Real Madrid are wobbling, Xabi Alonso is under fire, Kylian Mbappé is a doubt, and Manchester City are coming to town — we set the scene for a massive Champions League night at the Bernabéu, with Pep Guardiola’s perspective and what this tie could mean for Madrid’s season and Alonso’s future. We run through the rest of a loaded Wednesday slate, from PSG at Athletic to Arsenal’s injury-hit trip to Club Brugge and Antonio Conte vs José Mourinho in Napoli-Benfica, plus quick hits on Liverpool, Barcelona, Spurs, Atleti and more from yesterday’s action.On the back half, we pivot to Messi’s back-to-back MLS MVP, the latest in the Thiago Almada/Botafogo case, Concacaf Champions Cup storylines, USMNT’s emerging World Cup tune-up schedule, USL’s CBA debate, Trinity Rodman’s contract standoff, and a packed Refill with news from Germany, Argentina, Asia and beyond.