The International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Thursday that it has launched ticket sales for the Men’s T20I World Cup 2026, with more than two million tickets available in the first phase.

In a statement, the ICC said it set at as low as INR100 in India and LKR1,000 in Sri Lanka, the two hosting countries of the 20-team tournament.

The details regarding the second phase of the T20 World Cup 2026 ticket sale will be announced in due course.

“The low and affordable pricing for Phase I has been done to give cricket fans a fair and equitable opportunity to purchase tickets in the landmark 10th edition of the tournament,” the ICC said in a statement.

ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta termed the first phase of ticket sales an “important milestone” in their strategy of delivering the most accessible and global cricket event ever staged.

“Phase I of ticket sales is an important milestone in our journey towards delivering the most accessible and global ICC event ever staged,” Gupta was quoted as saying by ICC.

It added: “Our vision for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is clear: every fan, regardless of background, geography or financial means, should have the chance to access an in-stadia experience of world-class marquee cricket.”

“With tickets starting from just INR100 and LKR1000, we are putting affordability at the centre of our strategy. This is about opening the gates wide and inviting millions to be part of a global celebration of cricket, not as spectators from afar, but as active participants in the energy, emotion and magic that only a stadium can offer.”

For the unversed, the 10th edition of the men’s T20 World Cup will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8 next year.

The mega event will feature 20 teams, divided into four groups of five, with the top two from each group advancing into the Super Eight stage, which will then feature two pools of four sides each.

The tournament will get underway with Pakistan taking on Netherlands on the opening day, which will also see hosts and defending champions India taking on the United States of America (USA) in Mumbai.

The group stage will conclude on February 20 with the fixture between Australia and Oman in Kandy. The Super Eight stage will then run from February 21 to March 1, followed by the two semi-finals on March 4 and 5, respectively.

Meanwhile, the blockbuster final will be played on March 8 in either Ahmedabad or Colombo, depending on Pakistan’s qualification, as the 2009 champions will play all of their matches in Sri Lanka.

The fifth AP Top 25 poll of the 2025-26 season has arrived, following the first week of league play for many conferences, as well as a week that shook up many of the Top 25 teams. Saturday was the first time multiple AP top-10 teams lost nonconference home games on the same day since Dec. 6, 2017, exactly eight years ago.

After being blown out 81-58 by Iowa State on Saturday, Purdue drops out of the top 5, with the Cyclones rising up to No. 4. Arizona is now No. 1. Michigan, Duke and UConn round out the rest of the top 5.

Arkansas (eight spots), Iowa State (six), Gonzaga (three) and Texas Tech (three) saw the biggest jumps this week. Tennessee (seven spots), Louisville (five) and Purdue (five) saw the biggest drops in ranking.

Kentucky, Indiana and USC dropped out to make way for new entrants Nebraska, Virginia and UCLA.

Overall, just UConn (No. 4) and Alabama (No. 12) didn’t change position.

Let’s take a look at the Top 25, how teams got there and what’s coming up next for each team this week.

All times Eastern. Unless otherwise noted, all stats courtesy of ESPN Research.

Previous polls: Preseason | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4

Previous ranking: 2

2025-26 record: 8-0

Stat to know: Arizona defeated Auburn by 29 points, its largest win over an AP Top 25 team since Nov. 23, 2002, against then-No. 19 Western Kentucky (won by 39). The Wildcats are now 95-0 (since 2018-19) when leading by 20 or more points at any point of a game.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Alabama in Birmingham, 9:30 p.m., ESPN

Previous ranking: 3

2025-26 record: 8-0

Stat to know: Michigan has outscored its past four opponents by a combined 151 points. Three of those teams went to the Final Four within the past five years (Auburn last season, San Diego State in 2022-23, Gonzaga in 2020-21). That is the largest point differential by the Wolverines since they outscored their opponents by 151 points through four straight games in 2015-16 against Delaware State, Northern Kentucky, Youngstown State and Bryant.

What’s next: Tuesday vs. Villanova, 6:30 p.m., FS1

Previous ranking: 4

2025-26 record: 10-0

Stat to know: Duke now has four wins against AP-ranked opponents this season, tied for its most within the first 10 games of a season since the AP poll era began in 1948-49 (also happened in 1978-79). The Blue Devils are tied with Arizona for most wins over AP-ranked opponents this season.

What’s next: Tuesday vs. Lipscomb, 6 p.m., ACC Network

Previous ranking: 10

2025-26 record: 9-0

Stat to know: After defeating Purdue by 23 points over the weekend, Iowa State is the first team to win three consecutive meetings against the AP No. 1 team since Boston College did it from 2009-17. Each of those games have been on the road or at a neutral site, making the Cyclones the fourth team in AP poll history to have three straight meetings against AP No. 1 opponents come away from home and win all three. They join: Arizona from 1997-2001 (two road wins, one neutral), UMass from 1993-95 (all neutral) and Cincinnati from 1959-62 (all neutral). The Cyclones are also one of just two teams in AP poll history to have multiple 20-point wins against No. 1 opponents (beat Houston by 28 in the 2024 Big 12 championship game), joining North Carolina, which defeated then-No. 1 Duke by 20 in 1989 and by 24 in 1998.

What’s next: Thursday vs. Iowa, 8 p.m., FS1

Previous ranking: 5

2025-26 record: 8-1

Stat to know: UConn now has 35 consecutive regular-season wins at home against nonconference unranked opponents, the second-longest streak among current Big East teams. (Providence has 37 such wins.)

What’s next: Tuesday vs. Florida in New York (Jimmy V Classic), 9 p.m., ESPN

Previous ranking: 1

2025-26 record: 8-1

Stat to know: Purdue’s 23-point loss to Iowa State matches the largest home loss by an AP No. 1 team in the AP poll era, tying a 96-73 loss by then-No. 1 UConn at the hands of Villanova on Feb. 18, 1995.

What’s next: Wednesday vs. Minnesota, 7 p.m., BTN

Previous ranking: 8

2025-26 record: 8-1

Stat to know: The Cougars have the longest active win streak (29) against unranked opponents in Division I men’s college basketball, after defeating Florida State over the weekend. That win also gave coach Kelvin Sampson his 807th in Division I, passing Eddie Sutton for 15th most all-time.

What’s next: Wednesday vs. Jackson State, 8 p.m., ESPN+

Previous ranking: 11

2025-26 record: 9-1

Stat to know: On Friday, coach Mark Few picked up his 750th career win as a head coach, in his 903rd game. That’s the second-fewest games to reach 750 wins in Division I history, one game shy of legendary Kentucky coach Adolph Rupp (902). (Note: Gonzaga has 751 wins during Few’s tenure as head coach, but assistant Brian Michaelson is credited with one game (a win) in 2021-22 while Few was serving a suspension.)

What’s next: Saturday vs. UCLA in Seattle, 11:30 p.m., ESPN

Previous ranking: 7

2025-26 record: 8-1

Stat to know: The Spartans now have nine consecutive losses to AP top-5 opponents, with their last win coming Nov. 22 against then-No. 4 Kentucky. That’s their longest losing streak in such games since they went 0-15 from 1985-91, before Tom Izzo was hired.

What’s next: Saturday @ Penn State, 12 p.m., BTN

Previous ranking: 9

2025-26 record: 7-1

Stat to know: AJ Dybantsa has scored 15 or more points in all eight games this season, tying Cameron Boozer for the most such games among Division I freshmen this season. He also now passes Kevin Durant for the second-longest 15-plus-points scoring streak to begin his college career in Big 12 history. Only Trae Young has more, with 26.

What’s next: Tuesday vs. Clemson in New York (Jimmy V Classic), 6:30 p.m., ESPN

Previous ranking: 6

2025-26 record: 8-1

Stat to know: Louisville has now scored 80 points or more in eight games, its most within the first nine games of a season since 1991-92 (also eight). Among those are two wins over ranked nonconference opponents, the Cardinals’ first season with multiple wins over AP-ranked nonconference opponents since 2016-17 (three that season).

What’s next: Saturday vs. Memphis, 3:30 p.m., ESPN

Previous ranking: 12

2025-26 record: 7-2

Stat to know: Bama has won seven of its nine games this season by scoring 90 or more points, tied for second in Division I behind Kent State (eight games).

What’s next: Saturday vs. Arizona in Birmingham, Ala., 9:30 p.m., ESPN

Previous ranking: 14

2025-26 record: 7-2

Stat to know: Illinois is now 2-4 against Tennessee after this weekend — the other win came Jan. 17, 1988. The win is also its first over an AP top-15 SEC team since Dec. 22, 1990, when it defeated then-No. 10 LSU 102-96.

What’s next: Tuesday @ Ohio State, 7:30 p.m., Peacock

Previous ranking: 16

2025-26 record: 8-1

Stat to know: Caleb Wilson has six double-doubles this season, breaking a tie with four players for most among Division I freshmen. He is also tied for fifth for the most double-doubles in a season by a UNC freshman, with Day’Ron Sharpe, Tyler Hansbrough, Rasheed Wallas and Mike O’Koren. Ahead of him are Sam Perkins (nine), J.R. Reid (nine), Armando Bacot (11) and Antawn Jamison (13).

What’s next: Saturday vs. South Carolina Upstate, 2 p.m., The CW Network

Previous ranking: 17

2025-26 record: 9-0

Stat to know: Vanderbilt has its longest win streak to begin a season since 2007-08, when it went 16-0.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Central Arkansas, 6:30 p.m., SEC Network

Previous ranking: 19

2025-26 record: 7-2

Stat to know: JT Toppin has six games with 15 or more rebounds while at Texas Tech. No other player in the program’s past 30 years has had more than two such games.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Arkansas in Dallas, 12 p.m., ESPN2

Previous ranking: 25

2025-26 record: 7-2

Stat to know: Arkansas is 12-1 as a ranked team facing unranked teams under John Calipari. The sole loss came against Illinois last November.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Arkansas in Dallas, 12 p.m., ESPN2

Previous ranking: 15

2025-26 record: 5-3

Stat to know: Florida has lost three of its first eight games this season. The defending champion Gators didn’t lose their third game last season until Feb. 1 (and lost just four games overall).

What’s next: Tuesday vs. UConn in New York (Jimmy V Classic), 9 p.m., ESPN

Previous ranking: 21

2025-26 record: 7-3

Stat to know: Without star freshman Darryn Peterson in the lineup for seven games, the Jayhawks averaged 71 points per game. With him in the lineup — he returned against Missouri for just his third game of the season — they average 84 ppg.

What’s next: Saturday @ NC State, 5:30 p.m., ESPN

Previous ranking: 13

2025-26 record: 7-3

Stat to know: Tennessee has lost three consecutive games, each of which it led at halftime. That is the Vols’ longest streak of losses when leading at halftime since losing three straight in 2019-20. They had won 10 straight games when leading at halftime before this losing stretch.

What’s next: Tuesday vs. Louisville, 7 p.m., ESPN

Previous ranking: 20

2025-26 record: 7-3

Stat to know: In Saturday’s loss to Arizona, Tahaad Pettiford scored 30 of the Tigers’ 68 points. It was a career high for Pettiford, and the most points by an Auburn player against an AP top-5 team in the past 20 seasons.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Chattanooga in Atlanta, 4:30 p.m., SEC Network

Previous ranking: 23

2025-26 record: 5-3

Stat to know: St. John’s has 23 straight wins at home against unranked opponents. The Johnnies’ last home loss against an unranked opponent was Feb. 18, 2024, against Seton Hall.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Iona, noon, TNT

Previous ranking: Unranked

2025-26 record: 9-0

Stat to know: Nebraska extends its win streak to 13 games dating back to last season, the longest active win streak in Division I and tied for the team’s third-longest win streak in program history. The Cornhuskers beat Creighton by 21, the team’s largest win in the in-state rivalry since 1995-96 (also 21). Nebraska is now 9-0 on the season, tied with the 1915-16 team for the second-best start to a season in program history (started 10-0 in 1977-78).

What’s next: Wednesday vs. Wisconsin, 9 p.m., BTN

Previous ranking: Unranked

2025-26 record: 8-1

Stat to know: Jacari White went 9-for-9 from the field, and 7-for-7 from the 3-point line against Dayton over the weekend. He has made 12 straight 3s dating back to his last two on Nov. 28, the longest streak in program history — previously held by Kyle Guy in 2018-19 (11).

What’s next: Tuesday vs. Maryland Eastern Shore, 7 p.m., ACC Extra

Previous ranking: Unranked

2025-26 record: 7-2

Stat to know: Eric Dailey Jr. lead all five UCLA starters in double figures with 18 points to beat Oregon in the Bruins’ second Big Ten game on Saturday.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Gonzaga in Seattle, 11:30 p.m., ESPN

With just two matchdays left to go in the league phase, the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League campaign is certainly ramping up!

Arsenal remains perfect, but there are cracks starting to form elsewhere. Real Madrid stumbled to another loss, this time to Manchester City at the Bernabéu, while Liverpool offered a look at what life might be like without Mohamed Salah.

Read on as ESPN experts Mark Ogden, Sam Tighe, Julien Laurens and Gab Marcotti offer their thoughts on Matchday 6.

– Man City’s win casts more doubt on Xabi Alonso’s future at Real Madrid
– Lindop: Liverpool earns Slot much-needed win amid Salah saga
– VAR Review: Why was Ibrahima Konaté’s Liverpool goal ruled out?

Q1. Liverpool defeated Internazionale without Salah. Assuming he is leaving in January, what did you like about Tuesday’s win, and where are the Reds’ remaining issues?

Marcotti: Maybe I’m just a fanboy, but I think there’s a way back for Salah and I think he will come back … at some point. He’s on big money, he has just over 18 months left on his contract, the sort of clubs that can afford him probably don’t need him, and I don’t think he wants to end his Liverpool career like this.

So, I’m looking at Tuesday’s formation with the midfield diamond, and asking whether it fits Liverpool’s squad. And the reality, I think, is that it does — with some caveats. Hugo Ekitike, Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak can all play in a front two, with some tweaks. So can Salah, who did it early in his career (and, arguably, was doing it in Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino years). Federico Chiesa too, while we’re at it. And obviously Florian Wirtz can slot in at No. 10.

They have four competent central midfielders for the three positions, plus, potentially Wataru Endo in certain situations and at some point, Stefan Bajcetic will be back too, you imagine. There’s a width issue there, of course, but it might actually be more comfortable for wing backs Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez. So yeah, it’s worth trying, though it’s not going to be an instant fix. And, of course, the pressing patterns are all different in this scheme, so Arne Slot would need to work on that too.

Laurens: I liked what I saw on Tuesday night and I thought Liverpool were more balanced, better structured and coherent against Inter. That’s a positive and it shows that the 4-4-2 diamond can work — that’s fine. But why is everyone saying that this should be the system going forward?

This squad has everything to be pragmatic tactically. They have all the talent and the players to set up in different formations and have results. The diamond is an option and a good one. A flat 4-4-2 with Gakpo on one side and Dominik Szoboszlai on the left would also be a good move too in certain games. Take Saturday for example; Isak is still very far from his best, and I wouldn’t mind seeing him benched against Brighton & Hove Albion. So, coming back to a 4-2-3-1 could also suit this team, even without Salah. Ekitike can play on his own up front, they have the midfielders to play in a 4-3-3, and Wirtz is so good that he can play anywhere in any system.

More than staying focus on the 4-4-2 diamond, I would rather see more tactical flexibility from Slot.

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Is Liverpool’s win vs. Inter a statement towards Mo Salah?

Craig Burley discusses the impact of Liverpool’s 1-0 win vs. Inter in relation to Mohamed Salah’s situation at the club.

Tighe: Slot finally rolled out the 4-4-2 diamond formation he’s reportedly been itching to play for a while. What stopped him before? Possibly the fact it’s an inherently narrow system which could struggle to find room for very good wingers.

But sans Salah for the night, it was the perfect opportunity to give it a whirl. The XI combined Isak and Ekitiké up front and boasted a busy midfield which, for once, didn’t lack for numbers. The team only got stronger as Slot made substitutions; Wirtz stepped into the No. 10 role and added an extra level of creativity, while Conor Bradley came on at right back and enjoyed the space the narrow shape afforded him.

Defensively, it flattened out into a fairly standard 4-4-2 shape, with the strikers moving wide to track the opposing wide players’ runs. That looked a bit awkward at points, as did the sheer amount of covering the Reds’ players had to do in the channels outside of the center backs, but presumably some of this will be ironed out if Slot persists with the shape.

What might also need to be ironed out is if Salah can fit into this, should he patch things up with the club. The way Isak played that right-sided striker role — running the channels, playing direct and drifting wide — suggests it could work in practice, even if it looks a bit of an odd fit on paper.

Ogden: The Inter game was a window into Liverpool’s next 4-6 weeks and maybe even beyond, not only because they had to find a way to play without Salah, but also Gakpo — who is often over-looked and under-appreciated — due to an injury that is likely to keep him sidelined until January.

I’m not sure that Slot sees Szoboszlai, who played on the right against Inter, as the permanent option in place of Salah, but now is the time that Wirtz, Isak and Ekitike must find a way to become Liverpool’s first-choice attacking triumvirate. In many ways, losing Gakpo right now is a bigger issue than being without Salah because he is the one forward who can be relied upon to press and defend as energetically as Slot expects. Something needs to click with Wirtz, Isak and Ekitike for that problem to go away.

But Wirtz looked good against Inter when he came on late in the game, so maybe he is finding his feet. Ultimately, though, no matter how much they improve up front, Liverpool’s defensive issues are still there and remain a major concern.

Q2. The fight for the top eight is heating up with two matchdays remaining … which big clubs do we believe are going to be stuck with the added stress of a win-or-go-home round before the last 16?

Marcotti: Last year the cutoff was 16 points. It might be lower this season, it might not. And I think Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City will be just fine. After that, I’m not so sure. Barcelona are way down the table, but they have Slavia Prague at home and F.C. København away so I can see them winning both and getting in. Atalanta should be OK too: between Athletic Club at home and Union St.-Gilloise away they should get the three points they need.

That leaves two slots. Real Madrid have AS Monaco at home and Benfica (with a certain Jose Mourinho on the bench) away. Who knows what voodoo Jose will conjure up? Inter host Arsenal and travel to Borussia Dortmund in what could be a playoff to avoid the playoffs, if you see what I mean. Liverpool have a tough trip to Marseille and FK Qarabag at home. One of those three is going to the playoffs, possibly two of the three, because Tottenham Hotspur (Dortmund at home, Eintracht Frankfurt away) could run the table.

If you’re forcing me to guess, I’ll say Real Madrid.

Laurens: For me, we have six of the eight teams already, either due to how many points they currently have or who their remaining fixtures are against: Arsenal, Bayern, PSG, Man City for where they stand right now and Atalanta and Barcelona for who they face next will finish in the top eight.

That leaves two slots. I think Salah-less Liverpool will improve and properly kick on now. They will win at Marseille in January and then finish the job against Qarabag at home and will snatch a place in the last 16 directly. The other team to do so will be Chelsea. I think Enzo Maresca messed things up massively against Atalanta, but the Blues are capable to win at Napoli before beating Pafos in their last game.

Tighe: It’s very possible that if you don’t have 12 points as of right now, your top eight chances have already turned to dust. Incredibly, that puts Barcelona squarely in the crosshairs. They’re on 10 points, and to illustrate how unimpressive that is, there was a point in time on Wednesday when Qarabag were level with them as they were leading against Ajax Amsterdam.

Those losses to PSG and Chelsea were understandable, but the 3-3 draw against Club Brugge might be the moment Barça’s campaign began hurtling towards the playoffs — and with it, extreme jeopardy.

Their remaining two fixtures are Slavia Prague and F.C. København. They should win both easily, but that won’t be enough on its own. The Blaugrana need several teams above them to drop points over the final two matchdays.

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Fjortoft questions Chelsea’s mentality after fourth winless game

Jan Aage Fjortoft says Chelsea are not capable of competing in the Champions League unless they are performing at their best.

Ogden: The obvious side in trouble is Napoli, but their issue is simply staying in the competition rather than reaching the top eight. If they don’t beat F.C. København away in their next game — the Danes are one place below Napoli in 24th — then their matchday 8 game against Chelsea will be a battle for survival. Maresca’s side will like need a win to jump into the top eight, but they at least have the bonus of a home game against Pafos next.

Newcastle United are also looking shaky for the top eight. Even if they PSV Eindhoven at St James’ Park next time out, they may need to get a result away to PSG on matchday 8 to avoid being dropped into the playoff round.

Q3. Arsenal are the only perfect team in this competition, but is that down to them being in the best of Europe or a weaker draw of games than most?

Marcotti: No, they’re the best team in Europe right now. Whether that will still be the case in the spring I have no idea, but for now they’ve looked really good. I don’t really get this “weak draw” argument either. They haven’t even played Kairat Almaty yet. They haven’t always played great, sure, and sometimes they’ve faced teams in crisis (like Brugge) but they also had a bunch of regulars out. And they beat Bayern. So please, leave this weak draw nonsense out.

Laurens: They are the best team in Europe, and they have been impressive so far with their perfect record of six wins in six and +16 goal difference. They dominated Bayern Munich and dismantled Atlético Madrid. Inter Milan away at San Siro in January in Matchday 7 will be a test but, right now, no one can argue over how good they have been.

Tighe: Sure, Arsenal’s fixture list looks a little soft in parts, but these Champions League nights are crazy — just about anything can happen — and wins don’t come automatically. Just ask Barcelona, who drew with the Club Brugge side Arsenal just battered. Or Chelsea, who contrived to draw with Qarabag. Or Manchester City, who were turned over 2-0 at home to Bayer Leverkusen‘s B side. Plus, they’ve absolutely destroyed the two strongest opponents they’ve played. Beating Atlético Madrid 4-0 is no small feat, while the Bayern Munich win felt like a real statement.

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Leboeuf and Burley disagree on Arsenal’s form

Frank Leboeuf and Craig Burley debate how well Arsenal are playing after they continued their perfect record in this season’s Champions League.

Ogden: Arsenal have definitely benefited from a softer draw than most of their rivals and it explains their 100% record with 17 goals scored and just one conceded. They have faced Athletic Club, Olympiacos, Club Brugge and Slavia Prague — all of whom are in the bottom 12 — and their “tough” games against Atlético and Bayern have been at home. Chelsea have faced Barcelona, Bayern and Atalanta, PSG have taken on Barcelona, Atalanta, Bayern and Tottenham, while Real Madrid have played Juventus, Liverpool and Man City.

So Arsenal have had it easier, but they have been impressive nonetheless and displayed a ruthlessness that others have not. But the big question is whether they can win when it really matters; this season in the Premier League their one weakness has been failing to beat their big rivals.

Q4. Real Madrid again crumpled at home, albeit to better opposition than some of their bad results lately, but we’re approaching that point of no return for Xabi Alonso. Is there a way he can get through this, or is the writing on the wall?

Marcotti: It depends what you mean by “get through this.” If you’re asking whether he’ll still be in a job after Christmas, my guess is “yes.” They lost to Manchester City without Kylian Mbappé, after all. They have a ready-made alibi for Alaves this weekend (a zillion defenders out) and then it’s Sevilla at home, who aren’t good. He’d have to not win both games and I doubt that’s going to happen.

Other than Vinícius Júnior, possibly, the players seem to be on Alonso’s side and I’m not sure Madrid president Florentino Pérez has the appetite for a change to appease the players.

If you’re asking whether he can get this team to click and gel and do something important, that’s another matter. It’s just not well put together, they’re a set of individuals and they’re playing like it. And that’s not what a system coach like Alonso gets paid to do.

Laurens: Real Madrid have won two of their last eight games in all competitions. Two! That is not acceptable. Yes, Alonso has a lot of injuries. Yes, he has only been in job since June. Yes, he is a club legend with the credit that comes with it. Yes, he wants to change how the team plays and its mindset. All of this is good.

But yes, he is struggling to implement his ideas. Yes, half of his dressing room is unhappy with his methods. Yes, the pressure is massive on him. And the biggest yes of all, his demanding and rigorous style doesn’t suit this squad and is not welcomed by the main players. The only way he can sort this mess is if changes his philosophy and alters his tactical rigidity and demands. If you know Alonso, you know he won’t do that. He won’t change his principles.

So where will that leave him and Real Madrid? Not much further, I fear.

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Courtois backs Xabi Alonso: ‘We’re with him’

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois defended his coach Xabi Alonso after their loss to Manchester City.

Tighe: I can’t see much logic in sacking Alonso now. First of all, meshing his tactical style with his group of players (and what they’re used to) was always going to be a slow burn. To abandon it halfway into a season simply means you’ve wasted half a season.

And second, nothing about this performance and result felt sack-worthy. With Mbappé joining a whole host of other prominent players in the treatment room, Madrid were the genuine underdogs in this fixture. Then Thibaut Courtois made an uncharacteristic mistake for the first goal, then Antonio Rüdiger conceded a silly penalty. Not helpful.

The way those Madrid players attacked in the final 20 minutes, steaming forward in waves, did not paint the picture of a team who had given up on their manager. Jude Bellingham, Vinícius, Rodrygo and Endrick gave it their all.

Ogden: This isn’t a tactical issue with Alonso, it’s about the club having the patience to back a coach through an injury crisis and the painful process of a much-needed team rebuild at the Bernabeu. But they just don’t do “patience” at Real, so it seems that Alonso’s time is running out and probably up.

Real’s problems were evident against City, starting at the back where their defence was totally unconvincing. Rudiger can no longer keep pace with quicker forwards, which means he now relies on his aggression, but it didn’t work against City. Yet this was a defence with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dani Carvajal, Ferland Mendy, Dean Huijsen, Éder Militão and David Alaba, forcing Alonso to play Federico Valverde at right back. But Valverde at right back meant no Valverde in midfield, where Eduardo Camavinga is missing due to injury, so Real had no control in the centre of the pitch.

Alonso has plenty of talent up front — Mbappe was only fit enough for a place on the bench — but Rodrygo and Vinícius are super-talented, but also hugely frustrating. Real should back Alonso and give him to come through the storm, but that isn’t how Real work unfortunately.

Q5. How about some Lennart Karl love? Three goals in three Champions League appearances and he’s only 17 … is Karl the real deal or is he just filling in until Jamal Musiala returns? And what does it say about Bayern’s depth as they compete for multiple trophies again this season?

Marcotti: It’s wild to think he has played just 19 senior games. His build and low-to-the-ground running and dribbling style sort of reminds you of what that guy who is now in Miami looked like at his age. He’s very mature and technical, what I’m not sure is whether he has the physicality to do it consistently, especially on the defensive front. I’m also not sure “No. 10” on a team like Bayern is his role, most likely we’ll see more of him on the wing, especially when Musiala returns. But he’s a tremendous “change-of-pace” option to have and in tight spaces he can work magic against anyone.

Laurens: Once Musiala is back, Vincent Kompany will have five top players for three places behind Harry Kane: Michael Olise, Karl, Luis Díaz, Musiala and Serge Gnabry. Karl is good enough to play every game for the German giants, like Lamine Yamal is good enough to play for Barcelona. But Yamal doesn’t have competition like Karl has.

So, the question I have is: Liverpool will look to replace Salah, and they love Olise. If the Reds offer €120 million for the Frenchman, would Bayern sell considering they then have Karl ready to step in and replace Olise?

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Klinsmann calls Bayern goalscorer Karl a ‘super special talent’

Jurgen Klinsmann shares how impressed he’s been with young Bayern star Lennart Karl, after the 17-year-old scored in their win over Sporting.

Tighe: Karl’s feet are just so fast, his movements so crisp and clever, his shooting so dangerous … what a joy to watch he is. His style will change and develop over time as he adds elements to his game, but right now, I can’t help but be reminded of a young Xherdan Shaqiri as he scampers about and pulls the trigger from distance. A little pocket rocket, already looking at home on the big stage and already with a slice of history to his name: he’s the youngest ever player to score in three consecutive Champions League games. Musiala will no doubt eat into his playing time when he returns from injury, but you need a full squad more than ever these days, and Karl’s emergence is a blessing for Bayern.

Ogden: I saw Karl close up during Bayern’s defeat at Arsenal last month and aside from scoring a stunning goal, he played with real maturity and looked like a player destined to dominate German football for the next decade. And by being at Bayern, he has given himself the best chance to realise his potential because he will get plenty of game-time in the Bundesliga due to his team’s dominance of their domestic league. Had he been at a lesser club than Bayern, he would maybe have played more games but found it tougher to develop at the right pace.

Will he drop out when Musiala returns? Probably, but Musiala will take a while to recover fully from such a bad injury and Karl gives Kompany the perfect option in terms of rotation, so Karl and Musiala, in some ways, could benefit from each other’s presence in the months ahead.