After a week in which:
– Manchester United are out of the Champions League.
– Inter are out of the Champions League.
– Real Madrid didn’t make it out of the Champions League.
We are among the top 15 teams in Europe at 90 minutes with a little help from the 2010 film references.
Inter are out of Europe/Jonathan Mascroup/Getty Images
“So long, mate.” (Toy Story 3)
Antonio Conte bid farewell to the Champions League for the 100th time in his career this week, and things got so bad for Inter that they are not even in the Europa League.
He then proceeded to flip on the press…again. A standard week for him then.
Sassuolo was organized by Roma/De Fudi Images/Getty Images.
“Downward is the only way forward.” (beginning)
A 0-0 draw with Roma saw Sassuolo drop out of the Champions League places.
Fortunately, things are tight at the top of Serie A, and a good week could see them back up there.
PSG is getting stronger / Xavier Lane / Getty Images
“The only thing you need to know is the work is real, and the money is real.” (The Expendables)
The money is certainly real for PSG, whose expensive squad advanced to the round of 16 of the Champions League with a routine win over Istanbul Basaksehir.
A special shout out to the French side for showing their support to Istanbul assistant Pierre Weibo during the alleged racism storm. That should be done.
Dortmund beat Zenit/MB Media/Getty Images.
“unexpected!” (despite me)
Is Dortmund bad this year? Are they good? Does anyone actually know?
A 1-1 draw with Frankfurt was followed by an incredible 2-1 win over Zenit, so the jury is still out on Lucian Favre’s side.
Leipzig stop Man Utd/Boris Streubel/Getty Images.
“Waiting for me… to start a conversation, one can wait a long time.” (The King’s Speech)
They had to wait a while to make sure they were going to beat Manchester United, but RB Leipzig managed to hold off a late comeback and book their place in the Champions League round of 16.
Ronaldo comes out on top against Lionel Messi/De Fudi Images/Getty Images
“Everything we know about you guys is wrong.” (How to Train Your Dragon)
Just when we were starting to think Juventus might be bad, they stepped up and proved their class by beating Barcelona (who are actually bad) 2-0.
They are climbing Serie A and top their European group. Who could ask for more?
Sociedad’s hot streak ends / Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images
“You know, you don’t really need a forensics team to get to the bottom of this. If you guys were the inventors of Facebook, you would have invented Facebook.” (Social Network)
You need a forensic team to get to the bottom of where Real Sociedad’s momentum has gone.
It’s now five consecutive draws for the former La Liga leaders, who scraped through to the Europa League knockout stages by the skin of their teeth.
Leverkusen are flying high/Pool/Getty Images
“Sometimes I believe as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” (Alice in Wonderland)
Bayer Leverkusen winning the Bundesliga title seemed impossible at the start of the season, but now?
Now, not so much.
Rangers are flying / Press Focus / MB Media / Getty Images
“I’ve never actually put my foot on the ground with the accelerator like that. It gave me a little boost.” (other people)
Rangers have been going strong in every competition this season.
They added two more wins and six unanswered goals this week, with Steven Gerrard’s side looking unstoppable at times.
Keep ticking Liverpool / D Foodie Images / Getty Images
“Thank you Lord for a warm bed to sleep in, thank you for the food we are going to eat, thank you for a roof over our heads on such cold nights, thank you for supporting us in such difficult times, Amen.” (Book of Eli)
Liverpool will be thanking the heavens that they managed another week without any new injuries.
A 4-0 win over Wolves was the highlight of the week for Liverpool, who took their foot off the gas for a dead rubber draw with Midtjylland.
Chelsea managed to beat Leeds
“I feel confident going into this fight. In fact, I was under the impression that I would be a better fighter.”
“I’m grateful to be here and have a shot at the title.” (fighter)
Do Chelsea really have a shot at the title?
Their comeback victory over Leeds showed that the Blues have something about them this season that was missing last year. Can Frank Lampard pull it off?
Atletico set the pace in Spain/DeFudi Images/Getty Images
“Yeah, that’s right! We’re superheroes! You love us!” (Kick-ass)
Atletico Madrid are sitting pretty at the top of La Liga, and they still have two games to play!
They are generating some real momentum, which looks like bad news for upcoming opponents Real Madrid.
Spurs put Arsenal to the sword / Visionhaus/Getty Images
“My basic belief is that if you treat a patient with respect, listen to them, try to understand them, you can reach them.” (Shutter Island)
Jose Mourinho has certainly reached out to his Tottenham players.
Spurs left Arsenal in ruins after the North London derby, regaining their place at the top of the Premier League table in the process. All in a day’s work.
Bayern finished their Champions League group in style / Christoph Stach / Getty Images
“The first act in life is always interesting. The second act, that’s where the depth comes in.” (Young)
Much of the excitement of Bayern Munich’s 3-3 draw with Leipzig was saved for the first half, when four of the six goals were scored inside 17 minutes.
Bayern had to claw their way back twice to eventually settle for a point that keeps them at the top of the table.
Milan continues to shine / Jonathan Mascroup/Getty Images
“The longer we stay here, the stronger it gets.” (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1)
Milan lives on top of a mountain. Simply put, there is no one stronger than the Rossoneri at the moment.
Two more games, two more wins, and they didn’t even need Zlatan Ibrahimovic!
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