The exhaustive, exhausting, but somehow never boring revamped Champions League group phase is done. Some promises were delivered on: more games, big matchups, jeopardy, drama. But the final day was somehow a bit underwhelming, with most teams of consequence knowing their fate before the mammoth 18-fixture slate kicked off on Wednesday.
Still, now that’s done, there’s a knockout stage to analyze. Some big teams – Man City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Milan – are all facing exits before the last 16 kicks off in full. It should make for enticing viewing.
Elsewhere, there’s NWSL talk aplenty. Some big names – Naomi Girma and Jenna Nighswonger among them – have left the league for England’s WSL. It seems a massive loss for America’s top flight. Are there any positives to be found here?
And then there’s Gio Reyna situation. The midfielder is sneakily racking up minutes for Dortmund, producing a lovely backheel assist in the Champions League and showing, in flashes, that there’s still a player there. Will it be enough to keep him in Mauricio Pochettino’s plans for the USMNT?
It’s a lot to break down. GOAL US writers weigh in on all of it, and more, in the latest edition of… The Rondo.