Top 10 Performances from Around the World for Weekend of October 24-26
Another weekend of top-flight action in the world of football has come and gone, with big results in many of the major leagues, including plenty of battles at the top of each division in the likes of Germany, the United States and Spain.
Some top performances came during some of those games and plenty of others further down the league ladder too. We've taken a look at the weekend's fixtures for you to compile the 10 best showings, based on results, performances and opposition.
Here is B/R's Top 10 Performances from Around the World for the Weekend of October 24-26.
10. Vancouver Whitecaps
1 of 10
We start off with a narrow victory, a 1-0 home win for Vancouver Whitecaps over Colorado Rapids.
This wasn't just any run-of-the-mill win, though, with the three points sealing the final place in the MLS Cup playoffs for the Whitecaps. Centre-back Kendall Watson scored the all-important goal with just 20 minutes left on the clock. With rivals Portland Timbers winning earlier on Saturday, only a win would have done for Vancouver.
It was a worthy win too, as they dominated possession and chances against their Western Conference rivals.
9. Borussia Monchengladbach
2 of 10
Over to Europe now—in fact we stay in Europe throughout for the rest of our slide.
The German Bundesliga has just completed its ninth game week, yet three teams remain unbeaten in 2014-15, with two of those clashing at the weekend. Borussia Monchengladbach showed just how far they have come under Lucien Favre with a resolute, determined and tactically impressive display in their 0-0 draw against leaders Bayern Munich.
It wasn't a defensive performance as such but instead focused on containment and counter-attacks, which could easily have seen Gladbach take all three points.
8. Nice
3 of 10
Ligue 1's Nice racked up one of the biggest scorelines of the weekend as they travelled to Guingamp, where despite falling behind early on, they went on to win 7-2.
In terms of chances created and possession, it was a fairly even game (for clinical edge and finishing prowess, there was only one team in it), but Nice were aided by some fairly horrendous errors by the home defence.
Carlos Eduardo was the star as he helped his team up to seventh in the table.
7. Malaga
4 of 10
To Spain and La Liga, where Malaga have found themselves in a rich vein of form and recorded their third league win in succession at the weekend, 4-0 at home to Rayo Vallecano.
Samu, Sergi Darder, Juanmi and Nordin Amrabat all hit the target for the south coast side, keeping them undefeated at home this season and pushing Malaga up to seventh in the table following their recent surge.
With out-of-form Real Sociedad and Eibar the next two teams on Malaga's fixture list, this great run could go on a while yet, giving them hope of having a successful season.
6. PSV
5 of 10
PSV Eindhoven also made it three wins in a row at the weekend, picking up a big 5-1 away victory over Utrecht.
They were already a goal up when their opponents were reduced to 10 men—PSV scored from the resulting penalty—but they made full use of the extra man and must be credited for their relentless approach, even in the final stages when the match was won.
Jorrit Hendrix, who has been praised for his form in recent weeks, was among the scorers.
5. Real Madrid
6 of 10
Perhaps the biggest game in world football right now—it certainly was this weekend—is La Liga's Clasico: Real Madrid vs. Barcelona.
The Catalan side took an early lead, but that was as good as it got for the league leaders, as Real stormed back to win 3-1 thanks to goals from Cristiano Ronaldo, Pepe and Karim Benzema.
Coupled with other results, it leaves the top five in Spain all within two points of each other, with Real placed right in the middle of it all in third.
4. West Ham United
7 of 10
To the Premier League in England, where reigning champions Manchester City suffered their second defeat of the season and later dropped out of the top two.
West Ham United were their surprise victors, with Morgan Amalfitano scoring before Diafra Sakho hit what is fast becoming his customary goal a game. The Hammers won 2-1, and there were few complaints about the outcome.
West Ham have now won three in a row and four out of their last five, leaving them in fourth place.
3. Zenit
8 of 10
Zenit continue to impress at the top of the Russian Premier League and racked up yet another big win this weekend, dispatching Mordovia Saransk 5-0 after a second-half onslaught.
All the big stars got in on the action this time around: Hulk, Aleksandr Kerzhakov, Axel Witsel and Danny were all able to find the back of the net, plus an own goal.
The win leaves Zenit top, four points clear of CSKA Moscow and with the best defensive and attacking records in the league.
2. Sporting Braga
9 of 10
The big three in Portugal win so routinely that it's always a turn up for the books when one drops points and signals a potential shift in the title race.
Benfica became the first of the Primeira Liga's big guns to blink in 2014-15, losing their first game of the season, 2-1, away to Sporting Braga. The hosts survived going a goal down early and losing a man late on to mount a winning rally in the final 10 minutes.
Salvador Agra grabbed the winner for Braga, who move back up to fifth in the table—five points behind leaders Benfica.
1. Istanbul Basaksehir
10 of 10
All of Galatasaray's thoughts last week were so focused on beating rivals Fenerbahce—which they did—that they seemed to have forgotten all about their next game.
Newly promoted side Istanbul Basaksehir have somehow escaped wide recognition for their efforts in 2014-15, but seven matches into the campaign, that has now changed. They remain unbeaten—the only other team with an unbeaten record in the Super Lig are leaders Besiktas—and climbed to seventh after smashing Galatasaray, 4-0, on Sunday.
Former Turkey international Semih Senturk, pictured, was among the scorers for his new club.
