Gabriel Jesus [9]

The Champions League Tuesday games are wrapped up, and for Bayern Munich, it was once again business as usual in the Champions League group stage. The Bundesliga giants beat Galatasaray 3-1 in what was their eighth group-stage win on the road, passing a record set by Juventus between 2019 and 2021. Bayern are now unbeaten in 37 group-stage matches and have won the last 16. Bayern haven’t lost a road game in the Champions League group stage dating all the way back to Sep. 17, 2017, when they lost 3-0 to Paris Saint-Germain in France. 

Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus showed exactly what he’s capable of with a goal and an assist in his team’s 2-1 win over Sevilla in Tuesday night’s Champions League group stage match. The Brazilian international first struck on the cusp of half time, when he played in a killer pass for Gabriel Martinelli to finish an easy chance. Then, just eight minutes into the second half the forward pounced again, this time sending the ball into the top right corner with an outstanding individual effort. “Big games are for big players,” noted Mikel Arteta after the game when asked about Jesus’ performance. “He needed to produce those moments to win in a stadium like this. He’s done it for us in a really big way.” 

It was a terrible end to 2023 for Arsenal, as their seemingly smooth title challenge took a huge blow in back-to-back defeats to West Ham and Fulham. The Gunners have scored just twice in their last four games, and have scored just 37 across the Premier League season so far - the lowest of the top four and less than tenth placed Newcastle. Those numbers become even more alarming when looking at the goalscoring stats of their preferred front three. Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli have just 11 league goals between them, with Saka contributing over half of those. 

Ivan Toney is back! The Brentford striker will make his return from an eight-month betting suspension against Nottingham Forest. Toney has been the most talked about player in England in recent weeks and all eyes will be on the 27-year-old for the televised fixture tonight. It’s been 259 days since Toney last featured competitively against Liverpool last season and the striker was absolutely flying before his ban. Toney scored 20 goals in 33 league games last season to earn his international debut for England before he was charged by the FA but Thomas Frank has confirmed that he will captain Brenford on his return.

Girona have been the surprise package in European football this season with the Catalonian side leading La Liga ahead of Barcelona and Real Madrid. Girona enhanced their title credentials with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Celta Vigo at the weekend, keeping them at the top of the league table by a solitary point, following just one defeat in 22 league games to date.