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On Tuesday, Girona take on Liverpool in the Champions League, knowing that it will give them a chance to put a dash on a top team before their European dream vanishes.

Before their debut in the competition, coach Michel Sanchez declared, “We have reached a place that was a dream for us, a dream that we must all enjoy,” but the Catalan minnows have quickly come to a head.

With four defeats from their first five games and one win, Girona is currently in the top 30th place in the group table.

The Girona team’s final three matches are undoubtedly their most difficult, aside from their firsing opening defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, which ended in a 1-0 defeat.

After visiting six-time champions Liverpool, they travel to Italy to face AC Milan before hosting Arsenal in their final group game.

Liverpool, under the leadership of Arne Slot, has recently defeated English champions Real Madrid and Manchester City, both of whom are English Premier League and Champions League champions. The latter was the team’s fifth consecutive victory in the Champions League.

Madrid finished third in the La Liga title race last season, but Girona held on until the season’s final stages when they lost.

In what was just their fourth season in the Spanish top flight, Sanchez’s side thrilled with their brilliant football and twice beat then title-holders Barcelona.

However, they were twice crushed by Madrid, 3-0 at home and 4-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu, in defeats which showed they were struggling to compete against the cream of the crop, even before severe summer sales set them back.

Girona lost target man Artem Dovbyk, playmaker Aleix Garcia and winger Savinho among other starters, forcing Sanchez to rebuild.

Bryan Gil, Abel Ruiz, and Donny van de Beek, who have all recently joined the team, took some time to get used to it, and the injuries have also been severe.

Resources have been stretched, with a whole XI of players being sidelined a few weeks ago, as a result of competing on two fronts rather than just La Liga.

READ ALSO: Mbappe ‘ Can Do Better ‘ As Troubled Real Madrid Visit Atalanta

‘ Can’t let these goals in’&nbsp,

Although Girona have improved recently, their form appears to have come too late.

Real Madrid’s comfortable 3-0 victory on Saturday ended a four-game La Liga run that had been unbeaten.

“We have to be stronger in both areas… we can’t let in these goals if we want to compete against these teams”, said Sanchez.

“I saw a good attitude but we were a bit soft, with some losses of concentration”.

Some fans will view the game between Liverpool and Montilivi more as a reward for their accomplishments last season than as a realistic route to the next round, according to fans.

Sanchez insisted his team will stay focussed on progressing.

“We are not out of the Champions League, so we will have to keep fighting”, said the coach, despite their disappointing 1-0 defeat at Sturm Graz in November.

Girona, which was a member of the City Football Group, certainly gained from their connections, resources, and infrastructure last season, but their first Champions League appearance in history was still an impressive accomplishment.

Girona first made it to La Liga in 2017 and, after falling out of favor in 2019, reclaimed the top flight in 2022.

Regardless of whether their team can keep the most successful English side at bay, the visit of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and the Girona team will leave fans with a night to remember.

Real Madrid typically deliver in the Champions League when the pressure is on, and their clash with Atalanta on Tuesday is going to be crucial for the disgruntled holders.

The record-eighteen-time champions have lost three of their first five games, and they are now 24th in the standings, with 25 to 36 players who were then eliminated at the end of the group stage.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side travels to Bergamo this week before hosting RB Salzburg and a trip to Brest, France, with their future in contention in doubt.

In-form Atalanta, who are currently fifth in the Champions League, lead serie A and have not yet lost a match.

While Madrid have experienced a number of issues, including Kylian Mbappe’s superstar summer signing having to adapt and several key players who have been sidelined due to injury,

Italian coach Ancelotti has tried to ease the pressure on 25-year-old former Paris Saint-Germain striker Mbappe, who has scored 11 goals in 21 games since joining Los Blancos.

“He isn’t at his best level, but we have to give him time to adapt”, said Ancelotti last week. “He can do better and he’s working to do that”.

Given his status as one of the best players in the world, Mbappe’s goal rate is not particularly concerning, but his performances have left a lot to be desired.

Mbappe, who has also experienced off-field issues, was made more focused by recent penalty misses against Liverpool in the Champions League and Athletic Bilbao in La Liga, both of which ended in defeat.

The striker is reportedly being investigated in Sweden for a rape case, was not a member of two recent France squads, and is currently battling with PSG over an unpaid salary claim.

“I received nothing, no summons. I follow everyone else’s recommendations for reading. The Swedish government hasn’t said anything — I’m not involved”, Mbappe told Canal+ on Sunday.

&nbsp, Important absences&nbsp,

Long-term knee injury issues have caused Madrid to lose key defenders Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao.

Even midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, whom Ancelotti has turned to as an emergency defender in the past, has also been out hurt, only returning recently.

For the visit to face Atalanta, Madrid will also be without Ferland Mendy, Eduardo Camavinga, and David Alaba.

Brazilian wingers Rodrygo Goes and Vinicius Junior are expected to appear in the good news column.

However, Vinicius’ anticipated return brings back a discussion that was in full swing prior to his two-week hamstring injury.

The Ballon d’Or runner-up likes to play on the left wing, which is also Mbappe’s favourite spot.

After using Mbappe as a center-forward for the majority of the season, Ancelotti finally switched to a center-forward before Vinicius suffered a broken wrist.

Vinicius had returned from playing soccer in South America, so the coach cited the French forward’s break from international duty as the justification for his inclusion.

Ancelotti suggested that Mbappe’s struggles were ultimately due to him, rather than to a lack of consistency that affected the entire team.

Ancelotti said his team would fight despite accepting criticism for Madrid’s current form, which they have already lost five games in every division.

“It’s not a funeral — we’re still fighting in all competitions”, said Ancelotti last week, following Madrid’s stumble at Athletic, the fifth of those defeats.

“We have to be optimistic, keeping in mind the problems we’re having and have had.

However, because we have a good squad, we must be optimistic. Although we haven’t been able to find our best form, I’m certain we will eventually.

Following that up with a show of force at Atalanta would start to ease concerns in the Spanish capital with a thumping 3-0 victory over Girona on Saturday in La Liga.

Tottenham defeated Chelsea 4-3 on Sunday, just four points clear of Premier League leaders Liverpool, to win the game.

Spurs raced into an early 2-0 lead but Enzo Maresca’s men turned the match on its head, scoring four times, including two penalties from England forward Cole Palmer, before a late goal from Son Heung-min.

However, as Chelsea rallied back to extend their unbeaten Premier League streak to seven games, his cavalier attacking style will come under even more scrutiny.

Before dominating the second half, Jadon Sancho gave the visitors a foothold, with Palmer twice cool from the spot on either side of Enzo Fernandez’s strike.

Chelsea are now just four points clear of Liverpool, who are still playing after their Saturday game against Everton was postponed due to high winds.

Spurs, who have lost just once in seven games and are currently 11th in the table, found little comfort with Son Heung-min’s 96th-minute goal.

Following a disappointing display against Bournemouth on Thursday, Postecoglou was forced to confront his own supporters in an enraging altercation.

Spurs have frequently saved their best for the biggest games this year, winning three games against Manchester United and beating Manchester City twice.

Postecoglou’s men flew out of the traps to leave an in-form Chelsea chasing shadows in the early stages.

Brennan Johnson’s cross was headed in the net by Solanke at the near post.

Kulusevski then scurried along the Blues’ box before firing a low past Robert Sanchez to make it 2-0 after 11 minutes.

Sancho scored his first Chelsea goal in a 5-1 romp at bottom-of-the-table Southampton in midweek to earn himself a start.

With a brilliant long-range strike past Fraser Forster, the loanee from Manchester United quickly brought the visitors back into the game.

In a frantic, fast-paced first 45 minutes with plenty of chances at both ends, somehow that was the scoring.

Solanke should have saved Son’s cross after Pape Sarr had headed off the crossbar, prolonging Tottenham’s lead.

Forster then extended his protracted legs to equalize for Palmer and Pedro Neto.

With 11 players still on the field, both teams had a chance to reach the break.

Moises Caicedo’s studs-up challenge on Sarr was deemed not to have excessive force by the VAR official.

Likewise, Kulusevski escaped further punishment for a stray elbow on Romeo Lavia.

Led by Palmer, Chelsea took control after the break to rub more salt in Spurs wounds and leave Postecoglou’s future up for debate.

This week, the former Australia boss complained that his team frequently “shoot themselves in the foot,” which was evidenced by the crucial fourth goal.

Caicedo was unnecessarily dived in by Yves Bissouma to concede a penalty, which Palmer coolly dispatched level.

Palmer played a significant role in Chelsea’s third, and Fernandez shot from the edge of the area after a weaving run into the Spurs box was blocked.

Both Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, who were both rushed back from injury to start, were forced to be replaced, to add to Tottenham’s issues.

Sarr’s barge over Palmer’s area provided yet another example of madness.

The England international this time impudently dinked the spot-kick Panenka-style down the middle of Forster’s goal.

Son turned in James Maddison’s cross to set up a nervy finale.

After drawing 1-1 at Fulham on Sunday, Arsenal missed the chance to move within four points of Premier League leaders Liverpool.

As a result of the Gunners’ four-game winning streak being ended in west London, Bukayo Saka had a late winner that was ruled out due to offside.

Before William Saliba equalized thanks to another Arsenal goal from the corner, Raul Jimenez had given Fulham an early lead.

Chelsea are six points clear of Liverpool, who are still undefeated after their Saturday game against Everton was postponed due to high winds.

If Chelsea doesn’t lose to Tottenham later on Sunday, they can reclaim second place.

Due to injury, Fulham exposed a makeshift left-side of the Gunners’ backline, with the latter still without renowned defensive duo Gabriel Magalhaes and Riccardo Calafiori.

READ ALSO: &nbsp, West Ham’s Antonio Suffers Lower Limb Fracture In Car Accident

Jimenez pounced on Kenny Tete’s ball in the back of the penalty area, which he fired brilliantly over David Raya.

An Arsenal side desperate to resurrect Fulham after scoring the opening goal against the run of play was forced to do so in response.

Bernd Leno’s best effort of the first half saw Saka’s shot comfortably saved.

Before Arsenal scored twice from corners in the 2-0 win over Manchester United in midweek, the team’s threat from set pieces was well known.

Yet, for all their preparations, Fulham were still powerless to prevent the corner kings.

Since the start of the previous season, Saliba has scored from close range to bring in Arsenal’s 23rd goal from corners.

Thomas Partey nodded wide from another precise delivery from Declan Rice, but another corner missed the chance to score the winner.

As stoppage time approached, Saka did head in at the back post, but Gabriel Martinelli had stumbling offside before getting the cross.

Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester struck twice late on to deny Brighton in a 2-2 draw at the King Power.

On 37 minutes, Tariq Lamptey looped his spectacular effort into the top corner from outside the box.

11 minutes into the game, Yankuba Minteh appeared to have scored the Seagulls’ three points.

However, Jamie Vardy made the comeback on 86 minutes before beating Bobby De Cordova-Reid to earn a point in stoppage time.

In a 2-1 victory at Portman Road, Bournemouth also scored twice in the final minutes to deny Ipswich its first top flight victory in 22 years.

In the final three minutes plus stoppage time, Enes Unal and Dango Ouattara gave the Cherries the lead, but Conor Chaplin moved up to eighth place.

Ipswich are still four points adrift of safety in the bottom three.

After a serious car accident on Saturday, West Ham announced that Michail Antonio, a forward, had minor limb fracture surgery.

The 34-year-old will continue to be monitored at a central London hospital after being moved there.

Following a road traffic accident on Saturday afternoon, the Hammers announced on Sunday that West Ham United had confirmed that Michail Antonio had undergone surgery to repair a lower limb fracture.

West Ham issued two updates on Antonio’s condition on Saturday, saying he was conscious and communicating, after unverified images of a heavily damaged Ferrari began to circulate online.

A man who was trapped in his car was also confirmed by Essex Fire Service as firefighters had arrived on the scene.

Antonio has received the support of a number of Premier League clubs and players.

The Club extends its sincere gratitude to the entire football community for the overwhelming support shown since yesterday’s news, according to West Ham’s most recent statement.

“A heartfelt thank you goes out to the emergency services, first responders, and medical team who continue to help him recover,” as well as “extending a heartfelt thank you to Michail.”

The London-born Jamaica international joined West Ham in 2015 and has scored 83 goals for the club in 323 games.

In his 15 starts this season, he scored once for the Hammers, winning 4-1 at home to Ipswich.

In 2023, the former Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest striker won the Europa Conference League.

Two minutes into stoppage time, Samuel Mbangula headed home a superb equalizer for Juventus against Bologna on Saturday.

Juventus finished sixth, seven points clear of Serie A leaders Atalanta, with the result of the 2-2 draw because Bologna appeared to be aiming for victory at the Allianz Stadium.

After thirty-eight hours, Dan Ndoye put the visitors ahead with a deft finish, and Tommaso Pobega doubled their lead.

READ ALSO: &nbsp, De Bruyne Difficult To Replace For Man City, Says Guardiola

Ten minutes later, when Teun Koopmeiners scored a rebound, Juve finally took control of the match and faced a lot of pressure.

Second-half substitute Mbangula picked up a pass on the edge of the Bologna area, and the Belgian international deflected a shot beyond Bologna goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski’s direct range.

In a mid-table fight earlier in the game, Genoa and Torino ended up with a goalless draw.

AS Roma face Lecce in Saturday’s late game.