In terms of late-career Cristiano Ronaldo, you get the feeling that this is the exact script that the Portuguese legend would write if you handed him the pen.
It’s the tale of an unsung legend, a man so repressed by the slings and arrows of detractors, naysayers and charlatans — however real or largely imagined — that he’s been humbly driven to a spot on the bench in the opening game of the season.
Romelu Lukaku’s second spell with Chelsea looks destined for great things after the Belgian opened the scoring for the Blues in Sunday’s commanding 2-0 win over Arsenal at the Emirates. The Gunners, on the other hand, look destined for a whole lot less.
SOUTHAMPTON - A second-half strike from Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood cancelled out an own goal from teammate Fred to earn a 1-1 draw at Southampton in the Premier League on Sunday.
United had a euphoric start to the season with a 5-1 home win over Leeds United but could not repeat that performance and were lucky not to lose to Ralph Hasenhüttl's organized and dynamic side.
BILBAO - Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman has admitted opposition sides are being bolder against his side now that they can no longer count on Lionel Messi, after the Catalans were held 1-1 away to Athletic Bilbao in LaLiga on Saturday.
A thumping late strike from Memphis Depay cancelled out Iñigo Martínez's header to earn Barça a point but Koeman admitted his team were still keenly feeling the absence of their all-time top scorer and former captain, two weeks after he left Barça for Paris St Germain following 21 years at the club.
Morgan Weaver hadn’t made an appearance for the Portland Thorns in over a month after getting injured against the Orlando Pride on July 18. The 23-year-old made her return in fashion and in the form of an 87th minute winner against Lyon.
Weaver was substituted into the game in the 82nd minute and nearly scored with her first touch of the game. She was in on goal against Lyon’s Christiane Endler but ended up hitting her shot over the bar.
The Houston Dash was the oddball inclusion the 2021 Women’s International Champions Cup.
Teams like the Portland Thorns, French powerhouse Lyon and perhaps the most dominant team on the planet, Barcelona, all looked like giants compared to the Dash.
The 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup champions were heavy underdogs against Barcelona for the third-place match, but holy hell did the Dash give the defending UEFA Champions League winners a run for their money, losing 3-2.
Barcelona salvaged a 1-1 draw against Athletic Club with a rather uninspiring performance on Saturday. A litany of injuries and the massive hole left behind with the departure of Lionel Messi had Barcelona looking like a shell of its former self.
The injuries for Barcelona include:
Things only got worse for Barcelona when Gerard Pique was forced to leave the game early in the first half with an injury.
Genoa, el nuevo equipo de Johan Vásquez, fue básicamente convertido en cenizas en su visita al Inter de Milán, en el inicio de la Serie A 2021-22. El cuadro rossoblú cayó 4-0 ante el actual campeón de la liga, en un partido en el que mostró serios problemas defensivos.
¿Dónde estaba Vásquez? Como el ex Pumas llegó hace menos de 10 días, el técnico Davide Ballardi decidió no convocarlo, mientras se adapta al equipo. Sin embargo, en vista de la goleada sufrida no sería raro que apure su puesta en forma para tenerlo disponible en la próxima jornada.
BIRMINGHAM — A brilliant volley by Danny Ings and an Anwar El Ghazi penalty gave Aston Villa an easy 2-0 victory over a poor Newcastle United side in the Birmingham club's first home game of the Premier League season on Saturday.
A record of 12 goals in 29 Premier League games for Southampton last term prompted Villa to recruit the 29-year-old Ings for a reported 25 million pounds, and with two goals in his first two league games, the investment is already paying off.
Jack Grealish bagged his first goal for Manchester City on Saturday against Norwich City.
The goal itself won’t be one that fans will be talking about for years to come. Hell, we probably won’t be talking about it by next week. Grealish won’t care as a huge weight on his shoulders is now gone.