From goals galore to shock defeats
We take a look back at a weekend that was filled with action-packed moments. Once again, European football witnessed another round of breathtaking matches, filled with endless goals, drama, and upsets and shocks that had the football world talking. So, which football game was the most entertaining to watch, and what does it imply for those teams going into the rest of the season? What was the biggest upset of the weekend? Let’s unpack all these factors during this discussion.
Man Utd edge Arsenal in a five goal thriller in the highlight of the weekend
It would be impossible to talk about this weekend’s round of matches without factoring in Arsenal vs Manchester United. This game was important for so many reasons, more than just the mere fact that two giants of English football are facing off against each other. For starters, Manchester United were looking to build on top of their already impressive 2-0 victory over City. Secondly, Arsenal were keen on maintaining their 7-point lead on top of the league and avoiding any further slips after their two straight draws. Lastly, prior to this game, Man United was looking to get themselves into a top four position, which would further boost Carrick’s impressive start.
With Manchester United’s victory against Arsenal, it now means that the English giants have won two games in a row against big six opposition. Arsenal’s defeat, on the other hand, piled more pressure on Arteta’s men as City and Villa have now closed the gap at the top to four points. A defeat at the Emirates also means that Arsenal are now winless in three consecutive matches. The North London side will hope that their recent dip in form is nothing more than a minor slip-up rather than an indicator of giving the Premier League away yet again.
Endrick continues his blistering form
Another storyline that has been catching the eyes of fans is Endrick’s electrifying form following his recent loan move to Olympique Lyon. The Brazilian forward has enjoyed a great start to life in Lyon, with the striker recording four goals in three matches. His hattrick against Metz on Sunday keeps Lyon in contention for Champions League football as they sit just two points off of Marseille. It remains to be seen whether Endrick can maintain his recent goalscoring form, but one thing is for sure, and that is his goals will be key to guiding Lyon towards a Champions League place.
Real Madrid & Barcelona neck and neck
Real Madrid, on the other hand, managed to pick up another scrappy win thanks to an Mbappe brace, which saw Los Blancos claim a 2-0 victory over 3rd placed Villarreal. Their victory over the yellow submarines saw them go to the top of the table for a day before Barcelona’s comfortable 3-0 victory over Oviedo catapulted them back to the top of the table. On to Barcelona, their victory over Oviedo saw them bounce back from their narrow defeat at Anoeta. The Catalan giants also managed to maintain their 100% winning record at home this season, showcasing their dominance in front of their home fans. Both Spanish arch rivals, Barcelona and Real Madrid, are separated by one point in a race that looks set to be decided by the smallest margins.
Augsburg upsets Bayern against the odds
There are few debates about this, but the upset of the weekend undoubtedly goes to Augsburg, who stunned Bayern to claim a 2-1 victory. It was not only Bayern’s first home defeat of the season but also their first defeat of the Bundesliga season. As a matter of fact, the last time Augsburg managed to beat Bayern was over 10 years ago, dating back to April 2015. Why it shook people even further was because Augsburg currently sit in 13th place and are 5 points off the relegation spot.
