{"id":1224794,"date":"2021-09-19T22:40:01","date_gmt":"2021-09-19T21:40:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1224794"},"modified":"2021-09-19T22:50:48","modified_gmt":"2021-09-19T21:50:48","slug":"valencia-real-madrid-gameweek-five-stats","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/valencia-real-madrid-gameweek-five-stats\/","title":{"rendered":"Misfiring Messi and Brilliant Benzema – Ten things you might have missed in Europe’s top five leagues"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a dynamic weekend of football across Europe’s top five leagues we saw an incredible amount of action.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here’s what you might have missed from the games away from the Premier League.<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Qualifying readers* can take advantage of the offer above in three steps:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Follow this link<\/a> to register with Unibet<\/strong><\/li>\n
  2. Deposit \u00a310 or more into your new account<\/strong><\/li>\n
  3. Receive money back as a bonus worth up to \u00a340 if you bet loses (+ \u00a310 casino)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    *18+ only. Be Gamble Aware<\/a>. New customers only. Min deposit \u00a310. Money back as bonus if first bet loses. Wagering requirements: sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2\/5), casino 35x. Unless forfeited the sportsbook bonus must be wagered before using the casino bonus. Bonus expires 7 days after opt-in. No deposit required for NI customers. Call 08081699314 to claim. Full T&Cs apply.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n

    1<\/strong>. Messi, discordant<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    When Leo Messi agreed to join PSG in the summer, everyone around the world began salivating at the prospect of watching him link up with Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 and Neymar without ever considering the realities of PSG as a team.<\/p>\n

    This is a side that has a miserable midfield relying on the presence of the injury and suspension prone Marco Verratti to function. And their coach is a man who thrived working with lesser known players that he moulded into superstars at Spurs, rather than harmonising a group of superstars to play well together as a group.<\/p>\n

    As a result the Messi we’ve seen so far for PSG is the same one we saw for years in an Argentina shirt. In a side stacked with attacking talent but such a shallow midfield that attacks were inconsistent and not at all conducive to the associative style of play Messi plays.<\/p>\n

    \n

    Lionel Messi's home debut by numbers for PSG:<\/p>\n

    75 minutes
    65 touches
    6 long balls attempted
    6 long balls completed
    4 shots
    3 fouls won
    3 take-ons completed
    2 shots on target
    2 chances created<\/p>\n

    But still waiting for his first goal. pic.twitter.com\/qUXy6nBZb3<\/a><\/p>\n

    — Squawka (@Squawka) September 19, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n