Announcers can bring a lot to a sporting event, providing insightful commentary or added excitement. They can also detract from a game, as anyone who has ever tried to watch a basketball game with Bill Walton as the color commentator can attest to. The announcers for the I-League match between Minerva Punjab and Mohun Bagan fall into the latter category for the magnificent goal late in the match by Kingsley Obumneme.
Valencia eased into the Copa del Rey quarterfinals with a 4-0 victory over Las Palmas at the Mestalla on Tuesday, the Cup match playing out entirely like La Liga’s third-place side going up against the club in 20th. Valencia’s Luciano Vietto, who’s on loan at Los Che from Atletico Madrid, scored an amazing hat-trick of ever-increasing quality to lead the way.
The 24-year-old Argentinian gave Valencia a 1-0 advantage (2-1 on aggregate) in the 30th minute with a side-footed finish on the rebound after Simone Zaza’s header was miraculously saved by Raul Lizoain.
American-born defender Eric Lichaj had a deal with his wife: Score a hat trick and she will finally let him get a dog. The Nottingham Forest defender came oh so close to scoring a hat trick against Arsenal during the FA Cup on Sunday. After Lichaj asked Twitter to bombard his wife with dog memes, she caved. Eric Lichaj finally has a dog.
Paris Saint-Germain are up 3-0 on Stade Rennes in the Coupe de France before they pull this, and you probably feel some kind of way about that. You should, because it’s ultimately meaningless in the face of what we’re building up to: the greatest Round of 16 match in the history of the UEFA Champions League. That’s the back-to-back champions Real Madrid vs. this record-setting PSG side.
A trip to the Balaidos in Galicia is never tepid waters — Barcelona were made to weather their own storm in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula on Thursday in a frantic 1-1 Copa del Rey Round of 16 draw — and Celta Vigo again showcased their formidable home fortress in a 2-2 La Liga draw with Real Madrid on Sunday.
In the end, it’s all shock and horror for Arsene Wenger and Arsenal FC. Their 4-2 defeat to Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup on Sunday means it’s the first time since Wenger became Arsenal’s manager that they’ve failed to progress past the third round — a record of 21 straight seasons that’s now over. Forest are also the first team from a lower division to score four or more goals against Arsenal in the FA Cup since 1908.
Philippe Coutinho is coming, but before the Little Magician is able to impact his new side, Barcelona neatly summarized their 2017-18 season so far with a 3-0 victory over Levante that oozed class all around the pitch. The Camp Nou was witness to three beautiful goals on the day, one from Lionel Messi, another from Luis Suarez and the final from Paulinho off a mesmerizing Messi assist.
Manchester United looked like it was heading toward a replay with Derby County in the FA Cup third round on Friday. Despite playing at home and with a lineup close to full strength, the Red Devils couldn’t break down the English Championship side. Until an incredible Jesse Lingard goal in the 84th minute.
Lingard, who has been on fire of late, scored his fourth goal in four matches to lift Manchester United to a 2-0 victory at Old Trafford.