Welcome back to On the Continent, your double espresso shot of European football's top stories, players and fixtures: 

ii. In need of a good read today? Then check out our friend Rory Smith’s most recent piece on YouTuber KSI’s move into football and his plan to follow the Wrexham model towards success. Read it here. 📈

iii. While we’re on the topic of exciting football stories, the NWSL returns tomorrow for the 2026 season! If you’re looking for a chance to get into the league with a clean slate, now is the time and we’ve got you covered with “The Women’s Game,” hosted by USWNT legend Sam Mewis. As we saw in our 2025-26 Survey Report, the NWSL is surging in popularity for both men and women, so there’s never been a better moment to get involved. 🙌

iv. ICYMI yesterday, please take a moment to watch this alternate angle of Fede Valverde’s stunning dink and finish for his first of three goals against Manchester City. Simply filthy. 😧

v. Also, ATLANTA! Join us March 27 as our country-wide countdown tour rolls into town for Soccer’s Coming Home: 76 Days Out LIVE, presented by Bank of America, the Official Bank of the FIFA World Cup 2026™. It’s going to be a magical night breaking down the massive summer that lies ahead of us. Get your tickets here. ✌️

Cheers,
Tommy Stewart & Max Bonem

PS - Come si dice “hard pill to swallow” in Italiano? What. A. Stat. ⚾

Real Madrid vs. Elche (Saturday, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN+)

It’ll be tough for the Bernabéu to follow up a party like yesterday’s 3-0 victory over Manchester City, especially as their injury list grows, but Álvaro Arbeloa must harness the restorative energy of Federico Valverde’s hat-trick. Real Madrid have lost two of their last three La Liga matches, and while the Champions League is their stage, only four points divide them and Barcelona domestically. Elche haven’t won a game since December of last year and are a spot above the relegation places, making them exactly the sort of trap Madrid love to fall into.

Barcelona vs. Sevilla (Sunday, 11:15 a.m. ET, ESPN+)

Barcelona were overwhelmed by Newcastle’s pace and power on Tuesday but managed to escape St. James’ Park level, and while maintaining their La Liga lead is paramount, Hansi Flick will have an eye or two on next week’s return leg. He’ll welcome the return of Eric Garcia, who missed out midweek due to muscle discomfort, but may rest key players for the Camp Nou homecoming of 37-year-old Alexis Sánchez and his uninspired Sevilla side, who have drawn four of their last five.

Inter Milan vs. Atalanta (Saturday, 10 a.m. ET, Paramount+)

If Inter Milan manager Cristian Chivu had defeated old friend Max Allegri in last Sunday’s Derby della Madonnina, he’d practically be celebrating the Scudetto by now, but the narrow loss leaves Inter with plenty of work to do – a load intensified by the continued absence of Lautaro Martinez and Hakan Çalhanoğlu. Italy mourned Atalanta’s 6-1 schooling at the hands of Bayern Munich in the UCL on Tuesday, and the Bergamo side’s mood won’t be raised by the return of Inter’s Marcus Thuram, who left a hole in their frontline on Sunday. 

Lazio vs. AC Milan (Sunday, 3:45 p.m. ET, Paramount+)

AC Milan cut the gap between them and Inter to seven points last weekend after a disciplined win that was orchestrated by masterful performances from midfield veterans Luka Modrić and Adrien Rabiot. For Mauricio Sarri, Lazio’s famous ultras will put on a “choreographic display” in a break from their boycott against the club’s owner, Claudio Lotito. It’s going to be like “Gladiator” meets the fourth of July.

More: Lazio ultras announce stadium return in “one last act of love.”

Como vs. Roma (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Paramount+)

In the shadows of the Alps and on the crest of the lakes, Cesc Fabregas is doing something special at Como, who find themselves fourth in Serie A, having been promoted from Serie B under the guidance of the former Barcelona midfielder only last season. Level on points and a place behind them in Serie A are Roma, who are chasing Champions League football for the first time since 2019 and enjoying their own glow-up under Gian Gasperini.

Bayer Leverkusen vs. Bayern Munich (Saturday, 10:30 a.m. ET, ESPN+)

Bayern Munich may have hammered Atalanta 6-1 midweek, but Leverkusen proved they can go toe-to-toe with the best in Europe, after a 1-0 lead became an unlucky late draw against Arsenal. Harry Kane spurred his side on from the bench like Emperor Palpatine encouraging Darth Vader, but he should be ready in time to continue chasing every Bundesliga goal record there is on Saturday. Kasper Hjulmand’s side boast the joint-best defensive home record in the Bundesliga (you’ll never sing that), so whoever leads Bayern’s line is in for a tough test.

Borussia Dortmund vs. Augsburg (Saturday, 10:30 a.m. ET, ESPN+)

While Bayern are probably out of reach, Niko Kovač has vastly improved Borussia Dortmund this season, and shutting the door on Manchester United to secure a new contract for Felix Nmecha this week was another huge win. Before their late loss to RB Leipzig last weekend, Manuel Baum’s Augsburg had won their three previous matches, and Dortmund will be wary because they also conquered Bayern earlier this year.

FC Thun are on the verge of completing an underdog story that combines the Miracle on Ice and “Cool Runnings” into one. The population of Thun—an alpine town home to the world’s longest staircase—is just 45,000, and having returned to the Swiss Super League this season after five years away, if they get over the line, it’d be like Millwall securing promotion and winning next season’s Premier League!

Managed by former player Marco Lustrinelli, they spent $2.3 million on summer transfers, compared to Swiss heavyweights Basel and Young Boys, who splashed $20.7 million and $15 million respectively. With those two in fifth and sixth place, the story is a serendipitous concoction of underdog momentum pouncing as the giants sleep. 

They’re 14 points ahead of St. Gallen in second with nine games to go, and five wins take them to their inaugural Swiss title. Viel erfolg, Thun!

Belgium is famous for chocolate, European diplomacy and now, goalkeepers. Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois has arguably been the glovesman of his generation, winning multiple league titles in England and Spain, two Champions Leagues and 107 Belgium caps.

Internationally, he’s gloved off Nottingham Forest’s Matz Sels and Club Brugge’s Simon Mignolet, but his position might not be as secure as his hands going forward. In Manchester United’s Senne Lammens and Chelsea’s Mike Penders, who is currently on loan at Strasbourg, Belgium’s spoilt for choice when it comes to electing Courtois’ successor.

Matching his seismic 6’7” frame, for many, 20-year-old Penders assumes next-in-line status, and his time in Ligue 1 has only bolstered that claim, but the quietly assured nature in which Lammens has taken to one of the most pressured jobs in world football has thrown a spanner in the works. The 23-year-old “hopes to reach [Courtois’] level,” and while Belgium’s No 1 is going nowhere yet, De Rode Duivels’ goalkeeping factory line is the envy of the world.

👋 We’ll see you again tomorrow. In the meantime, you can send us your stories, questions or theories about Swiss football to [email protected].

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