Fergie's Chewing Gum - October 21
(Action Images)
Premier League
Goals, goals, goals. 40 of them in England, the most in any round this season. Where do we even start?
The beginning will do. Manchester City hosted Spurs and it was one of the more action packed games you’re ever likely to see. 5 goals, 4 penalties, 2 penalty saves and a red card. Sergio Aguero was the star of the show, he scored all four for City as they ran out 4-1 winners.
Kun Aguero, as they call him, buried the first one when given just an inch too much space in the box, but Christian Eriksen immediately pegged things back. Then penalties ensued. Sergio crushed the first but got precious with the second and Hugo Lloris batted it away with his feet. Tottenham had the chance to equalise again in the second half when Roberto Soldado stepped up for a penalty of his own, but Bobby Soldier, well… he placed it fine but he hit it so limply that Joe Hart could have walked over and picked it up if he’d wanted to. He chose the dignified option of tipping it wide with the dive. Federico Fazio was sent off on debut for Spurs giving away another penalty and Aguero made no mistake, before adding another for good luck.
That keeps pace for City with Chelsea, who missed the injured Diego Costa and had a few struggles in beating Crystal Palace. There were red cards for each team but a late Fraizer Campbell goal wasn’t enough to get anything off the Blues, who won 2-1 thanks to goals from Oscar and Fabregas. No such luck for Arsenal, who were halted 2-2 at home against Hull City. Danny Welbeck with the stoppage time net rustler in that game.
There were own goals galore in the QPR- Liverpool game, and regular goals galore when Sunderland and Southampton met. Liverpool were 1-0 up after 85 minutes (a Richard Dunne OG), only to leak an equaliser, score another through Coutinho, leak an equaliser, then win things with a sloppy OG from Steven Caulker.
But the goal of the week comes from Sunderland defender Santiago Vergini, who crushed this stunning volley past his own keeper.
It didn’t get any better than that for Sunderland, they lost 8-0. Yeah, no typo. Dusan Tadic was the star of the show, setting up four goals and being generally brilliant. He’s looked good on the wing all season but this was the first time he really got the rewards. He grabbed a goal too, as did Graziano Pelle (2), Jack Cork, Victor Wanyama, and Sadio Mané. Liam Bridcutt also scored an own-ey.
You’ve also got a solid 2-1 win for Stoke at home to Swansea, who are now five games without a win after a hot start. Newcastle had their first win of the season, beating Leicester 1-0, while West Ham ran out 3-1 winners at Burnley. Everton found some form with Ross Barkley’s return too (coincidence?) with a 3-0 win over slumping Aston Villa. After Villa took 10 points from their first 12, they’ve now lost 4 in a row, conceding 11 and not scoring even once in that stretch. Check out Seamus Coleman’s hustle to get on the end of this cross from right back!
And then this morning Man United had to come from behind twice for a point at West Brom. 2 shots on target was all the Baggies needed for a couple goals, Stéphane Sessegnon with the first, a blistering effort that curled into the top corner after a swift counter before Marouane Fellaini (a half time sub) scored his first competitive goal for United, a similarly effective driven shot. Saido Berahino slipped in behind the defence to slide one past David De Gea before Daley Blind smacked a goal in from the edge of the box with a few minutes remaining. Four superb goals in a decently entertaining game.
La Liga
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a lovely 95th minute header for Portugal to beat Denmark in the international stuff last week, carrying on his fiendishly hot start to the season. That start is showing no sign of cooling either, with a double against Levante. Javier Hernandez also buried one, with James Rodriguez and Isco ensuring a dominant 5-0 win.
That’s not enough to get them up to first, or even second though. Barcelona STILL haven’t conceded a league goal, after a 3-0 win against Eibar. Lionel Messi celebrated the tenth anniversary of his debut with a goal and an assist. Neymar and Xavi also hit the net. Sevilla are second, they took the points at Elche.
Atletico Madrid sure used the international break for good. After losing in their last game, they had the extra week to focus for the clash with Espanyol. Tiago opened the scoring before half time, then Mario Suárez finished things off with a goal off a corner, of course. Antoine Griezmann hit the post later on but it didn’t matter. Two were enough, along with a clean sheet. It’s not 24 league games unbeaten at home for Atletico, who move up to fourth.
Valencia drop to fourth with a loss to Deportivo, who move out of relegation. Villareal had a handy win too, though Cordoba gave their coach the flick after failing to win any of their first eight games.
Bundesliga
Xabi Alonso reckons Bayern are like jazz compared to the rock and roll of Real Madrid. Well, their latest match was a 90 minute improvisational suite full of artistic flair and a steady rhythm section.
They annihilated Werder Bremen, who didn’t even manage a single shot. Philipp Lamb and Mario Gotze each got two goals, with Thomas Muller and Xabi Alonso padding things out too. 6-0 the score, Bayern had 79% of possession and a 90% passing success rate. Talk about a one-sided affair. Xabi Alonso broke a record with 206 touches of the ball. Here’s his cheeky free kick effort.
That was with Robert Lewandowski out hurt, and Borussia Dortmund could tell you a thing or two about playing without that guy. They’ve now managed just one point in their past five games with a loss to Cologne. It’s been a disastrous start to the Bundesliga for Jurgen Klopp’s lads.
Bayer Leverkusen drew their third game in a row (blowing a 3-0 lead), with Borussia M. Gladbach and Mainz in second and third, each grabbed a win this week. Wolfsburg won their third win in a row too to move up to fifth.
Ligue 1
Well first of all, Marseille manage Marcelo Bielsa burned his bum!
It was a happier day on the pitch for Marseille as they notched a 2-0 win over Toulouse to maintain their lead over PSG who are creeping north. Once again, our man Andre-Pierre Gignac added to his goal tally netting his 10th goal so far this season in the league #APG.
As I said, PSG are slowly creeping up the ladder but they're still 7 points behind Marseille. A 3-1 win over Lens gave PSG a nice little ego trip with Yohan Cabaye, Maxwell and Edinson Cavani putting goals away. Lens did end up playing with 9 lads on the pitch after two red cards. PSG have an obviously star studded squad and if they can keep up some momentum, I'd be keeping on eye on em. Elsewhere, Brodeuax had a 1-1 draw with Caen while 4th placed Lyon took care of Montpellier 5-1. The match was switched from being in Montpellier to Lyon as mother nature decided she'd flood the south of France.
Serie A
Things a looking pretty tight at the top of the Serie A ladder with Juventus drawing with Sassuolo 1-1. Sassuolo's goal was scored by Simone Zaza who is on loan from Juve, pretty stink huh?
While Juve dropped points, Roma handled business against Chievo 3-0 to move to a point behind Juve. Of course, another favourite of the Niche Cache - Totti, got on the score sheet and Roma continue to pose a genuine threat to the stranglehold Juve have on the Serie A. Sampdoria who sit in 3rd had a 2-2 draw with Cagliari while AC Milan moved up to 4th with a 3-1 win over Verona. Keisuke Honda took his goal tally to 6 so far this season with a double against Verona, including this parting of the seas.