Rodri's ACL, Barcelona's new vigor and other stories across Europe

Bayer Leverkusen's upcoming clash with Bayern after Leipzig loss, plus players' complaints about match overload and the impact on footballers' health.

Rodri has been ruled out for the rest of the season after rupturing his ACL in the stalemate against the Gunners, does this add substance to the players' complaints about fixture congestion? Can City cope without their midfield maestro? (Photo credit: GOAL)

It was a wild weekend in the Premier League and other elite leagues across Europe; top teams struggled, and seemingly weak sides found ways to grind out impressive results. Let’s look at some talking points from game week 5 across Europe.

It’s still Manchester City vs. Arsenal in the Premier League.

Reigning champions Manchester City forced the Gunners to a 2-2 draw at the Etihad on Sunday. It was a game where the Gunners showed how tough they are to beat, and reactions after the game showed why we must now believe that the Gunners are the closest to wrestling the crown from the Cityzens.

From Erling Haaland’s dirty antics post-match to Bernardo Silva ranting and Manuel Akanji fuming, it is clear that the Arsenal in the mirror now look closer than the champions ever thought. We can be sure that the two-horse race in the Premier League is between the top two of the last two seasons.

With Rodri confirmed to be out for the rest of the season after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in the 2-2 draw against the Gunners, is Arsenal now at an advantage? We will have to wait and see, as the champions failed to generate much without KDB and the Spaniard, even when Arsenal dropped to 10 players.

Is Inter Milan losing it?

Reigning Serie A Champions Inter Milan has failed to spark to life this season, losing to bitter rivals AC Milan at home in their latest game, fueling the belief that the champions aren’t going to successfully defend their title this season.

With Napoli flying and Juventus trying to roll back the years under Thiago Motta, falling three points off the pace so early isn’t a favorable sign. Inter only has two wins from their opening five games; their next three in the league are tough fixtures against Udinese, Torino, and Roma; they must prove their worth.

Is Barcelona truly exceptional this season?

The entire summer conversation was about the quality of Real Madrid after Kylian Mbappe joined on a free transfer from PSG, but it's their rivals Barcelona who have started the new season with a bang, winning everything in sight in the league.

Real Madrid has already conceded two points in dull draws and relied on penalties to overcome their opponents. Lamine Yamal has been a key player for the Catalonians, but the injuries to Dani Olmo and Ter Stegen will be a challenge. However, their offensive strength will be crucial in many games.

Is there anyone stopping Bayern Munich?

Bayern Munich, with Vincent Kompany's team leading the league by three clear points and showing no signs of slowing down, appears to have restored order in the German Bundesliga.

Bayern Leverkusen isn’t doing badly, but the loss at home against Leipzig ruined their invincibility. Now they must beat Bayern in their next game to prove that they’re still the force to respect in the Bundesliga this season. Watch out for their match in the upcoming round.

Is there merit to players’ complaints?

Top football stars across the world have complained bitterly at the number of games they have to play week in and week out following the release of a new format in the UEFA Champions League, prompting Manchester City’s Rodri to hint at the possibility of players going on strike soon if things don’t change.

Players are genuinely sustaining severe injuries, and while some may view a few international friendlies as unnecessary, it's important to note that these players receive enormous salaries, and those who generate these funds must recoup their investment. Can they really complain?

Managers need to assist these players as well; they must devise strategies to optimize their squads, enabling more players to receive playing time. Rotation will provide rest to key players; if they don't accept a pay cut, they must play games.