Among the 25 Blues present in Qatar, no one has forgotten the defeat against Albiceleste, a month after the World Cup final. If 19 players were able to evacuate their grief by typing in the leather, the players of the German championship have not yet resumed competition.
Winning return
He was the first Frenchy to return to club football and he took it well. Nine days after a grueling final, Raphael Varane started in a win against Nottingham. Manchester United have won their four Premier League games since the resumption, including a derby against City. Same position, same dynamic for William Saliba. On Boxing Day, the centre-back was on the pitch after playing just 30 minutes in Qatar. Arsenal are leading the league, with three wins in four games.
On the other side of the Channel, the Monegasques Axel Disasi et Youssouf Fofana had taken advantage of eight days off but returned in time to board the TGV launched by ASM since the return of Ligue 1. Although Fofana scored against his side against Auxerre, this misadventure did not prevent Monaco from win against AJA (3-2) before going on to win against Brest (1-0), draw at Lorient (2-2) and correct Ajaccio (7-1), well launched by the goal by Disasi.
Slightly further north, Matteo Guendouzi et Jordan Veretout. The latter resumed before the New Year and planted twice during Marseille’s four victories. If the rumors send him to England this winter, Guendouzi is still well anchored in the Marseille eleven.
The return of the Barcelonans Jules Kounde et Ousmane Dembele was also successful. The two partners walked the Camp Nou lawn on December 31. Above all, they won the first title of the Xavi era, thanks to their victory against Real Madrid (3-1) in the Spanish Super Cup.
No time to waste either Steve Mandanda. At 37, the Rennes goalkeeper has announced his international retirement but in club, he leaves no crumbs to his understudy. On track from December 29, the ex-Marseillais ensured victory for the Bretons against Bordeaux in the Coupe de France (2-1). Helpless in Reims (3-1), Mandanda limited the damage during the defeat in Clermont (2-1) before Rennes surprised PSG (1-0).
It’s more complicated
Kylian Mbappe pressed restart three days after the cruel penalty shootout. From December 28, he gave PSG victory over the gong against Strasbourg (2-1). This narrow victory set the tone for the difficulties encountered by the Parisians, defeated in Lens (3-1) and Rennes. After the Parc des Princes, the native of Bondy put the French public in the pocket. He was acclaimed in Pas-de-Calais and Brittany. The collective balance sheet taints the comeback from Mbappé to Paris. Return interspersed with holidays in the United States, flanked by Achraf Hakimi, and the Parisian tour in the Middle East, a month exactly after the end of the World Cup.
The return to current affairs was more abrupt for Hugo Lloris. The Tottenham goalkeeper made two blunders, one against rival Arsenal, the other against Aston Villa of “Dibu” Martinez. It must be said that the 36-year-old doorman was moved by the announcement of his international retirement, a few weeks after breaking Lilian Thuram’s selection record.
Ibrahima Konate does what he can to keep Liverpool afloat, as Jürgen Klopp’s machine is drowned out by a lack of aggression in midfield. Scorer against his camp against Brentford (3-1), the defender has nevertheless played as many games (4) since the end of the World Cup as before the Qatari tournament.
In Spain, Aurelien Tchouameni et Eduardo Camavinga came into play in Valladolid on December 30. The former Monegasque injured his calf in the following match while the ex-Rennes struggled against Barça, to the point of being replaced at half-time by Carlo Ancelotti. If it is severe to place Antoine Griezmannauthor of two assists for his recovery, in this category, Atlético de Madrid also lost against Barça (1-0) and skated against Almeria (1-1) last Sunday.
Serie A turned on the light again on January 4. A later recovery, like the gradual restart of AC Milan inOlivier Giroud et Theo Hernandez. The Milanese remain on two draws. JuventusAdrien Rabiot on a slap administered by Naples (5-1), leader of the championship.
Nothing to report
Alphonse Areola returned to the Premier League as he had left the France team: on the bench. Available from the start of Boxing Daythe goalkeeper has not participated in West Ham’s three defeats in four games.
The only Big 5 championship made up of 18 teams, the Bundesliga was less in a hurry than its neighbors. So the Bavarians Kingsley Coman, Dayot Upamecano et Benjamin Pavard simply played a friendly match against RB Salzburg. Lucas Hernandez had surgery on his right knee in November.
Bayern will restart the German competition this Friday in Leipzig. The next day, Frankfurt and Randal Colored will host Schalke. Marcus Thuram and Borussia Mönchengladbach host Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday.