Welcome to our weekly column. Every week the latest news from the football world will be discussed. From transfers and interesting results, to teams that are in top form. We cannot stop talking about football and would like to take you along. At the end of the column you will also find a list of gems, these are competitions that you should not miss this week. Just sit back for a while because this is your weekly moment of enjoyment: Doordebenen Tells!
The Netherlands
Ajax wins by a small margin from RKC
Of course Ajax was better in this match, Haller opened the score after fifteen minutes of play. It was strange that it stayed at this position for the rest of the match, but there were no real big chances for Ajax either. It is very special that again no Ajax player is sent off the field, Alvarez makes a striking move and is immediately punished with too light with yellow. A few minutes before the end ‘n Gonge shoots a beautiful free kick towards the intersection, but ends on the crossbar. It was a difficult victory for Ajax and RKC knows that there was more to it.
Vitesse after 90 minutes on a level with ADO
Despite Letsch’s contract being extended, Vitesse was left with a point against the last player ADO. The team from Arnhem played better, ADO is of course so low in the ranking. Despite this, ADO has many good players, but it just doesn’t work out. Vitesse attacked a lot and forced the most chances, but it was only attempts. The match ended in a bloodless draw (0-0), which is very strange when you see the number of goal attempts by both teams. This weekend the KNVB cup final awaits, Ajax against Vitesse. Both teams are not in their best shape, but we’ll see on Sunday.
Willem II and VVV Venlo have completely lost it
After just briefly discussing ADO, we now move on to the other relegation candidates. Emmen has regained its shape and they are fully committed to staying in the Eredivisie. Willem II and VVV Venlo, on the other hand, the track is completely lost. Willem II loses no chance against Heracles (4-0) and VVV Venlo could not resist PSV (0-2). Now these may be opponents they couldn’t have beat in their best form, but this hasn’t changed for weeks. VVV Venlo has already lost 11 games in a row in the Eredivisie, of course that is not the case with Willem II. But Emmen is currently in the best form of the three and they are on 21 points, the other two mentioned above at 22 points. So it will be exciting at the bottom and especially the last match can be decisive, Emmen against VVV Venlo.
England
Liverpool in the last minute past Aston Villa
Liverpool were looking for revenge against Aston Villa after their 7-2 (!) Defeat earlier this season. In the first half, the big chances were for Jurgen Klopp’s team, but the goal fell on the other side. Ollie Watkins shoots with sharp this season and managed to shoot in his 12th of the season.
In the second half, Liverpool had to turn on, and it seemed to be on the same level. But Firmino’s goal was disallowed for offside. A few minutes later it hit when Salah managed to head the ball in from the rebound. In the last minute, Alexander Arnold, the right back who is under heavy fire in England, managed to shoot the ball from the edge of the box into the far corner. He gave Liverpool three precious points in the battle for the Champions League.
Manchester City cannot make it against 10 Leeds United men.
The surprise of the weekend in England came in the match between Manchester City and Leeds United. The last time city lost was against Leicester in September and Guardiola’s team has been unbeaten for more than six months. City was the parent against Leeds (and that’s allowed with that budget), but Leeds was a lot more effective with the odds. Stuart Dallas fired in the 0-1 for Leeds just before half-time. A few minutes later, his teammate Cooper is shown the red print for a hard tackle on Jesus.
The second half promised to be a real shooting gallery. Yet it was only in the 75th minute that Ferran Torres managed to shoot the ball into the Leeds net. Normally the resistance against City would have been broken, but the men of Leeds continued to fight for what they were worth and even received the ultimate reward: Stuart Dallas suddenly comes free in the last minutes for the goalkeeper and shoots in the 1-2. The three points go to Leeds.
West Ham wins important game and remains in the race for the CL-Ticket
West Ham United is experiencing a top season and was allowed to play against a weakened Leicester city. Some Leicester players (Perez, Maddison, Barnes) were discredited for hosting a big party and trainer Brendan Rodgers chose to keep them out of the squad. It was the former ‘eternal talent; Jesse Lingard who managed to open the score and also took the 2-0 a few minutes later. When Jarred Bowen took the 3-0 in the 48th minute, the game was over. Leicester did a bit back through Iheanacho and so even came in at 3-2, but this resurrection came too late.
Italy
Inter can hardly miss
the title anymore Inter Milan has almost won the title. Conte’s team also had the ‘championship luck’ against Cagliari. In a game that was not the best, it was Darmian who managed to shoot the ball in and thus gave Inter the three points. We really liked the way of cheering of the Inter players, and had to share the facial expressions of Conte and Lukaku with you (see photo).
Red card for Ibrahimovic, but three points for Milan
Milan started with Ibrahimovic in the striker, and that is usually a guarantee for the three points. Of course, the team from Milan had to win against low flyer Parma. Already in the eighth minute, Ante Rebic managed to open the score after good preliminary work by Ibrahimovic. Just before half time it was midfielder Kessie who scored the 2-0.
In the second half, the Swedish striker jeopardized the three points. After repeatedly nagging the referee, the striker received a direct red card. Shortly thereafter, Parma scored the 2-1 and there was another game. However, Parma could not make a fist against ten men and even got 3-1 in the last minutes.
Lazio takes the win in the last minute and goes for European football
The battle for Champions League football is very exciting in Italy. Lazio is in sixth place and had to win to have another chance for a place in the champions ball. Against the stiff opponent Hellas Verona, it was far from a 0-0, until Sergej Milinkovic-Savic managed to head the ball in from a cross in the very last minute: three points towards Rome.
Germany
7 Goals in crazy game between Frankfurt and Wolfsburg
Meanwhile, a match between these two counts as one of the top matches of the season, both teams always go full throttle and that creates a lot of spectacle. Many players with scoring ability, including Weghorst, Jovic and Silva. And after 90 minutes, all these players were on the scoreboard. After barely 10 minutes it was already 1-1 and so again on the same level, Jovic made sure that Frankfurt had the lead back. The players came out of half time and Weghorst was still cold on the field or he shot another against the ropes, again the teams were level again. Then Frankfurt decided to accelerate and forced two goals and took a big lead, Wolfsburg was able to do something back five minutes before time, but this was not enough.
Bayern Munich again draw against Union Berlin
It turns out that Union Berlin is not really Bayern Munich’s favorite opponent, both matches ended in a 1-1 draw. Union Berlin is doing very well this year and is in a nice 7th place, last year they remained in 11th place. Both teams only scored two attempts on goal last Sunday, this is quite logical for a Union Berlin against the (possible) champion, but not the other way around. The match was very balanced and the goal of the young Musiala felt quite liberating, this did not last long as Ingvartsen scored the equalizer ten minutes later. 1-1 was therefore also the final result and Bayern spilled a few points here. Bayern is currently 5 points ahead of Redbull Leipzig in the Bundesliga, do you think it will be exciting?
Spain
Real Madrid the justified winner of El Clasico?
Never before had such an important El Clasico had such a dull appearance. It is precisely in these matches that the audience and the packed stadiums are sorely missed. An El Clasico for the Spanish title at the Real Madrid training complex really looks a lot less good. In the first half, it was Real Madrid who showed that they have the most experienced players. First it was Benzema who cleverly shot the ball behind his standing leg. Fifteen minutes later it was Toni Kroos who got the ball past Ter Stegen through the wall.
Barcelona had to go into the second half and did its best to force something. Madrid with the crafty midfield of Modric, Kroos and Casemiro managed to prevent this well. From a cross by Alba, it was eventually Mingueza who completed the ball. For a long time it remained 2-1 with opportunities for both teams, Messi was allowed to build a number of times from the edge of the sixteen but lacked sharpness. In the end Casemiro got his second yellow card, but this was in the last minutes of the game. Real Madrid took off with the important three points.
Atlético Madrid again lost points in a game.
Atlético seems to be succumbing to the pressure of Barcelona and Real Madrid. A few weeks ago they were nine points ahead and that is now only one point. The team was also unable to take the three points in the match against Betis Sevilla. Carrasco managed to quickly give Simeone’s team the lead, but the goal was nullified by Tello in the 25th minute. Both teams were unable to score and had to divide the points.
Wonderful duel on Monday evening between Sevilla & Celta de Vigo
Sevilla has beaten Celta de Vigo in a goal-rich duel: 3-4. At half-time it was already 3-3 and the defense of both teams seemed to be leaking. The second half was a lot more organized and both teams had fewer opportunities. In the end, it was Papu Gomez who points the ball over the goalkeeper and thus scored the winning goal. After a bad period, Sevilla has regained its shape and is firmly in fourth place.
France
2x Depay and an easy 3 points for Olympique Lyon
Olympique Lyon currently has only one goal and that is that Champions League ticket, AS Monaco is one point above them and above that PSG with one point. The difference at the top is therefore very small, the denouement can therefore become an exciting one. Angers was therefore not a difficult opponent for Lyon, Memphis managed to find the net twice and Paqueta once.
PSG with heavy legs still easy past Strasbourg
Last week PSG played a tough match against Bayern Munich, where they had their backs against the wall for maybe 80 minutes. The club from Paris decided not to hold back and after 45 minutes it was already 0-3, after the break it became 1-3 and Paredes ended the score with 1-4. Bakker was allowed to start in the base and Killian Mbappé also made 89 minutes, which is strange if you have a tough one next week. Maarja that kid is still young, he probably won’t be bothered by anything after 90 minutes.