The stars shone again during this European weekend. Karim Benzema and Robert Lewandowski illuminated the game of their team, while the armada of Manchester City got the better of the Red Devils, weakening the position of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. A reprieve that have not known two other Premier League coaches. Here is what to remember from the different championships of the Old Continent.
Lewandowski walks on water
Robert Lewandowski is a human being like everyone else. At the end of September, the Bayern Munich striker failed to score in two league games. Two statistical anomalies in the middle of the 13 goals scored this year in the league for the Pole. A hat-trick, a few doubles and an extraordinary consistency for a gargantuan appetite.
At 34, the Bavarian is at the top of his game. Again this weekend, he planted Bayern’s second goal for a new victory in the league (2-1) against Friborg, the ninth in eleven day to allow his club to prance in the lead, with four points ahead of Borussia Dortmund. If the votes for the Golden Ball are closed, Lewandowski has once again proved that his presence among the favorites was not usurped.
Benzema always essential
In the small game of the Golden Ball, Karim Benzema has not been outdone since the start of the season. With ten goals in eleven games and a new banderilla this weekend against Rayo Vallecano (2-1 victory), the French striker is riding the wave.
If Real Madrid struggles to convince, the performances reissued each week by the 33-year-old allow the White House to appear in second place in the standings, one point behind Real Sociedad, taking advantage of Barça’s rout and mistakes of Atlético de Madrid, slowed down this weekend by Valencia.
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Solskjaer, the song of the swan?
He certainly thought that the reviews of his work would turn into mere rumors over the weeks. That his thunderous start to the season (five wins and a draw to start) would allow him to continue without a hitch. Not to mention the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo, twirling since he put on again the tunic he had left a decade earlier.
But reality and fiction do not mix well in football and the results have ended up bringing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer back to earth. Two victories in a month, a stammering game, tactical choices not always clear.
Like the feeling of seeing, episodically, the summary of the Norwegian’s tenure at the head of the Red Devils. After the slap of Liverpool two weeks ago (5-0), the new home setback, facing the other enemy of the city, Manchester City (2-0), could be one too many for the former supersub.
Norwich, Aston Villa … the coaches waltz
They did not last on the bench another day. Dean Smith and Daniel Farke, coaches of Aston Villa and Norwich City respectively, were sacked this weekend. If the first city had lost to Aston Villa the day before, Farke had managed to win a precious success in the maintenance race on Saturday against Brentford. But his position as the red lantern, with five small points, got the better of him.
Thanks for everything, Daniel.#NCFC pic.twitter.com/68LV294BfO
– Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) November 6, 2021
Lautaro Martinez, the blow of the blackout
He’s been a shadow of himself for a month now. After a shattering start at the end of August with five goals in six games, Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez is experiencing a bit of slack. Silent since October 2, he was still struggling during the Milan derby on Sunday, November 7, missing a penalty that would have allowed his teammates to clinch victory (1-1).
In his wake, if the Italian champion was not dropped in the title race (3rd), his hellish pace at the start of the season – five wins to two draws in the league – has slowed considerably since his striker is in difficulty. Two wins for as many draws and a defeat against Lazio Rome, a contender for the title. So many evils to erase for the whimsical attacker of the Nerazzurri.