4 takeaways from Europe: Bayern set to axe Tuchel, Real Madrid falter amid Mbappe noise & more

With Kylian Mbappe's decision, Thomas Tuchel's Bayern disaster, and some of the top clubs around Europe dropping points, it was quite the weekend of European football.

Mbappe telling PSG he's leaving the club sent shockwaves across the continent before the weekend fully got underway, and the fun didn't really stop as the weekend progressed.

Here's the biggest talking points from around the continent.

Thomas Tuchel on the chopping block

With three defeats in a weeek for Bayern - one to their biggest title rivals, one to put the team on the brink of Champions League elimination, and another to a team the Bavarian giants have beaten 7-0 three times in the last four years - it's fair to say that things aren't going to plan for Thomas Tuchel.

The Bundesliga dominators have been devoid of a tactical identity for some time under Tuchel, relying on the sheer quality of the likes of Harry Kane to pull them out week in, week out. Last week, when Kane underperformed, things finally came to an expected head for Tuchel's side.

Now eight points (yes, eight) adrift of Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, Tuchel looks set to be sacked by the Bavarian club; and deservedly so to be honest.

Bayer Leverkusen equal Bundesliga record

While Bayern are floundering, Bayer Leverkusen are excelling.

Thanks to their 2-1 win over Heidenheim at the weekend, Xabi Alonso's side are not only eight points clear atop of the league, they're also record holders - equalling the German record for most games unbeaten in all competitions (32).

Surely they're going to win their first ever Bundesliga title this season. Surely.

Robert Lewandowski finds some form for Barcelona

It's rather staggering that Robert Lewandowski scored just three goals between the end of September and the start of 2024.

After that barren spell, and the endless number of 'Lewa's washed' tweets that came with it, the striker has finally been back to doing what he does best in recent weeks: scoring goals.

His brace in the win over Celta Vigo on Saturday evening - the second goal was a 97th minute winner - Lewa has now registered four goals in his last three games, and eight since the turn of the year.

Kylian Mbappe distraction?

With Kylian Mbappe's decision to leave Paris Saint-Germain eating up all of the column space in the Spanish daily newspapers, we don't blame you for forgetting that Real Madrid are an actual football team who had to play an actual game of football at the weekend.

And we especially don't blame you because, well, it seemed like Madrid forgot about the game too.

Speaking on Sunday, manager Carlo Ancelotti rubbished claims that his team lost focus due to the Mbappe story, saying: “Not being focused because of what’s happening with Mbappé? When have we not been focused? We are always focused, today too. To scold this team for something this season is very difficult.”

The fact that Los Blancos simply didn't show up against Rayo Vallecano, labouring to a 1-1 draw which opens the door for Girona to find a route back into the title race, however, suggests otherwise.

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