EUROPEAN WRAP
By Julius Ross
This week’s Euro Wrap sees Goal! Weekly reporter Julius Ross check out the star performers of the weekend’s fixtures and the all the important action at the top of Europe’s finest leagues.
CITY OF RICHES FAILS TO PRODUCE
In the Premier League’s “clash of the cash”, the world’s richest Club – Manchester City – succumbed to the second richest – Chelsea – with City’s new look squad failing to match the challenge offered by a ‘big four’ club.
British record signing Robinho made the perfect start to the Citizen’s new era of optimism by opening the scoring after just 13 minutes with a Brazilian-style free-kick, but three unanswered goals from Chelsea meant that the 200 million pound take-over by the Abu Dhabi United Group has not yet bought ultimate success.
It was Chelsea’s seventh straight win over City and proved that the team with a bottomless pit of money will have to keep spending big if they want to be regarded as a premiership elite.
Talking of Premiership elites, Liverpool’s seven-year wait for a home victory over fierce rivals Manchester United finally came to an end as the Merseysiders recorded a 2-1 win over the Red Devils.
United had won the last five meetings between the two sides, illustrating the power-shift which has taken place over the last twenty years, which has seen a Premiership title elude Liverpool’s grasp in 18 years.
But it was Liverpool’s day on Saturday, as a Wes Brown own-goal and a goal 13 minutes from time from super-sub Ryan Babel cancelled out Carlos Tevez’ early opener.
After starting their season slowly, Arsenal have finally found the right formula to turn dominance, intricate and beautiful football into goals.
The Gunners seem to have shrugged off their early season blues, backing up their 3-0 win against Newcastle with a 4-0 drubbing of Blackburn Rovers.
England’s 19-year-old hero Theo Walcott capped off a perfect week after his hat-trick in European World Cup qualifying against Croatia, by setting up the first goal for Robin van Persie.
Emmanuel Adebayor also signalled the end of his form slump, taking the reigns from Walcott and burying Rovers with a superb hat-trick.
INTER HANDS MOURINHO HOME DEBUT-DAY POINTS
From top four action in England to Serie A Champions Inter Milan in Italy who staged a ten-man come-from-behind 2-1 victory to rescue their early-season campaign against Catania.
After dropping two vital points in their opening match draw against Sampdoria, Inter gave coach Jose Mourinho his first win in charge of the Italian giants in his debut at the San Siro.
AS Roma’s title tilt has gone into disaster mode as the Giallorossi succumbed to Palmero 3-1.
The Romans have picked up just one point from a possible six in their opening two matches, with an injury crisis causing serious issues – the side missed five key regulars, including captain Francesco Totti.
BARCA CONTINUES EARLY SEASON SLUMP
Barcelona is in similar trouble in Spain where their flat display against lowly Racing Santander saw them struggle to a 1-1 draw for their first point of the 2008/09 Primera Liga campaign.
Losing 1-0 to Numancia in their season opener, Barca’s performance was again questionable for the array of talent on display, the side needing Argentine superstar Lionel Messi to salvage a point in dire circumstances.
Elsewhere, Seville overcame Sporting Gijon in a classic seven-goal thriller, with former West Ham man Frederic Kanoute ‘sealing the deal’ with a 60th minute winner for a 4-3 victory.
OLYMPIQUE TAKE LYON’S SHARE
Reigning champions and current Ligue 1 leaders Olympique Lyon made sure there was no change at the top of the league by securing a controversial 3-2 win over Nice on Saturday.
Trailing 2-0 after just 20 minutes, Lyon staged the perfect fight-back, with Brazilian genius Juninho scoring two free-kicks – one from half-way – and Karim Benzema scoring his fifth goal of the campaign in the dying stages.
Lyon now sits in the familiar position on top of the league table, with 13 points from five matches, two more than Marseille who drew 1-1 at Bordeaux.
MUNICH HITS IMPRESSIVE FORM
In Germany, Schalke 04 threw away a three-goal lead and their position atop the Bundesliga table, as Borussia Dortmund launched a frenetic fight-back to draw 3-3.
Schalke had two men sent off during the amazing Dortmund come-back, in a careless display in front of 80,000 excited spectators.
Hamburg took over the leadership with their own come-from-behind victory against Bayer Leverkusen – after trailing 2-0, the new league leaders fought back to win 3-2.
Title holders Bayern Munich seem to have hit form of late, after drawing their opening two matches Jurgen Klinsmann’s side has scored seven goals in their past two games, with Saturday’s 3-0 against Colonge launching them within two points of leaders Hamburg.
EUROPEAN TEAM OF THE WEEK
Although taking the slightly strange formation of 2-4-5, this week’s European Team of the Week illustrates the class of strikers and the level-headedness of a couple of debutants.
Manager: Rafa BENITEZ (Liverpool)
Although Ryan Babel’s super-sub appearance stole much of the limelight at Anfield, Liverpool’s Spanish manager Benitez must be given some credit for finally recording his first win over his club’s fierce arch-rival Manchester United. The Liverpool boss had never beaten Manchester United in eight previous league games during his career on Merseyside.
Goalkeeper: Manuel ALMUNIA (Arsenal)
Despite his team running out 4-0 winners against Blackburn, Almunia showed his class and superb reflexes to tip Rovers’ danger-man Roque Santa Cruz’s effort over the top to keep his side ahead – just after Robin van Persie had taken the lead for the Londoners.
Defenders:
Tranquillo BARNETTA (Bayer Leverkusen)
Barnetta was one of the few defenders to hit the net in Germany this weekend, but his fourth minute effort for Bayer Leverkusen failed to give his side three points over leaders Hamburg.
Ricardo CARVALHO (Chelsea)
Crediting defenders for their attacking prowess this week, Calvarlho makes the cut thanks to his 16th minute equaliser against Manchester City. The Portuguese defender made sure City’s lead lasted a mere three minutes by lashing home a Frank Lampard corner.
Midfielders:
Theo WALCOTT (Arsenal)
A hero mid-week with England, Walcott’s obvious confidence helped him to tear apart the Rovers’ backline, with the teenager setting up van Persie for the opener.
JUNINHO (Lyon)
Lyon’s set-piece maestro finished two superb free-kicks for the reigning French champions – one of which was slotted home from the half-way mark.
Ricardo QUARESMA (Inter Milan)
A long-time target of Jose Mourinho during the off-season, Quaresma paid back his manager’s 18 million euro investment with a debut-day goal.
Forwards:
Fabrizio MICCOLI (Palermo)
Striking twice against an injury-hit AS Roma, Miccoli hit a stunning right-footed shot into the top corner of the Roma net after 12 minutes, and deftly chipped home on 57 minutes for two superb individual goals.
ROBINHO (Manchester City)
After all the criticism the boy has copped during the last two weeks for his multi-million dollar transfer to Manchester City, the Brazillian produced the goods for his new club after just 13 minutes, commencing the ‘revolution’ at the ‘Middle Eastlands’. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough for a fairytale beginning as City lost 3-1.
Emmanuel ADEBAYOR (Arsenal)
An impressive Arsenal performance was rounded out by a neat Adebayor hat-trick, his first goals of the 2008/09 campaign.
Luca TONI (Bayern Munich)
The Bundesliga’s top marksman last season, Toni has adapted perfectly to the German game after transferring from Italy’s Fiorentina and he scored a neat double in his side’s 3-0 win against Colonge.
Frederic KANOUTE (Sevilla)
Former Tottenham and West Ham striker Kanoute – another player to scored a double this weekend - continued his reign in Spain as he helped Seville to a thrilling 4-3 win over plucky Gijon
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