For a second consecutive game and the first time in Bundesliga history, Bayern Munich squandered a two-goal advantage in a disappointing 2-2 draw at Hertha Berlin.
Beginning life after Carlo Ancelotti, it all looked plain sailing for the German champions after Mats Hummels' powerful header on 10 minutes and Robert Lewandowski's exquisite finish had chiselled out a hard-fought 2-0 lead in the capital. However, the gallant hosts refused to wilt and Ondrej Duda reduced the arrears from close range...
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/club/bayern-munich/132/blog/post/3218624/willy-sagnol-gets-5-out-of-10-in-debut-but-bayern-make-unwanted-history-in-draw
The FC crew discuss the impact Paul Pogba's injury will have on Manchester United.
This article originally appeared on ESPN FC on Sept. 13, 2017 and has been edited to reflect the latest updates.
There was a pivotal moment in Paul Pogba's first season at Manchester United, albeit one that did not arrive until March. Injured in a Europa League tie with Rostov, Pogba missed the next three games.
The first one, a 3-1 win at nearly relegated Middlesbrough, went smoothly enough. The next two, home games against West Bromwich Albion and Everton, did not.
Both ended in draws -- 0-0 and...
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/club/manchester-united/360/blog/post/3203073/paul-pogba-injury-absence-presents-jose-mourinho-with-a-problem
The guys respond to your tweets about Carlo Ancelotti, Arsenal turning things around and their thoughts on expected goals.
Raphael Honigstein explains what lead to Ancelotti's sacking and who is next in line for the Bayern job.
Alison Bender and Don Hutchison discuss who Bayern will look to next as they part ways with Carlo Ancelotti. MUNICH -- Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic says the atmosphere within the team is not good, admitting the crushing 3-0 defeat at Paris Saint-Germain was the "last straw" leading to the dismissal of Carlo Ancelotti.
Bayern parted company with Ancelotti on Thursday, one day after the heavy Champions League defeat in Paris.
"There is not a good atmosphere in the team," Salihamidzic said at a news conference. "We weren't playing good football and it wasn't getting any better. We saw weaknesses...
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/bayern-munich/story/3216617/psg-defeat-was-last-straw-for-bayern-to-sack-carlo-ancelotti-director
The ESPN FC crew discuss what went wrong for Carlo Ancelotti at Bayern Munich.
Carlo Ancelotti was sacked as Bayern Munich manager on Thursday following a 3-0 humbling at Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
While some have thought the decision was hasty, here are five reasons why Bayern have acted ...
Not good enough. pic.twitter.com/Re0WkwVbWs— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 28, 2017
Tactical mishaps
It was billed as a battle between PSG's new money and Bayern's more traditional, hard-earned values -- a high-profile opportunity for the Bundesliga champions to demonstrate their more conservative transfer policy could take on PSG's lavish...
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/club/bayern-munich/132/blog/post/3216337/carlo-ancelotti-sacked-tactics-trouble-and-player-power-rule-at-bayern
Barcelona needed an own goal to stay top of Group D as they only just managed to scrape past Sporting Lisbon.
UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Sporting Lisbon following the pitch invasion by a fan during Wednesday's Champions League Group D game against Barcelona in Lisbon.
The supporter raced onto the Jose Alvalade stadium pitch late in the second half with the hosts 1-0 down and darted towards Barcelona star Lionel Messi.
He hugged the Argentina captain and kissed his boot before being whisked away by a steward. Barca prevailed, 1-0. On Thursday, UEFA announced it had opened...
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/uefa-champions-league/story/3215877/uefa-charge-sporting-lisbon-after-pitch-invader-kissed-lionel-messis-boot
After getting trounced 3-0 by PSG, the FC panel call out Ancelotti's naive tactics against PSG's free-flowing side.
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge had threatened "quick consequences" at the banquet in the Paris team hotel on Wednesday night, and Bayern's executive chairman stayed true to his word. Shortly after the club's return to Munich, Carlo Ancelotti was fired.
"Our team's performances since the start of the season have not met our expectations. The match in Paris clearly showed we had to take immediate action," was how the official press release quoted Rummenigge, and those two sentences neatly explain the rationale...
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/uefa-champions-league/2/blog/post/3215384/bayern-now-in-damage-limitation-mode-psg-expose-deeper-problems
The ESPN FC crew discuss Borussia Dortmund's shortcomings in their 3-1 loss against Real Madrid.
Despite a strong penalty claim, Borussia Dortmund manager Peter Bosz had no complaints about his side's loss to Real Madrid.
Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc has acknowledged that it will be "very difficult" to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League following Tuesday's 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid.
Dortmund were outclassed on Tuesday as they suffered their first Champions League home defeat to Madrid in their seventh meeting with the Spanish side in Europe's biggest club competition.
The loss left the Bundesliga leaders without a point from their first two group-stage matches for the first time...
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/borussia-dortmund/story/3215594/borussia-dortmund-will-find-it-very-difficult-to-reach-ucl-knockout-round-zorc
The crew answer your tweets on where PSG rank among the top teams in Europe, the happier coach between Unai Emery and Pep Guardiola and more.
ESPN FC's Steve Nicol believes Man United deserve credit for not taking their opposition lightly so far in Group A.
While there's little doubt Kylian Mbappe is a star for the future, Craig Burley makes the case for him being the third-best player in the world today.
Another round of UEFA Champions League fixtures has come and gone, leaving us with a number of memorable performances during the second week of the group stage.
Several big names, such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe, had their usual strong performances. Others, such as Harry Kane, Romelu Lukaku and Michy Batshuayi, struck when it counted.
Some teams have stated their case to move on to the knockout rounds (we're looking at you, Premier League), while others are continuing to struggle.
What...
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/uefa-champions-league/2/blog/post/3215471/batshuayi-kane-lukaku-mbappe-ronaldo-the-champions-league-stars
Valencia 1-2 Chelsea, April 2007
For much of this balmy spring evening at the Mestalla...
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/club/chelsea/363/blog/post/3215533/atletico-madrid-among-chelseas-top-5-champions-league-away-wins
Despite winning 2-1, Edin Dzeko believes Roma made life harder on themselves by allowing Qarabag to get back in the game.
Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge admits their defeat to PSG must have consequences.
Wins for Roma, Napoli and Juventus in the Champions League this week have seen Italy move above Germany in UEFA's five-year rankings for the first time in seven years.
Although Champions League reforms mean the top-four ranked nations receive four guaranteed group stage places from next season, promotion to a position that, ahead of the changes, would have also earned four berths and reduced the Bundesliga to three is nevertheless a psychological boost for Italian football.
Napoli defeated Feyenoord...
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/uefa-champions-league/story/3215521/serie-a-moves-above-bundesliga-in-uefa-ranking-after-ucl-wins
The ESPN FC crew discuss Harry Kane following his Champions League treble for Tottenham.
The ESPN FC crew discuss Harry Kane following his Champions League treble for Tottenham.
With the second games in the group stage complete, Nick Ames picks the best Champions League XI -- with Harry Kane making his second successive appearance.
Do you agree? Have your say in the comments below.
ESPN FC's Champions League Team of the Week.
Goalkeeper: Artem Rebrov (Spartak Moscow)
Perhaps this should be joint award for Spartak's two goalkeepers, who thwarted Liverpool brilliantly at different points in their 1-1 draw. Rebrov, 33, made a stunning first half save to deny Roberto Firmino and repelled a Philippe Coutinho free kick...
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/uefa-champions-league/2/blog/post/3083416/luka-modric-anthony-martial-and-harry-kane-in-champions-league-best-xi