Nico Schlotterbeck is fast-emerging as one of the best defenders in the Bundesliga, with the German already establishing himself as a real leader in the Dortmund backline. A centre-back by trade, Schlotterbeck is known for his technical brilliance and speed, making him a crafty operator who can not only execute forward passes but also break down counter-attacks. Schlotterbeck has been performing consistently for Dortmund for years and has now attracted the interest of top clubs across Europe, including Barcelona.
Tuesday night saw FC Barcelona fall to a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea away at Stamford Bridge, further hindering their chances of securing a top-eight finish in the UEFA Champions League group stage. The Blaugrana were thoroughly outplayed by Enzo Maresca's team from the start, with their problems only being compounded by Ronald Araujo's red card in the first half. One of the stars that shone the brightest for Chelsea on the night was Brazilian wonderkid Estevao Willian - a name very familiar to Barcelona. The 18-year-old sensation was a threat going forward and even scored a brilliant goal early in the second half to make it 2-0. However, it could all have been very different for Estevao.
Everything Lamine Yamal does oozes quality. Even when he is strolling about looking dejected, which he did quite a bit at Stamford Bridge, he does it with the nonchalant grace of a star. He caresses the ball rather than kicking it, generating remarkable power from limited back-lift. He plays on the balls of his feet, always alert, always able to go either way. He glides rather than runs, but does so at speed. He has already finished as runner-up in the Ballon d'Or.
"It's not normal that Barcelona paid the vice president of the referees' association more than 8 million euros for at least 17 years," Perez said. "Whatever the reason. The vice-president of the referees' committee, who held important positions. A period that, coincidentally, coincides with Barcelona's best results in our country."
On how many Champions League nights can Araujo keep letting his team down? At this point, a big UCL night has become synonymous with the Uruguayan's errors. Took an unnecessary yellow card arguing for a foul that had taken place minutes ago, and then went on to jump into a rash challenge foolishly to take the red card late in the first half and leave the team hanging with ten men.
In the past few weeks, a lot has been said surrounding the future of Robert Lewandowski, with speculation ranging from him leaving the club in January to retiring at the end of the season. Turkish clubs, in particular, are reportedly on red alert as they look to sign the Barcelona frontman in the upcoming January transfer window. Although Fabrizio Romano has recently clarified that Lewandowski is not interested in a January move, clubs like Fenerbahce remain determined to sign the forward.
Joan Laporta's current term at Barcelona has been largely aimed at lifting the club from the financial mess they were in at the time of his arrival. After all, the club were sinking into debt when he took over as the president. Through well-negotiated salary revisions, player sales and economic levers, Laporta brought Barcelona back to a competitive level on the field and close to the financial 1:1 rule, although they still have not hit the aforementioned balance yet. The club's situation and means of getting out of it, however, have generated significant debate in recent times.
Zahavi, who lives in London, took advantage of his proximity to stop by the hotel and greet his client. The meeting with Flick was cordial and brief, held in the calm atmosphere typical of the hours before a European fixture. The Israeli agent arrived with two of his regular collaborators, Max Bielefeld and Humberto Paiva, who accompanied him throughout the visit.
It's a big week, but at the end of this week, we have another big week. Every game is important. Of course, Barcelona and Arsenal are important for different reasons, and we are ready.
