Football is back! And it feels good saying this. Now we recap the matchweek for Europe's top leagues. We’ve been hungry for football, and this week’s action did not disappoint.
Liverpool is poised to lift the silverware this year, their first domestic title since 1990. It has been a while, but it has been a long time coming. Jurgen Klopp certainly built the team to win.
Manchester City has done all they can to reduce the deficit against the Reds, but it really seems like it wasn’t to be.They would’ve been in the best position to qualify for the Champions League, but until they can successfully appeal for lifting the ban, they remain out of Europe’s elite competitions.
But the fight for glory in Europe is far from over. In fact, this might just blow this game wide open. And we’ll be watching the top teams battle it out for positioning.
The fight to avoid the drop is just as exciting. Brighton might just be in the safe zone for now, but Watford, West Ham, Bournemouth, and Aston Villa are still fighting to keep their place in the premiership.
Norwich v Southampton
After a scoreless first half, Danny Ings opens the scoreboard for the Saints in the 49th minute after finding plenty of space in the box to make a quick shot. This makes it Ings’ 16th for the season.
Shortly after, the Saints widened the gap 2-nil when Stuart Armstrong opted to take the shot outside the box after managing to get around his defenders.
But it seems they weren’t done yet as Nathan Redmond sealed the deal in the 79th with his left-footed shot that got the ball past everyone, ending the game 3-nil Southampton.
Watford v Leicester
It was a close encounter with both sides nearly scoring in an end-to-end game.
But took all 90 minutes of regulation time to hit the net, with Demarai Gray finding Ben Chilwell with plenty of space ahead on the left side. Chilwell made no mistake by scoring a screamer just from the edge of the box for the Foxes.
And it all seemed to be the winner, but Watford had other ideas. A corner kick placed nicely in the middle started a little scuffle. But in a fantastic manner, Craig Dawson took the ball on the bounce with an overhead kick, rescuing a point for the Hornets with a perfect equalizer in the 3rd minute of added time. This draws them level at 1-1.
Tottenham v Manchester United
Big names clash again as Jose Mourinho’s Spurs host the Red Devils with European qualification on the line.
The Spurs took the initiative 27 minutes in when Steven Bergwin wiggled his way around the defence, finding space. The shot was within United Keeper David De Gea’s reach. But he didn’t get a good touch, letting the ball slip through him. Spurs lead 1-nil.
The game was becoming a battle of keepers, both making crucial saves on both ends. But after Paul Pogba’s attempt to penetrate the box was put under pressure by Eric Dier, Pogba drew a foul. A penalty kick was awarded to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.
Bruno Fernandes made no mistake from the spot, salvaging a point for both sides in the 81st minute. The game ends 1-1.
Brighton v Arsenal
Brighton takes on Arsenal at home in an attempt to put themselves in the safe spot away from the drop.
A routine save for Gunners #1 Bernd Leno ended in a horrific landing just before the break after a mid-air collision with Brighton’s striker, Neal Maupay. In what appears to be a ligament-related injury, this adds to Mikel Arteta’s already growing roster crisis as more first choice players become available. He was stretchered out while giving Maupay a piece of his mind.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang did find the net in the 53rd minute, but the goal was disallowed against the Gunners for being offside, adding more to an already frustrating game for them. VAR confirmed that he was just inches offside, but was offside nonetheless.
But Arsenal did find a short moment of relief in the second half when Nicolas Pepe curled one in from the right flank, floating what looked like a cross past all of his team mates, and well past Brighton’s Keeper, Matthew Ryan, but into the top-left corner. Arsenal leads 1-nil, 68 minutes in.
The moment would be short lived however, because Brighton scores just 7 minutes after that. A smart movement from Brighton finds Solly March with space on the flank that led to a low cross. A light touch from Lewis Dunk was all that was needed to equalize from a crowded six-yard box, 1-all.
But it was the Seagulls who would complete the come-from-behind win with Maupay chipping past substitute keeper Emiliano Martinez. The game ends Brighton 2, Arsenal 1.
Newcastle v Sheffield United
It was an even affair in the first half as both teams tried to get the better of the other. Both teams were mostly able to keep the other team at bay whenever they try to put the ball into the final third. Some good chances came up, but both teams just didn't bring their finishing boots that half.
A good lobbed pass for Newcastle's Joelinton prompted a good run, but was halted by a shirt-pulling John Egan. This got him his 2nd yellow, putting the Blades down to 10 men on the 50th minute.
But 4 minutes later, this one-man deficit would cost them as an unmarked Allan Saint-Maximin was able to take advantage on a clearance attempt in the Sheffield United box, scoring the opening goal.
Sheffield tried piling the pressure, but poor marking in the 68th minute allowed Matt Ritchie to have a go just outside the box. getting the ball past 2 defenders and the keeper for Newcastle's second goal. 2-nil Newcastle.
Joelinton nabbed a brace in the 78th sealing the deal for the home team before giving way to Andy Carroll. the game The game ends 3-nil for Newcastle. This is the first time Sheffield United conceded 3 goals since the start of this season.
Aston Villa v Chelsea (Full Article Here)
The away team restarted their campaign against Aston Villa dominating a lion's share of possession for the first opening minutes, spending a good amount of possession on the attacking third. Chelsea's defense was also quick to shut most of Villa's counters down.
Villa made them regret it by scoring the opener from a great play with Matt Targett crossing the ball from the right and starting a goalmouth scramble where Kortney Hause knocked the ball into the net a minute just before the end of the half. The half ended 1-nil to Aston Villa.
Substitute Christian Pulisic restored parity in the 60th minute, converting a nicely placed Azpilicueta cross. This is Pulisic's first five minutes of play returning from injury.
Olivier Giroud strikes shortly after, receiving the ball in the middle, making that turn, and taking that shot, reversing the away team's fortunes in just 2 minutes. Aston Villa 1, Chelsea 2.
Chelsea has improved their chances with Champion's League qualification. Meanwhile, this loss puts Aston Villa closer to the drop. Frank Lampard's key and timely substitutions have definitely made a difference today.
Everton v Liverpool
The Merseyside Derby is just as we come to expect, always an intense affair. Everton stood their ground against the league leaders, Liverpool.
The game was played in the rain in an empty stadium, same with the rest of the other games. And the physicality really shows the rivalry between the teams, a total of 27 fouls on both sides with 2 bookings on both sides.
There had been no shortage of end to end action, with Everton taking the ball in front of Liverpool's box and making almost successful attempts. But it was Liverpool with slightly more shots taken.
The Reds piled up the pressure in the second half, but it was Everton who almost scored. Dominic Calvert-Lewin flicked a good ball into the Liverpool box, rolling in front of a ball-watching Allisson, and into the feet of Tom Davies at almost point blank range. But it was not to be as Davies' efforts was only good enough to rattle the bar.
The Merseyside Derby ends with both teams splitting the points.
Manchester City v Burnley
The final match of this matchweek for the EPL is scheduled at 3am, June 22.
I hope to give you the full stories of all top leagues in the future. For now, here’s the results of games from the other top leagues.
La Liga
Mallorca 1 - 1 Leganes
Granada 0 - 1 Villarreal
Sevilla 0 - 0 Barcelona
Espanyol 1 - 3 Levante
Athletic Club 1 - 0 Real Betis
Getafe 1 - 1 Eibar
Atlético Madrid 1 - 0 Valladolid
Celta Vigo 4 - 0 Alavés
Valencia 2 - 0 Osasuna
Real Sociedad 1 - 0 Real Madrid
Bundesliga
1. FC Köln 1 - 1 Eintracht Frankfurt
Schalke 1 - 4 Wolfsburg
Hoffenheim 4 - 0 Union Berlin
RB Leipzig 0 - 2 Dortmund
Paderborn 1 - 3 Mönchengladbach
Bayern Munich 3 - 1 SC Freiburg
Hertha 2 - 0 Leverkusen
Mainz 3 - 1 Werder
Düsseldorf 1 - 1 Augsburg
Seria A
Torino 1 - 1 Parma
Verona 2 - 1 Cagliari
Atalanta 4 - 1 Sassuolo
Inter Milan 2 - 1 Sampdoria
Ligue 1
If you're still looking for Ligue 1 action. We hate to tell you this, but the season is over. PSG has been crowned champions as the remaining season games were cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Marseille and Rennes were awarded the other two UEFA Champions League spots based on their rankings at the league's suspension, while Lille was awarded the lone Europa League spot.
Relegation was also suspended this season, saving current bottom teams Amiens and Toulouse.
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