PREMIER LEAGUES RETURN
By Julius Ross
The wait is over. The ‘Greatest Show On Earth’ – The English Premier League – returned to action this weekend as its followers – over half a billion people in 202 countries – tuned in to the most watched sporting league in the World.
And it didn’t disappoint. The seemingly endless months of the off-season finally came to an end as newly promoted clubs, refurbished teams and title aspirants hit the immaculate turf across England.
To add to the excitement in Europe, Germany’s Bundesliga kicked off and France and Scotland’s respective leagues continued in their second week of action.
Goal! Weekly checks out the key highlights of the European weekend.
ONE HULL OF A DAY IN ENGLAND
Hull City began their first ever foray into England’s top-tier competition in their 104-year history with a passionate and historic victory, with a dramatic late winner on the opening weekend of the 2008/09 English Premier League season.
The Kingston Communications Stadium were sent into raptures in the 81st minute when the Tigers completed a sensational comeback over Fulham, with substitute Caleb Folan slotting home the winner for a 2-1 victory.
Newly promoted Stoke City experienced a more grueling return to their first Premier League campaign in 23 years, with Bolton showing no mercy for the newcomers, smashing in three goals in 11 first-half minutes.
Stoke’s Ricardo Fuller managed to pull a consolation goal back for the away side in the 90th minute, but the Potters were ultimately given a reality check of the difficulties the side will face in the coming season in the top flight.
Arsenal took only four minutes to re-commence the goal scoring in the Premiership in their lunchtime kick-off against Coca-Cola Championship winners West Bromwich Albion, courtesy of a debut goal from Samir Nasri.
The £12 million dollar ex-Marseille man side-footed home early in the first half, but Arsenal failed to convert continued pressure, 62% possession and 28 shots into an extended lead.
Tottenham’s £45 million summer spending spree failed to produce the goods against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium, where the London club’s new signings were unsuccessful in producing an opening day victory; Spurs succumbing to a 2-1 defeat.
Dean Ashton opened his West Ham account for the new season, the blond topped striker hitting two goals in a gutsy win over a determined Wigan side.
The Hammers had to hold on against a Lactic fight-back, but although Amr Zaki pulled one back for Steve Bruce’s men, they were unable to convert 27 shots into more than one goal.
Ex-Manchester United and Liverpool star Paul Ince secured three points in his first competitive match as manager of Blackburn, thanks to a winner from defender Andre Ooijer four minutes into injury time against Everton.
Rovers’ 3-2 victory echoed the type of grit and determination their manager showed on pitch during his playing days.
In the final match of the afternoon, an opportunistic strike from prolific Spanish goal scorer Fernando Torres gave Liverpool all three points against Roy Keane’s transformed Sunderland side with a 1-0 victory.
Torres started where he left off last year by powering home a sensational finish from 25-yards to hand Rafa Benitez’s side a perfect start to the season.
Title favourites Manchester United and Chelsea kicked-off their season on Sunday night against Newcastle and Portsmouth, respectively, while Aston Villa entertained Manchester City to round out the Premiership’s opening fixtures.
HOPEFUL HOFFENHEIM IN HAPPY DEBUT
Across to the continent, and German Champions Bayern Munich and last season’s runners-up Werder Bremen failed to impress during their opening day fixtures in the 46th season of the Bundesliga, paving the way for little known 1899 Hoffenheim to enter the spotlight.
The newly promoted Hoffenheim kicked off their first ever season in the German top-flight by demolishing Energie Cottbus 3-0 to surge to the dizzy heights of the top of the Bundesliga table.
Despite being amongst the favourites for the drop this season, Hoffenheim showed few opening day nerves to humiliate Cottbus through a double from Vedad Ibssevic and a Demba Ba strike.
Title hopefuls Schalke 04 joined Hoffeinheim at the top, courtesy of their 3-0 rout over Hannover 96, with all three goals coming from clinical dead-ball situations.
German international Kevin Kuryani made a solid start to the season by nodding home two set-piece drills, whilst Marcelo Bordon headed home from a corner.
Bundesliga holders and 20-time winner Bayern Munich made a slow start to their title defence on Friday night with an unconvincing 2-2 draw against Hamburg SV.
Munich surrendered a 2-0 lead in the opening fixture of the new season, with Hamburg fighting back for a deserved point to spoil Jurgen Klinsmann’s first game in charge of the German giants.
Last season’s runner-up Werder Bremen also shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw with Bundesliga strugglers Arminia Bielefeld, a side which has failed to finish above 12th in the German top flight in the last four seasons.
In the match of the round, Borussia Dortmund recorded a thrilling 3-2 victory over Bayer Leverkusen, with the away team holding on to secure three points despite a late surge from the home side.
In other fixtures, VfL Wolfsburg turned a 1-0 deficit against Colonge into a 2-1 victory with two second-half goals, whilst Karlsruhe SC recorded a comfortable 1-0 win over VfL Bochum.
The opening round of the Bundesliga concluded on Sunday night, when Hertha Berlin traveled to Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Moenchengladbach, who return to the Bundesliga after gaining promotion once more, entertained Stuttgart.
RANGERS MAINTAIN PRESSUE ON GLASGOW RIVALS
Back over the North Sea to the United Kingdom and Rangers maintained their winning start to the Scottish Premier League by defeating Hearts 2-0 on the second weekend of SPL fixtures.
The win sustains the early season pressure on titleholders and Old Firm rivals Celtic who traveled to Dundee United on Sunday.
In other SPL results, Hibernian secured a 3-2 victory over Falkirk, Motherwell lost 1-0 at home to Aberdeen, Hamilton Academical secured victory by the same score line over Inverness Caledonian Thistle, while St Mirren played out a 0-0 draw with Kilmarnock.
TITLE HOPEFUL BORDEAUX DROP VITAL POINTS
South and into France, and the second week of French fixtures continued in the 71st Ligue 1 season but there was still no clear title charge evident.
Paris Saint Germain upset one of the competition’s favourites, Girondins Bordeaux, with a goal from their new summer signing, striker Guillaume Hoarau.
Monaco failed to keep their 100% record, but maintained first spot on the Ligue table when they drew 1-1 with newly promoted FC Nantes.
Saint Etienne claimed their first victory of the season with a win over Sochaux, condemning the club to its second consecutive defeat and an early place in the relegation zone.
Other results saw Nice claim the scalp of Nancy in a 2-1 victory, Toulouse brought newly promoted Le Harve back to earth by the same score line and Caen entered the top three with a 3-1 win over Valenciennes.
Le Mans defeated Lille 3-1 to round out the second week of fixtures on Saturday, while defending champions Olympique Lyon continued their title defence against Lorient, Grenoble hosted Rennes and Marseille welcomed Auxerre to the South of France on Sunday.
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