From ‘Pep’s worst 45’ to Messi’s return: 9 things you might have missed from tonight’s action

There was plenty of action taking place across the globe this evening, ranging from the League Cup in England, Ligue 1 in France and the Spanish Super Cup in… Saudi Arabia.
Indeed, it was a peculiar assortment of footballing drama, a liquorice allsorts of penalty shootouts, giantkillings and returning legends. Lionel Messi was back in action for the first time since lifting the World Cup, while Pep Guardiola and Erling Haaland had a night to forget.
Elsewhere, AC Milan were in action against Torino in the Coppa Italia, while Nottingham Forest and Wolves were embroiled in a tense sudden death for League Cup semi-final bragging rights. There was drama every which way, with the most notable talking points covered below.
1. Benzema joins Messi in Super Cup club
For nearly a decade and a half Karim Benzema has lead the Real Madrid line with distinction, and at 35 years of age, he continues to carry that responsibility. Despite entering an age in which many players would be considering winding down, Benzema has continued to thumb his nose at Father Time.
This evening, he broke the deadlock for Carlo Ancelotti’s side in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final against Valencia. The Frenchman converted from the spot just before half-time at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It was his 10th goal of the season in all competitions.
By breaching Giorgi Mamardashvili’s net, the current Ballon d’Or holder also became the first player since Messi to net in five consecutive Spanish Super Cups. It’s not the most prestigious of competitions, but every goal in the colours of Los Blancos will continue to enhance the legacy of a club legend.
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2. ‘Pep’s worst 45 minutes’
It felt as though Pep Guardiola could deploy any combination of players with any formation and they would easily bypass a Southampton side who are rooted to the foot of the Premier League table, and winless in the league under their new manager, Nathan Jones. In truth, City’s progression felt like a foregone conclusion.
However, by an unexpected defying of the script, the Saints found themselves 2-0 up at half-time thanks to goals from Sekou Mara — his first for the club — and a delectable lofted effort from Moussa Djenepo. City looked so undercooked and disjointed in the first half that it led to a pretty radical statement from Jamie Redknapp during his half-time analysis for Sky Sports.
The former Southampton midfielder said: “That was the worst 45 minutes Manchester City have played under Pep Guardiola.”
To be fair. It wasn’t good. And it didn’t get much better in the second half.
Jamie Redknapp: "That was the worst 45 minutes Manchester City have played under Pep Guardiola"
— Play Squawka Selector for Free (@Squawka_Live) January 11, 2023
3. A first blot for Pep
On top of having his ‘worst 45 minutes as City manager’, Guardiola endured a second half which provided no respite from the agony. His side were defanged and muzzled against a Southampton side with the second-worst defensive record in the Premier League. Not even second-half sub Haaland could save the day as his side fired a collector’s item blank.
In the end his side crashed out of the competition with a whimper. Incredibly, that defeat was Guardiola’s first-ever loss in a quarter-final of a domestic cup. The man to inflict the agony has lost four Premier League games in a row. Funny old sport. Jones will be hoping this result can be the catalyst in a change of fortunes.
Manchester City failed to register a single shot on target against Southampton. 😳#EFLCup pic.twitter.com/bNhjpd3ITI
— Squawka (@Squawka) January 11, 2023
4. Messi returns with a bang
Following a guard of honour at PSG’s training complex by his team-mates, Lionel Messi continued the Parisian feelgood factor following his World Cup triumph by scoring in his first match post-Qatar. The Argentine legend started against Angers in Ligue 1, and he picked up where he left off on the Persian Gulf.
Christophe Galtier’s men were needing a response following their shock 3-1 defeat against Lens at the start of the year, which was manifestly Messi-less. And the 35-year-old duly stepped up to the plate tonight, bagging 20 minutes from time to put PSG out of reach and win the match comfortably 2-0.
Lionel Messi's last five games:
⚽️ vs Australia
⚽️🅰️ vs Netherlands
⚽️🅰️ vs Croatia
⚽️⚽️ vs France
⚽️ vs AngersBack doing what he does best. ✨ pic.twitter.com/GKwXk2SX5w
— Squawka (@Squawka) January 11, 2023
5. Marseille’s first Ukrainian
It was only announced early this week that Ruslan Malinovskyi had joined Marseille on loan from Atalanta, but he was cast immediately into the furnace tonight as The Phocaeans battled confidently against Troyes to win 2-0. Malinovskyi’s second-half introduction marked a watershed moment for OM as the January recruit became the first Ukrainian player to ever represent the club in Ligue 1. Some of the globe’s very best have pitched up at the Stade Velodrome over the years, and Malinovskyi — proudly waving the flag of Ukraine — can now join the alumni.
6. Forest continue rise
After an inauspicious start to the campaign in which Steve Cooper straddled a scatter-gun over the summer and signed any player that showed the slightest inclination of interest, Nottingham Forest have started to find their rhythm. In the Premier League they have lost just two of their last eight games, and tonight, they secured their place in the EFL Cup semi-finals.
After a 1-1 draw during normal time against Wolves — with Wily Boly and Raul Jimenez scoring the goals — the tie was ultimately settled on penalties. Cooper’s men were triumphant 4-3, and as such The Tricky Trees have reached the semi-finals of a domestic cup for the first time since 1991/92. It’s quite the turnaround from the newly-promoted club.
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7. Digard’s debut delight
Following the dismissal of Lucien Favre earlier this week, Nice announced that Didier Digard would step up from his role as head coach of the reserves to take charge of the first team on an interim basis. In his dugout debut, he watched as his side put six past a hapless Montpellier. Nicolas Pepe helped himself to a brace, as well as Ross Barkley, while Khephren Thuram and Andy Delort netted the other goals. It was a breathless night of free-scoring action.
8. The ‘Old Guard’ produce
It wasn’t just that Benzema struck in normal time for Real, but he also netted the club’s first penalty in their flawless shootout. Lino restored parity for Los Che to take the game to extra-time and eventually, penalties. But, with Benzema, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos all netting the first three penalties for Real in seamless fashion, Valencia had little chance, with both Eray Comert and Jose Luis Gaya squandering from 12 yards. Marco Asensio converted Real’s last penalty, and it was job well done for the European champions.
9. 10-man Torino stun Milan
It was a tense battle between Milan and Torino in the Coppa Italia, and the pendulum appeared to swing in the host’s favour close to the dying embers. With 20 minutes from time, Koffi Djidji was sent off for Torino for a second bookable offence, and it seemed like curtains for the travelling side.
Stefano Pioli introduced the cavalry in front of a bloodthirsty San Siro audience and Milan’s progression seemed a formality. However, Ivan Juric’s side dug in and looked to be dragging the game to penalties, which appeared their best chance of reaching the next round, until… academy graduate Ndary Adopo popped up in the 114th minute to give Torino the lead. They ultimately held out, and it will go down as a famous victory for the Turin club.