Another mind-boggling, all action weekend of football showcased the very best across the five big leagues in Europe--Spain, England, Germany, Italy and France-- There were no doubt surprising results and contrasting fortunes. Here, Econsport rounds up all the major talking points.
Beautiful Spurs; Reality check for City
You might be forgiven for thinking Sunday's premier league game between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester city would be a walk in the park for the citizens. After six straight league wins enroute to going top of the table, Pep Guardiola's men were very much the team to beat. But Spurs had other ideas. A perfectly executed game plan stifled city's new found attacking swagger under Guardiola. Not for the first time in his managerial career, Mauricio Pochettino once again got the better of his colleague in the opposition dugout--Pep Guardiola. With a boisterous home support behind them,Tottenham set out from the first minute to unsettle their opponents. Gary Neville described them as "tough tackling", and the men clad in white made city look like boys. Purposeful, typically organised, Tottenham were full value for their victory, and on this evidence, should be considered as serious contenders for the premier league trophy come May. City on the other hand have quite some questions to answer, and the international break couldn't have come at a more opportune time. A defence which conceded three against Celtic in midweek, and two here at white heart lane, has found clean sheets had to come by. Its just their first loss though, and Pep's men are still very much the team to beat. But their loss here at Tottenham, was a reality check for the men from the blue half of Manchester.
Inconsistent United; Mourinho has to steady the ship
One just isn't sure which Manchester United is going to turn up. The one that dismantled champions Leicester city, or that laboured to a narrow win against Ukrainian minnows Zorya Luhansk. Inconsistency was often the bane of Louis Van Gaal's United team last season. Swashbuckling one week, and painful to watch on the other. Against Stoke city at lunchtime on Sunday afternoon, it was laid bare that the all too familiar problem still runs deep in Jose Mourinho's team. United should have been out of sight by half-time, but a classic combination of wayward finishing--with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba the most guilty parties-- and excellent goalkeeping from Holt in the stoke city goal kept the scores level at halftime. Mourinho will be left scratching his head, as United failed to significantly close the gap on table-toppers Manchester city, David de gea's error leading to Joe Allen cancelling out Anthony Martial's brilliantly curled opener for Man United. With huge money spent on quality acquisitions over the summer, Jose has got to get his team up and going. A tough run of games after the international break , which Mourinho described as a "poisoned chalice", will offer a lot of insight into the mentality of his team.
Pressure starting to build on Zidane at Madrid?
Not many coaches who just won their club's twelfth European cup, will be under scrutiny barely few games into the new domestic season. But such is the pressure that comes with been the manager of a club of Real Madrid's stature. Four successive draws in all competitions, has cast the spotlight on the calm and charismatic Frenchman. Injuries to key men such as Casemiro, Modric, Marcelo, and James Rodriguez pre-match, has played its part, but Zinedine Zidane's men should still have enough in their arsenal to dispatch a team of Eibar's stature-no disrespect to them- On the day however, Madrid were predictable, laboured, shorn of much needed creativity, and only got going in the latter stages of the second half. The panic buttons shouldn't be hit just yet, as Real Madrid are still top of the table, with Barcelona failing to close the gap on their rivals, after going down 4-3 at Celta Vigo. Zidane's men have got to get it right though , and fast.
Classic Juventus
With the world record sale of star man, Paul Pogba to Manchester United over the summer, many had expected the old ladies to stutter domestically and in Europe. Squash that. Shrewd quality buys, say for the expensive purchase of Gonzalo Higuain, has strengthened the men clad in white and black even further. With Higuain leading the frontline in characteristic prolific fashion alongside Paulo Dybala, with the creativity of Miralem Pjanic for company, Juventus are heads and shoulders above the chasing pack.
Arsene Wenger's legend soars in era where quick fix rules the day
Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, celebrated over the weekend, two decades of being in charge of the north Londoners. In a week that saw Aston villa coach, Di Matteo, and his counterpart at Swansea City, Francesco Guidolin, relieved of their coaching duties, Wenger's longevity with the gunners becomes even more astounding. Its one thing to begin a journey, and a different ball game entirely to continually reinvent oneself to cope with modern demands. Wenger has placed Arsenal as a modern day great side, on the world map. He may be vilified by some, but perhaps only when he paves way for another, will the priceless nature of his achievements be appreciated, and the worth of his principles fully revered. In an era of changing and chopping coaches, Arsene Wenger towers above all.
Beautiful Spurs; Reality check for City
You might be forgiven for thinking Sunday's premier league game between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester city would be a walk in the park for the citizens. After six straight league wins enroute to going top of the table, Pep Guardiola's men were very much the team to beat. But Spurs had other ideas. A perfectly executed game plan stifled city's new found attacking swagger under Guardiola. Not for the first time in his managerial career, Mauricio Pochettino once again got the better of his colleague in the opposition dugout--Pep Guardiola. With a boisterous home support behind them,Tottenham set out from the first minute to unsettle their opponents. Gary Neville described them as "tough tackling", and the men clad in white made city look like boys. Purposeful, typically organised, Tottenham were full value for their victory, and on this evidence, should be considered as serious contenders for the premier league trophy come May. City on the other hand have quite some questions to answer, and the international break couldn't have come at a more opportune time. A defence which conceded three against Celtic in midweek, and two here at white heart lane, has found clean sheets had to come by. Its just their first loss though, and Pep's men are still very much the team to beat. But their loss here at Tottenham, was a reality check for the men from the blue half of Manchester.
Inconsistent United; Mourinho has to steady the ship
One just isn't sure which Manchester United is going to turn up. The one that dismantled champions Leicester city, or that laboured to a narrow win against Ukrainian minnows Zorya Luhansk. Inconsistency was often the bane of Louis Van Gaal's United team last season. Swashbuckling one week, and painful to watch on the other. Against Stoke city at lunchtime on Sunday afternoon, it was laid bare that the all too familiar problem still runs deep in Jose Mourinho's team. United should have been out of sight by half-time, but a classic combination of wayward finishing--with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba the most guilty parties-- and excellent goalkeeping from Holt in the stoke city goal kept the scores level at halftime. Mourinho will be left scratching his head, as United failed to significantly close the gap on table-toppers Manchester city, David de gea's error leading to Joe Allen cancelling out Anthony Martial's brilliantly curled opener for Man United. With huge money spent on quality acquisitions over the summer, Jose has got to get his team up and going. A tough run of games after the international break , which Mourinho described as a "poisoned chalice", will offer a lot of insight into the mentality of his team.
Pressure starting to build on Zidane at Madrid?
Not many coaches who just won their club's twelfth European cup, will be under scrutiny barely few games into the new domestic season. But such is the pressure that comes with been the manager of a club of Real Madrid's stature. Four successive draws in all competitions, has cast the spotlight on the calm and charismatic Frenchman. Injuries to key men such as Casemiro, Modric, Marcelo, and James Rodriguez pre-match, has played its part, but Zinedine Zidane's men should still have enough in their arsenal to dispatch a team of Eibar's stature-no disrespect to them- On the day however, Madrid were predictable, laboured, shorn of much needed creativity, and only got going in the latter stages of the second half. The panic buttons shouldn't be hit just yet, as Real Madrid are still top of the table, with Barcelona failing to close the gap on their rivals, after going down 4-3 at Celta Vigo. Zidane's men have got to get it right though , and fast.
Classic Juventus
With the world record sale of star man, Paul Pogba to Manchester United over the summer, many had expected the old ladies to stutter domestically and in Europe. Squash that. Shrewd quality buys, say for the expensive purchase of Gonzalo Higuain, has strengthened the men clad in white and black even further. With Higuain leading the frontline in characteristic prolific fashion alongside Paulo Dybala, with the creativity of Miralem Pjanic for company, Juventus are heads and shoulders above the chasing pack.
Arsene Wenger's legend soars in era where quick fix rules the day
Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, celebrated over the weekend, two decades of being in charge of the north Londoners. In a week that saw Aston villa coach, Di Matteo, and his counterpart at Swansea City, Francesco Guidolin, relieved of their coaching duties, Wenger's longevity with the gunners becomes even more astounding. Its one thing to begin a journey, and a different ball game entirely to continually reinvent oneself to cope with modern demands. Wenger has placed Arsenal as a modern day great side, on the world map. He may be vilified by some, but perhaps only when he paves way for another, will the priceless nature of his achievements be appreciated, and the worth of his principles fully revered. In an era of changing and chopping coaches, Arsene Wenger towers above all.
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