Football Daily | Champions League drama galore – so why do we feel hollow?

IS BIGGER REALLY BETTER? Now then, which one of you hipsters decided to put Porto 0-1 PSV on? Oh dear. This was another night of Bigger Cup at its Bigliest self, comebacks everywhere, 40 goals in nine games, six of those in a best-v-best clash as Paris Saint-Germain rallied late against Barcelona. Even in defeat, Lamine Yamal found space to decorate the room with a ludicrous toe-poke equaliser, and there was a wholesome tale in Italy as Scott McTominay scored twice for Napoli in their 4-3 win against Bodø/Glimt. These were his first strikes since returning from heart surgery, taking his tally at the club to 29 goals in 86 appearances. No wonder Erik ten Hag was peeved with his bosses at Manchester United for shipping the midfielder off to Naples.

But even after all that, Football Daily feels hollow, as it does for most of Bigger Cup’s group stage. The absence of jeopardy in the 36-team table remains a sore point, as PSG magnificently demonstrated during their back-to-back title-winning campaigns. In 2024-25 they finished 15th, taking seven points from their first six games; in the old days this meant a third-place finish in your group and a humiliating retreat to Big Vase. In 2025-26 Luis Enrique’s side settled for 11th and, once again, embraced their punishment of an extra knockout round. To be fair, this season they look as if they want to put their feet up in February, sitting pretty at the top with three wins from three.

Liverpool, too, would have been OK without a special night at home, having won their first two games, but try telling that to the Kop. They got the thrills of coming back from two goals down to beat Villarreal, under-the-pump Florian Wirtz hit the decisive goal, and Rio Ngumoha received plenty of love. The visitors got the full Anfield experience, with Villarreal’s manager, Iñigo Pérez, confessing: “We weren’t able to handle the emotion.”

Having said all that, try telling Michael Carrick that the match in Como doesn’t really matter, that it’s perfectly fine if his United side make it two wins in 11 games this season. Cesc Fàbregas’s side are the opposition, which should make you feel really, really old. The boy who infamously flung some pizza in an Old Trafford melee, splattering Sir Alex Ferguson, is enjoying himself on the touchline. All grown up, he could make life seriously messy for another Manchester United manager.

LIVE ON BIG WEBSITE Join Simon Burnton from 5.45pm BST for Como 6-4 Manchester United in Bigger Cup, while Scott Murray will be all over Bayern Munich 5-3 Arsenal and Sarah Rendell will be on hand for a clockwatch covering the night’s other goalfests.

QUOTE OF THE DAY “Before ‌every game I asked God ‌to let me leave the pitch healthy. But it was in vain. Not much time has passed, yet one thought keeps circling in my head: ‘why me?’ I never held anything back. I think I prepared for this game better than I ever had before. I thought I was ready for everything – but not for this. I know I have to come back stronger for my people, who are ‌always by my side. I won’t let you down – I promise I won’t waste a single moment.” – Khvicha Kvaratskhelia vows to recover stronger after it was confirmed that the winger will have surgery following an ACL injury sustained during the 4-2 victory over Barcelona. Ousmane Dembélé and Marquinhos also suffered thigh tears that will keep them out for a few weeks.

FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS One has to admire the courage of Erik ten Hag, speaking out on Man United’s ‘toxic culture’ [yesterday’s Football Daily, full email edition]. I broke out in a cold sweat reading about how they ‘give power to the players’. The stuff of nightmares, really” – Rowan Sweeney.

Roberto De Zerbi wants Spurs to be a family (yesterday’s Football Daily)? And he thinks playing for or with a family will avoid relegation? Well, I have this uncle. He’s called Weird Uncle Fiver (now there’s a throwback – Football Daily Ed), and he loves to [snip – Football Daily lawyers, and time-travelling pedants]” – Mike Wilner.

If you have any, please send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s prizeless letter o’ the day goes to … Mike Wilner. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, are here.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING Get your ears around the latest Football Weekly episode, where the panel discuss all the Bigger Cup action and Cristiano Ronaldo’s football CV. Prefer to watch? Here you go.

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