Football fans world over were treated to yet another entertaining and scintillating weekend of football action in the various leagues.Records were broken, history was made and villains also surfaced. In all, we all enjoyed the drama, intrigue, and passion that accompanies the beautiful game of football especially every weekend.
Let’s look at 5 things we learned during the weekend action.
1, ‘Mou, his jotter and another tactical ruse!
The weekend proceedings started at Old Trafford with the two most illustrious English clubs going head – to – head for a lunchtime kick-off. Defensive-minded Manchester United squared against a Liverpool side who has scored more number of goals after Manchester City this season in the Premier League.
credit: mirror
Fans have envisaged another boring defensive display by the Mancunians, a tactic that characterized the first leg between both sides. But a Marcus Rashford first-half double made the whole complexion of the game more interesting, However, United gaffer, Jose Mourinho who kept writing down match points threw everything behind in the second half.
The league joint top scorer Mo Salah didn’t manage a single shot on target all afternoon. You’d agree if Mourinho was at Tottenham, Juventus would have been the team to exit the Champions League?
2, Ciao Capitano!
Action resumed in the Italian Serie A after a week break following the demise of Fiorentina’s captain Davide Astori. Serie A games started with a minute silence to pay last respects to the late Italian.
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Gigi Buffon shade a tear, Leonardo Bonnucci was heartbroken, but it was Viola’s fans that made a wonderful tribute you’d think of. First, Fiorentina players entered the pitch before their match with Benevento, (the first since the passing of Davide Astori), all wearing the No.13 shirt as they warmed up, then minutes silence was broken by chants of ‘there’s only one Davide Astori’ from both sets of fans. before balloons were released just before kickoff. And on the 13th minute of the game – Astori’s number – the match stopped and the fans unveiled their choreography dedicated to their captain.
DAVIDE 13!
3, … as West Ham fans took matters into their own hands
A match that was supposed to be remembered for the 25th anniversary of West Ham and England legend Bobby Moore’s death turned into a show of shame.
The Hammers who are just 3 points away from the drop zone welcomed 7th placed Burnley. Fans of the Hammers have been murmuring the desire to disband the current West Ham board but it was in the 84th minute when Burnley took the lead that things got frisky at the London stadium.
Missiles were thrown at the Hammers co-owners who’d later be escorted out of the stadium, then some fans took the protest to the pitch.
credit: theguardian.com
Poor hammers, they’d definitely be slammed by the FA’s hammer in the coming days.
4, A Mother’s Day delight for Wenger’s loyal sons
First, he defeated AC Milan at the San Siro to qualm the #WengerOut tension.
Then on Sunday, he conjured another magic to make disgruntled fans drop their placards by bettering 10th placed Watford at the Emirates on Sunday.
Goals by Shkodran Mustafi, Pierre -Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan was enough to hand the gunners their latest win in the league.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan (left) celebrates with Aubameyang after scoring his side’s third goal [Image: @AP]
The Czech goalie becomes the first goalkeeper in the Premier League to reach 200 clean sheets while Mesut becomes the fastest player to reach the 50-goal assist mark in the Premier League, usurping Eric Cantona who garnered 50 assists in 143 appearances.
Oh! Mustafi also scored Arsenal’s 1,000th home goal in the Premier League ear. But no trophies are won for all that.
5, Positive vibes from Bayern-desliga …. sorry Bundesliga
The German Bundesliga also treated us to some good football during the weekend. 21 goals were scored in the German top flight during the weekend (save one match that will go down later this evening – Werder Bremen vs FC Koln).
However, runaway leaders, Bayern Munich scored 6 pass Hamburger SV to maintain their 20 points gap atop the log. With the way things are, the Juup Heynckes men may be crowned champions this month, March. Awesome Bundesliga.
6, Football, a game of 90+4 minutes.
Yes, in the game of football is not over until it’s over. This was further illustrated during the weekend.
First, Michy Batshuayi’s revolution at Dortmund continued and the Bat rose to the occasion once again when he broke the hearts of Eintracht’s fans in the 90+4 minute.
The game had everything. Two goals in extra time but it was Michy’s that made the difference, 3-2 it ended in favour of Dortmund.
Erstwhile in Italy, Andre Silva scored with the last kick of the game between Milan and host Genoa. The 94th-minute goal saved Gattuso the blushes as he prepares for a nail-biting London trip.
Kindly tell us which was your favourite football moment during the weekend.
