I get annoyed when the likes of Piers Morgan chastise Man City fans for celebrating victories. What on earth do the fans have to do with the charges? Are they supposed to lose all affection for their club because of that guilty verdict?
The Citizens made it seven wins out of seven in the Premier League, outlasting a resolute Ipswich Town 3-2 to maintain their three-point lead. A nervy Marc Guehi was responsible for both of Ipswich’s goals, losing a physical tussle with Maeda in the first half before conceding a pen in the closing stages of the match. City luckily had their galaxy of attacking talent to bail them out. There’s something of Sir Alex’s Man United about Maresca’s City (that comment would spark immediate revulsion amongst United fans). Phil Foden looked accomplished in his first game back, scoring his first goal of the season while operating neatly between the lines. And then you have Erling Braut Haaland. The Norwegian phenom took control of the Golden Boot race with another brace, powering home a header from Kovacic’s cross before taking Ndiaye’s pass into his stride and sliding home the 3rd. It’s may take a points deduction to derail this train.
Arsenal grind out ugly win at Forest
The chant ‘1-0 to the Arsenal’ was popularized during George Graham’s pragmatic reign. Mikel Arteta has brought it back kicking and screaming into the 21st century. Arsenal looked completely devoid of ideas at the City Ground yesterday, with Eze looking as comfortable off the left as Bruno does playing on the right for United. But they somehow found a way, with Madueke’s heavily deflected strike giving them a barely deserved lead in the 80th minute. Incredibly, that was their first shot on target in the entire match! The champions then showed who they really are, with Declan Rice and Ezri Konsa both throwing their bodies on the line with vital late blocks. Who needs a bucketload of chances when you defend your own goal so fiercely? The victory keeps the Gunners within touching distance of much-maligned City.
Bayern back in the swing of things
Bayern Munich prepared for Arsenal’s midweek visit with a humbling 6-1 demolition of Martin Demichelis’ RB Leipzig. The result ensured that they are now above perennial ‘rivals’ Dortmund, who could only manage a 0-0 draw at Union Berlin. In fact, Freiburg’s loss to Leverkusen means that Die Roten have now risen to the very top of the Bundesliga standings. Good luck clawing them back. The result would have heaped more pressure on under-fire Leipzig boss Demichelis, who can’t parlay the club’s impressive home record into sustainable away success. As for Bayern, this was the perfect tonic following those underwhelming back-to-back draws against Augsburg and Viking. Harry Kane and Michael Olise have rightfully earned all the plaudits of late (it’s almost a mini-Ballon d’Or battle in and of itself). And they were both at the forefront of Bayern’s destruction of Leipzig. But the man of the moment was undoubtedly Luiz Diaz, who put his recent slump behind him with a scintillating hat-trick. People underestimate the chaos that his direct running style causes for defences (and the space it creates for the artful Kane and graceful Olise). Elsewhere, fairytale story Elversberg hung on for a barnstorming 4-3 victory over Augsburg. Doesn’t it feel like we get one of these all-timers on a weekly basis now? German football is where you go if you feel a bit disenchanted with the game.
Barcelona take Real Betis to the sword
This is bordering on comical now. Hansi Flick’s Barcelona were at their free-flowing best again this weekend, thrashing Real Betis 5-2 to retain their commanding five-point La Liga lead. Lamine Yamal continued his recent trend of early-game dominance, scoring an absolute cracker to give Barca a 10th minute lead. Betis had their moments, equalizing in the first half before cutting the deficit to one with a nice breakaway goal from Abde in the 2nd (Kounde was a bit exposed there). But there was just no denying the inevitable Barca tide. Rodri registered his first goal for the club while Pau Cubarsi picked up assists for Garcia and Olmo. Yamal added an assist to that stunning strike, expertly setting up a red-hot Gabby Jesus. Barcelona have now scored 3+ goal in nine successive matches, matching a club record that dates back all the way to the 2nd World War. They are also just the 2nd team in history to win their first nine La Liga games of the season, matching the Real Madrid side of 1968/1969. Next up for them: Tuesday’s trip to PSG, which many are already dubbing a dress rehearsal for the Champions League final.
Real thrash Sevilla 4-1
With Barca doing Barca things and Atleti sneaking a late win at Espanyol, the pressure was on Real Madrid to not fall further behind as they hosted Sevilla last night. They frankly needed a big performance after the Vini Jr hair-pull and several unconvincing showings. And Los Blancos duly delivered, producing one of their most well-rounded performances of the season to perfectly tee up next week’s El Clasico. Fan favourite Arda Guler opened the scoring in spectacular fashion, wrapping his left foot around the ball ala Messi to give Real a 30th minute lead. Kylian Mbappe doubled the lead in wonderous style, pirouetting at full pace to meet Bellingham’s cheeky backheel before rounding the keeper to make it 2-0. Wow! I don’t think he liked Guler getting all the plaudits. He adding a 2nd from the penalty spot in the 2nd half before Bueno netted a consolation goal for the visitors with just ten minutes to play. Real, however, were to have to the final say, as Yann Diomande was rewarded for an excellent performance with a rasping strike that rivalled both Guler and Mbappe. This was exactly what Mourinho needed.
Inter maintain Serie A lead with comeback victory
Cristian Chivu’s champions didn’t have it all their own way this weekend, forced to mount a fierce 2nd half comeback to see off fast-starting Bologna. Bologna started with real vigour, nearly netting within 30 secs after Pogeba flashed the ball across the face of goal. Pogeba eventually broke the deadlock, beating Martinez at the near post to give Bologna a deserved 1-0 lead. Pogeba then hit the crossbar from a tight angle. Marcus Thuram- one of the European football’s most underrated strikers- levelled matters just before halftime, athletically meeting Barella’s cross with a header that would have made Drogba proud. Chivu then made a few integral halftime changes that breathed new life into the champs. 69th minute substitute Andy Diouf started the move for the 2nd goal, feeding Zielinski who fired a low delivery across the box to be steered home by sub Carlos Augusto (who has been this season’s surprise package). It seemed fitting that another sub- Bonny- would guarantee all three points with a simple tap-in. Lazio shocked Juve in Turin last night, winning 2-0 to go level on points with Chivu’s Inter.
Player of the Week- Luiz Diaz
Luiz Diaz got his flowers this weekend, laying down a marker ahead of Wednesday’s much-anticipated clash against the Gunners. He pressed like a man possessed, harrying Leipzig into a series of errors. His brutal combination of pace, dribbling and great finishing has been somewhat lacking in the early stages of the season. Perhaps this performance will unlock the Diaz who was involved in 49 goal contributions during last season’s double-winning campaign.
