League action from the weekend
We are now approaching the festive period of games and the halfway point of the season which can help where teams are likely to finish and see what they can improve by the new year. Here are the highlights from the weekend.
Shaqiri scores twice to thump United
Liverpool returned to the summit of the Premier League table after beating archrivals Manchester United 3-1 at Anfield. Liverpool clearly domainted with 36 shots against the Red Devils, the most amount of shots from Liverpool this season. With United getting a goal from an error from Alisson, Liverpool needed to find something different which Xherdan Shaqiri answered by scoring a brace from the bench to seal a first win in eight from the Reds and Jürgen Klopp's first victory against United. Still unbeaten.
Austin ends Arsenal's unbeaten streak
Charlie Austin scored his fifth goal in five games against Arsenal to inflict Arsenal's first defeat since August losing to Southampton 3-2 at St. Mary's. Danny Ings returned from injury for the Saints and had his mark on the game scoring a brace while Arsenal came back twice to level the score through Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Arsenal had to play with a make-shift defence and Charlie Austin capitalized on an error from Bernd Leno to give Southampton their first win under Ralph Hasenhüttl and are now out of the bottom three. Excitement at the South Coast of England.
Barça destroy Levante
Barcelona continue to do their business in La Liga beating Levante 5-0 at the Ciutat de Valéncia. After resting several players in the Champions League in midweek, they returned with Lionel Messi leaving he left out against Espanyol. The Argentine was a complete nuisance for Levante netting a hat-trick taking his league tally to 14 and made two assists for Luis Suarez and Gerard Pique to take Barça three points clear off the top of the table.
Atletico win against Valladolid
Atletico Madrid continue to put pressure on Barcelona as they came from behind to beat Real Valladolid to stay three points behind the league leaders. Atleti were in the front foot with Kalinić opening the scoring and Antonie Griezmann scoring from the spot to extend the lead for Simeone's men. Valladolid got back in the game from Fernando Calero and equalized through an own goal from Saúl. However, Griezmann came to the rescue scoring the winner ten minutes from time to keep Atletico in the title race with Barcelona. Keep the pressure.
Dortmund keep winning
The Borussia Dortmund love-in continues winning their 12th game in 15 games after beating Werder Bremen 2-1. Paco Alcácer, who started, scoring from a header from a free-kick that left the Bremen players off guard. Marco Reus doubled Dortmund's lead but Bremen's Max Kruse pulled one back but BVB held on to stay nine points clear off the rivals. Dortmund have two players in Reus and Alcácer who have scored 10 goals each in the Bundesliga but have improved at the back which is a testament to the improvements Lucien Favre have done so far in the Black and Yellow.
Ronaldo scores in Turin Derby
Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winner in his first appearance in the Turin Derby as Juventus beat their city rivals Torino 1-0. It was a feisty affair with not a lot chances but a lot of challenges flying affair particularly in the first half. Torino made things difficult for Juve but later costed them as Juventus were awarded a penalty which Ronaldo converted. Torino couldn't find a way back as Juventus go eight points clear off the top in Serie A.
Player of the weekend: Lionel Messi
There were so shouts like Xherdan Shaqiri scoring a brace from the bench but it had to be Lionel Messi. Barça's No.10 was at it again scoring his 49th career hat-trick and made two assists, completely destroying Levante in the process. Messi also had 72 touches, 7 shots (4 on target) and 7 key passes. So Pelé, is Messi still one dimensional?
Shaqiri scores twice to thump United
Liverpool returned to the summit of the Premier League table after beating archrivals Manchester United 3-1 at Anfield. Liverpool clearly domainted with 36 shots against the Red Devils, the most amount of shots from Liverpool this season. With United getting a goal from an error from Alisson, Liverpool needed to find something different which Xherdan Shaqiri answered by scoring a brace from the bench to seal a first win in eight from the Reds and Jürgen Klopp's first victory against United. Still unbeaten.
Austin ends Arsenal's unbeaten streak
Charlie Austin scored his fifth goal in five games against Arsenal to inflict Arsenal's first defeat since August losing to Southampton 3-2 at St. Mary's. Danny Ings returned from injury for the Saints and had his mark on the game scoring a brace while Arsenal came back twice to level the score through Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Arsenal had to play with a make-shift defence and Charlie Austin capitalized on an error from Bernd Leno to give Southampton their first win under Ralph Hasenhüttl and are now out of the bottom three. Excitement at the South Coast of England.
Barça destroy Levante
Barcelona continue to do their business in La Liga beating Levante 5-0 at the Ciutat de Valéncia. After resting several players in the Champions League in midweek, they returned with Lionel Messi leaving he left out against Espanyol. The Argentine was a complete nuisance for Levante netting a hat-trick taking his league tally to 14 and made two assists for Luis Suarez and Gerard Pique to take Barça three points clear off the top of the table.
Atletico win against Valladolid
Atletico Madrid continue to put pressure on Barcelona as they came from behind to beat Real Valladolid to stay three points behind the league leaders. Atleti were in the front foot with Kalinić opening the scoring and Antonie Griezmann scoring from the spot to extend the lead for Simeone's men. Valladolid got back in the game from Fernando Calero and equalized through an own goal from Saúl. However, Griezmann came to the rescue scoring the winner ten minutes from time to keep Atletico in the title race with Barcelona. Keep the pressure.
Dortmund keep winning
The Borussia Dortmund love-in continues winning their 12th game in 15 games after beating Werder Bremen 2-1. Paco Alcácer, who started, scoring from a header from a free-kick that left the Bremen players off guard. Marco Reus doubled Dortmund's lead but Bremen's Max Kruse pulled one back but BVB held on to stay nine points clear off the rivals. Dortmund have two players in Reus and Alcácer who have scored 10 goals each in the Bundesliga but have improved at the back which is a testament to the improvements Lucien Favre have done so far in the Black and Yellow.
Ronaldo scores in Turin Derby
Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winner in his first appearance in the Turin Derby as Juventus beat their city rivals Torino 1-0. It was a feisty affair with not a lot chances but a lot of challenges flying affair particularly in the first half. Torino made things difficult for Juve but later costed them as Juventus were awarded a penalty which Ronaldo converted. Torino couldn't find a way back as Juventus go eight points clear off the top in Serie A.
Player of the weekend: Lionel Messi
There were so shouts like Xherdan Shaqiri scoring a brace from the bench but it had to be Lionel Messi. Barça's No.10 was at it again scoring his 49th career hat-trick and made two assists, completely destroying Levante in the process. Messi also had 72 touches, 7 shots (4 on target) and 7 key passes. So Pelé, is Messi still one dimensional?
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