MADRID - It might be a new season, but the same old Atlético Madrid are in town. Meanwhile, is Vinícius Júnior finally ready to flourish? And does Manuel Pellegrini have a point about the entertainment value of the league?
Here are the talking points from the weekend's action in LaLiga.
New season, same Atlético
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.
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.
The Women’s International Champions Cup returns on Wednesday, giving us a rare glimpse of how the best club sides in Europe match-up with the NWSL elite. This year’s tournament boasts the defending UEFA Women’s Champions League winner, Barcelona, and the most recent NWSL champ, the Portland Thorns.
Barcelona logró una fortificante victoria por 4-2 en su primer partido de LaLiga en la Era DM (Después de Messi).
Tras la dolorosa salida del astro argentino, por problemas financieros del club, aún es extraño ver una formación blaugrana sin su apellido. De hecho, es primera vez en 18 años que su nombre o su figura está completamente fuera de la película.
Pero bueno, habrá que acostumbrarse, ¿no?
There’s life without Lionel Messi in Barcelona, but if it continues in the same vein as Sunday’s 4-2 win over Real Sociedad, it’s going to be a batshit crazy existence.
Atlético de Madrid inició la defensa de su título en LaLiga con una apretada victoria sobre el Celta de Vigo. El duelo terminó 2-1 en favor de los colchoneros y acabó en medio de una gran trifulca, provocada luego de un pisotón sobre el uruguayo Luis Suárez.
VIGO, Spain - Atlético Madrid began their LaLiga title defense with a 2-1 win away to Celta Vigo on Sunday thanks to two strikes from Argentine forward Ángel Correa although the game ended with a mass brawl and a player from each side was sent off.
Luis Suárez began the game on the bench and Correa took full responsibility for the team's attacking duties, firing Atlético ahead midway through the first half after a marauding run from Thomas Lemar.
The soccer world has been without its greatest villain, or hero depending on if he’s on your team. A new Diego Costa transfer could be announced soon and the 32-year-old plans on taking his talents to Brazil with Atlético Minerio.
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