henderson – and the potential addition of Tom Heaton – could push the Spaniard out.

Jack Grealish (Aston Villa)

Age: 25 | Position: Winger, attacking midfielder | Estimated value: €65M

Grealish is absolutely and obviously vital to Aston Villa, but it’s widely accepted that the mesmerizing dribbler will move on at some point. He’s too good not to be playing for one of the world’s best sides.

Declan Rice (West Ham United)

Age: 22 | Position: Defensive midfielder | Estimated value: €65M

Rice’s reputation continues to grow after another strong year with West Ham. Still, the versatile Englishman could opt to remain with the Hammers for one more year after they secured European football for next season.

Youri Tielemans (Leicester City)

DAVE THOMPSON / AFP / Getty

Age: 24 | Position: Central midfielder | Estimated value: €55M

Tielemans has hugely enhanced his status since joining Leicester City, establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s most exciting players. His varied skill set would do wonders at several clubs.

Granit Xhaka (Arsenal)

Age: 28 | Position: Central midfielder | Estimated value: €22M

For the good of all involved, surely Xhaka has to leave Arsenal, right? Often derided by fans – and sometimes even clashing with them – the former club captain still has suitors in Europe, to the surprise of many Gooners.

Tammy Abraham (Chelsea)

Age: 23 | Position: Striker | Estimated value: €40M

Chelsea decided to re-sign veteran Olivier Giroud, which could signal the end of Abraham’s time at the club. The English striker was slowly phased out of the team by Thomas Tuchel, so a change of scenery could be for the best.

Raphinha (Leeds United)

Age: 24 | Position: Winger | Estimated value: €25M

Raphinha dazzled this past season. The Brazilian is always looking to make something happen with the ball at his feet, and a move from Leeds United doesn’t feel far away. It will be a treat to witness the reaction of fans watching him live.

Yves Bissouma (Brighton & Hove Albion)

Age: 24 | Position: Central midfielder | Estimated value: €17M

Brighton was most definitely a stepping stone for Bissouma, who looks destined for a transfer this summer. Liverpool and Arsenal have both been linked with the Malian midfielder’s signature.

La Liga

Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

Age: 33 | Position: Forward | Estimated value: €80M

The biggest fish of them all. It appears as though Messi is now leaning toward staying at Barcelona, but these things can shift quickly. Should he have (another) change of heart, the usual suspects will come running.

Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona)

Age: 28 | Position: Attacking midfielder | Estimated value: €40M

Barca need cash. It’s that simple. The free transfers they’ve made so far have been nice, but those players still need salaries, so an injection of capital would be welcome. Coutinho is a prime transfer candidate.

Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)

Age: 35 | Position: Center-back | Estimated value: €14M

Ramos, another pending free agent, has apparently seen his contract talks with Real Madrid stall. The club just brought David Alaba aboard, fueling rumors that the longtime defensive anchor could be on the move.

Raphael Varane (Real Madrid)

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Age: 28 | Position: Center-back | Estimated value: €70M

This would be something of a surprising move, but there continues to be smoke here. Varane has been a Manchester United target for quite some time. Perhaps this is the summer the Red Devils finally present a suitable offer.

Martin Odegaard (Real Madrid)

Age: 22 | Position: Attacking midfielder | Estimated value: €40M

Odegaard is on his way back to the Spanish capital after the conclusion of his loan spell at Arsenal, and it’s unclear what his future holds. Extremely talented and still young, he would improve many a team in Europe.

Saul Niguez (Atletico Madrid)

Age: 26 | Position: Central midfielder | Estimated value: €55M

Could Saul go out on top? After helping Atletico Madrid capture the La Liga crown, he’s once again being touted as a transfer target. This time, though, it appears the Spaniard is the one who wants a move.

Jules Kounde (Sevilla)

Age: 22 | Position: Center-back | Estimated value: €60M

Sevilla have an absolute star in Kounde, but for how much longer? The French defender, great with the ball at his feet, would command a sizable transfer fee with three years left on his contract.

Goncalo Guedes (Valencia)

Age: 24 | Position: Forward | Estimated value: €25M

A strong finish to Valencia’s club season has vaulted Guedes back into the rumor mill, with the likes of Fiorentina and Sevilla believed to be interested. If the Portuguese forward does anything at the Euros, his value could rise further.

Serie A

Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)

Age: 36 | Position: Forward | Estimated value: €45M

Publicly, Juventus maintain that Ronaldo isn’t going anywhere. Of course, they said the same thing about Andrea Pirlo. A lack of suitable destinations may ultimately keep Ronaldo in Turin, but his future is far from certain.

Paulo Dybala (Juventus)

Age: 27 | Position: Forward | Estimated value: €50M

Returning manager Massimiliano Allegri wants to build his team around Dybala, but he may not get the chance. The Argentine is out of contract in 2022. If Juve can’t strike a new deal now, they may sell to avoid losing him for free.

Achraf Hakimi (Inter Milan)

Age: 22 | Position: Wing-back | Estimated value: €60M

In an ideal world, Inter would keep one of the most exciting players in football, especially after he was so crucial to their Scudetto win. In reality, though, finances are tight, and Hakimi’s value is through the roof.

Hakan Calhanoglu (AC Milan)

Jonathan Moscrop / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Age: 27 | Position: Attacking midfielder | Estimated value: €35M

Another soon-to-be free agent, Calhanoglu is coming off a superb season for AC Milan. The Turkish playmaker’s set-piece delivery should be particularly enticing to any club, though there’s still hope for the Rossoneri to keep him.

Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli)

Age: 29 | Position: Center-back | Estimated value: €48M

It feels like the moment has passed for Koulibaly to make a mammoth move, but make no mistake, the Senegalese defender is still a dominant force. Napoli’s inability to secure a top-four finish could be the deciding factor here.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Lazio)

Age: 26 | Position: Central midfielder | Estimated value: €70M

Milinkovic-Savic hasn’t returned to the heights that once saw Lazio slap a nine-digit price tag on his signature. But he can still put a contender over the top, and he may be amenable to a move after Simone Inzaghi left the club.

Robin Gosens (Atalanta)

Age: 26 | Position: Left-back | Estimated value: €35M

One of the key figures in Atalanta’s incredible rise, Gosens offers a blend of scoring ability, physicality, and defensive solidity not widely available at his position. The German would need to find the right situation to thrive, though.

Rodrigo De Paul (Udinese)

Age: 27 | Position: Central midfielder | Estimated value: €38M

De Paul took a major leap for Udinese this season after being pushed into a deeper role, spending more time dictating the play and carving through the midfield with his combination of silky dribbling and playmaking.

Dusan Vlahovic (Fiorentina)

Age: 21 | Position: Striker | Estimated value: €40M

Vlahovic showed flashes of his potential in 2019-20, but he truly announced himself to the world this past season, scoring 21 league goals. Speed, power, technique, and a keen instinct inside the box make him the total package.

Manuel Locatelli (Sassuolo)

Age: 23 | Position: Central midfielder | Estimated value: €35M

Sassuolo have admitted Locatelli will likely be on the move after his involvement in Euro 2020, with Juventus tipped as the Italian international’s biggest admirers. A budding star, he can play a variety of roles in central midfield.

Bundesliga

Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund)

INA FASSBENDER / AFP / Getty

Age: 21 | Position: Winger | Estimated value: €100M

Erling Haaland has supplanted Sancho as the name on everyone’s lips when it comes to Borussia Dortmund transfer rumors, and that’s fair. But Haaland isn’t moving this summer, and Sancho most certainly might. The Englishman is a breathtaking talent and remains very much in demand.

Corentin Tolisso (Bayern Munich)

Age: 26 | Position: Central midfielder | Estimated value: €20M

Injuries, including a devastating ACL tear in 2018, have disrupted what looked like a potentially spectacular club career for Tolisso. Now 26 and not Bayern Munich’s first option in midfield, he may find more playing time elsewhere.

Florian Neuhaus (Borussia Monchengladbach)

Age: 24 | Position: Central midfielder | Estimated value: €35M

Neuhaus quashed rumors that he’s already agreed to a deal with Bayern Munich, news that was surely well received by the likes of Liverpool. Always keen to play between the lines, Borussia Monchengladbach’s clever midfielder looks like a good investment.

Andre Silva (Eintracht Frankfurt)

Age: 25 | Position: Striker | Estimated value: €45M

Only Robert Lewandowski scored more Bundesliga goals this past season than Silva, who edged Haaland for second place with 28 tallies. Once discarded by Milan, the Portuguese international has found his feet with Eintracht Frankfurt.

Moussa Diaby (Bayer Leverkusen)

Age: 21 | Position: Winger | Estimated value: €38M

Another outstanding young talent fresh off France’s relentless conveyor belt, Diaby is attracting interest in the Premier League. Bayer Leverkusen’s dynamic winger has shown he’s adept at both scoring goals and creating them.

Ligue 1

Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain)

Age: 22 | Position: Forward | Estimated value: €160M

The financial constraints created by the coronavirus pandemic likely mean it’s one year too early to expect Mbappe to leave Paris Saint-Germain. Still, it’s no secret he’s Florentino Perez’s dream signing. Can Real Madrid get creative?

Eduardo Camavinga (Rennes)

Age: 18 | Position: Central midfielder | Estimated value: €60M

Widely regarded as the best young midfielder in the game, Camavinga is a true all-around talent. A crafty loan setup in which Rennes’ teen phenom stays put for one season could be an option here.

Houssem Aouar (Lyon)

PHILIPPE DESMAZES / AFP / Getty

Age: 22 | Position: Central midfielder | Estimated value: €50M

The trail isn’t quite as hot as it was a couple of years ago, but Aouar’s stock remains high. Being 22 and supremely gifted with the ball will do that to a player. A summer of upheaval beckons at Lyon.

Sven Botman (Lille)

Age: 21 | Position: Center-back | Estimated value: €28M

Despite his tender age, Botman is an absolute rock. Only three outfield players logged more minutes in Ligue 1 this season than the Dutchman, who helped guide Lille to a shocking league title. His future is very bright.

Boubakary Soumare (Lille)

Age: 22 | Position: Defensive midfielder | Estimated value: €23M

Leicester City are reportedly on the verge of completing a move for Soumare, another member of Lille’s impressive young contingent that knocked PSG from their perch atop French football. This could be another masterstroke by the Foxes.

Renato Sanches (Lille)

Age: 23 | Position: Central midfielder | Estimated value: €30M

In case it wasn’t already clear, this will be an interesting summer for Lille. Despite their surprise title win, financial issues remain. Player sales may be inevitable, and the resurgent Sanches – now back to his best – is another candidate for departure.

Benoit Badiashile (AS Monaco)

Age: 20 | Position: Center-back | Estimated value: €28M

In keeping with their tradition of making a fortune by selling young stars, Monaco have another jewel on their hands in Badiashile. His patience – he opted against a move last year to keep developing – is a good omen.

Elsewhere in Europe

Andre Onana (Ajax)

Age: 25 | Position: Goalkeeper | Estimated value: €30M

Onana’s future is perhaps the murkiest of all. The Ajax shot-stopper is serving a 12-month doping ban but is in the process of appealing. His undeniable talent could see a club chase a cut-rate deal even if the ban is upheld.

Ryan Gravenberch (Ajax)

Tullio Puglia – UEFA / UEFA / Getty

Age: 19 | Position: Central midfielder | Estimated value: €33M

No discounts here. Anybody interested in the angular Dutch teenager will need to pony up a significant sum. Gravenberch has all the skills to thrive as a creative box-to-box midfielder for years to come.

Sergio Oliveira (FC Porto)

Age: 29 | Position: Central midfielder | Estimated value: €19M

One of the stars of Porto’s unexpected Champions League run this past season – he put Juventus’ midfield to shame in the last 16 – Oliveira is reportedly a target for new Fiorentina manager Gennaro Gattuso.

Patson Daka (Red Bull Salzburg)

Age: 22 | Position: Striker | Estimated value: €22M

It’s only a matter of time before Daka takes the next big step in his blossoming career. The Zambian forward has been a scoring machine for Salzburg. How long until RB Leipzig come calling to keep him in the family?

Odsonne Edouard (Celtic)

Age: 23 | Position: Striker | Estimated value: €15M

Edouard is generating interest in both the Premier League and Serie A after leading Celtic in scoring for a third consecutive season. Not bad for a 23-year-old.

The free-agent class

In addition to the players above, several marquee names have already confirmed they’re embarking on new adventures this summer. Some are leaving their old clubs by choice, others by force; only the destinations remain to be determined.

Gianluigi Donnarumma

Age: 22 | Position: Goalkeeper | Estimated value: €60M

Goalkeepers of this ilk don’t become available for free at such a young age. Hence the excitement of Juve, PSG, and Barcelona, who are all in talks with Donnarumma’s agent, Mino Raiola, about the former Milan netminder.

Memphis Depay

Age: 27 | Position: Forward | Estimated value: €45M

With Ronald Koeman now confirmed as Barcelona manager for another season, Depay’s move to the Camp Nou is simply a matter of time. The Dutch bench boss has been trying to unite with his compatriot for over a year.

Georginio Wijnaldum

Phil Noble – PA Images / PA Images / Getty

Age: 30 | Position: Central midfielder | Estimated value: €30M

The same goes for Wijnaldum, who’s reportedly on the verge of completing his own free transfer from Liverpool to Barca. The midfielder would bring an element of energy to the Blaugrana. Will it be enough to convince Messi to stay?

Jerome Boateng

Age: 32 | Position: Center-back | Estimated value: €10M

Boateng’s departure from Bayern Munich was slightly more acrimonious than those of the aforementioned Dutch duo. Bayern made it clear they wouldn’t offer him a new contract during the season, leaving him searching for another club.

David Luiz

Age: 34 | Position: Center-back | Estimated value: €5M

Arsenal and Luiz also announced their split ahead of time, though it appears the feeling here was far more mutual than in Boateng’s case. The oft-derided Brazilian defender could be set for a return to his homeland.

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Champions League

Ranking 8 teams remaining in Champions League

Find the biggest stories from across the soccer world by visiting our Top Soccer News section and subscribing to push notifications.

We’re down to the nitty-gritty in the Champions League.

Atletico Madrid capped off the round of 16 with a shootout victory over last season’s finalists Inter Milan, upsetting a red-hot team widely fancied to make another deep run in Europe’s premier club competition. Other teams will look to capitalize on Inter’s surprising ouster and challenge for the coveted big-eared trophy.

With that in mind, here’s how we think the field stacks up heading into Friday’s quarterfinal draw.

8. Borussia Dortmund

Edin Terzic’s men will be undisputed underdogs regardless of who they meet in the quarterfinals. An underwhelming last-16 victory over PSV Eindhoven did little to dispel the notion that Borussia Dortmund are the least intimidating team remaining. They needed a healthy slice of good fortune, and some wayward PSV finishing, to scrape past the Dutch outfit. Jadon Sancho’s first Champions League goal in three years does provide some reason for optimism, though. If the on-loan winger can stay fit, he still has the ability to be a game-changer who can potentially inspire an upset.

7. Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid are the most difficult team to judge of the eight remaining in the tournament. Almost every side goes through ebbs and flows during a match, and a season at large, but Diego Simeone’s feisty squad has been taking that to another level. Spurred on by a boisterous home crowd, they were at their aggressive best for parts of Wednesday’s entertaining clash against Inter Milan but also looked totally overwhelmed by the Nerazzurri’s pressure for large stretches. Their never-say-die attitude got them over the line, though. It may be a cliche, but even amid a patchy season, Atleti are a seasoned team that the other seven contenders would ideally like to avoid in the quarterfinals. Just ask Inter.

6. Barcelona

Xinhua News Agency / Xinhua News Agency / Getty

Just how far can the youngsters carry this team? Barcelona remain flawed – hence their position on this list. But the emergence of exuberant prodigies like Lamine Yamal, Fermin Lopez, and Pau Cubarsi, all of whom were outstanding in the last-16 second-leg triumph over Napoli, is providing a second wind for a club that looked deflated earlier in the season. Despite Barca’s notorious off-field mismanagement and uncertain managerial future post-Xavi, their famed academy has delivered once again. That’s unlikely to be enough for the Catalan side to reach Wembley for the final, but the mood around the team is on the upswing. What once looked like a lost season is far less bleak right now.

5. Bayern Munich

It’s been difficult to find the right center-back duo, and Thomas Tuchel has repeatedly moaned about his lack of a true No. 6, but Bayern Munich’s results haven’t been that bad. The Bavarians have 57 points in Germany’s top flight – the average points haul at this stage in the post-Pep Guardiola era is 58. Harry Kane has matched a 60-year-old record for goals in a debut Bundesliga campaign (30) with nine matches remaining and proved he’s a big-game player with two finishes to help overturn a one-goal deficit against Lazio in the Champions League last 16. This isn’t vintage Bayern by any means, but they shouldn’t be underestimated.

4. Arsenal

Nearly every other team on this list – save for Premier League rivals Manchester City, of course – is either cruising toward a league title or far enough away from top spot that domestic commitments shouldn’t interfere too much with their Champions League focus. Arsenal don’t have that luxury, but Mikel Arteta’s men have displayed a newfound mettle and maturity this season that suggests they can handle the rigors, both mental and physical, of high-leverage games across the two competitions. Porto delivered a big scare in the last 16, but that should serve the Gunners well; few teams ever totally cruise through the Champions League. The shootout win over Porto could turn out to be a seminal moment.

3. Paris Saint-Germain

Xavier Laine / Getty Images Sport / Getty

There’s something different about Paris Saint-Germain. Luis Enrique’s determination to instill discipline and form a solid, long-term foundation have risked upsetting Kylian Mbappe and the whole nation while the forward’s been handed reduced minutes ahead of his summer exit. Nevertheless, there is greater professionalism in PSG’s ranks. They work as a team rather than a discordant club of self-serving galacticos. Their dismissal of Real Sociedad in the round of 16 was impressive – especially when they weathered the aggressive, adventurous opening to the second leg from the Basque hosts. And with Mbappe hanging around for a few more months, PSG have to be billed as genuine contenders.

2. Real Madrid

Real Madrid looked genuinely terrible in the second leg of their narrow last-16 triumph over RB Leipzig. They were panicky and imprecise in possession, and weirdly lackadaisical in defense. It nearly cost them. It didn’t, of course, thanks largely to the individual excellence of Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior. Madrid, famous for using magical singular moments to undo all the sustained hard work of their opposition, can never be counted out for that very reason. Especially in this competition. Ominously for the rest of the field, they’re starting to get healthy, too, with Eder Militao and Thibaut Courtois both expected back after the upcoming international break, which will put them in line to play in the quarterfinals.

1. Manchester City

Manchester City are more vulnerable than last season. Quick balls played behind the backline have caused plenty of problems, and some defenders have struggled against direct runners. But this is Manchester City. Erling Haaland has 41 goals in 37 Champions League appearances; Kevin De Bruyne has registered 12 assists despite starting just seven matches since returning from injury in January; and Phil Foden is in the best form of his career. In addition to the wealth of talent, Pep Guardiola could hastily find solutions for his team’s deficiencies; he surprised everyone when he deployed four center-backs en route to securing last season’s treble.

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Champions League

Key thoughts and analysis from this week's Champions League action

Find the biggest stories from across the soccer world by visiting our Top Soccer News section and subscribing to push notifications.

The Champions League round of 16 rumbled on with four more first-leg matches this week. Below, we dissect the biggest talking points from the quartet of intriguing fixtures.

A battle of fallen titans

On paper, a meeting between the current titleholders in Spain and Italy would be fitting of a Champions League final. What a treat, then, to get exactly that matchup in the round of 16. Except, Barcelona and Napoli are totally unrecognizable from the teams that dominated their respective domestic leagues and romped to trophies in 2022-23.

Though Barcelona dictated play for the bulk of Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, they lacked precision in key moments and any sort of cutting edge until Robert Lewandowski’s clinical finish opened the scoring on the hour mark. Playing against a hesitant team on its third manager of the season, Barca should have taken a stranglehold on the tie from there. Instead, an untimely gamble by Inigo Martinez gifted Victor Osimhen an equalizer that Napoli otherwise looked incapable of finding. It was an all-too-familiar failing for Barca, who’ve been defensively suspect all season after being so resolute during their title-winning campaign.

Jonathan Moscrop / Getty Images Sport / Getty

For all of Barcelona’s issues, Napoli are in an even more worrying state of disrepair. Enduring one of the worst title defenses in recent memory – they’re ninth in Serie A, sitting 27 points off the league lead – Napoli made another coaching change just 48 hours before Wednesday’s match, replacing Walter Mazzarri with former assistant Francesco Calzona. Anybody expecting an immediate “new manager bounce” will have been left disappointed.

The team still looks disjointed. The backline remains unconvincing without Kim Min-jae. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, while dogged as ever, isn’t taking over games like he did during his sensational breakout season. Stanislav Lobotka isn’t getting on the ball as often at the base of midfield. Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa looks a little jaded. Even Osimhen, making his first club appearance in 2024 after returning from AFCON, spent much of the match throwing his arms up in frustration – he had just three touches inside the Barca penalty area and had the fewest touches overall of any player who started the contest. His goal was Napoli’s lone shot on target in the match. He took that one chance with composure, though, and Napoli will hope that his return, along with more time getting comfortable working in Calzona’s system, will be the catalyst for a late-season surge. It needs to be.

Inter built for another run at European glory

Simone Inzaghi has turned Inter Milan into an unstoppable force to begin 2024.

Inter have dominated their opponents in Italy to start the year, putting themselves in prime position to capture their first Scudetto of the Inzaghi era after eight consecutive victories in all competitions – including six in Serie A – before Tuesday’s meeting with Atletico Madrid. That run included victories over Lazio, Napoli, Fiorentina, Juventus, and Roma.

They kept it going on Tuesday with a 1-0 win.

While Inter were widely expected to emerge victorious from Tuesday’s contest, the match was gritty and unfolded how Inzaghi might’ve expected when he predicted his squad would have to be “good enough to react to problems” against Diego Simeone’s notoriously tricky Atletico side.

Inter’s stellar play comes after the club was heavily criticized on the heels of its run to the Champions League final for a lack of inspired signings amid financial problems last summer. But now, it’s hard to envisage this team without Marcus Thuram – who, as a free transfer, has been one of the best signings in all of Europe and formed a lethal partnership with Lautaro Martinez. New faces Benjamin Pavard and Yann Sommer have been excellent, too, while Carlos Augusto has been a key contributor off the bench.

Alessandro Sabattini / Getty Images Sport / Getty

However, it was another shrewd signing who helped take down Atletico. Journeyman striker Marko Arnautovic was brought on to replace Thuram, who exited at halftime with an injury. The 34-year-old – on loan from Bologna – should’ve had a hat-trick during his cameo appearance but missed twice from just yards away before banging in the eventual winning goal to send the San Siro into a frenzy.

Inter are perfectly positioned going into the final months of the season. Mowing down the competition domestically and building a healthy nine-point cushion atop Serie A, the Nerazzurri could opt to rest some stars in the coming weeks in order to throw everything they have into winning the return leg in Madrid next month and, in their ideal world, go one step further than last season in the Champions League.

Quick free-kicks

A victory for Porto and away-goal enthusiasts

Galeno’s goal was a moment of superb vision and immaculate execution, but it arguably wasn’t worth the wait for anybody who’s not an FC Porto fan. Porto and Arsenal had one shot on target between them before the Brazilian winger scored the only goal of Wednesday’s contest. Both teams feared making mistakes. The Gunners – who had struck 21 times across their previous five fixtures in all competitions – deliberately slowed the game while they dawdled during dead-ball situations and disappointingly refused to dip into their usually creative and effective repertoire of set-piece routines. It’s hard to imagine that the visitors would’ve been so conservative if the away-goal rule was still in force: A scoring draw would’ve been much more valuable than the 0-0 that Mikel Arteta appeared to be content with. In the end, Arsenal’s game plan backfired.

Galeno top of the pile

Michael Regan / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Still, that was some goal by Galeno. “When the opportunity arose, I didn’t hesitate,” he told DAZN post-match. The Brazilian winger is now leading this season’s Champions League with eight goal contributions (five goals and three assists), narrowly beating the English quartet of Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Bukayo Saka (seven involvements apiece). Galeno’s output in Europe proves he’s capable of hurting opponents in a variety of ways. Across two group stage meetings with Shakhtar Donetsk, he was alert to convert three close-range finishes, twice furiously ran down the flank before assisting Mehdi Taremi, smashed in a venomous shot from the edge of the box, and his near-post flick-on from a corner set up a Pepe tap-in. And now, he’s outdone all of his previous work with an outrageous effort that puts Arsenal’s Champions League bid under threat.

PSV can get famous result in Germany

PSV Eindhoven were in control for much of Tuesday’s visit from Borussia Dortmund so were rightly disappointed with their 1-1 draw. Ex-PSV favorite Donyell Malen opened the scoring with an explosive strike that rocketed in off the bar, but the hosts could’ve responded with more than Luuk de Jong’s equalizer from the penalty spot. Dortmund cowered in the atmosphere. “We should have brought much more calmness to the game. We let the heated atmosphere get to us too much,” Dortmund defender Mats Hummels admitted after the match. PSV should still feel encouraged going into the second leg despite Dortmund’s home advantage: The German side’s excellent group stage display was an unexpected boost during a frustrating domestic campaign, while the Dutch outfit has lost just twice across all competitions – away at Arsenal and Feyenoord – and is 10 points clear atop the Eredivisie.

Stat of the week

Signing of the season? Sommer’s arrival from Bayern Munich didn’t set pulses racing, but the 35-year-old has ensured Inter haven’t missed Andre Onana between the sticks.

Tweet of the week

Is it already time to revisit this rule change? (Yes, it is.)

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Champions League

Key thoughts and analysis from Matchday 5 in the Champions League

The Champions League rumbled on this week. Below, we dissect the biggest talking points from a critical Matchday 5 in Europe’s premier club competition.

UEFA ‘apology’ falls on deaf Newcastle ears

UEFA has all but acknowledged that the decision to award Paris Saint-Germain a penalty deep into stoppage time of Tuesday’s eventual 1-1 draw with Newcastle United was incorrect. Tomasz Kwiatkowski, the video assistant referee who advised experienced compatriot Szymon Marciniak to review Tino Livramento’s 96th-minute handball and overturn his initial on-field decision, was scheduled to act as the VAR for another match on Wednesday but was swiftly removed from duty after the contentious incident in France.

That’s as close to an “oopsie” as you’ll ever get from the haughty organization.

It does nothing to help Newcastle, of course, and once again calls into question the understanding of the handball rule, one of the most mystifying regulations in all of sports. Marciniak and his Polish peer Kwiatkowski are among the most esteemed officials in world football; they both worked the 2022 World Cup final in the same roles they carried out on Tuesday at the Parc des Princes.

If even they can’t get it right, who can?

It also provides yet another example that UEFA’s Football Board, an advisory group comprised of former players and coaches, was right when it recommended in April that handball incidents involving deflections off a player’s body shouldn’t result in spot-kicks. That suggestion wasn’t implemented by UEFA, though. And here we are.

It’s certainly true that, on the basis of play, PSG probably deserved at least a point from Tuesday’s match. The French side dominated the second half, launching wave after wave of threatening attacks. Only some horrid finishing – Bradley Barcola was the main culprit – and brilliant goalkeeping kept them out before Kylian Mbappe stepped up to accept the gift from Marciniak in the waning seconds.

But the manner in which they were finally breached will leave Newcastle with a bitter taste, especially as Mbappe’s goal and the 1-1 result it secured took their Champions League fate out of their own hands. A 1-0 win would’ve left Newcastle in second place in the proverbial “Group of Death” and in complete control of their own destiny heading into Matchday 6. Instead, they now need to win and get some help to advance.

Kwiatkowski getting a one-day reprimand won’t soften that blow. – Gianluca Nesci

AC Milan’s cycle is effectively over

Tuesday’s 3-1 defeat at home to Borussia Dortmund leaves Milan with a snowball’s chance in hell of reaching the Champions League knockout round. That’s a huge blow for a club that only recently turned a profit for the first time in nearly two decades, due in large part to last season’s run to the semifinals of the competition.

But the fact is that Milan have been trending downward for the better part of the calendar year. Last season’s Champions League run masked significant issues, including a lack of scoring, significant frailties in defense, and a debilitating injury bug that continues to wreak havoc on the squad. Milan wouldn’t have even qualified for this season’s Champions League if Juventus weren’t docked points for false accounting. At various points, they’ve leaked up to five goals per game and failed to ignite their attack, sometimes going 20 chances before burying one.

A fix has so far eluded manager Stefano Pioli. Even with the help of a robust transfer campaign, in which he reportedly had a considerable say, he’s ultimately failed to restore any kind of balance to this squad. And it’s arguably the deepest squad he’s had since taking over in October 2019.

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Though there’s enough blame to go around – left-back Theo Hernandez, for one, has looked like a shell of the player who bombed forward with gusto last season – Pioli is the one responsible for keeping these players in playing condition. That hasn’t happened, and it isn’t just because of the sheer number of games in succession. Milan have racked up 25 injuries in four months alone – far more than any other Serie A team – and lost 89 man games to those injuries.

On Tuesday, Malick Thiaw became the fourth defender to join Milan’s bloated infirmary when he pulled his hamstring in a seemingly winnable footrace. Without any other center-backs at his disposal, Pioli had to play midfielder Rade Krunic out of position. It was no surprise to see a 1-1 game slip away from the Rossoneri. That’s how their entire season is slipping away.

An argument can be made that Milan stand to benefit from playing the rest of the season without Champions League obligations. How could they possibly remain competitive on multiple fronts without a fully functioning roster? But to say that is to undermine all the progress they’ve made in recent years. They should be competing on multiple fronts. They are built for it. They have the players for it. They have proved they can do it. So if they aren’t competing, then what exactly are they doing? – Anthony Lopopolo

Quick free-kicks

Cancelo accepts invitation to shine

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Joao Cancelo is an unpredictable and slick dribbler, but he didn’t need to dig deep into his repertoire of tricks to dupe FC Porto right-back Joao Mario. The right-footed left-back switched the ball to his stronger foot – as right-footed left-backs tend to do – and easily exposed Joao Mario’s poor body shape and anticipation as he moved into the box and excellently slotted in Barcelona’s equalizer. The Porto youngster didn’t learn his lesson, allowing Cancelo to cut inside minutes after the break to set up a Joao Felix chance and also take a shot himself. And one of the few times Joao Mario blocked Cancelo’s route onto his right trotter, the relentless Barcelona star used his left peg to stab a cross under Joao Mario’s foot and to Felix, who duly netted the decisive strike in Barca’s 2-1 win. Cancelo had an excellent game – he even performed a wonderful trivela pass later in the second half – but he should reserve special thanks to Joao Mario for ensuring his evening was so enjoyable. – Daniel Rouse

Dortmund have a gem in Bynoe-Gittens

Jamie Bynoe-Gittens had to wait a couple of years before he could start for Borussia Dortmund. While Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham made the transition to German football seem easy, Bynoe-Gittens had to overcome torn knee ligaments and a spell at youth level before he could earn a shot at first-team football. That happened last season, and his case to start only strengthened after his performance in Milan on Tuesday. Bynoe-Gittens made mincemeat out of Davide Calabria, turning the Italian right-back inside out in ways Mbappe couldn’t quite manage earlier in the group stage. Bynoe-Gittens, who’s still just 19, won the penalty that gave Dortmund the lead and arrowed an accurate shot inside the left post for the winning goal. Expect more from the English talent, who’s one of Dortmund’s bravest dribblers and mature enough to handle more minutes in the Champions League. – Lopopolo

Onana errors leave Man Utd on brink

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Andre Onana didn’t do anything to ease the pressure on himself in Istanbul. The unsettled goalkeeper has been deservedly questioned after several suspect errors this season, but his latest shocker will sting the most if it ends up costing Manchester United a spot in the Champions League knockout rounds. Victory seemed inevitable after Scott McTominay made it 3-1 for United in the second half on Wednesday. But then, disaster struck again for a United outfit fresh off coughing up a two-goal lead in a losing effort in its last Champions League outing. After letting in a soft goal off Hakim Ziyech’s free-kick in the first half, Onana outdid himself on another set piece from the Moroccan that should’ve been comfortably saved. Onana clumsily batted the ball into his own net, paving the way for Galatasaray to score an equalizer shortly after. Now that he’s conceded a club-record 14 goals in the group stage, one has to wonder if Erik ten Hag is considering a change heading into Manchester United’s most important game of the season to date against Bayern Munich on Dec. 12. – Gordon Brunt

No parting gift from Monchi

Sevilla fans give Monchi the kind of reverence usually reserved for an all-time top scorer or a defensive stalwart who captains the club for most of their career. The former sporting director is viewed as the architect of the glory years, the man whose transfer deals at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan created serial Europa League winners. However, since he departed Sevilla for a second time last summer, joining Aston Villa as president of football operations, it’s clear that there wasn’t a great deal of succession planning in the squad he left behind. The average age of the starting XI that faced PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday was the oldest in Champions League history at 32 years and 19 days. Sevilla led 2-0, but Lucas Ocampos’ red card changed everything, and PSV eventually took a 3-2 away win. The Andalusians are positioned 15th in La Liga and might not even drop into the Europa League due to their disappointing Champions League group campaign. “The team loses out on a lot today,” Sergio Ramos said. – Rouse

Inter spoil Joao Mario’s big day

Mattia Ozbot – Inter / FC Internazionale / Getty

For 34 minutes, it felt like we were watching the Benfica of last season again. With the major caveat that Inter Milan rested several key starters – including talisman Lautaro Martinez – between league matches against Juventus and Napoli, Benfica, already eliminated from knockout-stage contention after losing all of their previous Group D matches, scored three times in just over half an hour at the Estadio da Luz on Wednesday. Former Inter midfielder Joao Mario, of all people, notched all of them. Benfica were moving the ball quickly, and Inter’s second-string XI was making defensive blunders all over the place. But the home fans (who were likely asking, “Where has this been all season?” in the first half) saw their team revert to type after the interval. Benfica lost their shape and, eventually, their three-goal lead, too. Last season’s finalists came all the way back for a 3-3 draw and nearly snatched the win when Nicolo Barella struck the post in stoppage time. Unfortunately for fans of the Portuguese side, this was more like what they’ve seen from their team in this season’s Champions League. The stalemate was Benfica’s first point of the group stage, but it felt like another defeat. – Nesci

Post-miracle slumps

Royal Antwerp likely never expected to progress from a group with Barcelona, Porto, and Shakhtar Donetsk. But since Antwerp earned their first league title in 66 years courtesy of Toby Alderweireld’s stoppage-time goal on the final day of the 2022-23 Belgian season, the dip has been considerable. Following Tuesday’s dreary 1-0 loss to Shakhtar, they’ve collected zero points from five group-stage matches, and they’re nine points adrift of league-leading Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in the Belgian Pro League. The comedown at Union Berlin has been worse: They’ve suffered 13 defeats and three draws over their last 16 outings after Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at Braga, leaving them with two points at the bottom of Group C, eliminated from the DFB-Pokal, and in the Bundesliga’s relegation zone. Still, were Antwerp’s miraculous title triumph and Union’s incredible rise after near-extinction worth it, considering what’s happening now? Of course, they were. – Rouse

Stat of the week

Considering some of the one-sided games the Champions League has offered up over the years, this is an impressive accomplishment from Arsenal, who qualified for the knockout stages with a 6-0 hammering of Lens.

Tweet of the week

Poor Louis van Gaal. Still catching strays during Manchester United matches.

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