Highlights

It's a tired cliche, but the game isn't over until the referee blows the final whistle. An unbelievable, historic match at the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship proved as much.

As soccer fans, we typically hate to see a game end in a 0-0 tie. But, there is nothing more humiliating than watching one team lose to another by five or more goals. In soccer, it's very important for a team to score the first goal of the game. If that's the case, your team automatically sets the pace for the match, and it also shows your opponents that you are here to compete.

The biggest news concerning Gareth Bale this week had been the monster contract extension he just signed with Real Madrid, earning him $428,347 per week until 2022. Following his wonder goal against Legia Warsaw in the Champions League, the talk is once again surrounding what he’s capable of on the pitch.

Most of you out in soccer land, we are willing to bet, watched Manchester City vs. Barcelona this afternoon. We do not begrudge you one bit for that, as it was a fun game. However, if you did watch Manchester City vs. Barcelona, you missed out on this Thomas Meunier rocket volley winner for PSG, which we think is the goal of the Champions League so far.

So much of the prematch hype for Barcelona versus Manchester City centered on the 4-0 hiding Barca had administered the Citizens only two weeks previously. If Guardiola’s new side ever aspired to reach the levels of his former protegees, that scoreline demonstrated how much work still remained.

The return match in Manchester started brightly for City. An early penalty appeal from Raheem Sterling saw the attacker booked for simulation, an extremely harsh reading of what looked an almost certain penalty.

For those watching Mexico play New Zealand in a friendly match in early October, it was easy to scoff at the sight of Giovani dos Santos wearing the captain’s armband for El Tri. Leadership has never been a quality directly associated with the Mexican attacker, but his continued evolution as a footballer speaks to his newfound maturity. 

The Seattle Sounders and Sporting KC played out a contentious Western Conference knockout round match in front of 36,000 at CenturyLink Field, the Sounders advancing with a controversial 1-0 victory.

The subject of all the controversy was two offsides calls, both of which went against Kansas City. Sporting started off the match with terrific intensity, Benny Feilhaber in particularly inspiring form in the midst of one of his best years as a professional.

Philipp Lahm probably doesn't care that he was left off the Ballon d'Or shortlist. He did, after all, once call the award a "popularity contest for attacking players."

Lahm, as you may have guessed, is not an attacking player. He's a fullback and defensive midfielder. He is very good at those things, but he doesn't get in on goal much.

When he does, though, look out.

Written a few days ago, this article would've been very different. In the cold light of Monday morning, many people were welcoming the revived glories of AC Milan. A young, exciting squad packed with home grown Italian talent, led by one of Serie A’s most promising and intriguing managers, had taken on the champions of the last five years and won. 'Milan beat Juventus — they’re back!' came the shouts. A new era was upon us.