CONTRASTING FORTUNES: SCOTT MCTOMINAY SCORES, RASMUS HOJLUND MISSES PENALTY
Scott McTominay shines for Napoli as Rasmus Hojlund's struggles continue, missing a penalty in their Champions League victory.
Manchester United is aiming for a spot in Europe next season, but they have many weeks without matches, allowing them to focus on domestic games.
Ruben Amorim is keeping an eye on things happening in Europe, including Rasmus Hojlund's progress while on loan at Napoli.
The striker had trouble convincing the United coach that he deserved a spot in the team. The arrival of Benjamin Sesko meant even less playing time for him.
So, the Danish player decided to return to Serie A, hoping to get back to the form he had at Atalanta before moving to Old Trafford.
Hojlund started well, scoring four goals in all competitions, with two in the Champions League, but things have been harder recently.
He had a chance to end that bad run in the middle of the week, when Napoli played Qarabag in a big European match. The Man United player, on loan, had a chance to put his team ahead with a penalty.
But he missed, shooting the ball too close to the centre, and the goalkeeper, Mateusz Kochalski, was able to push it away.
It was a setback for Hojlund, but luckily, Scott McTominay, a former Man United star, stepped up.
The midfielder made two big plays in the game, scoring on a header to give Napoli the lead. Also, a few minutes later, his play led to an own goal. The game ended 2-0 for Napoli.
After the game, McTominay posted on social media: Champions League nights. The real MVPs, always, with a picture of the support staff.
He has been in great form since moving from Man United back in 2024.
The midfielder was important in helping Scotland get to the 2026 World Cup, beating Denmark and Hojlund to the top spot in their qualifying group.
Now back at Napoli, their performance is contrasting, with McTominay scoring goals often, while Hojlund is trying to score his first goal in six games.
PRIORITY ONE: THOMAS FRANK TARGETS PSG AFTER ROMERO'S 'STYLE' WARNING
Spurs boss Thomas Frank remains detached from criticism after the Arsenal loss as his team faces a crucial test of style against PSG.
Even a tough loss to Arsenal wasn't enough to get to Thomas Frank.
The Tottenham coach often says he doesn't pay much attention to the chatter around the club, except for what his press officer tells him or what reporters ask.
Sitting in Paris before a Champions League game against the champs, just days after a 4-1 defeat, Frank insisted that hasn't changed.
I don't read anything—no articles, no social media. So, I don't know if people are upset, he said.
Frank is smart, though. He probably has an idea what Spurs fans thought of the game and knows where the team needs work.
He's also heard enough this season to know people aren't thrilled with the way they play. Some home games have ended with boos, and after the Arsenal game, Frank and the players walked over to clap for the mostly empty away section.
Spurs now play Paris Saint-Germain tonight in what feels like the least important game of the week.
Fulham is coming to north London on Saturday, and that's a key game for Frank. If they don't win and win big, he'll have a hard time avoiding the criticism.
The Champions League isn't as risky since Spurs already have eight points from four games. A few more points should be enough to get them to the next round.
Frank's team needs to almost double their current points to finish in the top spots and move straight to the final 16, and a good result against PSG would help.
But that's not the biggest thing right now. How they play in this game will matter more than the score.
Losing 3-1, but really going for it against PSG, creating chances, even if they fall short against a better team, would be better than a boring 0-0 tie.
Frank's time at Spurs won't be judged by the PSG game. It'll be judged by whether Spurs start playing better together on offence.
Spurs have three of the five lowest xG scores in the league this season.
They were great defensively in the UEFA Super Cup against PSG in August, holding a 2-0 lead until the last few minutes despite having the ball only 25% of the time.
That was okay for Frank's first game, but it would be worrying if they haven't improved after a few months.
The fans need to see improvement, and so do the players. They can only be told to defend and disrupt so many times before they want to create. Too often, Frank's approach has made the players scared of the other team.
That can't be fun, and it won't work for long. Cristian Romero didn't like the mood at Spurs under Antonio Conte's style and praised Ange Postecoglou's more attacking style.
"It's the way Tottenham always played," Romero said in 2023. It's about taking risks and trying to control the game.
Again, a year later, the Spurs captain said, "We play in a fun style, and we're all happy with how the coach sets us up."
If Romero, a defender, doesn't like sitting back, the forwards definitely don't.
There's no such thing as an easy game at a club like Spurs, but fans will accept some losses.
This is one of those games, but only if Frank and his players show they're trying.
THRILLING 3-2: KENAN YILDIZ SPARKS JUVENTUS-BODO/GLIMTTO CRUCIAL UCL WIN
Kenan Yildiz sparks Juventus to a 3-2 comeback win vs Bodo/Glimt. Super-sub leads fightback for Juve's first UCL victory.
Kenan Yildiz came off the bench and changed everything as Juventus secured their first Champions League win this season, a 3-2 victory at Bodo/Glimt.
Before this game, Juventus hadn't won in Europe, with three draws and a loss to Real Madrid. They were also struggling in general. Federico Gatti missed the match due to the flu, joining Bremer, Rugani, and Pinsoglio back home. The coach rotated the squad, giving Fabio Miretti a more attacking role. Bodo/Glimt, playing on their home artificial pitch, have been a tough opponent for many teams. Heavy snow before the game added to the challenge. Bodo/Glimt was without suspended defender Jostein Gundersen and injured Haitam Aleesami. Former AC Milan winger Jens Petter Hauge was also not in top shape because of illness.
In the opening minutes, Francisco Conceicao's quick shot was pushed wide, and Vasilije Adzic also tested the goalie.
Adzic tried a difficult volley from a Conceicao cross, but he didn't realise how much time he had and put it on top of the net.
Ole Didrik Blomberg's shot was deflected just wide after a good play by Bodo/Glimt. Andrea Cambiaso blocked a dangerous shot from Isak Dybvik Maata.
From the resulting corner, Kasper Hogh flicked the ball on, and Blomberg scored at the far post despite Mattia Perin's attempted save.
Juventus tried to answer with Lois Openda setting up Francisco Conceicao for a shot that went just wide. Then, Nikita Haikin saved Adzic's header from a Conceicao cross.
Bodo/Glimt thought they should have had a penalty when Hogh's shot hit Manuel Locatelli's ribs and then his arm, but the referee didn't call it.
Conceição passed to Weston McKennie, but then poked a weak shot right at the goalie.
Kenan Yildiz replaced Adzic at halftime, moving Miretti into midfield, and he quickly made an impact. After a possible foul on Miretti, the play continued, and Yildiz's shot was deflected to Openda, who scored.
Soon after, Juventus had the ball in the net again after a good play involving Yildiz and Miretti, but Openda was offside.
Juventus kept pushing and took the lead when Yildiz sent a great through ball to Miretti, who crossed for McKennie to head in from close range.
Conceicao cut inside and forced Haikin to make a great fingertip save.
But Juventus didn't hold on to their chances, and Juan Cabal gave away a penalty with a late tackle. Sondre Brunstad Fet scored to tie the game.
Cabal blocked another shot from Brunstad Fet, but Juventus regained the lead soon after. Kenan Yildiz controlled a long ball, turned, and forced the goalie to push the ball into the path of Jonathan David, who tapped it in.
Late in the game, Yildiz passed back for David to tap in another goal, but Odin Bjortuft cleared it off the line.