Bunesliga/Serie A Talking Points #2431

Bunesliga/Serie A

What’s Going on with Leipzig

Leipzig has turned into a complete mess. Earlier this season they looked like a team that could challenge Bayern Munich for the title. Until recently they were unbeaten in the Bundesliga. They looked like they had the materials to display the necessary qualities to win the title. Leipzig has only been close a couple of times. However, they've undoubtedly had a huge amount of quality for several years. They never seem to crack the code and win the title. However, this season seemed like it could have been the season that they'd finally be able to do that. However, it's been quite the opposite. Despite the early portion of the season, looking very sharp. Over the last month, they've completely fallen apart. Their form in the Champions League has been dreadful as they are still without a victory in that competition disease. A few weeks ago they lost what has been considered a very poor Dortmund side. However, Marco Rose's side hit a new low this past weekend at home against Wolfsburg. Wolfsburg has been very inconsistent and has struggled pretty consistently over the last few seasons. This season, perhaps they've been a little better than the year before. However, they still are aside that are nowhere near the level of Leipzig. They went to Leipzig and were three goals up inside of 20 minutes. They scored on their first three shots of the game. Leipzig never managed to find their way back. It ended up being a grueling 5-1 defeat, not at the Volkswagen arena but at the Red Bull arena at home. Despite having twice the quality and even with their struggles having a significantly better season, they were absolutely ripped to shreds against a Wolfsburg side, they currently sit in the top 10. However, going into that match they were in the bottom half of the table. Wolfsburg finishing in the top 10 isn't completely out of the possibilities. However, we haven't seen enough to truly say undoubtedly that they'll finish in the top half. All this makes it twice as bad for Leipzig. It was a horrendous performance all around this past weekend. Although they eliminated Frankfurt in the German Cup in a very routine 30 victory it doesn't change. The fact that Leipzig over the last month has turned into a disaster. Although they have two victories in the German Cup against Frankfurt and St Pauli. They haven't won a match in the Bundesliga since October 26th. Perhaps it's not time to panic completely. Leipzig still sit in the top four. However, that's primarily because the points they got at the beginning of the season and what was a very strong start. However, if things don't turn around soon, they could be in big trouble. They'll in all likelihood qualify for the Champions League. However, that being said. The chance of them contending for the title and possibly finally claiming the throne seems to have slipped out of their grasp this past weekend. They are nine points behind Bayern Munich. It is still early in the season, however, there's no doubt that as a title contender, their letting it slip away. They have time to turn this around however winless in their last four is not a good look for a team expected to challenge for the title.

Patrik Schick Injiured

Patrick Schick is slowly becoming one of the biggest difference makers in The Bundesliga. Leverkusen won the title last season being invincible while doing so. Patrick Schick scored 11 goals all of last season. The vast majority of them had come in the late stages of games when their invincibility was on the line, but the Czech Republic international managed to always find a way. This happened over multiple games. In fact, he is the only reason they qualified for the semi-final of the Europa League. They were on the verge of elimination in the quarterfinals and he scored twice in stoppage time to take them to the semifinal. We know the rest of the story they get to the final and lose to Atlanta. However, last season he was primarily used as a difference-maker, particularly late in games. However, this season it has been a completely different role for him. 3 years ago. They finished third in the league. It was the best season they had had in some years. That season it was fully healthy. Patrick Schick. He scored 24 goals in the league only Robert Lewandowski scored more goals that season. He dealt with some injury concerns before returning to full health this season. The relationship and connection that he managed to develop with their young Superstar Wirtz made them a menace that season and it's starting to come into fruition this campaign. On Saturday he scored the winning goal against Union Berlin. The week before he scored a hat trick. He also added to the Champions League annihilation in midweek. At his best, he is a better threat for this side then. Victor Boniface Leverkusen has been a bit inconsistent this season. However, that being said, the re-emergence of Patrick Schick has played a big role and getting them back on track. They fell behind the eight ball but they've made up some ground over the last week. However, they could have a crisis on their hands. Patrick Schick got injured in midweek against Bayern Munich in the German Cup. It is an ankle injury but unfortunately, he will miss time as his return being in late December. This could throw a whole monkey wrench in their title defense as now they're going to have to continue to make up ground without him, at least for the time being. Fortunately, the Bundesliga has a Christmas break. This means he may only miss a couple of games. However. Alonzo spoke about the injury and was not too forthcoming with positivity following it. So perhaps that is a thing to be concerned about. As of now, they will have to try to manage without their center forward. He's not their best player, but he's the best striker. He had also been in terrific form before all of this occurred. He already has 11 goals this season which is the same amount he had all of last season. He was truly showing his qualities and starting to be a big threat. Now they're going to have to try to deal with the challenges ahead without him. At least for the next couple weeks it could be make or break because he had been such an important part of this team over the last couple of weeks. Now they're going to have to coexist without them. Hopefully, they can manage to do so and he can come back sharp again. He'd gone through so much to get back to full health only to get injured again. Folks around the Bay Arena are hoping that he'll come back and continue to inflict a level of damage he has already this season.

Zaniolo’s Goal Doesn’t Prove Roma Wrong

Nicolo Zaniolo was once adored by the Roma faithful. The young Talent spent five seasons in the Italian Capital. He scored the winning goal in the conference League final. There was a time when he was a fan favorite at the Stadio Olimpico. However, that moment has far past. Since he departed From Roma he has been a toxic individual that has soured his relationship with Roma. He returned to the Stadio Olimpico On Monday and delivered his moment. He got an opportunity to respond to the Roma fans that been abusing him ever since he came onto the pitch. He scored an excellent header that flew into the back of the net to more or less solidify maximum points for Atalanta He certainly earned his stripes with his goal. It was a significant moment for him. As a chance to deliver against his former side. However, just because he scored that goal does not erase the story or change the words. Zaniolo was not a victim at Roma. He wasn’t let go because he was somehow treated poorly by the club. He was let go in the end because he ended up being more problem and it was worth. He disrespected. Roma in every possible way. Optically this entire situation and story is being spread as if he was somehow done wrong by the club. Just because he scored that goal does not make him right. It also doesn’t necessarily mean that Roma made a mistake in letting him go. It was the right decision at the time and there’s no evidence to suggest that that was The wrong thing to do. Roma have been going through their most difficult season since 1979. Some mistakes have been made by the club pretty consistently over the last decade. However, Zaniolo is not one of them, and the way the Italian media is spreading this saying somehow that the goal itself justifies the means. That he was somehow treated poorly and this was his bounce-back moment and he got to deliver against his formal Club. And by the way, celebrating in a very pompous sort of way. I don’t blame him for his celebration at all. He was very disrespectful towards the club and of course, scoring against them. Was only going to galvanize himself in that moment. It was a sensational goal. However, it doesn’t prove anything. It certainly doesn’t prove him right. Zaniolo came in In the swap deal with Inter Milan for Radja Nainggolan. At the start, it looked like a truly unique talent that Roma had their hands on. His first season. He was outstanding. I still remember the goal he scored against Sassuolo. Around Thanksgiving time. His first season under Mourinho was also very good, although it had some issues, with eight goals and seven assists. During his time at Roma, he also dealt with an ACL tear Rama was very supportive towards him, and honestly up until the point he left was still very highly regarded by Roma. I took issue with his overall attitude and decision making but understandably it was clear that there was some sort of talent there. I found his playmaking very effective at times Very selfish. Always trying to score the goal even when the Best option was an open pass. However, up until the last year and a half, I didn’t have a problem with him individually. Outside of his play. The relationship began to sour His second and last season was his best season actually with the club. But again it was down to some attitude issues and decision making. He was supposed to be a critical part of Roma Tammy Abraham has the new center forward at the time off of one of the best seasons of his career. Tammy wasn’t able to live up to the expectations that came after that. Great First season, however, it felt like Roma had something with the talent of zaniolo and a new center forward in Abraham. Neither one is at the club. Now it shows how Roma has kind of fallen since the Conference League. He scored the goal that won that trophy and in that sense, he will always be appreciated even if it’s slightly. The interest in Juventus was always there. That summer it seemed as if that was going to happen. The deal was almost done. It ultimately collapsed during the weeks leading up to that deal in preseason. He refused to sit next to his teammates on the bench. He also was disrespectful towards the club in many ways after his eventual departure. Everybody wanted him gone because his behavior was so appalling. He did spend half that season at Roma scoring twice. However, there was a point where he went against Mourinho in a huge way which caused him to be dropped. There were even a few instances. He refused to play and asked to leave very early on that season. Then he leaves and starts pedaling Roma with nasty comments talking about the club, talking about his teammates, talking about the coaches, everything. He started disrespecting Roma for no reason. If he wanted to leave the club after that season he could have done it in a way where he didn’t come across as a total child. Back to the point he scores this goal against his former side side. He has been blatantly disrespectful and nasty towards her. So from his perspective, he gets that moment where he delivers and he gets to have that sort of. I told you so moment. However, is he really better off now than he was before he left. Proving Roma wrong would suggest that he has gone on to be one of the best young players in the world has won trophies and has been individually spectacular. In his second and last season, he had eight goals and seven assists. That’s the last full season he had. Since then he has played for three different teams Galatasaray, Aston Villa & Now Atalanta. He has played 61 matches since he left Roma over that time. He has scored 10 goals supplying one assist. He has also been sent off twice. At his best when he was at Roma he was getting picked for the national team. Now he very seldom gets selected and hardly plays. He has played a couple of games for the national team here or there, but this special talent that he wanted perhaps certainly isn’t anymore at Roma, dealt with two major injuries. In both cases. Rome supported him and backed him up. He scored the goal in the conference League final Roma supported him and backed him up. Mourinho backed him his teammates backed him and through all that instead, he decided to be disrespectful and nasty to the very people who were supporting him. So he gets that goal Monday night against his former side. But it certainly doesn’t make a difference in the grand scheme of things because his performances since he left Roma haven’t proved that they made the wrong decision. If anything as bad as Roma has been this season it is still clear that letting him go was the right thing to do.