Global Press Kiosk, Friday, December 13: The Good, Bad, and the Ugly!
A comprehensive overview of European football events, highlighting Manchester United's Europa League victory, Lyon's triumph over Eintracht Frankfurt, and insights into upcoming fixtures and player performances.
The sixth week of the Europa League concluded on Thursday night with 17 matches. Notably, Athletic Bilbao secured a full three points from Fenerbahce, Manchester United clinched a crucial away victory against Viktoria Plzen, and teams like Porto, Lyon, Roma, and Lazio also emerged victorious.
These results position Athletic Bilbao and Lazio at the top of the standings with 16 points each. Manchester United's win propels them into the top eight, joining Anderlecht, Lyon, Frankfurt, Galatasaray, and Rangers in the upper echelons, with just 180 minutes remaining in the group stage.
In Italy, Gazzetta dello Sport discussed AC Milan's challenges, particularly focusing on Theo Hernandez's performance and praised Dusan Vlahovic for Fiorentina's historic seven-goal European victory.
France's L'Equipe highlighted Lyon's significant win over Eintracht Frankfurt, which disrupted the German team's lead and extended Lyon's unbeaten streak to nine matches. This sets the stage for their upcoming clash against Paris Saint-Germain.
Spanish outlets provided varied coverage. Marca featured an exclusive interview with James Rodriguez, who expressed his longing for Real Madrid and anticipation for the upcoming match against them with Rayo Vallecano. AS lauded Antoine Griezmann and Julian Alvarez as pivotal figures for Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid, emphasizing their combined contributions in goals and assists. Sport Barcelona showcased Hansi Flick alongside Ferran Torres during Barcelona's training, indicating potential strategic changes ahead of their match against Dortmund.
In England, The Sun used the headline "The Good, Amad, and the Ugly" to describe Manchester United's victory over Viktoria Plzen, highlighting a notable incident between Rasmus Hojlund and Amad Diallo. Hojlund, who scored both goals, had a chance for a hat-trick, but Diallo's unexpected solo play prevented it. The publication also touched on Tottenham's draw against Rangers and delved into a new racism allegation involving Kyle Walker. The Mirror echoed these sentiments with the headline "Checkmate!" regarding Viktoria Plzen's defeat and noted Manchester City's plans to strengthen their squad in the January transfer window. Additionally, it announced that the rescheduled Liverpool vs. Everton match will take place on February 11.
