Europe

Goals change games. That’s pretty much football 101. That’s how the game works. But not every goal is created equal. This week in Serie A, the true value of a goal was shown to be different on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. So let’s take a look at the three goals that defined the weekend and why they differed so widely. 

“For f**k’s sake. Have you got nothing else to talk about?” was Neymar’s recent response when asked about wild speculation linking him with a transfer to Real Madrid. No, is now the Spanish media’s resounding answer.

Benevento’s raucous point against AC Milan on Sunday, their first after 15 matches in Serie A, was as historic as it was surreal. It put an end to the worst losing start ever in Europe’s big five leagues, but it was also miraculously earned by goalkeeper Alberto Brignoli after the shot-stopper pushed forward on a 95th minute free kick.

Also, it was a glorious diving header to make life that much more hellish for the floundering seven-time European champions, Milan.

The winner of the 2017 Ballon d’Or will be announced in a week (December 7) at an insufferable awards gala in Paris, but it’ll be a non-event for those who don’t identify as legionnaire fanboys of either Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi. One of the two will win it and deserve to win it, and the needle is decidedly edging towards Ronaldo after another monster season that saw Real Madrid outperform Barcelona in both the Champions League and La Liga.