Welcome back to the 90-Minute Breakdown!
Players
I’d like to start this week’s column by remembering FC Barcelona’s head club doctor, Carles Miñarro, who passed away suddenly this past Sunday, hours before Barcelona’s match against Osasuna. Barcelona president Joan Laporta paid tribute, stating, “A man very much loved by everyone passed away this afternoon during the team’s gathering at the hotel. As you can imagine, the players, coaching staff, the coach, everyone was very sad.” The match was postponed in his honor.
On a different note, Cole Palmer missed his first-ever Premier League penalty in Chelsea’s match against Leicester, ending his flawless 12/12 streak. Even the best can stumble.
This week’s standout performances belong to goalkeepers.
Wojciech Szczęsny led a 10-man Barcelona to a stunning Champions League victory, making eight crucial saves and keeping them alive for the second leg in Barcelona.
Alisson Becker pulled off a masterclass in Liverpool’s 1–0 win over Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes. Despite Liverpool managing just two shot attempts to PSG’s 27, Alisson’s heroics kept them in the fight. “It was probably the performance of my life,” he told TNT Sports.
Games
The Champions League is heating up, with the second leg of the round of 16 approaching. Here’s a look at how the first leg unfolded and what’s at stake:
- Barcelona pulled off a gritty 1–0 win over Benfica in Lisbon and now return to Montjuïc with a crucial advantage.
- Liverpool stunned PSG despite being completely outshot. The French side now heads to Anfield, desperate to turn the tide.
- Bayern Munich cruised past Bayer Leverkusen 3–0, leaving little room for a comeback.
- Inter Milan took a solid 2–0 lead against Feyenoord, though the Dutch will be hoping for a miracle.
- Real Madrid edged Atlético 2–1 at home, setting up a high-stakes return leg at the Metropolitano.
- Aston Villa dominated Brugge 3–1, helped by a painful own goal and late penalty from the Belgian side.
Meanwhile, Liverpool has virtually wrapped up the Premier League title, sitting 15 points clear after their win over Southampton.
In Serie A, the title race remains tight between Internazionale and Napoli.
Over in La Liga, Atlético Madrid dropped points, Real Madrid climbed to second and Barcelona remains top — for now.
Opinion
Inter Miami faced heavy criticism this week as Lionel Messi hasn’t played in several matches, sparking outrage from fans who paid inflated ticket prices expecting to see him. But is the anger justified?
I don’t think so.
Messi, like any player, is part of a squad. Starting lineups are typically announced just hours before kickoff, and nowhere is it guaranteed that a player — no matter how famous — will feature. Football is about supporting teams, not individuals.
Yes, Messi’s presence drives ticket sales and revenue, but his availability should be a sporting decision, not a financial one. If Inter Miami wants to keep their squad healthy and competitive, lineup choices must be made based on strategy, not marketing. Fans should support the club, not just the star on the billboard.