10 Key Talking Points in World Football for Weekend of September 27
It was another intriguing weekend in world football.
There were a number of intense derby matches, transfer rumours aplenty and a pair of continental Champions League semi-finals.
In this feature, we present the 10 key talking points—both positive and negative—from the last weekend of action. Each of these slides introduce issues that have prompted discussion and debate, so comment below and let us know what you think of some of the narratives introduced.
Jagielka Saves the Toffees
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When the ball bobbled into Phil Jagielka’s path in the dying moments of the Merseyside derby, few could have anticipated what happened next.
The England centre-back isn’t known for his finishing ability or technical prowess, but he made no mistake with this one, spanking a delicious shot into the top corner.
It was a magnificent moment.
Jagielka is a respected professional and a fine defender, but he doesn’t generate too many headlines.
A stoppage-time equaliser in a fierce local derby—especially when Everton could have ill afforded a defeat—was one of the most uplifting talking points of the weekend…well, for everyone except Liverpool fans, that is.
The Ruhr Derby
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Both Schalke 04 and Borussia Dortmund have endured stuttering starts to the Bundesliga campaign and had each lost two of their opening five heading into the Ruhr derby.
Ultimately, it was Schalke who claimed the win, picking up the three points at the Veltins-Arena.
In any weekend of football, this pulsating clash would be a worthy talking point. It is a contest riddled with sentiment, described beautifully here by The Guardian’s Raphael Honigstein:
"In the Revierderby, however, the usual rules of engagement don’t apply. The clash between the Ruhr neighbours Schalke 04 and Borussia Dortmund never knowingly undersells its emotional pull. It’s a pathos machine, pumping out random patterns of capital letter feelings (HATE-LOVE-JOY-PAIN) that come over the two sets of supporters like a biblical plague.
Otherwise normal, well-adjusted human beings are turned into nervous wrecks twice a season and, what’s more, they’re happy to suspend all rational detachment despite being perfectly aware of their affliction.
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Schalke picked up the win courtesy of goals from Cameroonian players Joel Matip and Eric Choupo-Moting.
As discussed on the African Football Weekly podcast, Choupo-Moting has been in fine form since stepping up from Mainz to Schalke this summer, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang continued his fine start to the season, grabbing Dortmund's consolation goal.
The Ronaldo Return
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Jose Mourinho looks to have successfully swapped Real Madrid for a Premier League return, could Cristiano Ronaldo be set to follow his former mentor from sunny Spain back to England?
Bleacher Report guest columnist Guillem Balague believes that Manchester United fans need to be patient in waiting for their former hero to return to Old Trafford. However, some of the club’s fans just can’t wait to have Ronaldo back at the club.
Several Red Devils supporters’ groups organised for a “Come Home Ronaldo” message to be flown over El Madrigal during Madrid’s weekend fixture with Villarreal.
Perhaps it was a perfect example of professionalism, but the player himself didn’t seem to bat an eyelid when glancing skyward at the banner.
Ronaldo and Luka Modric scored the goals that handed the capital club a 2-0 victory over the Yellow Submarine—at least United fans have good taste!
Mixed Emotions in North London
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North London derbies are always exciting, although this one was an engrossing-rather-than-explosive contest.
Arsenal and Tottenham are two sides that haven’t quite found their rhythm yet this season (although Arsenal’s demolition of Galatasaray may change things slightly), and their clash at the Emirates Stadium didn’t do much to alter that perception.
Nacer Chadli opened the scoring on 56 minutes before Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain saved face for the Gunners soon after.
Both sides have the right to feel at least slightly aggrieved: Arsenal, having largely dominated the contest, ought to have secured the victory, while Spurs, 1-0 up with a quarter of an hour to play, will feel they might have might have held on for what would have been a massive three points.
African Champions League Semi-Finals
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Heading into the semi-final second legs of the CAF Champions League, two particularly enticing potential finals were on the table.
On one hand, there was scope for an all-north African clash, with CS Sfaxien of Tunisia and ES Setif of Algeria both in the running. On the other, however, was the arguably a more enticing prospect for an all-Congolese clash between TP Mazembe and AS Vita Club.
In the history of the competition, no two clubs from the same nation have ever met in the final.
While Vita Club fulfilled their side of the bargain, securing an unlikely 2-1 victory away in Tunisia, Mazembe were unable to progress to their third final in five years.
A 75th-minute goal from Setif’s Sofiane Younes made it 3-2 to Mazembe on the day. However, following a 2-1 home victory for the Algerians in the first leg, the Maghrebi side advance to the final.
PSG Stutter Once Again
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Don’t let Paris Saint-Germain’s 3-2 Champions League victory over Barcelona fool you, all is not well with Laurent Blanc’s boys.
The reigning French champions currently sit in fourth in Ligue 1. Of their opening eight matches, they have won only three. They have fallen five points behind bitter rivals Olympique Marseille, who look relentless under Marcelo Bielsa.
Once again, this weekend, PSG appeared to lack cohesion against Toulouse.
They fell behind to a Wissam Ben Yedder goal, following a Serge Aurier error. And despite getting back into the contest through France under-21 forward Jean-Christophe Bahebeck, they only managed two shots on target.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic hasn’t featured for PSG since September 21, and while other players stepped up against Barcelona, Blanc will want his star striker back as soon as possible.
More Racism in Russia
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“Racist Chanting” and “Russian Football” are unfortunately familiar bed fellows these days, and the great bane of the sport in the nation reared its ugly head once again last weekend.
First of all, Congolese defender Chris Samba was banned for two games for gesturing to Torpedo Moscow fans after he was allegedly racially abused.
In the second incident, Brazil international Hulk was subjected to racist taunts during Zenit St Petersburg’s high-profile battle against Spartak Moscow.
According to Russia’s Sport Express, [via The Guardian], an investigation is underway into reported monkey chanting aimed at the former Porto forward.
Rooney's Red
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Oh, Wayne. It was a case of two steps forward, one step back for the Manchester United striker.
Having been underwhelming—and fairly heavily criticised—so far this season, Rooney delivered a fine display against West Ham United.
The England captain opened the scoring with his 176th Premier League goal after five minutes—his seventh in his last five games at Old Trafford.
The goal took Rooney to third in the Premier League all-time top scorer charts and Rooney appeared committed to securing three points for the Red Devils.
However, dedication overflowed with an ill-timed tackle on Stewart Downing.
Rooney appeared to be attempting a professional foul, but in kicking out at the West Ham man, there was little doubt that he deserved the red card.
United great Gary Neville, speaking on Sky Sports (h/t the Daily Mail), criticised Rooney after the match and branded the tackle as “stupid”.
Bou Completes His '5 in a Week'
9 of 10What a magnificent week it was for Gustavo Bou.
The striker helped Argentine side Racing Club pick up seven points from three taxing ties, cumulating with an impressive 4-1 away win over Belgrano on Sunday.
This triumph came after a hard-fought draw with Newell’s Old Boys and a terrific 2-1 away victory over Boca Juniors.
In the space of six days, as noted by my colleague Dan Colasimone, the striker managed five goals.
He scored two in Sunday’s win over the Celestes to round off a thoroughly unforgettable week.
Stalemate in Portuguese Heavyweight Clash
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Bleacher Report’s experts couldn’t quite decide who to back in the Portuguese heavyweight battle between Sporting Lisbon and FC Porto at the weekend.
Three of the six experts predicted both sides scoring and a one-goal winning margin, while Alex Dimond and Michael Cummings revealed that they were anticipating a 1-1 draw.
The latter pair were spot on, as both sides maintained their unbeaten starts to the season in a cagey 1-1 draw.
The home side had the best chance of winning it with a second-half Diego Capel effort, but in the end, both giants had to settle for a point.
Julen Lopetegui, Porto’s new boss, will be delighted to have preserved his unbeaten run at the club—now stretching to nine matches. His side sit one point behind Benfica, with Sporting two behind them.
