Arsenal gets their first win under new management
After a very disastrous start to the game in which the defending was atrocious, Arsenal finally get their season going with a win. Arsenal could not keep up in the first half and it is amazing how they only conceded one goal all game. The second half was a bit more controlled and Unai Emery still has a lot of work to do.
Chelsea breaks Newcastle curse.
Finally.
For a team that has won the league title and is always contending for silverware, it was rather surprising that Chelsea had not won at Newcastle for 7 years. That run ended over the weekend. Chelsea made a lot of short and slick passes all through the game, Jorginho being the architect of most of them. It is rather surprising that as soon as Newcastle came out a bit more – after conceding through Hazard’s penalty,- they looked like they could hurt Chelsea. Are we getting to see Sarri’s preferred eleven?
Milan-Napoli give us some Serie A entertainment.
With 5 goals in this game thanks to some shocking defending and remarkable goals (see Bonaventura’s wonder-strike), this turned out to be a very attacking game with lots of goals in it. Milan lacked the maturity to see out the game after a two-goal lead. Credit also goes to Napoli for not giving up and still going for the win. Napoli have played two tough games this early and have won both. Title contenders again this year? Probably so.
Ronaldo not yet off the mark for Juventus.
Juventus has picked up where they left off last season. Ronaldo was just a bit unlucky to not score, but be assured that we will not have to wait too long for him to open his account.
Juventus has not reached top gear yet but they are still the team tipped to win the Serie A again
Liverpool makes it 3-in-3.
Liverpool really look like they have turned a corner especially in defence as they have not conceded a goal yet and have won three on the trot. This game was a tight affair but was settled early on when some lax defending gave Mohamed Salah a chance to score which he duly took. It is still early days but Liverpool seems to mean business this season.
Barcelona and Real Madrid win their games
Barcelona really struggled to create a lot of chances during the course of the game and were quite lucky that the last-minute goal scored by Valladolid was disallowed thanks to VAR. Without that, the game may have ended in a draw. Over in Girona, Real Madrid won convincingly but the score-line was a bit flattering because the game was fairly balanced for a long while. Real Madrid had two penalties duly dispatched by Ramos and Benzema to add some gloss to the score-line. Early days yet.
Ruthless Spurs lay down a marker at Old Trafford.
What is going on in Old Trafford? Spurs were so lethargic in the first half and it seemed it was a matter of time before they paid for that. Lukaku spurned a glorious chance in the first half and that was about it.
The second half was entirely different. When Spurs went ahead, there was no going back.
No fight-back from Manchester United. Nothing.
Spurs has laid down a serious marker.
Manchester United would need to pick themselves up again for the second week running.
And fast.
- By Motunrayo Abiodun
