Daily Schmankerl: Champions League recap; Zlatan buys 1/4 of Hammarby; Joao Felix wins Golden Boy 2019 Award and MUCH MORE!

Champions League action!

Defending champions Liverpool will need at least a point in their final group game at Red Bull Salzburg, after somewhat surprisingly drawing 1-1 at home to Napoli. Napoli continued their good performances against Liverpool as Dries Mertens scored the first goal of the game and Dejan Lovren scored the equalizer. The other game in Group E saw Red Bull Salzburg yet again impressing as they beat Genk 4-1. Red Bull Salzburg now only need a low-scoring single-goal victory against Liverpool at home.

In Group F, Bayern Munich rivals Borussia Dortmund put on a very poor performance at the Camp Nou, adding pressure to already criticized Lucien Favre. Lionel Messi was unsurprisingly in the spotlight yet again in his 700th hundred game for FC Barcelona. Assisting Suarez in the opener, Messi doubled the host’s lead four minutes later. Antoine Griezmann scored the third, giving breathing space to Ernesto Valverde, another coach under scrutiny. Favre decided to leave Jadon Sancho out of the starting XI, a decision that proved to be poor as the introduction of the young Englishmen sparked the Dortmund team back to life, albeit too late. The other game in the group saw Inter win away to Slavia Prague, who now are on the same points as Dortmund but with better goal-difference. This means Inter, who plays Barcelona at home in mid-December, will qualify if they at least match Dortmund’s result at home to Slavia.

A better outcome for the Bundesliga sides happened for RB Leipzig in Group G. Only needing a point at home to Benfica, Nagelsmann’s side was struggling at was down by 2-0 in the last minute. The hero of the night became Swedish winger Emil Forsberg. Scoring 2-1 in the 90th minute and miraculously the second, tying goal six minutes later, Leipzig is now through to the Round of 16. The other game of the group saw Zenit hanging on to win against Lyon at home with 2-0, with goals from Artem Dzyuba and Magomed Ozdoev.

Lastly, Group H saw another English side who will have to wait for their Champions League fate until the final group games. Chelsea drew to Valencia 2-2 away in an exciting game. Carlos Soler opened the scoring for the home team five minutes before the end of the first half. The Valencia supporters’ joy was short-lived as Mateo Kovacic scored a minute later. Christian Pulisic turned the game on its head after scoring in the 50th minute. Although Kepa Arrizabalaga saved Daniel Parejo’s penalty near the 70th-minute mark, Daniel Wass equalized for the home team in the 82nd. The other game of the group saw Ajax comfortably beating Lille 2-0 away as Hakim Ziyech became the man of the match with his one goal and one assist.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic buys ¹⁄₄ of Stockholm-based Hammarby IF, outraging hometown fans of Malmö FF (BBC)

In a hugely shocking and surprising event, global superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic posted on Tuesday an eleven-second clip video explaining he has purchased a quarter of Hammarby IF shares. Hammarby, the Stockholm based club known for their great and devoted supporters, came in third place in the 2019 edition of the Swedish First League (Allsvenskan). The decision is highly controversial as Zlatan himself is from Malmö and has often spoken about his great relationship with his first-ever-club, Malmö FF. Seeing the decision as the highest of betrayals, Malmö-natives set fire to the newly built Zlatan statue in the city.

RB Leipzig... Good/bad for the Bundesliga?

Aaron West with B/R Football went to Germany before the recent match between Köln and RB Leipzig to get fans on both sides (and other Bundesliga teams!) to comment on RB Leipzig. Are they good/bad for the Bundesliga?

(Also, I think I found my new favorite Köln fan. He’s hilarious.)

Joao Felix wins Golden Boy 2019 Award (ESPN)

Atletico Madrid’s Joao Felix has been named the winner of the Golden Boy 2019 Award from Tuttosport. The award is given out annually to the best player in the world under the age of 21. Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho finished in second place, while Bayer Leverkusen’s Kai Havertz took home third.

Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies and Mickael Cuisance were both named to the shortlist for the award.

Are you ready for the crossbar+assist+both-feet-challenge?

Nice assist to himself from Portsmouth player — using both feet!

Messi, Messi! Over here!

That guy Messi is pretty good (Gary from UK)