Paris (AFP)

Dayot Upamecano erased a youthful mistake with character and talent this weekend to carry Leipzig, when Thomas Lemar and Ousmane Dembélé honored their status as world champions on the lawns of Spain.

- Upamecano, shadow and light -

Young Dayot Upamecano was obviously not disturbed by the media turmoil surrounding the announcement of his transfer to Bayern Munich next season.

On Saturday in the Bundesliga, the 22-year-old defender showed his two sides in the epic Leipzig game against Mönchenbladbach, which RB won 3-2 in added time after falling 2-0 until the hour mark. Still young, the neo-Blue (3 selections) still sometimes makes mistakes that cost his team dearly.

It was he who caused a penalty in the 6th minute by a too muscular intervention in the area on the Swiss international Breel Embolo (0-1).

In the second half, when his club dominated, he was on the other hand invaluable offensively.

He is at the origin of the actions which led to the first two goals.

On the first, he launches the action from his own camp, ball to the foot.

On the second, he delivered a superb long ball through to Dani Olmo, who gave Yussuf Poulsen a 2-2 assist.

- Lemar, hazy sun -

In Spain, Thomas Lemar made it rain and shine with Atlético Madrid.

The French striker was the best player of the "Colchoneros" in the first period at Villarreal Sunday in La Liga (2-0), omnipresent in the construction of all attacks, and even offered the assist on the goal of the header of Stefan Savic for the opening of the scoring (25th).

Returning from a Covid-19 episode in February, Lemar quickly regained his good momentum ... but was replaced Sunday at the break by Joao Felix, and seemed to be complaining of pain in his left knee on the sidelines.

His absence would be regrettable for the "Rojiblancos", one week before the crucial La Liga derby against Real Madrid.

- Dembélé eclipse Griezmann -

In Barcelona, ​​Antoine Griezmann can start to worry.

After a breathtaking month of January, "Grizi" let his compatriot Ousmane Dembélé shine.

The winger was still very active in the convincing victory of the Catalans on the ground of Sevilla FC on Saturday in La Liga (2-0), and even released the counter for the "Blaugrana" by converting from the entry of the area a bright pass from his captain Lionel Messi (29th).

His first La Liga goal in 10 matches.

"Dembélé warns Griezmann", wrote the Spanish sports newspaper Marca Sunday evening, while "Dembouz" seems to take full advantage of the change of system of Ronald Koeman (from 4-2-3-1 to 3-5-2) to seize his luck alongside Messi.

- Martial, gray sky -

In a difficult pass on an individual level with Manchester United, Anthony Martial will have to show character to find the net and more playing time.

He had been one of the major players on the podium for the Red Devils last season and many believed he could claim the spot in the axis he has been chasing for years.

The arrival of Edinson Cavani at the end of the summer transfer window had dented his hopes and his record in front of goal this season (7 goals and 8 assists in 33 matches) remains insufficient.

Victim of the comeback of Welsh winger Daniel James, he was a substitute against Chelsea (0-0), Sunday, while Cavani was injured.

His motivation is questioned.

"He's a boy who has the talent to succeed at the highest level, but will he even be disappointed that he doesn't start today? Has he ever really shown a passion for the game? Have you ever seen him put passion into the game? Me, I've never seen him, "lamented former player Graeme Souness at the microphone of Sky Sports.

His trainer Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is in any case expecting a reaction.

© 2021 AFP