Now that the World Cup Qualifiers are over for this month, it’s back to Euro club soccer that matters most. Over the weekend, there were many very exciting match-ups and incidents that occurred. The following are the most important five events of the weekend. Enjoy!
5) Arsenal score 6 past Southampton
The Gunners absolutely thumped Southampton 6-1 as goals are really starting to flow for Arsene Wenger’s men. Surprised?
Arsenal currently boasts the EPL’s best goal differential with a +7 while Southampton is in dead last with a -9 GD. Furthermore, it’s the English Premier League and defence does not exist here. Arsenal is looking stronger these days, sitting comfortably in third with eight points, on par with Manchester City and just two points off top-seat Chelsea.
It was a very impressive victory indeed with Gervinho bagging a brace. Newcomer Lukas Podolski bent in a spectacular 25-yard free-kick before Theo Walcott nailed in the final goal from the Saints’ keeper’s rebound. Jos Hooiveld and Nathaniel Clyne certainly did not help the visitors as their names were added to the scoreboard for popping in an own-goal each in the 11th and 37th minute respectively.
Arsenal are set to take on Montpellier on Tuesday in the Champions League at the Stade La Mosson. If the Gooners can remain consistent throughout the season, they will be able to provide Chelsea, Man United and Man City with fierce competition for the title in May.
4) PSG on song! Man-of-the-Match Marco Verratti is Pirlo-esque
Carlo Ancelotti’s men are slowly climbing the ladder in France’s Ligue 1 after they cruise to a 2-0 victory past Toulouse. Italian International 19-year-old youngster was on fine form as he supplied the assists for Javier Pastore and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Verratti made some sublime passes and crucial recoveries and is already stealing the hearts of the faithful at the Stade Parc des Princes. Before leaving Italy, the Italian media appointed him as the heir to Pirlo’s throne and will replace the midfield mastermind once he retires from the Nazionale and will fully deserve it if he continues to play the Pirlo-style all Italians are hoping for. Ibra, who has never won a Champions League, states that the side’s main objective this season is to become les champions de la Ligue 1. PSG are currently in fourth with nine points, six off Marseille with 15.
3) QPR’s Anton Ferdinand snubs John Terry and Ashley Cole
It was a scrappy affair between Queen’s Park Rangers and Chelsea this past weekend, as both sides clashed. During the traditional pregame handshakes, Anton Ferdinand refused to shake Blues’ captain John Terry’s hand as well as that of Chelsea defender Ashley Cole. The snub stems from the former England captain’s race trial in which he was declared not guilty of using a racial slur against Ferdinand in this match-up last October whereas the QPR defender skipped past Cole after he defended his teammate. The handshakes were previously banned but have now resumed and after the game, QPR manager Mark Hughes called the handshake tradition ‘ridiculous’ and asked for the ban to be reinstated. Perhaps this is true, but regardless the match itself would still remain a fiery fixture.
2) AC Milan lose second straight home game
Silvio Berlusconi’s side is looking more and more mush of late as AC Milan falls to its second consecutive defeat at the San Siro. The Italian giants welcomed regional-rivals Atalanta Calcio to town putting in a sluggish effort. One win and two home losses sets a new record for the Rossoneri as the worst start in 82 years. Coach Massimiliano Allegri says that he is not feeling the tension though as he states (and I quote), “It’s not so bad. We’ve got one more point than at this stage last season.” That may be true Mr. Allegri, but last year is not necessarily this year. There are far more competitive teams this Serie A season with Juventus, Napoli, Lazio, AS Roma, Inter and even Fiorentina and Sampdoria all capable of causing the Rossoneri grief. Although experiencing a slow start, you can’t trust the Diavoli as Milan almost always start slowly and pick up momentum toward the mid-season. The season is long and there is still the January transfer window where Adriano Galliani will look to possibly sign Fernando Llorente. Bumpy roads can be smoothened out.
1) The Merengues are dropping down the standings in a flash
While Barcelona was again squashing Getafe to a bloody pulp 4-1 with goals from Adriano, two from the Messiah Messi, and a goal from David Villa, Real Madrid was busy losing their second straight game this season to Sevilla, 1-0. Jose Mourinho’s Los Blancos looked short of answers as Piotr Trochowski lashed home a stunner in the opening minutes. This consequently led to boiling blood in the Madrid camp as frustration and desperation began to set in. Gonzalo Higuain was very fortunate to escape a straight red card for kicking out at Fernando Navarro a minute after the opener. Madrid dominated the encounter with 61% possession and numerous chances, but were unable to find the equalizer. Real Madrid are currently in 12th place with four points from as many games, eight points behind league leaders Barcelona with a perfect 100% record. If Madrid don’t turn their season around soon, Jose Mourinho might want to consider taking medication for extreme blood pressure. Cristiano Ronaldo’s depression mood isn’t helping either. Someone slap him back into it!
…and that’s the last word.
