As usual for the month of January, we had yet another busy weekday with games going down in all Europe's Big 5 leagues. Why don't we get a recap of some of the huge games that went down, as well as, games with shocking outcomes.
With the above being our focus, we will be streamlining our scope to just the English Premier League, and the Coppa Italia.
1) COPPA ITALIA: Inter Milano 2:1 AC Milan.
The "Derby della Madonnina" or the "Milan derby" as known in English, was no short of its drama as in past meetings between these 2 sides as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who had once played for Inter, got a red card, which in turn played a huge role in the final elimination of his team, AC Milan.
The Nerazurris started on a strong foot, but it was the Rossoneris who took the lead in the 31st minute when Ibrahimovic converted home a sublime assist from Soualiho Meite. However, the first half ended in a bad manner when both Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku got into a confrontation, and were cautioned by the referee in the process.
Inter kept the pressure high into the 2nd half, but it was Zlatan Ibrahimovic's early exit from the game after he received a 2nd caution for tripping Alekxander Kolarov that gave the Nerazurris full control, and in the 71st minute, Romelu Lukaku got them on level from the penalty spot.
Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder, Christian Erikssen, who came on in the 88th minute sealed off the game for Inter when he struck home from a freekick in the 7th added minute of normal regulation time, ensuring the Nerazurris completed the comeback, claiming a spot in the Italian Coppa Italia Semi final. Definitely, the game was full of the intrigues we expected.
2) COPPA ITALIA: Atalanta 3:2 Lazio.
Atalanta once again proved how menacing they have become as they saw of Lazio in a 3-2 thrilling encounter even with a man less.
It was Atalanta who opened scoring in the 7th minute thanks to Beraj Djimsiti, before Vedat Muriqi got Lazio back on level 10 minutes later after doing great justice to a fine Fransecso Acerbi's assist. Lazio however did what was thought to be a complete comeback in the 34th minute when Acerbi got himself on the scoresheet this time, but Atalanta were not ready to stay on the backfoot for long and they came back on level 3 minutes later as Rusian Malinovsky equalized from a Luis Muriel's assist, ensuring both teams had no goal separating them at the end of first half.
Lazio would have thought the god of football was on their side when Atalanta were reduced to 10 men in the 53rd minute, but it was the La Dea who got ahead in the 57th minute when Aleksey Miranchuk converted Cristian Romero's assist, and they would have made it 4 goals to 2 had Duvan Zapata scored from the penalty spot 10 minuets later.
Atalanta, nevertheless, were able to hold off the Biancocelesti for the rest of the game ensuring the game ended 3-2 in their favour. What a way to go for Atalanta.
3) ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: Manchester United 1:2 Sheffield United.
This game is obviously the shocker of this week's games as 20th placed Sheffield United stunned the red devils at the Theatre of Dreams, putting an end to the latter's 13 EPL matches unbeaten run.
23 minutes into the game, and against the run of play, the Blades took the lead thanks to a Kean Bryan's header from John Fleck's corner kick stunning the red devils. The blades didn't just stop at that, but they also put up a resilient defensive display, ensuring the first half of the game ended with this scoreline.
However, Sheffield couldn't deny the red devils who have being tagged "England's comeback king", an equalizer as the latter came back on level when Harry Maguire headed home Alex Telles' corner kick in the 64th minute, but it was Sheffield United who got back in front 10 minutes later as Oliver Burke saw his shot from John Lundstram deflect past David De Gea and into the back of the net.
Manchester United did all they could to get back into the game, but the blades showed they were up to the task this time, making sure the game ended in their favour as they claimed their 2nd win of the EPL this season. I bet Manchester United didn't see this defeat coming.
4) ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: Tottenham Hotspurs 1:3 Liverpool.
Jurgen Kloop's Liverpool finally got back to winning ways, putting an end to their dismal run of 5 games that saw them lose their position at the top of the table, whilst Spurs losing streak against Liverpool extended to 7 consecutive games.
As expected, the game between both sides was electrifying with a total of 6 goals being scored although, 2 of these goals were chalked off for offside.
As early as the 3rd minute, Harry Kane and Heung Min Son already combined to give Spurs the lead with the latter being the goal scorer, but the goal was ruled off for offside. However, it was Liverpool who upped their tempo from then, and although Jose Mourinho's men did great work to keep them at bay for a long period of time, the reds finally got a way past them when Roberto Firmino slotted home a Sadio Mane's pass in the 4th minute of added time in the first half, and Liverpool made sure the scoreline remained so, going into the half time break.
Things got bad for Jose Mourinho's men when Harry Kane got injured and was replaced by Erik Lamela a minute into the 2nd half, and a minute later, it was Liverpool who got their 2nd goal after Trent Alexander-Arnold slotted home a rebound from a poor Hugo Lioris save, but, a Pierre-Emile Hoejbjerg stunner from outside the box reduced the deficit for Tottenham just 2 minutes later, giving Spurs a lifeline. An action packed 4 minutes you want to say.
Liverpool continued the pressure and they were unlucky not to have extended the game to 3-1 in the 57th minute when Mohammed Salah's goal was ruled out for offside. However, the reds were not to be denied a 3rd when Trent Alexander-Arnold turned assist provider for the tireless Sadio Mane in the 65th, of which the Senegalese did great justice to.
Spurs were unable to put up a fight as Liverpool kept on the pressure. But the former ensured the latter did not get more goals either, and the game ended 3-1 in favour of the reds. Liverpool will definitely be joyous with this win considering the humiliations they have gone through in the hands of Southampton, Burnley, and Manchester United.
Feel free to drop your opinions and comments, they will definitely be appreciated.
Much Love from your amiable Football Analyst and Writer, IbkDaGreat.
Comments