MANCHESTER UNITED... | TMK #16

Today, on TMK:

United collapse…AGAIN, Jokic dominates, and Giannis gets ejected for staring too hard.

Catch Up:

• Champions League Week 4 Matchday 1

• Nuggets - Warriors, 76ers - Celtics

• NBA: Around The League

The Main Events:

• The WORST Thursday Night Football Game

• Europa League Top Matches

Extra Time:

• Quote of the Day

• Can’t Miss Moment

• Stat of the Day

• Video of the Day

⚽ Champions League Week 4

Group A

Copenhagen 4 - 3 Manchester United

WHAT IN THE NAME OF ALL THAT IS HOLY IS HAPPENING?

United fans are on suicide watch after last night’s loss to Copenhagen. Hug your close ones, call your friends, and make sure they’re OK. Trust me, they need it.

The match started brilliantly for United. They looked as good as they have all season with fluid and attacking play. The Ten Hag method was finally working; they were up 2-0 by the 28’ minute from a Hojlund double. Life was good, and United was finally on track.

Then, at the 42’ minute mark, disaster struck in the most United 2023 way possible. Marcus Rashford was shielding a ball from a defender and happened to step on the defender’s ankle. Not in a violent way, it wasn't a tackle; Rashford was simply repositioning his foot to protect the ball.

The referee gets called to the VAR TV, sees a freeze frame of Rashford’s foot on the ankle, doesn’t hesitate, and pulls out the red card. This was an atrocious decision from the ref. The play wasn’t dangerous; there was no tackle. It was incidental contact. Watch it at full speed and see for yourself. But the VAR chooses to show the ref a freeze frame, which is perhaps the most biased and out-of-context image they could have shown him. When refs go to the VAR TV, they should watch the play at full speed first, and only then slow it down. The referee never got to see the play unfold naturally, and that must be the only reason a red card was shown.

Mind you that United was up 2-0 at this stage, and a team of United’s caliber should be able to protect a 2-0 lead even with 10 men. But not United 2023. The game was tied by halftime, not ten minutes later. From there United took the lead once again on an excellent penalty by Bruno Fernandes, only the lose the game as Copenhagen ramped up the pressure and scored at the 83’ and 87’ minutes. The Danish stadium exploded with joy, while United fans’ heads exploded with grief and disappointment.

Manchester United in 2023 is a tragedy of Shakespearean proportions. From the ownership to the coaching to the players: United is in shambles, and there is no light at the end of the tunnel.

Bayern Munich 2 - 1 Galatasaray

Bayern labored to a win last time around in Turkey; Galatasaray did not make it any easier yesterday. The Turkish side held strong under intense pressure from the Germans and played a good dense defense and counter-attacking game. It took Bayern 80 minutes and a set piece to finally find Harry Kane in the box for a goal. A few minutes later Galatasaray was caught on the counter - Kane was forgotten all by himself in the box - for an easy second goal.

The Turkish side fought and narrowed the lead in stoppage time but it was too little, too late.

Bayern is officially through to the top 16, not that there was any doubt. Copenhagen and Galatasaray will duel for the 2nd spot. Manchester United will need some help; they will probably need to beat Bayern and Galatasaray to go through.

Group B

PSV 1 - 0 Lens

This game played out almost exactly like the meeting between the teams two weeks ago in Lens. PSV was the more dangerous and attacking team and scored at the 12’ minute on a header from captain Luuk De Jong.

PSV wasn’t able to put the game away, and Lens fought back. Much like last week, Lens created a golden opportunity to equalize, but this time the ball hit the goalpost. A shame for the French team who came this close to snatching another draw from the jaws of defeat.

Arsenal 2 - 0 Sevilla

Arsenal completed a sweep of Sevilla at home, winning 2-0 in a game that was never in doubt. Jorginho played a Messi-esque through ball to Saka who delivered the ball to Trossard for an easy tap-in for the first goal, and Saka showed his speed and technical prowess with a beautiful second goal. Arsenal held the ball for the majority of the game, and Sevilla rarely got close enough to endanger Arsenal in any way.

Arsenal will be through with a draw in either of its two remaining games. Every outcome is still in play for PSV, Lens, and Sevilla, who all have realistic paths to the top 16.

Group C

Real Madrid 3 - 0 Braga

No Courtois, no Bellingham, no problem for Real Madrid. This match could’ve turned out very differently, as Braga was awarded a penalty in the opening minutes. Madrid’s second-string goalkeeper Lunin stepped up and stopped the penalty, and it was pretty much smooth sailing for Real from there.

Vinicius Jr. played an attacking masterclass, and Madrid will be very hard to stop in this competition - especially at full strength.

Napoli 1 - 1 Union Berlin

FIRST POINT EVER FOR UNION BERLIN IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE.

This is always an exciting moment for fans; no one wants to finish the group stage with zero points.

Napoli took the lead in the first half but was imprecise and allowed Union Berlin an equalizer in the second. Napoli was the better team and held the ball 73% of the time, but they were unable to transform the possession advantage into a goal. A win at home would have guaranteed Napoli the second place, but now…

Well, now the second game between Napoli and Braga will be crucial. Granted, Napoli will play at home and are unlikely to let second place slip away, but Napoli won’t be able to rest players as they probably would’ve liked. No surprise here, Real is safely through.

Group D

Real Sociedad 3 - 1 Benfica

Is this the best Real Sociedad in history? It very well might be.

Real Sociedad played what was arguably the best first half in the Champions League this year. Sociedad was up 3-0 within 30 minutes of play which also included two disallowed goals and a missed penalty. This could’ve easily been a 6-0 first half.

Benfica didn’t show much in either half and despite scoring a quick goal at the start of the second half, the team was never really in the game.

RB Salzburg 0 - 1 Inter Milan

Heartbreak for Salzburg, as an 85’ minute penalty by Martinez sealed a 1-0 victory and a place in the top 16 for Inter Milan.

Both teams had their chances, and the 0-0 scoreline was surprising throughout given that both teams shot on goal over 30 times combined. We often laugh about tap-in merchants to discredit goalscorers, but both teams sorely missed a sharp end to their attacks.

Real Sociedad and Inter Milan are through, and they’ll be fighting it out for first place. RB Salzburg is in a good position to secure a spot in the Europa League.

🏀 NBA

Denver Nuggets 108 - 105 Golden State Warriors

We wanted a preview of a potential Western Conference final, and we got what we came for. The Nuggets took an early lead which the Warriors clawed back rather easily, and the game stayed close throughout the last three quarters.

We learned that the Warriors struggle to contain size; Jokic was his usual unstoppable self and there wasn’t a whole lot the Warriors were able to do. He finished with 35 points and 13 rebounds. We learned that despite the absence of Murray, this team can create offensive play from Reggie Jackson, Porter Jr, or Aaron Gordon. All three did not hesitate to pull the trigger and shoot, and all finished with double digits.

The Warriors weren’t at their best, and yet still looked very competitive. They shot only 31% from the three, 11/35, the same as the Nuggets did. The Warriors are usually more efficient from three than the competition. Steph Curry led the Warriors with 23 points, and while the Warriors played a deep rotation, no one grabbed the second option role to take the load off of him. Curry did look his usual self despite scoring ‘only’ 23 points, and can still dribble himself into space and pull the trigger on a dime in a way no one else can.

I know the Playoffs are still a long way away, but I’m ready for a 7-game series between these two teams with a spot in the NBA finals on the line.

Philadelphia 76ers 106 - 103 Boston Celtics

Is anybody else ready to get on the 76ers bandwagon?

Neither team played their best basketball in this game, but the 76ers did what they do - outrebound (56-43) and outscore in the paint (56-40) - to take home the W.

This was a contested game with postseason intensity. Neither team shot very well, as is often the case in gritty playoff games in the Eastern Conference. But Philly had more to offer.

Embiid finished with 27 points and 10 rebounds, and Maxey added 26. Tyrese Maxey is turning into a top 5 point guard right before our eyes, and I am here for it.

On the other side of the floor, Porzingis looked FRESH. He was active in and outside of the paint and finished with a game-high 29 points. The Celtics were +8 with him on the floor tonight. Tatum and Brown had a quiet game, scoring 16 and 11 respectively. That’s simply not good enough to take down the 76ers in their current form.

The 76ers are on a 6 game winning streak and haven’t lost since the first game of the season against the Bucks.

Around The League:

Charlotte Hornets 116 - 132 Washington Wizards

Lamelo Ball is having a banner year with another 34-point performance, but the Wizards take the W behind Kuzma’s 33 points.

Indiana Pacers 134 - 118 Utah Jazz

The Pacers look like a cohesive unit; 5 Pacers scored over 16 points as they outlasted Jordan Clarkson’s 33 for the Jazz.

Brooklyn Nets 100 - 93 LA Clippers

Here’s the game we’ve been waiting for from the Clippers…NOT. A lowly 93 points on offense. Harden scored 12, Westbrook 13, Kawhi 17, and George 24.

New York Knicks 126 - 105 San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs are showing their youth and fell to a tougher Knicks team, led by Jalen Brunsons’ 25-points. Randle added 23 points and 16 rebounds.

Wemby had a lackluster game for the Spurs and finished with 14 points.

Chicago Bulls 115 - 116 Phoenix Suns

Bradley Beal made his first appearance of the season, and the Suns won behind 26 points from Grayson Allen and 25 from Kevin Durant. The Suns’ big 3 has yet to play together, as Booker was kept out with an injury.

The Bulls played a very strong team game, but Zach LaVine (22 points) wasn’t able to sink the dagger to win the game.

Houston Rockets 128 - 94 Los Angeles Lakers

Mark my words: the Lakers will not win a game in which LeBron James plays less than 30 minutes. Not one.

The Rockets take the W as Jalen Green scores 28 and secure a winning record for the first time in 1005 days.

Memphis Grizzlies 102 - 108 Miami Heat

Bam Adebayo scored 30 and took over the game defensively with 3 blocks. Tyler Herro rolled his ankle in the first quarter and is expected to be out for a few weeks.

Milwaukee Bucks 120 - 118 Detroit Pistons

Lillard did what superstars do and scored 34 to lead to Bucks over the Pistons in a game that featured the most ridiculous ejection seen on a basketball court this year. More on that in Extra Time.

Cade Cunningham continues to show why he was the first pick of the draft and dropped 33 points.

Minnesota Timberwolves 122 - 101 New Orleans Pelicans

Anthony Edwards continues to cement himself as a star 2-way player with 26 points, 8 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks in 33 minutes, and the Wolves were +35 with him on the floor today.

Oklahoma City Thunder 128 - 120 Cleveland Cavaliers

SGA is the undisputed leader of this Thunder team and proved it tonight, as he finished with a 43-7-6 line on 68% shooting.

Dallas Mavericks 116 - 127 Toronto Raptors

I remain unconvinced by the Doncic-Irving pairing as a viable 1-2 punch to make a deep playoff run. Dallas’ was bodied up close and was outscored 72-40 in the paint. Doncic scored 31, Irving 22, but Siakam stole the show with 31 points and 12 rebounds.

Sacramento Kings 121 - 118 Portland Trail Blazers

Jerami Grant played the game of his life and finished with 38 points for the Trailblazers, but had 2 opportunities to tie the game in overtime and was unable to get the three-pointer to fall. Sabonis and Monk combined for 50 points for a Kings team that is sorely missing De’aaron Fox.

🏈 Thursday Night Football: Bears - Panthers

I need to know who in the NFL decided that the 1-7 Panthers and the 2-7 Bears would make a compelling primetime game. Whoever that person is, show him the door.

I will not sugarcoat this: this is a dreadful game and Amazon should be furious that Prime Video has to broadcast this crime against football.

Tyson Bagent is set to start for the Bears as Justin Fields is still injured. So far this season he’s played in 4 games, throwing for 3 TDs and 6 INTs. The saving grace is his running, as he’s tallied 97 yards and 2 TDs on the ground.

Bryce Young is having a tough rookie season, in a team that hasn’t quite finished its rebuild yet. His play has been decent at best, and he needs to continue developing his game. The issue is that when you start 1-7, coaches tend to get fired, and the lack of continuity is a major worry for young developing QBs.

Adam Thielen has been the only bright spot in the Panthers’ offense, averaging 76 yards receiving per game. No other receiver is averaging above 33 yards.

Can this somehow turn out to be an exciting game? Maybe. But you need to be a die-hard fan to make time for this one.

⚽ Europa League Matchday 4

Top Matches

Ajax Amsterdam - Brighton

Group B is wide open. Ajax will be looking to avenge their 2-0 loss at Brighton earlier. They’ve finally managed to win 2 league games in a row after a disastrous start to the season. Can they keep it up?

AEK Athens - Marseille

Marseille beat Athens 3-1 at home last time around and looked like the better team. A win away today would go a long way to help secure a place in the next stage of the competition.

FK Qarabag - Bayer Leverkusen

Leverkusen stands at the top of the Bundesliga and destroyed Qarabag 5-1 at home last time. A victory away would seal its place at the top of Group H.

Slavia Prague - AS Roma

Roma and Prague are overwhelming favorites to finish first and second in Group G, but only first place goes through automatically. Slavia has to win to make up for the 2-0 loss in their first game against Roma.

Stade Rennais - Panathinaikos

Rennes surprised Pana 2-1 away in their previous game and took the lead of Group F. Can they confirm at home? A victory would put it in a prime position to be the team to go through automatically.

West Ham United - Olympiacos

West Ham was the overwhelming favorite to go through from Group A, until they lost to Olympiacos 2-1 in their previous match. Now the top spot is anyone’s game, and this is a must-win for both teams.

Other Games

Toulouse - Liverpool

Atalanta - SK Sturm Graz

LASK Linz - Union St.-Gilloise

Maccabi Haifa - Villarreal

Servette - Sheriff Tiraspol

BK Hacken - Molde

Rangers - Sparta Prague

Real Betis - Aris Limassol

SC Freiburg - TSC Backa Topola

Sporting CP - Raków Czestochowa

🗣️ Quote Of The Day

“When you freeze it, it makes it look so worse”

Manchester United manager Ten Hag on the VAR decision to eject Rashford.

I’ve been saying this all season. A freeze frame does not give the adequate context needed to make a decision. We need changes to the VAR procedure.

⭐ Can’t Miss Moment

Giannis Antetokounmpo Ejected for Staring Too Hard

I wish I was making this up. Here’s the play that got him a second technical. He didn’t say anything and didn’t touch anyone, but “staring too hard” is a bookable offense in today’s WEAK NBA. SMH.

🧮 Stat Of The Day

Harry Kane has 19 goals and 7 assists in 15 games for Bayern

Is this a Ballon d’Or season for Kane? So far, yes. But this is a European Championship year, so England will have to ‘bring it home’ for Kane to realistically have a shot. Plus, in case England does win it, Jude Bellingham is likely to be right there with Kane in the running.

📽️ Video of the Day

The BEST moments from UCL Today! | Richards, Henry, Abdo & Carragher

CBS’s Champions League panel is the best thing to happen to football broadcasting in a long time. This is a must watch every week. So much fun.

Click HERE to watch on Youtube.

Wrap Up

The worst thing about a post-Champions League Thursday is that we’ll have to wait two weeks to see top-tier European football again. But honestly, today’s Europa League games should provide ample entertainment. Enjoy it. See you tomorrow.