Lorenzo Martinez
Madrid, Nov 7 (EFE) .- Brazilian Neymar met the goal again, leading with two goals the triumph of PSG, in a European weekend with several interesting historical derbies, in which Manchester City triumphs were recorded about an increasingly questioned United, and Sevila over Betis, and the equalizer in Milan and Inter, in addition to seeing how Argentinian Gio Simeone punished Naples, and verifying as in LaLiga that victories should not be celebrated until the whistle referee final.
MANCHESTER IS FROM THE CITY, THE PREMIER’S LIVERPOOL IS NOT THE CHAMPIONS ‘
The city of Manchester lived its match of maximum rivalry. A whole United-City where, contrary to what has been happening in these types of matches, the great difference between one and the other was confirmed. And it is that the ‘citizens’ of Pep Guardiola practically did from the first minute as much as they wanted on a lost rival, powerless, with multiple failures in defense and without a game, and who is very far from the one who dominated the city years ago.
The result was 0-2 in favor of City, but it could have been higher. It was not because of the good performance of the Spanish goalkeeper David De Gea, although it is true that he was not successful in the second goal. If a week ago Ole Gunnar Solskjær had softened the criticism of his management by winning United at Tottenham’s home, now his continuity in office is back in the air. Not so much because of the distance that separates him from the leader, Chelsea, which is nine points, but because of the abysmal difference in play and quality that separates the ‘red devils’ from the rest of the ‘greats’ of the Premier.
And that was that Chelsea played at home, that gave up a draw against Burnley (1-1), a team in the relegation zone, which was half an hour behind on the scoreboard, and that knew how to take advantage of a local team that he did not have his best starting players. Manchester City especially takes advantage of the tie, which is second, three points away.
Also three points behind the leader is West Ham, the great surprise of what this Premier campaign takes and that defeated an entire Liverpool (3-2) that had come from disarming Atlético de Madrid in Europe. Great game for David Moyes, it is space in the second half. Jurgen Klopp’s team is fourth, four points behind.
THE NEYMAR-MBAPPÉ SOCIETY WORKED
It is clear that PSG has the ‘trident’ with the highest market value and glory on the planet. Hearing the names of Neymar, Messi and Mbappé is to come to mind spectacle and magic, and fear for the rival defense. However, so far the trio is not working as expected. This Saturday, due to injury, the Argentine did not play; and curiously the remaining duo performed better than in previous matches. Both led their team to a victory in the visit to Girondins (2-3). The combination between the two brought the two goals of the Brazilian who at halftime put his team with a favorable 0-2.
Neymar had not scored in the league with PSG since September 19, and his last double had come on January 31. Then, after the break, Mbappé scored. A clear 0-3 that was complicated for PSG in the last quarter of an hour, when Girondins made up their defeat, but with a second goal already shortly before the final whistle. The Parisian team maintains its wide advantage as leader, with ten points of difference over its immediate pursuer.
REAL MADRID ASKS FOR THE TIME, ATLETI AND BARÇA PAY TO CELEBRATE BEFORE THE FINAL BEEP
LaLiga had a day, at least, curious. Not because of the victory of Real Sociedad in Pamplona against Osasuna (0-2) that keeps them at the top of the ranking, and not because of Real Madrid’s home win in the ‘miniderbi’ with Rayo Vallecano (2-1 ); but yes because of a Madridista suffering at home that has already become common, and, above all, because of what happened to Barcelona and Atlético de Madrid, who saw the respective victory slip away in the so-called compensation time (commonly called discount).
Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid, one point behind Real Sociedad and one game less, perhaps played its first best hour of the season at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium. He endorsed Rayo Vallecano two goals before the break and then had chances to extend his advantage. He did not, Radamel Falcao left in the ranks of Rayo, and he was very close to surprise. The Colombian, initially reserved for suffering muscle problems, jumped in the 69th minute and in the 76th he scored 2-1. It made Real Madrid nervous and filled them with doubts. The pity for him and his team is that five minutes later he had to be substituted when he broke his muscles.
The one of the Barcelona hours before was worthy of study. In what is the last game with the provisional command of Sergi Barjuan, since it has already been announced that Xavi Hernández will be the new coach, he went from glory to sadness. In Vigo against Celta, he went to rest with a clear 0-3 in his favor and as absolute dominator. He promised them more than happy. But a different Barcelona team returned from the dressing room. He conceded 1-2 in 54, 2-3 in 74, and 3-3 practically in the last action of the match (m.96). A Barça drama that, in addition, increases due to the injuries of some of its players, such as that of the young ‘jewel’ Ansu Fati. Celebrating the three points before the referee’s final whistle is not good. And he is ninth, 11 points behind the leader, with one game less.
Something very similar, if perhaps with greater dyes ‘downturn’ happened this Sunday to Atlético de Madrid of Diego Pablo Simeone. He was visiting a tough rival, Valencia (2-2), who after the break managed to equalize the goal scored in the first half by Uruguayan Luis Suárez. A goal from Griezmann and the opportunism of Vrsaljko, in just four minutes, put a 1-3 (m.61) that seemed to sentence the visitor’s victory.
The points seemed in the pocket of Atlético de Madrid. It was not like that, he lost tension in the final moments, in the minutes of compensation, and he paid for it. And it is that Hugo Duro jumped into the field, with a recent past at Real Madrid, and with a double at the last gasp (m.92 and 95) he punished a rival who saw himself traveling to Madrid with the three points. Simeone, practically in shock, after the match blamed himself (‘the team lost -two points- because of the coach’). But those who fell asleep were those who were on the grass. Atleti is five points behind the head.
There are cities where the local derby is the most important of the year. It does not matter what is done in other games, the important thing is to carry the pride of the city for months, silence the ‘neighbor’ at least until the next duel. Seville is one of them. His derby is very passionate and heartfelt, as the song says ‘it has a special color’. And it was Julen Lopetegui’s Sevilla that won the capital’s flag to beat Chilean Manuel Pellegrini’s Betis at home (0-2, first goal by Argentine Marcos Acuña).
Sevilla’s victory came in the second half, but the match was marked in the 45th minute with the expulsion, by a double card, of Argentine midfielder Guido Rodríguez, who left Betis with ten. Sevilla did not waste it and took the sense of victory, which he puts at a point from Real Sociedad.
GIO SIMEONE BRAINS NAPLES, MILAN AND INTER SEAL A DRAW IN THE DERBI
The voracity of Gio Simeone, son of the ‘Cholo’ Simeone does not stop. In Naples, in the stadium dedicated to his compatriot Diego Armando Maradona, with Verona he stopped a Neapolitan team that presented itself as the leader and without any lost game. He scored the 0-1 (m.13), being the first Argentine to score in that field since he bears such an illustrious name. His seventh goal in the last four league games. The locals soon matched, but the result was unchanged (1-1).
Naples remains the leader since, hours later, in the Milanese derby, the so-called ‘della Madonnina’ sealed a draw (1-1) between Milan and Inter, with the Milanese as hosts. A duel with greater interista chances, with greater control of his, but that could also have opted in the final minutes of the ‘rossonero’ side. The goals came early, with the score 0-1 in the 11th minute, and the equalized seven minutes later with an own goal included.
Milan equals Napoli, which has a better goal difference, in the standings, with Inter remaining seven points.
LEWANDOWSKI KEEPS ADDING IN GERMANY. AJAX MAKES LIFE COMPLICATED
Robert Lewandowski is fireproof. A firm candidate for the next Ballon d’Or, at 33 years of age not only has his gunpowder not dried up but he is even increasing his best marks. A new goal in Bayern Munich’s triumph over Freiburg (2-1) puts them with 13 goals in the 11 games played in the Bundesliga. But, in addition, it is his ninth in the last seven games played, between the German league and the Champions League. On the 29th of this month the winner of the Ballon d’Or will be announced, who knows if his name will be announced.
Meanwhile, Bayern increases their advantage at the head of the Bundesliga, already with four points over a Borussia Dortmund orphaned by the injured Haaland and who fell on their visit to Leipzig (2-1).
In the Netherlands, Ajax Amsterdam is complicated. Two goalless draws in recent days, against very affordable rivals such as Heracles and GA Eagles, have made it easier for PSV Eindhoven, their great rival for the title, to equalize them at the top. Those of the city of the channels fly in Europe but lately they falter in national league. EFE
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