Real now sitting in 24th place in the table, the last spot to qualify for the knockoff rounds. Three matches left to hang on, against Atalanta, Salzburg and the aforementioned Brest.
Thoughts and prayers, but praying for Atalanta, Salzburg and Brest! 
(Slim chance, I know.)
I have a distant connection with Alexis McCallister the scorer of Liverpool’s first goal against Real, to wit: his brother the unfortunately named Kevin McCallister was once involved in a fender-bender with my sister.
Again, thoughts and prayers.
Atalanta and Brest are doing fine so far and will be able to beat Real, while Salzburg got a thorough 5-0 beating by Leverkusen. They fucked up so far just like the other RB team of Leipzig which is pointless after 5 rounds, which warms my heart. Much work to do for Kloppo.
Maybe even more amazing than Real sitting 24th is PSG currently in the bottom eight and out if they can’t improve on that position. They finish with Salzburg, Man City and Stuttgart.
What’s funny is the fact that PSG are a shell of their former selves without Mbpappé, while he has shown almost nothing for Real so far. I wonder how things would have gone if he had stayed.
ETA: Real better had convinced Toni Kroos to play another season than to pay gazillions for Mbpappé.
No, no, no, it’s OK like that! 
Man City? Piece of cake in the new Guardiola contract era.
I’ll start a thread later for the 2026 WC if one isn’t started next year, but I have to note that there will be matches in my region, and I will still have to enter the worldwide lottery to get a ticket.
Except! There is an exception! As a season ticket holder of the New England Revolution, I have access to “hospitality packages” that include:
The New England Club Field Lounge Package
Access to all 7 matches - Including Round of 32 and coveted Quarterfinal match
o Three (3) hours of pregame hospitality, two (2) hours postgame at field-level lounge
o Lower-level midfield seats in premium sections 108 – 111
o One (1) seat per two packages at Boston 26 Soccer Ball Gala
o 2025 New England Revolution Premium Home Game Experience including merchandise gift bag and field visit for one match
o FIFA World Cup Boston 26 scarf and hat per attendee
o Parking included
The starting price for that package? Make a guess before clicking here: $29,700
I wasn’t going to do it, but I dunno, parking is included…
I would buy it but I left the small change in my other jacket…
A scarf and a hat? That’s a steal! That alone will be worth more on EBay after the devaluation!
Oh shit, I read that as a scarf OR a hat. I really do have to rethink this.
A little bump for San Marino. Really! (Five minute YouTube video in the link)
I think it is well narrated.
That was some refereeing in Gladbach - Bayern, @EinsteinsHund. I’ll take the win, but it felt unearned.
I didn’t have access to watch, so I only followed it online on kicker.de, but it seems to have been a very soft penalty.
It was. It might have been a make-up call from the referee on his non-call on the Gladbach defender who protected his face with crossed arms, but who knows. Much of the game did not make sense.
ETA: a line from German Football News, an English-language source, during their player ratings: “I am a better man, so I will not mention the performance of the referee. (Jude Bellingham was right)” [this is the ref Bellingham called out for match fixing in the past]
Oh, it was Felix Zwayer? Yeah, he’s one of the worst German refs.
Currently watching the Spanish super cup final, very entertaining, especially as a Barca fan. Steve McManaman is a terrible announcer though; doesn’t hide what team he played for.
Really unclear how Camavinga isn’t sent off for a second yellow just before halftime.