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Four takeaways from Europe: Rodrygo stars for Real Madrid, Bayern Munich's struggles continue & more
Rodrygo Goes starred in Real Madrid's win
Harry Kane's Bayern continued to struggle in Bundesliga
Barcelona are back to their best

By Jack Gallagher
Apr 3, 2024
Two teams with contrasting fortunes
Two teams with contrasting fortunes / Diego Souto/Contributor and Matthias Hangst / Staff
Europe's top teams have been getting their final reps in this week ahead of the much anticipated UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

Real Madrid have been warming up for their clash with holders Manchester City by putting a talented Athletic Club side to the sword, Barcelona have been preparing for PSG by tightening up their defence, and Bayern Munich have been falling apart ahead of their trip to London to face Arsenal.

Here's all the key takeaways from this week's European action:

Real Madrid shouldn't sacrifice Rodygo Goes for Kylian Mbappe
Rodrygo Silva de Goes of Real Madrid celebrates his goal...
Superstar / SOPA Images/GettyImages
If you watched Real Madrid's clash with Athletic Club, you'll probably be shocked by the rumours that the club could be set to sell Rodrygo Goes during the summer transfer window.

And while those transfer stories are predicated on Madrid signing literally the best football in the world (Kylian Mbappe), one can't but fell that they'd be remiss to let a player as good as Rodrygo go.

As he proved with his stunning brace in the win on Sunday, the Brazilian has developed into a genuine superstar at the Santiago Bernabeu and the type of player that, if Madrid are hoping to dominate European football once again, they can't afford to let go of.

Bayern Munich are bloody awful
Harry Kane
Kane's Bayern are struggling / Matthias Hangst/GettyImages
The sub-heading is music to Arsenal fans' ears.

Bayern Munich have notably been spiralling since the turn of the year, with the Bavarians losing their 12-year grip on the Bundesliga despite signing England captain Harry Kane.

The 2-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund - a team that had gone 11 games without a win against them - was yet another drab and uninspiring outing from Thomas Tuchel's side. Judging by the performance at the weekend, they may need a miracle to beat Arsenal in the Champions League.

Juventus are also bloody awful
Massimiliano Allegri
Allegri isn't doing a great job / Francesco Scaccianoce/GettyImages
Speaking of bad football teams, here's Juventus.

After a promising first half of the 2023/24 campaign, La Vecchia Signora's form has fallen off a cliff in recent months. Since losing a top of the table clash with Inter back at the start of February, Juve have remarkably managed to win just one of their seven subsequent Serie A games.

It's a run which has, rightfully, put Max Allegri's future at the club in doubt.

Barcelona re-find their defensive mojo
Marc-Andre ter Stegen
Back to their best / Alex Caparros/GettyImages
Since Xavi Hernandez announced his intention to leave, Barcelona have played like a team possessed.

Their 11-game unbeaten run has been in part thanks to the improved performances of Robert Lewandowski up top, but mainly down to Xavi's side re-finding their defensive mojo.

La Blaugrana have been back to their 2022/23 defensive best in recent weeks, keeping five straight clean sheets in La Liga due to the form of fit-again Marc-Andre ter Stegen in goal and the emergence of 17-year-old Pau Cubarsi at centre-back.

Whisper it: Barcelona are dark horses to win the Champions League.

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Why Bukayo Saka missed Arsenal's win over Luton Town
Bukayo Saka wasn't in Arsenal lineup or listed among substitutes
Gunners winger carrying a knock from weekend clash with Man City
Mikel Arteta chose to rest a few others against Luton

By Jamie Spencer
Apr 3, 2024
Bukayo Saka was missing against Luton in midweek
Bukayo Saka was missing against Luton in midweek / Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/GettyImages
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta explained that Bukayo Saka was left out of the matchday squad for Wednesday's Premier League clash with Luton Town due to a lingering knock from the 0-0 draw with title rivals Manchester City over the weekend.

Saka was withdrawn 12 minutes before the end of the clash at the Etihad Stadium and was a notable omission when Arsenal released their teamsheet ahead of kick-off against Luton.

Arteta told TNT Sports ahead of kick-off that it was a decision not to risk the winger.

"He had to come off against Manchester City three days ago feeling something and he hasn't been able to do everything that we needed to give him the chance to start the game. So we have decided not to play him," the Gunners boss explained.

Saka's absence contributed to Reiss Nelson being handed his first Premier League start in almost four years, since a 2-1 win over Liverpool in July 2020. The 24-year-old had made 14 Premier League appearances this season prior to kick-off, all from the bench and totalling only 180 minutes.

Reiss Nelson
Reiss Nelson started in Saka's place on the right wing / Richard Heathcote/GettyImages
Speaking about Nelson's long absence from a Premier League starting XI, Arteta said ahead of the game: "No different to any other player. They're all very important players waiting to fill the roles. It's amazing and today is going to be an opportunity for everybody.

"I'm expecting a tough game. Luton make life very difficult for you. They are very unpredictable in the way they play. They have a big fighting spirit. We're going to have to earn it big time. Today is a very different challenge to three days ago but a big one as well."

Gabriel Martinelli and Declan Rice each began the game on the bench, with Thomas Partey and Emile Smith Rowe handed opportunities to start. The latter certainly made his mark on the 2-0 win, putting in a player of the match performance to stake his claim for a more permanent place.

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Brentford and Brighton battle to goalless draw

Brighton could not turn a lucrative week off the pitch into a profitable one on it after they were held to a goalless draw at Brentford.

The Seagulls announced on Tuesday an eye-watering annual profit of £122.8million, a record for an English club, following the most successful season in their history.

Chairman Tony Bloom celebrated by taking his place among the away fans for the match he probably wants to win more than any other, even over arch-rivals Crystal Palace.

Bloom refuses to go into the directors’ box at the Gtech Stadium as he and Bees owner Matthew Benham had an almighty fall-out over their business interests some 20 years ago.

Unfortunately that simmering feud was not matched by the on-pitch hostilities in a drab stalemate in west London.

It meant Brighton, who finished sixth last season, failed to take advantage of West Ham, Newcastle and Wolves all dropping points a day earlier in the race for European places.

Brentford, meanwhile, edged another point clear of the relegation zone – they are now six above 18th-placed Luton.

The Bees almost opened the scoring early on after a sweeping move from one end of the pitch to the other.

The ball came from Nathan Collins, via Ivan Toney and Mathias Jensen, to Keane Lewis-Potter whose near-post cross was put narrowly wide by Yoane Wissa.

Toney’s first sight of goal came after half an hour after he was played into the area by Wissa.

The England striker turned inside Jan Paul van Hecke 12 yards out but lost his footing slightly and Bart Verbruggen saved his scuffed shot.

For Brighton, top scorer Joao Pedro, back after two months out injured, drew a save from Bees keeper Mark Flekken and Van Hecke’s shot was deflected over.

Facundo Buonanotte then fired across goal and wide, Adam Lallana was also off target and Flekken saved from Simon Adingra.

Referee Andrew Madley was sent to take a look at the pitchside monitor by the VAR for a potential penalty for a foul by Wissa on Lewis Dunk in first-half stoppage time but he stuck with his decision and ruled in favour of the Bees forward.

At the start of the second half Pedro’s cross found overlapping Brighton full-back Joel Veltman but his shot was always rising as it sailed into the stands.

Toney, without a goal in his previous six matches, took aim with a free-kick from 25 yards but sent it high over the crossbar.

Substitute Danny Welbeck had two chances in stoppage time to win it for Brighton but he headed a corner wide and then fizzed a low drive the wrong side of the far post as a distinctly low-key encounter ended goalless.