Europe

When Lionel Messi broke his arm against Sevilla back on Oct. 20, the prognosis was that he’d need three weeks to recover. By the time Barcelona hosts Real Betis on Sunday, that timeframe will’ve been achieved. But will Messi actually suit up for the Blaugrana with the assurance of November’s international break directly following the game, giving Messi an extra two weeks of rehabilitation before the titanic clash with Atlético Madrid at the Wanda on Nov. 24?

It’s too early to declare Santiago Solari the true heir to Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid, but three wins, 10 goals scored and zero conceded is a fine start to the Argentine’s reign. Most evidently, as Toni Kroos so rightly pointed out, Real actually won a LaLiga match last weekend.

We won a league game yesterday. pic.twitter.com/h2hv83Fruh

— Toni Kroos (@ToniKroos) November 4, 2018

After reportedly rejecting offers of a contract extension at Porto (it’s set to expire this summer), Mexico international Hector Herrera has been linked with a move to Arsenal, Tottenham, Real Madrid and AS Roma. The World Cup standout again demonstrated his immense quality — and only increased the speculation — with a commanding display in today’s 4-1 Champions League victory over Lokomotiv Moscow.

The match was always going to be a draw — that would put Barcelona on the cusp of passage to the Round of 16, and that would be enough for Internazionale to put Tottenham firmly in the rearview mirror. 

And so it was a draw.

Inter constantly put nine defenders behind the ball, leaving Mauro Icardi to halfheartedly pressure Gerard Pique while Radja Nainggolan played the role of attacking midfielder in name only, but things didn’t go exactly to plan for Luciano Spalletti's men.