With the Premier League kicking off this past weekend, soccer is almost back in full form around the world. As some top clubs had unreal losses, others shocked us with a win. There were numerous winners and losers from the first week of action back in the Premier League.
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So good to have fans back in #PL grounds pic.twitter.com/yfnWG1nuVk
It was a big day for Americans in Europe on Tuesday as Brenden Aaronson’s RB Salzburg took on Brøndby in the first leg of their Champions League playoff, while over in Germany Gio Reyna’s Borussia Dortmund welcomed Bayern Munich to the Westfalenstadion for the DFL-Supercup.
Brøndby had taken a surprise 1-0 halftime lead at Red Bull Arena, prompting 33-year-old manager Matthias Jaissle (who used to be an assistant at Brøndby) to turn to Aaronson for the second 45.
That change brought good things for Salzburg.
Raúl Ruidíaz and Fredy Montero each scored twice, with Ruidíaz netting his Major League Soccer-leading 13th goal of the season, as the Seattle Sounders defeated the host Portland Timbers 6-2 Sunday night.
Jimmy Medranda and Nicolas Benezet also scored, and goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland made seven saves for the Sounders (10-3-6, 36 points), who moved within a point of first-place Sporting Kansas City in the Western Conference. Sebastián Blanco and George Fochive tallied for the Timbers (7-9-2, 23 points).
This would be a preposterous goal in any situation and in any country on the planet, but the fact that this is a 93rd-minute game-winner in the Eredivisie only adds to the mystique of what you’re about to see.
The Netherlands’ top division began play this weekend with Groningen traveling to newly promoted Cambuur. The visitors opened the scoring through Ahmed El Messaoudi, but Robin Maulun responded for the home team with 22 minutes to play.
Who needs Harry Kane? Well, Tottenham, because on the evidence of Sunday’s 1-0 win over Manchester City new manager Nuno Espírito Santo has already had a transformative effect on the defense. And also City, because on Sunday's evidence they desperately need a striker.
With Kane left out of the squad entirely due to his very public dalliances with City, Spurs produced an electric performance from front to back with Japhet Tanganga going toe-to-toe with Jack Grealish, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg flying into tackles and Lucas Moura always excellent in possession.
Borussia Dortmund is thanking its lucky stars that Erling Haaland didn’t leave the club this summer as the Norwegian God did unspeakable things to Frankfurt during a 5-2 victory on Saturday.
Haaland was involved in all five of Dortmund’s goals bagging a brace and having a hat trick of assists.
The 21-year-old set up Marco Reus for the first goal after dribbling the ball down nearly half of and slipping it through to the Dortmund veteran.
Christian Pulisic opened his 2021/22 Chelsea scoring account in the first game of the season with a true poacher’s finish. With Chelsea leading 1-0 in the first half courtesy of a Marcos Alonso thunderbolt free kick, Pulisic made it 2-0 in the 40th minute.
One match, one goal for Christian Pulisic!
As one of the most historic runs with any sports organization ever comes to a sad end, we take a look through all of Lionel Messi's last significant moments with FC Barcelona because don't be sad it's over, smile because it happened.
After joining Barcelona's youth team at just 13 yeas of age in 2000, here we are almost 21 unbelievable, highlight-filled years later and the G.O.A.T has finally left his club. In a move no one saw coming, it's been confirmed that Messi will not sign a new contract and will no longer continue with Barcelona.
We’re all getting nice and familiar with 20-year-old USMNT phenom Brenden Aaronson at this point. The Medford, New Jersey native flew through the youth ranks at Philadelphia Union and immediately established himself as one of MLS’s brightest attackers despite being just a teenager.
So it’s over then? It’s really over? Lionel Messi, the Greatest Of All Time, is leaving Barcelona after the agreement of a new contract deteriorated in the face of “financial and structural obstacles (Spanish Liga regulations).”