Pep Guardiola’s refusal to countenance a two-horse race for the title may have merit and other leagues look similarly openWhen Pep Guardiola was asked whether he thought the Premier League was turning into a two-horse race last week, before Manchester City’s trip to Liverpool, he shook his head and said no. There were still Chelsea and Arsenal to be considered, he explained, not to mention Tottenham and Manchester United.This was received at the time as diplomatic headline avoidance, with Guardiola smartly sidestepping the trap of writing off rivals’ chances so early in the season, though the odd suppressed snigger could be heard at the mention of Manchester United. Looking at the Premier League table after the last round of matches...
Manu García’s last-gasp goal gave Alavés their first home win over Real since 1931 as the visitors lost their third game in four“I was crapping myself,” admitted Alavés coach Abelardo Fernández. So was Real Madrid manager Julen Lopetegui. When the board went up, a red five glistening in the rain, he shot wild, pained looks. “Five?!” he shouted, “por favor! por favor!” It was 0-0, Mendizorroza was bouncing, holding on for an historic draw and Lopetegui’s team were approaching seven hours without scoring. As it turned out, it was just long enough. Related: Dortmund are raw, visceral, thrilling and a throwback to Klopp heyday | Andy Brassell ICYMI, could this goal cost Lopetegui his job? Real Madrid now in their...
The Ronaldo case is bringing out the worst aspects of football’s tribalism, with reactions driven by club loyalties over any consideration of the human beings involved Cristiano Ronaldo scored a goal on Saturday. Not one that is likely to be remembered, among the almost 700 he has scored in his career, though the technique was exemplary. Running on to a Mario Mandzukic pass that was moving across his body 12 yards from goal, the Portuguese took the shot on first-time – drilling it into the bottom corner with his notionally weaker left foot.That strike sealed a 2-0 win over Udinese, and marked another dominant performance from a player who looks ever more comfortable in a Juventus shirt. Ronaldo dovetailed superbly...
Mario Götze, one of the key pieces in Jürgen Klopp’s glorious apex at BVB, helped grab victory in a thriller against AugsburgIt was as if he’d never been away. He took Achraf Hakimi’s pass in his stride and, steering the ball with the outside of his foot out of the line travelled by onrushing goalkeeper Andreas Luthe, appeared to create a tricky angle. With the next sweep of his right he made light of it, swishing the ball clinically into the far corner. In common with his winner in the World Cup final four years ago, it was a tough chance made to look simple by impeccable, ice-cold technique.There have been moments – many moments, of late – when Rio...
Just seven weeks in, no one is winless in Spain and no one is unbeaten either. Is this season competitive rather than cheap?On Saturday afternoon, leaders Barcelona only managed a 1-1 home draw against 15th-placed Athletic Club Bilbao; without a win in three, they dropped their seventh point in six days. On Saturday night, Real Madrid failed to score for the second game running, drawing 0-0 with Atlético Madrid; they’ve won just one in four now, while their city rivals left the Bernabéu unbeaten for a sixth successive season but have only won three from seven. And in between those matches, Sevilla beat Eibar, taking them third and on to 17 goals in 10 days, including three against Madrid. Before...