European football will still have offered small, but also big stories this weekend. Cristiano Ronaldo marked that of football with one more record to his name. The tears of Ukrainian Andriy Yarmolenko moved the Premier League. The return of Borussia Dortmund in the title race, or the funny victory of Juventus: here is what to remember from the matches played on Saturday and Sunday.
Ronaldo, the greatest scorer
He shouldn’t be upset. Criticized recently in England for his disappointing performances with Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo responded in the most beautiful way. The Portuguese flew over the clash against Tottenham on Saturday, signing a high-flying hat-trick. A hat-trick for an important victory in the race for Europe, but above all for history. With 807 goals, Ronaldo became the top scorer in football history, according to Fifa’s tally. He erases from the shelves the Czechoslovak Josef Bican, who raged between the 30s and the 50s.
However, this is not enough for the Red Devils to move up the standings, still fifth behind Arsenal, winner of Leicester (2-0) with a penalty from Alexandre Lacazette.
⚽️ Mr. Buts strikes again.
#CR7 sees triple and Manchester wins against Tottenham in the race for Europe.
The goals and the debrief of the match
▶️ https://t.co/SvrNRkpXf1 pic.twitter.com/zfCWTr6A9Q
– Canal Football Club (@CanalFootClub) March 12, 2022
Bayern caps, Dortmund grabs
The Bavarian steamroller is seized up. For the second day in a row, Bayern Munich could not do better than a draw, 1-1 at Hoffenheim. Borussia Dortmund was quick to take advantage of it. With the return of Erling Haaland, BvB won Sunday against Arminia Bielefeld (1-0). A short success, but very precious, since it allows the Marsupials to return to seven points from Bayern, still leader. With a late match to come on Wednesday against Mainz, Marco Rose’s men could even come back to within four lengths of their great rival and relaunch the German championship.
marius #Wolf‘s goal proved to be the winner as @BlackYellow edged past Bielefeld. ⚫
Welcome back to #Bundesliga action for @ErlingHaaland & Gio #Reyna. pic.twitter.com/rFyj0X0xMk
— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) March 13, 2022
Yarmolenko, a goal to drive out the demons of war
While the eyes of the whole planet are still on the war in Ukraine, Ukrainian expatriates are trying as best they can to live the situation from a distance. For West Ham player Andriy Yarmolenko, this one is painful. So his goal against Aston Villa not only launched the Hammers to victory (2-1 final score), but it was also a small release for the man with 106 caps with his national team. His tears as a celebration will go down as one of the most emotional moments of the season in England.
“I’m not 100% because in the last two weeks I’ve trained maybe three or four timeshe reacted after the match. Since February 26 (date of start of invasion)I had to rest for four days because it was impossible for me to train, I was only thinking about my family and my people.“
Yarmolenko’s goal and emotional reaction
▶️ https://t.co/SvrNRkpXf1 pic.twitter.com/YLD7iH4k60
– Canal Football Club (@CanalFootClub) March 13, 2022
Juve, mistress of opportunism
Juventus Turin signed their third success in a row in Serie A by winning on the lawn of Sampdoria in Genoa (1-3), the fifteenth consecutive match without defeat in the league for the players of Massimiliano Allegri. However, not everything was easy for the Old Lady, jostled by the locals. Even without mastering, Juve were able to find a resource that they lacked so much at the start of the season: opportunism. She was able to base her success on Saturday thanks to a two-goal lead at the break acquired… without having framed a single shot in the game! Maya Yoshida against his side, and Alvaro Morata from the penalty spot launched the Bianconeri on the road to success.
A good way to continue to put pressure on the Top 3, even if AC Milan (1st, 63 points, 1-0 winner against Empoli thanks to Frenchman Pierre Kalulu) and Naples (2nd, 60 points, 1-2 at Hellas Verona) had respondents. Only Inter Milan lost ground by saving the draw at Torino (1-1) in added time, and are only three points ahead of Juve.
Four goals, Barça’s new price
FC Barcelona is indeed back. The Catalan team outclassed Osasuna (4-0) on Sunday, their twelfth game in a row without defeat in La Liga. A series that the Blaugrana had started against their victim of the weekend, totally overwhelmed by this new look Barça. Holder, Ousmane Dembélé was again irresistible with two assists. Ferran Torres scored twice, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also went there with his achievement.
Xavi’s side have scored four goals for the fifth time in their last nine games, further proof of their comeback. And she regains her third place ahead of Betis, who won 1-0 from Bilbao, despite the red card received by Nabil Fékir for a useless gesture of humor.
[ RÉSUMÉ VIDÉO] #LaLiga
What a Barça game that crushes Osasuna, 4-0!!!
Ferran scores twice, Aubameyang and Riqui Puig complete the list of scorers!
Ousmane Dembélé also signed two assists.https://t.co/0WxN1y1UTz— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) March 13, 2022