The big, big weekend of football where yours truly watched no less than 8 games back to back over the 2 days and over 11 games altogether. Why else do you think I write this blog. I need an outlet.
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First of all to Spain where the 2 biggest clubs went at it head to head in the El Classico.
Continuing the slump that seems to affect all top teams seemingly in their prime, Barca continued where they had left off against Chelsea in midweek, to be summarily dismissed by Real. Barca were slow, static and self conscious. Real had a score to settle.
The Catalans still hold on to 1st but everyone else is closing in.
In the other big game - Deportivo (5th) hosted Athletico and eased to a controlled 1-0 victory. Torres was wayward, Sergio Aguero's hands stayed by his side (and after the match in his pockets) - the Depor back line picked up another cleansheet. what made it even sweeter was that Athletico old boy Arzimandi was the scorer.
Oh and in case you weren't watching Valencia won again to go joint top with Barcelona - behind only on Goal Difference. David Villa scored. Again. They kept a clean sheet. Again.
Real 2 - 0 Barcelona
Deportivo 1 - 0 Athletico
Valencia 1 - 0 Osasuna
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In Germany, the Bundesliga became a competition again when 2nd place Werder Bremen thrashed leaders Bayern. I've always held that the Bavarians are suspect against a fast multi pronged attack. Werder knocked in 3 and Klose didn't even score !
To make matters even better - Hertha and Schalke also won - which means Bayern are now in 4th place. For a week atleast. Oh and those 2 pesky unbeaten teams - Nurnberg and Eintracht Frankfurt - promptly drew.
Bremen 3 - 1 Bayern
Schalke 2 - 1 Hannover
Hertha 2 - 1 'Gladbach
Eintracht Franfurt 2 - 2 Nurnberg
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In the Premiership, United euthanised Liverpool's sickly title challenge with a performance that was only that much better than Liverpool's. The latter might still make it to the top 4 but they won't feature in any title talk for a long time. Pity really, they're not a bad side. Better than United.
Even though Chelsea beating Portsmouth was really 1st place beating 3rd - let's face it Porstmouth are living way beyond their means - as Norwich, Ipswitch, Sunderland (yes even them) and Leeds have done in recent years.
Arsenal gave the perfect display of modern attacking football in dismissing Reading 4-0 at Reading - the bets move was the one that didnt't result in a goal, Rosicky tripping over Hahnemann as he tried to score the 5th. Still, Arsenal's fixures against the bruisers of Blackburn and Bolton - traditional nemeses - while playing the bouncing ball, are crucial to their chances this season.
.... which brings us, in fact, to the bruise match - Bolton beat Blackburn 1-0. On the BBC footie site, Alan Hansen previewed this as an old-fashioned football match - he really meant 'primitive'. In a sad indictment of the changing times in football - Bolton are now 3rd.
United 2 - 0 Liverpool
Chelsea 2 - 1 Porstmouth
Reading 0 - 4 Arsenal
Blackburn 0 - 1 Bolton
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Over in Holland, all 4 of the biggest clubs were in action. Ajax beating Feyenoord handily (4-0) while PSV beat AZ Alkmaar 3-1. Ajax and PSV are now first and second respectively after those away wins. Talk about being bad guests.
Feyenoord 0 - 4 Ajax
Alkmaar 1 - 3 PSV
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Finally to France where, Lyon ended whatever discussions existed, about their being the presence of a league, by ending their closest challengers, Marseille's, challenge in a 4-1 walloping.
Lyon have become the most doiminant team in France without money, unsettling tactics, friendly referees or being the biggest club in the land. And all this while playing some of the best football in the World.
Well done. If only the rest of the world would watch ... and learn.
Marseille 1 - 4 Lyon
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First of all to Spain where the 2 biggest clubs went at it head to head in the El Classico.
Continuing the slump that seems to affect all top teams seemingly in their prime, Barca continued where they had left off against Chelsea in midweek, to be summarily dismissed by Real. Barca were slow, static and self conscious. Real had a score to settle.
The Catalans still hold on to 1st but everyone else is closing in.
In the other big game - Deportivo (5th) hosted Athletico and eased to a controlled 1-0 victory. Torres was wayward, Sergio Aguero's hands stayed by his side (and after the match in his pockets) - the Depor back line picked up another cleansheet. what made it even sweeter was that Athletico old boy Arzimandi was the scorer.
Oh and in case you weren't watching Valencia won again to go joint top with Barcelona - behind only on Goal Difference. David Villa scored. Again. They kept a clean sheet. Again.
Real 2 - 0 Barcelona
Deportivo 1 - 0 Athletico
Valencia 1 - 0 Osasuna
------------------------------------------------
In Germany, the Bundesliga became a competition again when 2nd place Werder Bremen thrashed leaders Bayern. I've always held that the Bavarians are suspect against a fast multi pronged attack. Werder knocked in 3 and Klose didn't even score !
To make matters even better - Hertha and Schalke also won - which means Bayern are now in 4th place. For a week atleast. Oh and those 2 pesky unbeaten teams - Nurnberg and Eintracht Frankfurt - promptly drew.
Bremen 3 - 1 Bayern
Schalke 2 - 1 Hannover
Hertha 2 - 1 'Gladbach
Eintracht Franfurt 2 - 2 Nurnberg
------------------------------------------------
In the Premiership, United euthanised Liverpool's sickly title challenge with a performance that was only that much better than Liverpool's. The latter might still make it to the top 4 but they won't feature in any title talk for a long time. Pity really, they're not a bad side. Better than United.
Even though Chelsea beating Portsmouth was really 1st place beating 3rd - let's face it Porstmouth are living way beyond their means - as Norwich, Ipswitch, Sunderland (yes even them) and Leeds have done in recent years.
Arsenal gave the perfect display of modern attacking football in dismissing Reading 4-0 at Reading - the bets move was the one that didnt't result in a goal, Rosicky tripping over Hahnemann as he tried to score the 5th. Still, Arsenal's fixures against the bruisers of Blackburn and Bolton - traditional nemeses - while playing the bouncing ball, are crucial to their chances this season.
.... which brings us, in fact, to the bruise match - Bolton beat Blackburn 1-0. On the BBC footie site, Alan Hansen previewed this as an old-fashioned football match - he really meant 'primitive'. In a sad indictment of the changing times in football - Bolton are now 3rd.
United 2 - 0 Liverpool
Chelsea 2 - 1 Porstmouth
Reading 0 - 4 Arsenal
Blackburn 0 - 1 Bolton
------------------------------------------------
Over in Holland, all 4 of the biggest clubs were in action. Ajax beating Feyenoord handily (4-0) while PSV beat AZ Alkmaar 3-1. Ajax and PSV are now first and second respectively after those away wins. Talk about being bad guests.
Feyenoord 0 - 4 Ajax
Alkmaar 1 - 3 PSV
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Finally to France where, Lyon ended whatever discussions existed, about their being the presence of a league, by ending their closest challengers, Marseille's, challenge in a 4-1 walloping.
Lyon have become the most doiminant team in France without money, unsettling tactics, friendly referees or being the biggest club in the land. And all this while playing some of the best football in the World.
Well done. If only the rest of the world would watch ... and learn.
Marseille 1 - 4 Lyon
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