Top 10 Performances from Around the World for Weekend of May 1-3
Another epic weekend of action in the world of football saw titles clinched in Italy and England, among others, and plenty of important results at both ends of tables elsewhere.
In our weekly roundup of the top team performances, we this time take in no fewer than four different FIFA zones, spanning the entire globe, as we pitch scoreline, opposition, quality of play and importance in the league table against each other to rank the top displays of the weekend.
Here is the top 10 from the first weekend of May.
10. Melbourne City
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Starting in Australia and the A League, Melbourne City overcame Wellington Phoenix 2-0 in the elimination finals after both finished inside the top six during the regular season.
City advance into the semi-finals and a derby match against Melbourne Victory, who topped the regular-season table over 27 games and finished 18 points ahead of City. With a place in the Grand Final at stake, that clash should be one to remember.
Josh Kennedy netted one of City's goals against Wellington.
9. FC Dallas
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To MLS, in which the big result of the weekend came courtesy of FC Dallas, who spanked four past Houston Dynamo in the Texas derby to continue an impressive start to the season.
The 4-1 victory on the road was Dallas' fifth win from their nine games so far this term, taking them into first place in the Western Conference.
Colombian forward Fabian Castillo continued his good scoring start to the season by netting one of the four.
8. West Bromwich Albion
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Back-to-back teams from the Premier League now, starting with West Bromwich Albion.
A few had started to wonder if the Baggies might be drawn into the relegation battle late on this season after three straight losses in April, but after a 1-0 win at Old Trafford against Manchester United, WBA have now taken seven points from games against Crystal Palace, Liverpool and United.
Jonas Olsson deflected in Chris Brunt's free-kick for the only goal of the game, and 13th-placed West Brom moved onto 40 points as a result.
7. Leicester City
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Also in the Premier League, Leicester City's remarkable escape from the relegation zone continued apace with a barnstorming 3-0 win over the woeful Newcastle United.
A fourth win in five for Leicester has taken them to 17th, one point above the dotted line and just a point below Newcastle, who have now lost eight games in a row.
Leonardo Ulloa scored less than a minute into this match. Things got better for the Foxes as the game went on, scoring twice more without reply as their opponents were eventually reduced to nine men.
6. Monaco
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To Ligue 1 in France now, where AS Monaco recorded a thumping 4-1 win over Toulouse on Sunday, boosting their Champions League prospects as a result of the win and results elsewhere.
Impressive young forward Anthony Martial scored one and midfielder Joao Moutinho claimed another as Leonardo Jardim's side continued their mightily impressive second half of the campaign.
They sit in third with a five-point buffer down to Olympique de Marseille and only three matches left.
5. Boca Juniors
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The Superclasico in Argentina saw Boca Juniors score twice late on to beat River Plate and keep their place on top of the league.
Both teams were level on points heading into the match and, after an exciting opening, it was a predictably tight affair—until late goals from Cristian Pavon and Pablo Perez sent the Azul y Oro clear at the top.
Boca, along with fifth-placed Rosario, remain the only unbeaten team in the league, while it was a first loss for River.
4. Napoli
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Back to Europe now for the top four, starting with Napoli, who ultimately registered a predictably comfortable and impressive win over AC Milan in Serie A.
Chasing a top-three finish, Napoli ran out 3-0 winners thanks to goals from Marek Hamsik, Gonzalo Higuain and Manolo Gabbiadini—all within the space of six second-half minutes. Milan played the entire match with 10 men after Mattia De Sciglio was sent-off in the first minute.
Napoli stay in fourth, four points off Lazio in third with four games to play.
3. Real Madrid
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Real Madrid only won narrowly on Saturday, 3-2 the scoreline, but that victory over Sevilla meant they become the first side to win at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in La Liga this season.
The Andalusian side very nearly came back to take a point in a fantastic game, but Real Madrid's greater firepower eventually proved the difference, as they consistently created and took their chances. Cristiano Ronaldo ended up with a hat-trick, comprising two fine headers and a close-range finish.
Real stay second in the table in Spain, two points off leaders Barcelona.
2. Bayer Leverkusen
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Over to Germany now and the big scoreline to note was Champions League-chasing Bayer Leverkusen beating champions Bayern Munich 2-0.
Hakan Calhanoglu scored a tremendous free-kick and Julian Brandt added a late second as Leverkusen made it 10 matches without defeat in the Bundesliga to ensure they will finish no lower than fourth this season.
Third, and an automatic group spot for next season, is still up for grabs, though, with Bayer just two points behind Borussia Monchengladbach—who beat Hertha Berlin late on this weekend.
1. Barcelona
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Top of the charts this time around is Barcelona for their ruthless destruction of Cordoba in La Liga.
Frustrated and blocked at every turn for 40 minutes, the league leaders produced a devastating next 50 or so to rack up an incredible 8-0 scoreline and surpass the 100-goal mark for the season in the league alone.
Luis Suarez scored a hat-trick, Lionel Messi hit two and Neymar got one as the front three continued their rampage of recent weeks. Ivan Rakitic and Gerard Pique also got in on the act.
Cordoba were relegated, while Barcelona remain two points clear and on course for a treble season.
