Barcelona’s Comeback, Newcastle’s Long-Awaited Trophy, and more
PLUS: Manchester United’s €70M Move for Raphinha
👋🏻 Welcome to Starting 11! Barcelona pulled off a stunning comeback to reclaim LaLiga’s top spot, while Newcastle finally ended decades of heartbreak with a long-awaited trophy. Over in Italy, Inter made another strong statement in the title race, and Manchester United’s bold €70M bid for Raphinha has Les Cules facing a big decision. Buckle up—this week had it all, and we’re just getting started.
Barcelona delivered a dramatic comeback against Atletico Madrid, snatching a 4-2 victory and reclaiming LaLiga’s top spot. Down 2-0 after goals from Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth, the Catalans roared back as Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres struck to level the match. In stoppage time, teenage sensation Lamine Yamal’s deflected shot put Barca ahead before Torres sealed the win in the 98th minute. Atletico, reeling from their midweek Champions League exit, crumbled late, while Barcelona extended their unbeaten run to 18 games—just in time to send a message in the title race.
Newcastle United ended a 70-year domestic trophy drought in style, beating Liverpool 2-1 to lift the Carabao Cup at Wembley. Dan Burn’s header sent Geordie fans into delirium before Alexander Isak doubled the lead early in the second half. Liverpool pulled one back in stoppage time through Federico Chiesa, but Newcastle held firm to claim their long-awaited silverware. Eddie Howe, now the first English manager to win a domestic trophy since 2008, called it an emotional victory, while Bruno Guimarães summed it up: “For them, this is like the World Cup.”
Atalanta’s Scudetto dreams took a hit as Inter Milan handed them yet another defeat, extending their winless run against the Nerazzurri to eight matches. Carlos Augusto and Lautaro Martínez sealed a 2-0 victory, leaving Atalanta six points adrift of the top. Gian Piero Gasperini fumed over a late red card to Éderson, but his side never truly threatened Inter, who now hold a three-point cushion over Napoli. Meanwhile, Simone Inzaghi isn’t just eyeing the league—he’s talking trebles, even quadruples. A slip-up could still come, but for now, Inter look ready to pull away.
The Vancouver Whitecaps are on fire, balancing a perfect MLS start with a historic Concacaf Champions Cup run. Fresh off eliminating Monterrey, they ground out a gritty 1-0 win at FC Dallas—without their star Ryan Gauld. New coach Jesper Sørensen has transformed Vancouver into a possession-dominant side, leading MLS in expected assists while staying defensively solid. With Gauld sidelined for another month, the real test begins, but so far, the ‘Caps look more like contenders than pretenders.
Elsewhere, Inter Miami continued their strong start with a 2-1 road win over Atlanta United, capitalizing on an early defensive error and sealing it late with a Fafà Picault header. Lionel Messi is still the headline act, but Miami’s defensive improvements have made them a tougher out this year. Meanwhile, Sporting Kansas City pulled off the comeback of the season, erasing a 3-0 deficit to draw Minnesota United, snapping a brutal 10-game losing streak.
As for the standings, Inter Miami lead the Eastern Conference, while Vancouver sit atop the Western Conference. It’s early days, but these teams are proving they’re built for the long haul.
Kashima Antlers extended their unbeaten home streak to 26 matches with a dramatic 1-1 draw against Urawa Reds, keeping them atop the J1 League table. FC Machida Zelvia remain just one point behind after securing a third straight win, while Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Kashiwa Reysol stayed in the title chase with a 1-1 draw. Meanwhile, two-time defending champions Vissel Kobe finally got their first win, defeating previously unbeaten Shonan Bellmare 2-1 thanks to Erik’s brace. Yokohama F. Marinos also picked up their first victory, easing past Gamba Osaka 2-0. At the bottom, Nagoya Grampus remain winless after falling to Tokyo Verdy.
The A-League saw a record-breaking goal fest in Round 23, with an all-time high of 33 goals across six matches. The previous record of 30 goals, set twice in 2023-24 and 2010-11, was shattered before the final game even kicked off.
The weekend's madness was headlined by Macarthur Bulls' wild 5-4 victory over Adelaide United and Western United’s 6-2 demolition of Newcastle Jets, where Michael Ruhs netted the record-breaking goal. Elsewhere, Western Sydney Wanderers downed Melbourne Victory 4-2, Brisbane Roar overcame Perth Glory 3-1, and Auckland FC’s late equalizer secured a 2-2 draw with Central Coast.
The round wrapped up with a comparatively tame 1-1 draw between Sydney FC and Wellington Phoenix, sealing a historic weekend for the league.
Go Ahead Eagles’ Finnish star Oliver Antman is making a strong case as the Eredivisie’s bargain of the season. Signed for just over €1 million from Nordsjaelland, the 23-year-old has exploded into form, leading the league with 12 assists while adding five goals in 28 matches. That’s a stunning jump from his previous seasons, where he had never managed more than two assists in a single campaign.
Antman, alongside Victor Edvardsen and Jakob Breum, has spearheaded Go Ahead’s European push, with the trio contributing to 47 goals in 26 games. His recent brace against PSV only added to his growing reputation, as he closes in on last season’s league-high assist tally of 16 from Joey Veerman. With a contract until 2027, Go Ahead will hope to keep him, but bigger clubs are bound to come knocking this summer.
After 25 years, Nike’s run as the Premier League's match ball supplier ends in 2025, with Puma taking over. The first Puma PL ball launches on June 1, 2025, marking a shift after Nike’s long-standing presence in iconic moments.
Puma’s deal follows similar moves in Serie A and La Liga, solidifying its growing influence in football. While some fans will miss Nike’s classics, Puma’s aggressive push aims to challenge Nike and Adidas for dominance in the sport.
Concacaf’s 40th Ordinary Congress in Saint Lucia brought leadership changes and big talk about regional growth. Cindy Parlow Cone (US Soccer) secured a FIFA Council seat unopposed, while Mikel Arriola (Mexico) joined the Concacaf Council just a week into his new role. FIFA’s Gianni Infantino and Conmebol’s Alejandro Dominguez were on hand, though whispers of a potential merger have seemingly faded. Meanwhile, the Concacaf Nations League Finals kick off Thursday at SoFi Stadium, with USA-Panama and Mexico-Canada setting the stage for a dramatic finish on March 23.
Manchester United is making a bold move with a €70 million bid for Barcelona’s Raphinha, aiming to strengthen their attack. The Brazilian winger, known for his creativity and ability to break defenses, has drawn interest from multiple European clubs, but United has taken the most decisive step so far. At 28, he brings both immediate impact and long-term value, making him a prime target for the Premier League side. With Barça’s financial situation still uncertain, this offer could be difficult to turn down.
Paris Saint-Germain might finally be onto something. Long seen as a club built more on branding than balance, PSG’s knockout win over Liverpool in the Champions League suggests a new identity is emerging. Gone are the days of Messi, Neymar, and Mbappé carrying the team’s hopes; in their place, a younger, more dynamic squad is stepping up. With Bradley Barcola, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Ousmane Dembélé, the team is more fluid and aggressive, shedding its over-reliance on individual brilliance. This PSG might not just sell shirts—they could finally lift the trophy that has eluded them.
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