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In some ways, you have to feel bad for João Pedro. In others, you can’t help but laugh at the Cagliari striker for not knowing better. After the João Pedro free kick fiasco against Lazio on Thursday, either reaction is appropriate.

Early in Cagliari’s visit to Lazio, the referee blew his whistle for a foul about 30 yards from Lazio’s net. João Pedro stepped up and smashed the free kick straight into the back of the net. 

It was a flabbergasting shot, rifled straight into the upper 90.

And it didn’t count.

Duván Zapata scored the first goal for Atalanta in a 2-2 draw with league-leading Juventus on Saturday. Moments later he added injury to insult in quite possibly the worst way imaginable with the Zapata stomp on Matthijs de Ligt.

Zapata, a 29-year-old Colombian striker, gave Atalanta the lead when he brushed past Rodrigo Betancur to reach a pass from Papu Gómez, firing a low shot past Wojciech Szczesny in goal.

Six days shy of his two-year anniversary of signing with Juventus, Cristiano Ronaldo finally scored a free kick for his new club. A stellar Cristiano Ronaldo free kick on Saturday helped the Bianconeri cruise past Torino 4-1 on a record-breaking day for goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

Let me just get this out of the way first: I love the VAR. I think video replay is a necessary addition to soccer and greatly improves the accuracy of match-changing calls. But that Harry Kane disallowed goal on Thursday was BS, even if the VAR technically got it right.

The moment in question came in the 33rd minute of Tottenham’s 3-1 defeat at Sheffield United. The Blades had gone ahead less than two minutes earlier through Sander Berge, but Spurs thought they had found a quickfire response.

Virgil Van Dijk has received plenty of credit over the last two years for his stellar defensive abilities. The Dutch defender gave the Messi-Ronaldo hegemon a run for its money in the 2019 Ballon d’Or race while leading Liverpool to a Champions League title. Many say he is the best center back in the world right now.

Liverpool is marching toward its first Premier League title in three decades. Whether it happens this week or next, it’s inevitable, just like the stupendous Trent Alexander-Arnold free kick vs Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

The Reds hosted the Eagles at Anfield in what could be their final match before wrapping up the title, a 4-0 victory. The win Wednesday combined with Manchester City losing or drawing to Chelsea on Thursday would hand Jurgen Klopp’s side the trophy. 

It’s been a while, but Hirving Lozano’s goal Tuesday night might just be the spark Chucky needs to earn his spot back in Napoli’s lineup.

Chucky Lozano hadn’t appeared for Gli Azzurri since Feb. 9, when came on for the final 14 minutes of a defeat to Lecce. Since Gennaro Gattuso took over on Dec. 10, Lozano had made just six appearances (one start) while not appearing in 10 matches before Tuesday. 

MADRID — LaLiga basement side Leganes snatched a 1-1 draw at fellow strugglers Real Mallorca thanks to a sensational late free kick from Oscar Rodriguez as they earned their first point since the season returned after the hiatus forced by the new coronavirus.

Veteran midfielder Salva Sevilla, 36, put Mallorca in front after nine minutes with a free kick which he slid under the wall and past flummoxed goalkeeper Ivan Cuellar.

Christian Eriksen spent seven seasons with Tottenham; David Ospina played with Arsenal for four seasons. The former North London rivals faced off in Italy in the Coppa Italia semifinals on Saturday, and the result was a stunning Christian Eriksen olimpico vs Napoli that nutmegged the former Gunner.

We’re finally getting back into the swing of watching soccer around the globe as leagues gradually return to action following novel coronavirus pandemic shutdowns. With more and more highlights to watch, we’re actually at a point where it’s easy to miss the best action from a day’s events. Case in point: this Andre Silva goal vs Hertha Berlin on Saturday.