Most years the Europa League is barely given a second thought this time of year. Sure it might be worth watching as the competition draws to its climax, but the Round of 32, not to mention the Europa League draw itself, typically doesn’t register highly on the mainstream soccer watch list.
Welcome to the second tier, Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid. Sure you’ve been a part of three of the last five Champions League finals, but sweet Thursday night road trips are in your future after finishing third in your respective UCL groups to earn the Europa League parachute.
Atletico played in the Champions League final in 2014 and 2016, losing to crosstown rival Real Madrid both times. Los Colchoneros are ranked No. 2 in UEFA’s club coefficients, a rating score based on the previous five seasons of European play.
Manchester United-Arsenal was the best game of the Premier League season so far. The highlights prove it, and some other thinga also prove it.
Highlights:
Hello folks, we’re back! We got 7 matchdays in December and this is our second match day of the week– so be quick to make your transfer on any of these players:
Matt Ritchie (Newcastle United):
Newcastle finally showed signs of life in their 2-2 comeback against West Brom, and they’ll travel to Chelsea on Saturday with the Blues coming off only two days rest.
The always high-energy Matt Ritchie could be a massive sleeper pick this week.
Harry Maguire (Leicester City):
Santi Cazorla is surrounded by darkness. He cannot escape the despair. The omnipresent smile has been replaced by a pained expression, beseeching the soccer gods to bestow upon him a healthy foot. The saga of the never-ending Santi Cazorla injury continued Wednesday when the Arsenal midfielder announced he underwent a ninth surgery in 13 months on his right foot.
Cazorla’s announcement came via Twitter with a telling photo: the Spaniard, hands clasped as if in prayer, looking to the heavens while blackness surrounds from above and below.
Piers Morgan, Arsenal's most bombastic celebrity fan who does not appear regularly on Arsenal Fan TV, embroiled himself in a heated exchange with the (probably fake) Twitter account of one Kolo Toure, the former Arsenal defender and current Celtic coach.