Ronaldo’s moment to cherish
It was an exciting week of football across Europe’s top -five leagues.
From Cristiano Ronaldo’s landmark 700th club goal to Borussia Dortmund’s late equaliser in the Der Klassiker, here is what happened across European top- flight football.
Premier League goal of the fortnight
It was not a worldie or a Puskas award nomination by any measure, but Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal against Everton was significant for more than one reason.
Nowadays when the talk is about goals in the Premier League, the name that crops up is Manchester City’s Erling Haaland who has already bagged 15 goals in the competition. However, Ronaldo grabbed the headlines after scoring his first Premier League goal of the season against Everton which was a landmark as it was the 700th club goal of his illustrious career.
Not only was the goal a personal landmark, but it also turned out to be the matchwinner in United’s 2-1 win against Everton. In a lovely counter-attack, Casemiro found Ronaldo with an accurate pass down the left flank and the Portuguese scored with a solid grounded finish in the 44th minute.
Premier League save of the fortnight
Brighton and Hove Albion has always been a tricky opponent for the top teams of the Premier League and it was no different for Antonio Conte’s Tottenham Hotspur, which scraped to a 1-0 win against the Seagulls. Harry Kane’s goal in the 22nd minute had put the London side ahead but it was Hugo Lloris’ save in the 44th minute that turned out to be crucial in Tottenham getting the precious three points. Moises Caicedo pickpocketed Rodrigo Bentancur at the edge of the Spurs box to slide a good pass to Welbeck at the near-post who thundered a shot at goal. But Lloris used his experience well and got down to make the save to maintain Tottenham’s 1-0 lead. Gunners’ supremacy It is still early days but Arsenal, under Mikel Arteta, has been a revelation this season. With a 3-2 victory against Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, the Gunners built on their good start and reclaimed the top position in the Premier League table. Bukayo Saka was the star with his two goals and Gabriel Martinelli’s wizardry on the left flank was too much to deal with for the Reds.
La Liga goal of the fortnight
Valencia’s 2-1 win against Osasuna saw two red cards and two penalty misses but it was Justin Kluivert’s deft finish that was the highlight of the match. With the scores locked at 0-0, new-signing Edinson Cavani showed his playmaking ability and slipped a good pass to Kluivert who had timed his run perfectly to beat the two defenders around him. Once he got the ball, Kluivert kept his calm and lobbed the ball over Osasuna keeper Sergio Herrera who had ventured off his line.
La Liga save of the fortnight
Real Sociedad might have clinched a 1-0 win against Unai Emery’s Villarreal courtesy of Brais Mendez’s strike in the 33rd minute but it was keeper Alex Remiro, with his reflex save to deny Benat Turrientes in the 92nd minute, who kept the score in Sociedad’s favour. Villarreal was pushing hard for the equaliser and Turrientes had a great chance at the near-post late in second-half stoppage time as he blasted a shot at goal. But Remiro showed lightning reflexes to get down and knock the ball out of immediate danger.
Timely momentum for Barcelona
Barcelona had to work hard for its 1-0 win against Celta Vigo as Pedri’s goal proved to be enough for three points. The win took Barca to the top of the table with 22 points ahead of its El Clasico clash against Real Madrid on October 16.
Bundesliga goal of the fortnight
Moussa Diaby of Bayer Leverkusen