THE GAME
Is soccer a sport that is played 11 against 11 and in the end, Bayern Munich win?
This adage usually applies to the German selection, but allow ourselves to transpose it to the Bavarian team for our needs of the day. Because despite the beautiful goals and the fine game offered by Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, it was their rival Munich who won the 105e Klassiker of the Bundesliga, with a 3-2 victory.
As usual, this duel offered spectacle and intensity.
It was 1-1 after 10 minutes, with Borussia taking the lead on an excellent dribble followed by an impeccable finish from Julian Brandt in the 5e minute, before Robert Lewandowski replied for Munich (9e). The German league leaders then played a bit of luck on a twice deflected Kingsley Coman strike. It was 2-1 just before half-time.
The context was therefore perfect to see the Norwegian from Dortmund Erling Haaland, who at 21 is already one of the biggest stars of international soccer, equalize with a superb curling strike as soon as the break returns.
Bayern’s third goal came from Lewandowski’s foot on a controversial 77-minute penaltye. The Pole scored his 16e league goal. No offense to Marco Rose, coach of Dortmund, who was sent off in view of his reaction to the referee’s decision.
After the match, young Englishman from Borussia Jude Bellingham had a lot to say: “You give the greatest match in Germany to a referee who has already rigged a match, what are you waiting for then? “, He launched at the microphone of Viaplay.
A Klassiker who made sparks, therefore, and who allowed Bayern to consolidate its leadership position with 34 units, 4 more than Dortmund.
The Canadian Alphonso Davies played the 90 minutes of this meeting.
THE GOAL
There is the strike, and there is the construction that leads to it. Everything about this achievement by Lucas Moura for Tottenham is delectable.
He grabs the ball just in the final third, deftly beats a Norwich player to catch it more in the middle, then hands Korean Son Heung-min. The latter throws it in one-two. A few judicious little touches of control later and surrounded by five opposing players, the Brazilian takes one of those strikes from outside the box that is no doubt: it is spectacularly 1-0 Tottenham in the 10e minute. The Spurs will ultimately win 3-0.
The skies were dark over North Londoners following the dismissal of Portuguese coach Nuno Espírito Santo on 1er last november. But since the hiring of the Italian Antonio Conte, with a successful CV, it’s 3 wins and 1 draw in 4 Premier League games.
At 5e rank with 25 points and a game in hand, the Spurs are now eagerly eyeing the 4e place held by West Ham (27 points), the same one that gives access to the Champions League next season. Now is enough that Harry Kane unlocks, and Tottenham could believe it.
CANADIANS
PHOTO DENIS CHARLET, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ARCHIVES
Jonathan David (center)
Jonathan David can’t stop scoring. He is so unable to restrain himself that as soon as he came into play for Lille at half-time on Saturday, he equalized the score at 1-1 against Troyes, at the 48e. He grabbed the ball in the final third, surprisingly thin on his own at the left point, then headed straight for the keeper. His right-footed shot deflected at the goalkeeper but ended up in the back of the net.
Everything the Canadian touches right now is turning to gold. It was also his shot from a narrow angle in the penalty area which forced a goal against his camp at Troyes, a net which gave the Mastiffs the lead in the 85e.
David is alone in the scorers ranking of the French Ligue 1, with his 11 goals in 17 games.
And its successes attract attention. After Liverpool and Inter Milan, now Arsenal would be in the race for the acquisition of its services. The next transfer window opens on 1er January 2022. It would be surprising if Jonathan David was still a member of Lille on 1er next february.
PHOTO BEN STANSALL, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ARCHIVES
Left to right: Melanie Leupolz, Jessie Fleming, Pernille Harder and Niamh Charles with the FA Cup trophy, Sunday
On the women’s side, Canada’s Jessie Fleming covered herself in confetti by winning the 2020 FA Cup delayed final with Chelsea. His team won 3-0 against Arsenal on Sunday.
The young star of the Canadian selection, gold medalist in Tokyo, played the 90 minutes of this dominant performance. The match was played at Wembley in front of more than 40,000 people. Englishwoman Fran Kirby (3e) and Australian Sam Kerr (57e, 77e) scored the winning goals.
THE PERFORMANCE
Do you remember Patrik Schick, the Czech who was one of the revelations of Euro 2020 with his five goals in as many games, including the one who was voted the most beautiful goal of the tournament?
He’s just put on four in a single game for Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, a 7-1 win over Greuther Feurth.
Admittedly, Greuther Feurth are the worst team in the division and still have zero wins in 14 games this season. But you have to do it all the same: his four goals in 30 minutes (49e, 69e, 74e and 76e) move him to second place in the Bundesliga scorers chart, behind Robert Lewandowski.