Welcome back to On the Continent, our weekly edition that puts a microscope on Europe's best leagues, its biggest stories and most unmissable matches. While football is in disrepute after vile scenes of racism in Lisbon this week, let the magnificently chaotic nature of some all-time title tussles remind you why you love the beautiful game:

ii. The best midweek goal you might’ve missed: Check out this simply spectacular overhead kick from Sporting Lisbon’s Telma Encarnação against Swedish side Hammarby in the Women’s Europa Cup. Her teammate’s reactions really say it all. 🤩

iii. Not a goal, but still miraculous to look at: This was the scene 48 hours before Bodø/Glimt’s historic win over Inter Milan yesterday, where an estimated 80 tons of snow was removed from their artificial pitch in the Arctic Circle. ❄️

iv. Something we like: Our good friends at TrueFan Travel, the official fan travel partner of Wrexham AFC, are taking fans on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to North Wales. You know how much we’ve loved our visits to the SToK Cae Ras, and this is your chance to get the Ultimate Wrexham Travel Experience – including a tour of the grounds, matchday tickets, a Wrexham alumni meetup, and a ton more. Use code MENINBLAZERS for $200 off your VIP package. Lots more details here. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Cheers,
Tommy Stewart & Max Bonem

PS - Bundesliga side Stuttgart's crocodile mascot joined a recent team celebration, and the way its tail wagged along was just… perfect. 🐊

Osasuna vs. Real Madrid (Saturday, 12:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+)

Although the circumstances were abhorrent, the pain Vinícius Júnior suffered in Lisbon on Tuesday could unify an allegedly fractured squad into fighting for each other under one defiant cause. Real Madrid often function successfully when harnessing a siege mentality, something Álvaro Arbeloa ironically learned under José Mourinho. They now lead Barcelona in La Liga with the same games played, and a win at undefeated-in-five Osasuna will keep them ticking over ahead of hosting Benfica’s baptism of fire at the Bernabéu next week. 

Barcelona vs. Levante (Sunday, 10:15 a.m. ET, ESPN+)

Well, well, well, how the turn… tables, and while Michael Scott is no reference point for domestic treble-winning manager Hansi Flick, after his worst week at Barcelona, his players must react. A recent 4-0 dusting at the hands of Atlético Madrid sparked critical training ground discussions within the squad, but worryingly it wasn’t a misnomer, because Monday’s 2-1 La Liga loss to Girona was so cataclysmic, it’s led Barca star Raphinha down conspiratorial rabbit holes. Levante are proverbially destitute at 19th in the table, so they should offer a timely tension release.

More: Turns out there might be one thing Barca phenom Lamine Yamal can’t do.

Lecce vs. Inter Milan (Saturday, 12 p.m. ET, Paramount+)

Cristian Chivu’s fairytale inaugural season as Inter Milan manager was abruptly disrupted by giant slayers Bodø/Glimt last night, and although his side lead Serie A by seven points, the result will have stunned them. He’ll turn to experienced captain Lautaro Martinez, who as well as leading Serie A’s Golden Boot hunt with 14 goals, is now only two strikes away from third in the Nerazzurri’s all-time top-scorer chart. Relegation-threatened Lecce could be a perfect punching bag, although Eusebio Di Francesco’s side have won their last two league matches.

Juventus vs. Como (Saturday, 9 a.m. ET, Paramount+)

Luciano Spalletti is enduring a nightmare week as Juventus manager, admitting his side have “taken three steps backwards” after disastrous defensive performances against Inter and Galatasaray where eight goals were conceded. The arrival of Cesc Fabregas and Nico Paz’s young and ascending Como offers no respite and with a win the fellow northerners can go just one point behind the Old Lady.

AC Milan vs. Parma (Sunday, 12 p.m. ET, Paramount+)

If AC Milan are Kendall Roy and Inter are their cocksure younger brother Roman, then plucky Como are Cousin Greg, who had the cheek to travel 30 miles south to steal a point at the San Siro last night. While Max Allegri’s side remain second, seven points is a seismic sea to swim, and after two consecutive wins, 30-year-old Carlos Cuesta and his young Parma side currently convey a quiet confidence. 

More: Who is the baby-faced former Arsenal coach, Carlos Cuesta?

Bayern Munich vs. Eintracht Frankfurt (Saturday, 9:30 a.m. ET, ESPN+)

Bayern Munich have scored 10 goals in the three games since their midseason wobble and look back to their terrifying best with Harry Kane now at 41 goals for the season. Former Liverpool winger Albert Riera is undefeated in his two matches in charge of Eintracht Frankfurt, steadying the ship Dino Toppmöller left behind. He’s the third Spaniard to manage in the Bundesliga, following Pep Guardiola at Bayern and Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen disrupters, so… no pressure, Albert. 😬

More: Why Albert Riera’s Eintracht Frankfurt can beat Bayern Munich.

RB Leipzig vs. Borussia Dortmund (Saturday, 12:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+)

Dortmund haven’t lost in the Bundesliga for a seismic stretch of 14 matches that dates back to last October, and although Vincent Kompany projects the personification of cool, he’ll feel the heat of Niko Kovač’s marching yellow army. A trip to the Red Bull Arena is never duck soup, but RB Leipzig’s season has fallen off a cliff. Not long ago, Ole Werner’s side looked like genuine title contenders, but are now fifth, 11 points behind BVB and 17 behind the champions.

In this season’s Primeira Liga, Portugal’s traditional “Big Three” – Porto, Sporting Lisbon and Benfica – are competing in their own mini-league. But it’s a story of three very different managers, young and old.

Leaders Porto are coached by 36-year-old Francesco Farioli, who needs this title. His Ajax side famously bottled a nine-point lead with five games left last season, and while Porto currently pip Sporting by four points, they’ve only won one of their last three. Will history repeat itself?

João Pereira only lasted eight games following Ruben Amorim’s departure for Manchester United, allowing Rui Borges to take over and lead Sporting to last season’s title, edging Lisbon bedmates Benfica by the crust of a pastel de nata on the last day of the season. Benfica breathe down their necks again, this time with big, bad José Mourinho in charge. The most important person in Porto’s history now cuts the figure of a disheveled and bitter cowboy returning to the place it all started for one last duel.

Atlético Madrid’s Pablo Barrios doesn’t illuminate the goal contributions column, but the 22-year-old Spaniard has become an undroppable deputy to club legend and captain Koke, a man Atleti manager Diego Simeone deems him the heir apparent to. That is if he can keep hold of Barrios, whose mastery of both attacking and defensive midfield transitions has made him a siren for Premier League giants Manchester United and Chelsea… and Tottenham. The North London side instead signed Conor Gallagher in January, not necessarily because they preferred him, but because Barrios’s quality ousted the Englishman.

The fact that he’s a Real Madrid academy reject gives him that prerequisite fire that’s a foundational component in all of Simeone’s soldiers. And with four Spain caps in just over a year, Barrios seems to have sealed a spot in Luis de la Fuente’s World Cup squad ahead of this summer.

Yes, we’re back once again with another fantastic multiple choice question about European football. Good luck to you all!

Congratulations to last week’s winner, Devin Locke, who was the first to correctly identify Patrice Evra as the player who never played for both Inter Milan and Juventus. The French fullback only represented Juve, reaching the Champions League final with them in a successful three-year stint from 2014-17. Your patch is in the post, Devin. 📬

🐦‍⬛ We’ll see you again tomorrow. In the meantime, you can send us your stories, questions or theories about Pulisic’s next club to [email protected].

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