*Catalans In Do-Or-Die Away Battle With Atletico Today
*PSG, Bayern, Dortmund In Narrow Wins
Captain Federico Valverde opened the scoring in the 28th minute with a crisp, low drive from 20 yards after Kylian Mbappe’s free-kick came back off the wall in Real Madrid’s away fixture on Saturday (yesterday) versus struggling Valencia.
Eight minutes later, Jose Mourinho’s side doubled their advantage as Arda Guler volleyed in from six yards after Jude Bellingham’s cutback was deflected kindly into his path.
The visitors remained in control in the second half and the result was put beyond doubt 15 minutes from time when Guler found Mbappe, who rounded the goalkeeper to score his 13th league goal of the campaign.
It only got worse for Valencia as captain Jose Gaya was sent off for scything down Mbappe with the striker set to streak clear on goal.
A fourth straight league win means only goal difference keeps Real off top spot, although Barca can restore their three-point advantage when they play third-placed Atletico Madrid today (Sunday).
Valencia stay 19th, a point from safety, after a seventh league defeat from 12 games.
The game was paused nine minutes into the first half to allow players and fans pay tribute to Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel, who died after suffering a serious injury during a Spanish second-division match, with a minute’s applause.
Maresca’s Dream Start Turns Nightmare As Title Hopes Hit
Enzo Maresca left the City Ground on Saturday evening with chants of “can we play you every week?” ringing in his ears – and the Italian’s dream start as Manchester City manager is rapidly turning into a nightmare.
Amid a sea of noise from the home faithful on the banks of the River Trent, the delirious Nottingham Forest supporters witnessed their side produce a thrilling performance as City sunk to a third straight Premier League loss.
Maresca’s leaky backline continues to make defensive blunders and once Josko Gvardiol gave the ball away for Jair Cunha to open the scoring in the sixth minute, City were on the back foot.
With Arsenal edging past Hull earlier in the day and keeping another clean sheet, City head into the international break searching for answers after a 3-1 loss and six points behind the champions.
Maresca said: “The first half we didn’t match [Forest’s] intensity or win duels or second balls. The first thing required in these games is intensity.
“We tried to react at 2-0 but it’s too late. We scored one, probably could have scored more but in transition we concede one more. No panic. We need to understand but no panic.”
Asked why the intensity was low, Maresca replied: “I need to analyse that.”
The situation already looks bleak for City, but what does history show?
Should Brighton fail to beat Brentford today, Arsenal would be just the fourth side in Premier League history to have a six-point lead after 10 games, while only two teams have been so far behind as City at this stage and gone on to win the title.
One of those was Manchester United in 2002-03. The other? City themselves in 2013-14 under Manuel Pellegrini.
But Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton have the opportunity to leap up to second place and five points behind the Gunners should they beat Brentford.
There is another factor which looms large over City’s campaign.
The club have lodged an appeal after being found guilty of breaking Premier League financial rules.
That process is ongoing – and it is not yet known what potential sanctions City could face.
But – even if any possible punishment does not affect this season – their title hopes are looking slimmer by the match.
‘City Were Exposed By Forest’
With his hands tucked inside his trouser pockets and his head bowed, a forlorn-looking Maresca paced the touchline towards the end of the match.
The City boss said during the week he was still getting to know his players, but performances like the one against Forest will provide some clarity as to who he can, and cannot, trust.
After starting the season with seven straight wins, City have hit real trouble with defeats against Aston Villa, Brighton and now a pumped-up Forest.
Their problems at the back are not helping as it was another game where individual errors cost them dearly – and former striker Liam Delap took full advantage of the lapses in concentration with two goals.
Gvardiol was at fault for the first, Iliman Ndiaye and Elliot Anderson got in a muddle for the second, while Matheus Nunes did not put a challenge in for the third.
“Before the game all the talk was about individual errors,” former Forest winger Steve Stone told BBC Radio 5 Live. “Apart from the first goal, this hasn’t been about that – the line is disjointed.
“The full-backs were very wide. If the ball turns over quickly and you pass it with your first pass you can be right through them. They have been exposed today.
“Oliver Glasner’s team have played through them every time.”
It was a miserable return to the City Ground for Anderson since his £116m move to City in the summer and the midfield dynamic alongside Enzo Fernandez does not seem to be working.
The Argentine should have scored with a headed chance from close range but spent much of the game complaining in referee Sam Barrott’s ear – City team-mates and supporters may be expecting more from their club record signing.
The former Chelsea player scored in the midweek Champions League win at RB Leipzig, but that is his only goal or assist in his past nine games.
Maresca needs to work out how to get the best out of Fernandez during the international break.
Stone added: “I came here tonight thinking City would win, I thought they had chances. This is a real hammer blow to them, there is something not right about the back four at the minute.
“I have never seen a City team give the ball away so much in the middle of the park.”
*PHOTO CAPTION: Arder Guler and Bellingham rejoice after the former scored… yesterday.
RESULTS OF MATCHES PLAYED IN MAJOR EUROPEAN LEAGUES SATURDAY, 7 NOVEMBER:
ENGLAND: Premier League
*Leeds – Tottenham 1-0
*Arsenal – Hull 1-0
*Fulham – Newcastle 1-1
*Nottingham – Manchester City 3-1
FRANCE: Ligue 1
*Auxerre – Paris FC 0-1
*PSG – Troyes 1-0
GERMANY: Bundesliga
*Dortmund – Elversberg 2-1
*Mainz – Bayern Munich 1-2
*Paderborn – Eintracht Frankfurt 2-2
*RB Leipzig – Augsburg 5-2
*Stuttgart – Werder Bremen 1-0
ITALY: Serie A
*Cagliari – Frosinone 1-0
*Torino – Lecce 1-1
*Parma – Bologna 1-2
*AS Roma – Sassuolo 3-0
NETHERLANDS: Eredivisie
*Sittard – Telstar 2-2
*Den Haag – Sparta Rotterdam 3-1
*Excelsior – G.A. Eagles 0-1
SPAIN: LaLiga
*Malaga – Racing Santander 1-2
*Espanyol – Dep. A Coruna 0-0
*Osasuna – Ath Bilbao 1-1
*Valencia – Real Madrid 0-3
