Slot’s Machine Malfunctions, A Real Controversy in Madrid & Yamal: The Greatest 17-Year-Old Ever?

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Are PSG now the favourites to win The Champions League after beating Liverpool at Anfield? Was VAR right in disallowing Julian Alvarez’s penalty in the Madrid Derby? And after Lamine Yamal’s dazzling performance vs Benfica, is he the greatest 17 year old we have ever seen?  Gary Alan & Micah also discuss the other remaining Champions League Fixtures played this week. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ✅ Subscribe Here: https://www.youtube.com/@therestisfootball?sub_confirmation=1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 🎙️ Listen To The Podcast: https://linktr.ee/therestisfootball ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 🗞️ Sign Up To The Newsletter Here: https://mailchi.mp/therestisfootball/trif ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 📱 Follow Us On Socials:   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRestIsFootball  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therestisfootball/  Snapchat: https://story.snapchat.com/p/8c729650-9d54-407d-8c62-c658546eee44  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@restisfootball  Twitter: https://twitter.com/RestIsFootball ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 00:00 - Intro  00:26 - Liverpool v PSG 12:30 - Aston Villa v Brugge 16:50 - Madrid Derby  24:17 - Arsenal v PSV  27:40 - Leverkusen v Munich  28:17 - Barcelona v Benfica 30:30 - Carabao Cup

Transcript

00:00Hello and welcome to the Restage Football with Micah Richards, Alan Shearer and me,

00:14Gary Lineker. We're recording this on Thursday evening after a couple of fascinating nights

00:20of Champions League football. We're down to the last eight teams in the competition. Two

00:26English teams remain in Villa and Arsenal. Liverpool, surprisingly I think, went out

00:31of the competition after losing, of course, to PSG on penalties. Let's start with that

00:36one. Alan, you were at Anfield. I wondered actually, I wondered even before the game

00:41slightly, I thought they're so used to Liverpool turning those games round in the second leg.

00:47The fact that they were actually leading going into that game, whether it made a slight,

00:53slight difference? I don't know. What was the atmosphere like? The atmosphere was brilliant.

00:57I mean, it is fantastic at Anfield on European nights. It's bloody amazing. But, and it's

01:03a big but, if Liverpool don't score within the first 10 or 15 minutes, then that is,

01:09I think, part of the opposition's job is to try at your best and quieten the crowd. And

01:16Liverpool had a couple of big chances, Mo Salah missed one, and Mendes, I think it was,

01:21who cleared it off the line. And once they didn't score, you start to think, uh-oh, and

01:27then they get hit on the break. But it was great to begin with. And I have to say, I

01:33thought it was just great to be there. Great football from two really good teams. But I

01:39think over the two legs, the best team went through. The best team deserved to go through,

01:44albeit they had to go and do it the hard way with penalties. But really, really impressed

01:52with Paris Saint-Germain. I thought it was a great game of football, Micah. Yeah, I sort

01:57of echo what Alan said. The game gives sort of the overview. But I just like the fact

02:03how PSG play. I think when you lose in Bapi, we all thought it was going to be the downfall

02:09of PSG. But then they go and bring in Kravac Kelia from Napoli. And people was questioning

02:15whether he was going to be the same player from when he left Napoli. But he's coming there,

02:19he's fresh. Young Barcola, who we, remember we talked about him at the Euros and then Bapi was

02:25sort of taking his shine a little bit. I thought he played well over the two legs. Dembele,

02:31how many times have we questioned him and talked about him? He's playing some of the best football

02:36of his career. But then you go in midfield, Vettinia, he's a different player who we saw

02:42from the player at Wolves. Yes, he was a little bit younger, he's going to improve. And then Nuno

02:47Mendes left back, I believe is the best left back in world football because he can attack

02:53and he can defend. And if you look at the balance of the team now, it just looks perfect. You know,

02:59that the key word is team. How many times we've said about PSG, it's a team of individuals. And

03:04I just think Luis Enrique has done a terrific job to get all the superstars out, but to get

03:11players in who are buying into what they're trying to do and they're paying dividend for that. They

03:15were a great watch, they really are. They really are. Luis Enrique has done an amazing job. I mean,

03:20obviously he's already won the Champions League as coach of Barcelona a few years ago. And that

03:26was in Berlin, I think, against Juventus, if I remember rightly. I was at that one and fabulous

03:31performance. But to come to PSG, a club that you would have thought, wouldn't you? Losing,

03:37you know, Messi gone. Mbappe in particular had been their talisman for so long, moves to Real

03:42Madrid. And you'd think, God, it's going to be so hard for him to manage and to improve them in

03:48any way. But they seriously, I mean, I think they were probably the best two sides that I've seen

03:53in the tournament. You could possibly say Barcelona as well at times, although playing a kind of

03:59extraordinarily brave way, which might or might not pay off as we go deeper into the tournament.

04:06But I thought for 70 minutes, the game until perhaps the players tied a little bit and fear

04:13creeps in a little bit, don't you? You don't want to blow it at the end of a match. I thought for

04:1670, 75 minutes, that was as good a game as I've seen this season. The only thing was lacking was

04:21perhaps a little bit of finishing, but some amazing goalkeeping in both legs from both goalkeepers.

04:28I thought Donnarumma was incredible at Anfield and so many good performances, commitment,

04:35pressing from both sides. I thought it had everything except for a lot of goals.

04:40You know what it is though, guys, for all the praise and they deserve it, PSG. I did, I think

04:46it was back in, I can't remember whether it was September or October when they played Arsenal at

04:50the Emirates. I did the core comms for that game and PSG were awful and I was thinking they've got

04:59no chance of winning this competition on the evidence of that night. Arsenal beat them 2-0,

05:05I think it was off the top of my head and Arsenal battered them and I was thinking,

05:11really? But then they've just got better and better and better and their two performances

05:16against Liverpool and I know they lost the first game but they shouldn't have, it was a fluke for

05:20Liverpool. But the other night, the way they quietened the crowd, the way they handled, I mean

05:25everyone on the ball, the way they played, their pressing. I just thought, yeah, they were a really,

05:30really good outfit and as I said, it was two excellent teams going head-to-head, but I do

05:37think over the two games, PSG were the better team. Yeah, I would agree with that. I think

05:43you made a good point there, Alan, about early on in the competition. Sometimes in football,

05:49it's just about timing and it's about coaching as well. How many times have you seen, oh they've not

05:55got this player or they've not got that player. Actually, if you work with players for a long

05:59period of time and they can learn what you're trying to do, buy into what you're trying to do,

06:05the team's going to become better and I think in recent times with PSG, Lewis and Ricky was trying

06:11to do certain things. I remember seeing a shot of Mbappé on one side and Messi on another side

06:17and they want the team to defend, but how can you only defend when you've got them two superstars

06:22up front now? You see the players running back and tackling. So for a manager, it's a great base,

06:28you know, to start from, but I really want them to go all the way now. I want them to win the

06:34Champions League and show everyone that you can do it with a team. Of course, Messi,

06:39favourite player, fantastic, but he couldn't do it when they was there. So it'd be nice if

06:43he could do it as a team, you know. So just for the record, for all the Aston Villa fans,

06:48you want Villa to get beat in the next round, do you? No, no, no, no. I did not say that.

06:52I just said I'd like PSG to win it. Alan, what did I always say? Football is the winner.

07:00And if Villa go through, I'll be happy for the Villa.

07:09I saw, which made me think it'd be lovely to see Luis Enrique with the trophy, because

07:15I saw this beautiful video on social media earlier today, actually, and it actually had me in tears,

07:22talking about the fact that he lost his daughter. I think she was nine years old and he was talking

07:28really, really positively about how they deal with it and that, you know, he's got pictures

07:33everywhere and we watch videos of her all the time. She said, she's not here physically,

07:37but she's, you know, she's here in a different way spiritually. It was such an uplifting,

07:44yet moving interview that you can see would be the sort of person that you'd run through a brick

07:53wall for. Yeah, amazing. Really got me, actually. And I mean, he's done an incredible job. I don't

08:01think anyone at the start of the season with Mbappé moving to Real Madrid would have given them a

08:08dog in hell's chance, really. Sorry, guys. Sorry to cut you off. Absolute nightmare. So sorry,

08:14we're filming something behind the scenes with a Mr. David Beckham, and it was supposed to start

08:21at 7.30, but it's starting now. They've brought it forward. Micah, we will have to do without

08:27you. Alan and I will soldier on regardless. What will you do without me, eh? What will you do

08:32without me? You will be badly missed, Micah. Send our very best to Mr. Beckham. Yeah, we will do.

08:40Do that. And I hope it goes well. Thank you very much, sir. See you later, guys.

08:45See you, big Meeks.

08:47A big blow for Liverpool, obviously, despite how well Paris Saint-Germain played, Alan,

08:52because they went into that game as strong favourites with a one-goal lead, even though

08:57they were outplayed in the first leg the week before. And I suppose it's rotten luck, isn't it,

09:02when they won the Champions League, league stage, and then you end up having a really tough

09:08encounter against probably one of the other absolute favourites now in the competition.

09:13It could have gone either way. But I just wondered, just before we talk perhaps a little

09:16bit more in detail about where Liverpool are, whether it was possibly a good night for Newcastle

09:22in a way. The fact that it went for 120 minutes plus penalties, which is draining, especially the

09:28emotion of the evening. And, you know, I hate, it's really unfortunate, but they'll miss Trent

09:35Alexander-Arnold. I very much doubt he'll be involved in the final.

09:40Yeah, I mean, I was trying to be as professional as possible whilst doing my core comms. But

09:48obviously, I mean, if Newcastle had have chosen that night, then they would have sent Liverpool

09:54all the way to extra time and all the way to penalties in the hope that they'll be drained

10:00for the weekend. And yeah, I mean, it'll be harsh on players, whoever they are, if they're injured,

10:07if Trent's injured and Canarty came off and didn't look that serious, maybe a bit of cramp or

10:12I don't know. But if they have to miss the final, then I mean, I wouldn't wish that on anyone,

10:17obviously. But for them to go all the way and they did, I mean, they were running on empty at the

10:23end, which is totally understandable. So if going to extra time and penalties, then that could,

10:28would have only benefited Newcastle.

10:30Yeah, they went very close at the end, didn't they? Salah, the one cleared off the line.

10:35There were a couple of other chances. There was a Kwanzaa header, wasn't it? A fantastic save from

10:40Donnarumma, I thought. And his domination of the box as well, coming out a lot was really

10:45important for them because they're not a big side, PSG and Liverpool have got some real towering

10:51individuals in there, particularly from set pieces. But then it went to the penalties, of course,

10:57and I felt a bit for Nunez. I think all of us watching, immediately I've got two group chats

11:05just talking about that game, one with my boys and one with us guys on the rest of his football,

11:09and everyone was going, oh no, before he even took it. Because he's been out of sorts.

11:15Yeah, and he's not a good finisher, is he? I mean, we've said that before. So I don't suspect he was

11:21feeling or having had the most confidence anyway.

11:25It was a good save, though, I have to say. It was a really good save.

11:28I mean, Donnarumma made two unbelievable saves, one from him and one from Curtis Jones.

11:34I think the Curtis Jones one, if I remember rightly, was down to his right-hand side where

11:38he got down really quick. The Nunez one was down to his left-hand side. But I mean, we know what

11:43it's like. You've stood from waiting to take a penalty and you're looking at the size of the

11:49goalkeeper and the goal looks so small in the circumstances. You're not in front of the cop,

11:54you're at the other end and it's a pressurised situation. And the keeper won that battle with

12:01those two. And he was brilliant during the game, you're right, you know. I mean, he didn't catch

12:06much. He actually come and punched a lot. Even when he perhaps should have caught it, he thought,

12:12just got rid of it as best he could. And I thought he put in a great performance, yeah.

12:18He did. The one thing I'll say about Nunez is that he was prepared to take a penalty,

12:22that takes, you know, you second up and it takes, you know, you've got to be gutsy to do that kind

12:27of thing, particularly when you're perhaps out of form. But yeah, so PSG all go through now and

12:34they'll face Aston Villa. We can perhaps go on to that one next. And as they're playing them,

12:40you know, they had that really good lead, 3-1, didn't they, going into the second leg. And then,

12:45of course, getting a red card for the Bruges lad. I think just at that point, any nerves that might

12:52have happened perhaps by a Bruges goal would have faded and the fans could enjoy the night and

12:57Villa enjoy the night. And they played really well from what I saw. Obviously, I was watching the

13:02other game, but it was, I've seen the highlights and seen all the, actually it looked like they

13:07were pretty dominant, as you would expect against a 10-man team.

13:10It's just, I mean, we've said it, we've said it so many times this season about the job that

13:14Unai Emery is doing, has done, is doing at Aston Villa. I mean, they're in the quarter-final of

13:21the FA Cup, quarter-final of the Champions League. They're in with a real live chance of getting into

13:27the top 4-5 in the Premier League. I mean, unbelievable. I mean, this could be an incredible

13:34season for Aston Villa. I mean, they're now mixing it. I mean, from where they have been to where

13:41they are now, they're now mixing it with Europe's elite. As you say, they're playing PSG. They're

13:47in the same, I mean, they could go all the way. I know they've got a tough game, but for them to

13:53be in amongst PSG and Bayern Munich and Real Madrid and all these great football clubs just

14:01goes to show what a job Unai's doing. It's incredible. I mean, can you imagine? I mean,

14:06even if they were to get into the top 4-5 again, and if they got a trophy, oh my goodness,

14:12it would be unbelievable, wouldn't it for them?

14:15He's got a track record. Unai Emery, certainly in European football, certainly in the Europa League,

14:20that's for sure. And of course, Aston Villa have won this tournament when it was known as the

14:24European Cup. For those younger listeners, that's when football didn't really exist, obviously. But

14:30you know, they've been there, done it before. I mean, nowadays, I think it's tougher because

14:34in those days, it was just the teams that won the league that went into the competition, not

14:40the top 4, top 5. So, there's more competition nowadays, but their recruitment's been really

14:47good over all the last few years as well. And particularly even in January.

14:50Perfect. Very good.

14:51Asensio has been a revelation. Rashford looks like he's enjoying himself and looks sharp and

14:56dangerous every time I see him play and very creative. So, it's all coming together because

15:02I think in the first phase, we were all thinking, even though they were doing well, they were

15:07struggling perhaps in the league, in the games that followed. But you look now and you think,

15:11actually, they've now got a squad to cope. They've had one or two injuries, as all teams will do,

15:18but it just looks like they might be able to cope with that. Now, it's going to be a really tough

15:22quarterfinal against what is an exceptional PSG team. But, you know, it doesn't mean to say PSG

15:27are going to play as well in the next round. No, exactly. That play at the Villa Park will

15:31be absolutely rocking. You can imagine the atmosphere that night. And that will turn

15:35them on. It'll get them all excited and have their juices flowing. Yeah, they've got a really

15:42good chance to be tough away, but I think their best chance will be to go to PSG with a victory

15:49behind them and that'll certainly help. And I wouldn't put it past them because, as I said,

15:53it'll be massive at Villa Park that night. We're doing that game, you know, already on Amazon.

15:59That's one of our games on the Tuesday evening.

16:01Is that the first leg?

16:02That's the first leg at Villa Park, yeah. So, it'll be brilliant. I'm really looking forward

16:07to that. Their recruitment to get rid of Duran like they did and bring in Rashford and Asensio

16:13and Marlon, I think it was top, top quality recruitment. It really has been. It's working

16:21perfectly for them. Word on Asensio, who now play against the club that he's just come from,

16:26obviously PSG. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And he's had success in the tournament when he was at Real

16:31Madrid. That's the third home game in a row in which he scored two goals. It's not a bad start,

16:36is it? Yeah. And of course, if he was in our cup competition, then he wouldn't be able to play

16:40because of the parent club, would he? But because it's the UEFA competition, he's allowed to play

16:45against them. So, yeah. And he's had a great start to his Villa career. Right. Did you watch the

16:51Madrid derby? Did I? Absolutely, I did, yeah. Tasty, wasn't it? I mean, I think there's only

16:58one place to start and that's the penalty shootout. Julian Alvarez. I mean, I'm sorry.

17:07I know to the absolute letter of the law, you might make a case that it did flick his toenail

17:13on the way in to go in. So, it's double footed and VAR will argue that, you know,

17:19therefore it should be disallowed. That law was brought in, the fact that you can't touch it

17:25consecutively to stop players just dribbling from the penalty spot. That's what it was originally

17:30for. So, and also you can't, and if it rebounds off a post, you can't put it straight in yourself

17:36because you'd be miles ahead of everyone else. So, it was brought in for that reason. It wasn't

17:41brought in for some bloke taking a penalty in the most huge game, incredibly important, it doesn't

17:47matter what match it is, but who then puts his foot down and it slips on the floor, which is a

17:53disadvantage to start with. You're not gaining any sort of advantage and then you shoot and it hits

17:58your foot. Now, even if it had hit his foot and changed the direction of the ball, it would have

18:02been something you could perhaps argue in that case. So, I think two things, if they hadn't

18:08have done anything, no one would ever have said a word because you had to look at it a hundred times

18:13to see if there was any contact in the first place. Well, I have looked at it a hundred times

18:18and I'm still trying to find the conclusive evidence that, but yeah, I'm totally with you.

18:25It's total and utter crap that a game of that size can be decided by that. It really, really is. I

18:35mean, it actually, it got back to the halfway line and no one had even, yeah, I totally agree with

18:41it. It's just, it makes me really angry that. People in the crowd, I don't think they had a

18:45clue what was happening. I mean, the whole thing was, it was so absurd. I mean, UEFA have actually

18:51made a statement. They also put out an image that they say shows that it might have flicked his toe.

18:57I'll read it out to you. Atlético de Madrid enquired with UEFA over the incident, which led to the

19:03disallowance of the kick from the penalty mark taken by Julian Alvarez at the end of yesterday's

19:09UEFA Champions League match against Real Madrid. Although minimal, the player made contact with

19:14the ball using his standing foot before kicking it, as shown in the attached video clip. Under

19:20the current rule, laws of the game, law 14.1, the VAR had to call the referee signalling that the

19:27goal should be disallowed. UEFA will enter discussions with FIFA and IFAB to determine

19:33whether the rule should be reviewed in cases where a double touch is clearly unintentional.

19:39So I think they do recognise from those words that it was utterly nonsensical and bloody unfair.

19:48But doesn't it just show you that, please, let officials or whoever use common sense.

19:58That instead of playing everything to the rule or the law book, at times you should be allowed to

20:05say the common sense rule or law would be, OK, actually, I can't even barely see that. So there

20:13is no deliberate attempt to fool, con, do whatever you want to say. And common sense should have

20:23ruled that night and said, no, we cannot allow that for all the reasons we've said.

20:29This is where we are now, though, with it. It was always just going to be, apparently,

20:36about just amending the odd really bad mistake. Now it's a forensic re-referring of pretty much

20:44every important incident in every single game. And it's become, quite frankly, utterly absurd.

20:51Yeah, I agree.

20:53And it's not just the refereeing. The referees on the pitch, I feel for them a bit and the whole

20:58thing. And they're kind of put into this position of VAR and the pressure that comes from everything

21:04around it. It's difficult, but referees are also defining the laws. They're taking over the game.

21:12I mean, I was always respectful of referees. I think they do, you know, I think they've got

21:15an incredibly difficult job on the field of play. You always try and give them the benefit of the

21:19doubt. Well, they all make mistakes. Of course they do. They're human beings. We all do.

21:24But the way it's more the fact that, I remember people when I used to argue and I said, well,

21:29now we need VAR for occasionally really bad decisions. And I'm as guilty as anyone for

21:34thinking that it would be okay. But we've come to a point now where they're taking over the game.

21:41It's become the game. And that's not what football is about. And it needs a rethink.

21:47You know, I've aired my views on appeal systems, but...

21:50Yeah, absolutely. I understand the law and I understand that is the law, but there has to be

21:55an element for the referees to now and again apply a bit of common sense. And one of those

22:03was the other evening. There's absolutely no doubt about it. For Athletico to go out

22:09like that, as they did, I mean, it is so bad. They might've gone out anyway. They might've

22:14gone out with the penalties after and after. But for that to happen in a game of that size,

22:20of that importance, for them to go out for that way for me was so wrong.

22:25Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely agree with you. That aside, you know, Athletico gave it a real go.

22:32And I was really pleased for Connor Gallagher. What a start for him. His first Champions League

22:36goal for them against Real Madrid. Big game, big atmosphere.

22:42I loved it. I loved watching it. I haven't been in that stadium myself and did a Champions

22:47League final in that stadium, the core comms. It is brilliant. What an arena that is. And you

22:53could hear it coming through on the television. And they give it a right good go and you could

22:58see how animated Simeone was on the touchline right throughout the game. I mean, he plays

23:05the game himself, doesn't he, on the touchline. He goes through the ringer, doesn't he,

23:09with his unbelievable attitude.

23:11Have you seen the nickname that they've given to Connor Gallagher?

23:14What is it?

23:15El Pitbull.

23:16Oh, El Pitbull. Brilliant.

23:20I quite like that. I quite like that.

23:22But yeah, they give it a right good go, Athletico. But again, I mean,

23:27I know that Vinnie Jr. missed a penalty and he put it high and wide, but...

23:31I think I just saw it landing behind you, haven't you?

23:34Yeah, it was that bad. Yeah, I'd won like that myself once. But yeah,

23:38whether they were fortunate or what, it doesn't matter. I said on core comms on the Liverpool

23:43game, whoever wins this tournament, this Champions League, the new format would have had some

23:50luck somewhere along the line.

23:52Real Madrid seem to get it every year, Alan.

23:55If they go on to win it, then they had their bit of luck the other night against Athletico to get through.

24:00Yeah. Okay. Let's take a break there. When we come back, we'll look at some of the other games.

24:08Welcome back to the Restless Football. I'm just Alan Shearer and me, Garo Lineker,

24:13now because Micah had to leave because he had to do some work. There we go.

24:17Arsenal, I mean, they were always going to go through. I thought the most...

24:20I found quite amusing part of the game was when Ivan Perisic equalised

24:2610 minutes after Arsenal had taken the lead.

24:29They were 8-1 down at the time and he ran into the net, grabbed the ball and ran to the halfway line.

24:35And I'm thinking, that was quite funny.

24:39I thought, crikey, you really think you're going to come back into this game at this point?

24:43Yeah, I had a little chuckle at that as well. That was rather funny.

24:49Yeah. What else are you going to do, I suppose?

24:50And Declan Rice as well, as if not to celebrate, had to run straight back to the

24:57touchline because of his celebration at the weekend.

24:59So I thought that was quite funny as well.

25:02I suppose perhaps the positive for Arsenal, and we talked about him last week, didn't we?

25:07Raheem Sterling. I thought he did well.

25:09It was like the bit of the old Raheem, going at players, beating them, getting crosses in.

25:13A couple of assists and he'll do his conference, the world of good after

25:19hearing the reports after the game.

25:21And he did really well, played well.

25:23So for him, I think going forward, that can only help him.

25:26And Arsenal are going to need that, yeah.

25:28I'd love to see all their players fit up top,

25:31Saka maybe, for the Real Madrid games coming up now, because that would have been a real...

25:37I mean, he's obviously now going to go into the game with second favourites

25:39because they're a little bit blunt at the top of the pitch.

25:43But you never know.

25:44They're a good side.

25:45They can keep the ball, but it's going to be a tough-ass two legs against Real Madrid.

25:50But it's not the greatest Real Madrid team.

25:52They're not in the best of form.

25:54And they had scrambled through and they got lucky a little bit against Atletico.

25:58Also, if you look at their form recently in La Liga, it's been very in and out.

26:04So, you know, they're not without a chance,

26:05but obviously they will go into that game second favourites.

26:09And I think look at Arsenal's record in the Champions League, particularly at home.

26:13Look at their home record, which they'll have a proper chance of beating Real Madrid at home.

26:18And I think they're going to have to do that to stand a chance of going through

26:22because of how difficult it will be at the Bernabeu.

26:24But I wouldn't put it past Arsenal to beat Real Madrid at home.

26:27They're really, really tough in the Champions League at home.

26:29So...

26:30I read somewhere that Bukayo Saka might be back playing after the international break.

26:36Right.

26:37That'd be, I mean, massive plus.

26:39Huge plus, yeah. Huge.

26:40I don't think it's a coincidence that Arsenal since,

26:43certainly in the Premier League at least anyway,

26:45they haven't scored from any corners and not scored as many goals since he's been outside.

26:50His delivery from the right and corner kicks has been excellent.

26:53Well, even if he's on the bench, it'll be a great boost for them.

26:57So they've put themselves into a really healthy position in the Champions League, Arsenal.

27:03So, yeah, they'll have a decent chance at home.

27:07But as I said, I think it's key they take a victory over to Madrid to stand a chance.

27:12Definitely. Are you doing one of the games?

27:15Yeah, we're doing the Aston Villa game, as I said, PSG on the Tuesday.

27:21And then the following Tuesday, we're doing the Arsenal...

27:26In Madrid?

27:27We're doing both home games.

27:28One's on one Tuesday and then one's on the other Tuesday.

27:31But Arsenal home to Real Madrid, yeah.

27:34That's two games to look forward to.

27:35Amazing.

27:36That's for sure. Really, really great games.

27:38Elsewhere, Alan, I don't think any of us thought Bayern would beat Bayer Leverkusen 5-0 over two legs.

27:46Harry Kane once again on the leaderboard.

27:47That's on the scoreboard, 10 goals.

27:5110 goals in the Champions League this season.

27:53Fantastic.

27:54I mean, he's such a good finisher, isn't he?

27:56Yeah, he's brilliant.

27:56I mean, I didn't see them winning that easily.

27:59Not at all.

28:00Not after watching Bayern Munich against Celtic in Munich.

28:03I didn't see that happening at all.

28:05I thought it would have been a lot tougher for them.

28:07But yeah, they've put themselves into a really healthy position as well.

28:10And Harry Kane again, flying.

28:12I mean, yeah, he's a brilliant goalscorer.

28:14He's a top, top, top quality player.

28:17Barcelona against Benfica.

28:20A quick word on Luminor Mal, because, oh my goodness, that goal he scored.

28:25I mean, he came in and it was just like, he just floated it and he started it around.

28:29He bent it in the far corner.

28:31I mean, this kid's 17.

28:33Yeah, it's ridiculous, isn't it?

28:34I've got some statistics actually that I saw today on Luminor Mal in comparison to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, right?

28:43I'll read these out.

28:44This is by the age of 17.

28:47Lionel Messi for Barcelona, nine appearances, one goal.

28:50No appearances for the national team.

28:52Cristiano Ronaldo, 31 appearances, five goals, six assists.

28:57Luminor Mal, 88 appearances for Barcelona.

29:0119 goals, 24 assists.

29:0317 appearances for the Spanish national side.

29:06Three goals, eight assists.

29:08And of course, a European Cup trophy.

29:10I mean...

29:1088 appearances for Barcelona?

29:1288 appearances for Barcelona already.

29:14And he's 17.

29:15And he's 17 and he's scoring unbelievable goals, making assists out of nowhere.

29:20I mean, the kid's...

29:22I mean, he's already the superstar.

29:25He's not the next superstar.

29:26He already is.

29:26He's extraordinary.

29:28Frightening.

29:28I love watching him play.

29:30Brilliant.

29:30Yeah, he just...

29:31I mean, I only relate...

29:33I go back to when I was 17 and it was like, oh my God, this is like amazing, the football.

29:40And how do you go on to the next game?

29:42How do you repeat it?

29:43And it was bloody difficult.

29:46But this young boy, young man is like...

29:50He's off the charts.

29:52Exceptional, isn't he?

29:53I've never seen anything like it at his age.

29:55And what season Rafinha's having.

29:57They're great to watch, Barcelona.

29:59I mean, they do play a kind of very brave, brave high line at times.

30:03And they might get found out.

30:05It'll be worth watching.

30:06They've got Dortmund, of course, in the quarterfinal.

30:09Good draw for them, that, isn't it, Barcelona?

30:11Well, they're on the good side of the draw, aren't they?

30:13I think most of the big teams were on the left side of the draw, as you look at it.

30:17It's a good draw.

30:18There was all three English teams.

30:19Now only two, of course.

30:21Inter Milan comfortably beat Feyenoord over the two legs.

30:25And as we said, Dortmund are through as well.

30:28All that's left really, Alan, is perhaps to look forward to the Carabao Cup.

30:33Are you confident?

30:36I'm nervous for you, actually.

30:38It's so tough having to play against Liverpool.

30:40But if there's a time to play, then perhaps it's this weekend.

30:44I got my tickets today and it was like I looked at them and thought,

30:47oh, and then it just got me all excited.

30:49And I know it's going to be, well, let's hope it's going to be a great weekend.

30:55I'm with you Saturday, match of the day, and then heading down to Wembley.

30:59But yeah, I mean, the extra time for Liverpool could only have worked in Newcastle's favour

31:04a little bit.

31:04And we might need that little bit.

31:06You never know.

31:07But if the Newcastle turn up, that can be nasty and horrible to play against and press

31:12and all of those things that they're really good at,

31:14which has helped get them to the position that they're in.

31:17Then, yeah, who knows?

31:19Isak Van Dijk is going to be a great battle.

31:21It really is because you're going up against two quality players.

31:25And Isak's already scored against Van Dijk this season, as we know.

31:28But yeah, I'm excited.

31:30I can't wait.

31:31Who are you going with, Alan?

31:32I'm going with my son and my daughter and her boyfriend.

31:37Brilliant.

31:37I'll tell you what, a lot of people will be rooting for Newcastle.

31:42And no offence, Liverpool, but you've won plenty.

31:46Exactly.

31:47It's been a long time for Newcastle.

31:48Liverpool have got all these trophies.

31:50They're going to win the league.

31:51They're going to win the league.

31:52Just give us this on Sunday.

31:53Come on.

31:54Just come on for once.

31:56Good luck, Alan.

31:57Good luck to Newcastle.

31:58And that's all for today's episode.

32:00The rest is football.

32:01We'll be back on Monday reviewing that Carabao Cup final.

32:05Fingers crossed.

32:05And of course, the eight Premier League fixtures taking place over the weekend.

32:10If Newcastle win that final, I haven't got a clue where I'll be on Monday morning.

32:15Well, we don't expect you to do that.

32:17But we're hoping you send us some live little bits during the game.

32:19I will do.

32:20That'll be magical.

32:21I will.

32:21Good luck.

32:22Cheers.

32:23Goodbye from me.

32:24Goodbye from me.

32:25Have a great weekend, everyone.

32:26I'll be there soon.

32:35Bye.

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