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Good morning! You may have woken up thinking that the normal laws of space and time still apply, but if that’s so, how did Luis Diaz score from here?

(Photo: A. Scheuber/FC Bayern via Getty Images)

Coming up:

Around the grounds: ‘Genius’ Diaz scores from an angle of 1.8°

As Luis Diaz shaped to shoot, the angle of the goal available to him was just 1.8 degrees. Scoring from there is like nutmegging a grasshopper.

Let’s break down how he did it (there is a full-fat version here). Diaz had made little impact for Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich in the game’s first 38 minutes, with hosts Union Berlin leading 1-0. Josip Stanisic’s overhit pass looked to be heading out for a goal kick, but Diaz managed to slide and spin in one smooth movement (Isiah Kiner-Falefa, take note) to keep it in play.

Somehow, with two quick touches, Diaz then beat the covering defender to move the ball roughly one foot away from the byline. There were no options in the middle, Harry Kane surrounded by four Union shirts.

Diaz grew up playing on a dirt pitch located on the verges of South America’s largest coalmine; there is already a magical realism to his story. His next move only added to that fairytale, somehow bending it up, over, and around Union keeper Frederik Ronnow.

The opportunity had an xG (expected goals) tally of just 0.03; in other words, pigs might fly. The game finished 2-2, ending Bayern’s 16-match winning streak. But it will be remembered for what German football magazine Kicker described as a Geniestreich — “a stroke of genius”.

Messi magic sees Inter Miami past Nashville

Two goals, two assists, and a 4-0 win. That’s a good evening’s work for anybody. For Lionel Messi, it’s just another day.

The Argentine forward led Inter Miami past Nashville SC and into MLS’ Eastern Conference semi-finals, atoning for their loss to Atlanta United at this stage last season. He has been an irresistible force over the three-match series, either scoring or assisting each of Miami’s eight goals.

That ability is known; it is what has made him arguably the greatest player in history. But coach Javier Mascherano applauded another, less-heralded part of his game, which helped set up a trip to FC Cincinnati.

“Leo was the first who guided us on that high pressure,” he said. “Seeing him press like he pressed today, at 38 years of age, it’s something crazy. The thing with Leo on the ball, we all know. Leo off the ball today was impressive.”

Have City ended Liverpool’s title defence?

Manchester City vs Liverpool has been the Premier League’s defining match-up of the past 10 years (sorry, Arsenal fans). Is that slowly changing? City began the day seven points behind leaders Arsenal, while Liverpool were outside the European places after a terrible October.

Now, after City dismantled Liverpool in a 3-0 victory, it is fair to feel that the Merseysiders’ title defence may already be over.

Liverpool were competitive in the first half, and perhaps unfortunate to see Virgil van Dijk’s equaliser ruled out for interference from an offside position, but City pressed home their advantage through the brilliance of left-winger Jeremy Doku.

Pep Guardiola’s side are now Arsenal’s prime challengers and have a run of easier fixtures than the league leaders, who have the challenge of a north London derby after the international break.

News round-up
Overhead kick in the snow, I repeat, overhead kick in the snow. Check out this equaliser from David Rodriguez, which helped deliver Atletico Ottawa’s first CPL championship, with a 2-1 win over Calgary’s Cavalry FC. Best icicle kick I’ve ever seen. Sorry.
We have a new team in the NWSL, with an Atlanta-based side joining the league for a record expansion fee of $165million (£125.2m). It will be operated by Arthur Blank, owner of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and MLS’ Atlanta United FC.
Rob Edwards will imminently be announced as Wolves’ head coach after controversially engineering his way out of a three-year Middlesbrough contract — the two clubs have agreed a £2m compensation fee.
Buyer beware: Arsenal and Chelsea’s head coaches have called on the WSL to introduce VAR after a drama-filled derby between the two clubs.
Monday morning marks November’s international window. Thomas Tuchel is set to see three withdrawals: Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi with a foot injury, Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope with concussion, and potentially his team-mate Anthony Gordon with a hip issue.
The same applies to Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez. “I’m in a lot of pain,” he told ESPN’s SportsCenter, and will sit out Argentina’s friendly against Angola to recuperate from a bone edema in his knee.
Streaming threat: Rise of 200,000 people in UK watching illegal footage of games

What is illegal streaming’s threat to football? Adam Leventhal has spent six months investigating.

Commissioning research from YouGov Sport, with data generated from a representative sample size of 2,000 people, he found that nine per cent of the UK’s adult population had watched sport via an illegal stream over that period, which represents a rise of approximately 200,000 people compared to the last running of the poll two years ago.

The Saturday 3pm blackout — which prevents the live UK broadcast of games between 2:45 and 5:15pm — is also seen as being outdated, with 57 per cent of fans polled wanting it scrapped.

The Premier League shut down 660,000 social media and website live streams last season alone, with a spokesperson stressing the links between piracy and wider organised crime.

A special edition of The Athletic FC Podcast explores every angle, including undercover reporting, the thoughts of match-going fans, and behind-the-scenes access to police investigations.

Don’t cramp my style: A weekend exploring what fans really want 

What was I up to on the weekend? Thanks for asking.

This season, the league’s style has become increasingly ugly; a division defined by long throws, breaks in play, and timewasting. Fans are increasingly itchy, criticising managers who may have their sides in the table’s top half.

“So many games, especially currently in football, are not, in my opinion, a joy to watch anymore,” Liverpool head coach Arne Slot said before this weekend.

I went to three games to answer a simple question: what do we want from our team? Swashbuckling style? The result, and the result only? Or is there something more: an identity, effort, a little more than optimism?

From a train leaving the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium early, to the great bowl of the Olympic Stadium, to the banks of the River Trent (and some genuinely exciting Dyche-ball) — I eventually reached a conclusion. Style? Overrated.

Around TAFC
Arsenal’s clean-sheet record is finally over — meet the Glossop tripe-dresser who ended the last one in 1903…
Most clicked in Friday’s TAFC: Gianni Infantino accused of ‘clear violation’ of FIFA statutes over Donald Trump praise.
Phil Hay is away, but he’s created a Wordle for us. His clue? ‘Home of the game changers’. Let us know how you do.
Fulham’s top scorer? Own goals. Are one of the Premier League’s established clubs in trouble?
Quiz answer: On Friday, we asked you to name the six players to have played the most Premier League games over the past five seasons. They were: Jordan Pickford, 158 games; Ollie Watkins, 157 games; Tyrick Mitchell, 156 games; Declan Rice, 156 games; Bruno Fernandes, 154 games; James Tarkowski, 154 games.
And finally…

The United States are playing in the Under-17 World Cup, led by midfielder Cavan Sullivan. As a 14-year-old, he beat Freddy Adu’s record of being the youngest player to ever appear in a professional U.S. league match, and has already signed a deal to join Manchester City after his 18th birthday.

Hyped? Definitely. Too early? Possibly. But Saturday evening showed that the confidence and raw talent are there —  Sullivan scoring a deftly chipped Panenka to give the U.S. a 2-1 win over Tajikistan.