Madrid’s title, Barça’s slump, Iago Aspas being Iago Aspas. Looking back, one feeling recurs most: that was this season?In the 101st minute of the 35th week, still playing way after midnight and well into summer in Europe’s hottest city, the two best things that can happen in football happened at the same time: a forward who had gone in goal saved a shot from a goalkeeper who had gone up front, stopping the man he had beaten from beating him back.It was that kind of season. Related: Premier League 2019-20 season review: our writers’ best and worst Fuenlabrada-Girona, a Cristóbal del local lo echan, se va al vestuario, el árbitro es llamado por el VAR, Cristóbal vuelve, le borran la...
As the city reconnects two years after tragedy, Genoa and Sampdoria played a Derby della Lanterna unlike any other“Can happiness be sad?” The question was posed by Fabio Quagliarella in an open letter published this week by Gazzetta dello Sport. The Sampdoria captain was looking ahead to Wednesday’s derby against Genoa, but also to the imminent inauguration of the Saint George bridge, built to reconnect a city divided since the Morandi bridge collapsed two years ago.As Quagliarella observed, the new construction will benefit everyone who lives in Genoa. Designed by the renowned architect Renzo Piano, its lights and supporting pillars have been shaped to evoke sailing vessels and reflect the city’s maritime traditions. Yet its existence will always be a...
The club that never expected to be in primera but came to belong has been relegated after a wild draw on the final dayIn the final pause before the final push, a voice broke the silence. On the pitch Leganés’s exhausted players sought strength from somewhere while their manager sought a solution, one last throw of a dice he had already rolled more times than he could remember. There were 14 minutes left at the end of the longest season, the sun had set and somehow they were still standing but survival was slipping away. Four years they had been in the first division, each of them a miracle, yet if they were going to stay they had to win...
The true concern is that Antonio Conte and CEO Beppe Marotta may not share a vision for how to proceedIf Romelu Lukaku had been a little more selfish, then perhaps there would be life in the Serie A title race yet. He stepped up in a high-pressure situation on Sunday night, burying an 88th-minute penalty to bring Inter to 2-2 at Roma. It was the sixth he had taken this season, and the sixth he had converted.A penalty he chose not to take, however, continues to linger in the memory. Inter were already a goal and a man up at home to Bologna on 5 July when they won a spot-kick in the 61st minute. Lukaku handed the ball to...
The longest season had ended with Madrid’s third league in 12 years, just as the coach had hoped it wouldJust before 11pm on Thursday night, two months after the title race was supposed to finish and a few seconds after it actually had, two men working for the local council climbed up the statue of the goddess Cibeles, tied a Real Madrid scarf around her neck, draped a flag over her shoulders and climbed back down. Wearing hi-vis shirts, wellies and waders, they were the only ones who got close. Cars passed by beeping but on the street there were more police than people. Usually the scene of celebration, thousands gathering, this time fans had been asked to stay away...