Weekend Review: Haaland unstoppable, Everton rotten

Another weekend of European soccer is within the books and, as soon as once more, there may be drama in all places you look. In addition to Arsenal’s large win over Manchester United, the Premier League noticed Liverpool and Chelsea play out a dismal draw whereas Erling Haaland set extra information on the subject of his targets.

– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, extra (U.S.)

Elsewhere, Bayern Munich confronted a tough return to Bundesliga motion, Real Madrid rallied for a memorable win in LaLiga, and it looks as if time’s operating out for Everton.

ESPN correspondents Julien Laurens, James Tyler, Sam Marsden and Luis Miguel Echegaray break down the large stuff you could know in regards to the weekend.

Jump to: Talking points | Best goals | Teams in trouble | MVP of the Weekend

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Talking factors

My Kingdom for a objective: Liverpool, Chelsea draw once more

It’s an excellent factor Chelsea spent all that cash to accumulate Mykhailo Mudryk as a result of no less than the Ukraine worldwide revived one of many dreariest matches we’ll see all season within the Premier League. Saturday’s stalemate signifies that it has now been practically 400 minutes since this fixture has seen a objective … and that is precisely what this weekend’s sport was: stale.

“Arsene Wenger lost his 1000th game 6-0,” mentioned Jurgen Klopp after the historic achievement. “So I’m really happy that didn’t happen.”

Well, Jurgen. At least that may have been entertaining.

– Tyler: Liverpool and Chelsea stay mired in mid-table

Yes, accidents performed an element as each side are presently with out key personnel, however that did not excuse the shortage of high quality. There was nonetheless sufficient expertise and pedigree to make it a aggressive sport, however the chilly laborious reality — for coaches Graham Potter and Klopp — is that at this second, their groups are mid-table materials and their hopes of European competitors for subsequent season are fading away.

“I said before the game we have to be ready for little steps and this is a little step,” Klopp mentioned after the sport. “A clean sheet against Chelsea.”

It’s a good level from the German supervisor, however is that this (a) an optimistic remark that may hopefully rally the troops or (b) does it replicate a harsh actuality that Liverpool, fairly merely, are inferior to they was once and may simply want huge modifications sooner moderately than later.

Potter must be the happier of the 2 as getting something at Anfield isn’t a simple activity, however continued enchancment — and a more healthy squad — is a necessity. For now, these two former Premier and Champions League winners — with 29 factors and an nearly identically dismal report — have much more to do in the event that they wish to reclaim some previous glory. — Echegaray

Juventus get a giant consequence after a horrible week

What every week it has been for Juventus. Between the beating by Napoli final weekend, the large sanctions on Friday, and Sunday’s dwelling draw towards Atalanta, it has been terrible going, besides for his or her victory within the Coppa Italia on Wednesday towards Monza.

Everybody was ready for the on-pitch response from the staff towards Atalanta, two days after the 15-point deduction, and coach Max Allegri was superb in his information convention to deliver all of the questions over the punishment to the sector.

– Explaining Juventus’ mess: What they did fallacious and what it means

The response was good. Juve began the 2 halves poorly, however additionally they put Atalanta below stress, particularly within the first half after going a objective down. Their xG was a lot greater than their opponents’, particularly earlier than the break, however general, the purpose earned on Sunday is a manner of stopping the present nightmare.

Juve are actually ninth within the desk, 14 factors behind Roma presently in fourth place. Allegri would not need his gamers to have any regrets on the finish of the season when it comes to the place they end. The supervisor wished a response and he acquired it. The membership wished gamers popping out combating they usually did. In the top, possibly Sunday’s 3-3 draw is value greater than some extent. — Laurens

Bayern should work laborious in the event that they’re to retain the Bundesliga

Bayern Munich have a five-point hole on the prime of the Bundesliga, however their first sport again after a protracted winter break (which included the World Cup) confirmed that they are nonetheless not the well-oiled machine they’re going to have to be as a way to obtain their aims this season.

A visit to RB Leipzig — who’re credibly the second-best staff within the league as of late when it comes to particular person expertise — was an awesome check after practically two months off, and a check is strictly what the defending champions acquired. A well-worked Bayern objective was completed with aplomb by Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, who tapped in Serge Gnabry‘s good cross from the left, however that was actually their most coherent transfer of the match. For probably the most half they struggled to discover a manner by means of Leipzig, with defenders Josko Gvardiol and Willi Orban greater than as much as the problem.

In the top, Bayern held the lead for little greater than quarter-hour as Marcel Halstenberg — maybe the person of the match general — scrambled within the equalizer after Andre Silva‘s lofted cross was nodded goal-ward by Dominik Szoboszlai. The two sides traded half-chances for the rest of the second half, in the end settling for the draw.

I’m positive there’s little in the way in which of panic inside Bayern HQ after maybe their most tough street journey of the complete season, however there was an expectation of a right away return to peak type after the break and that merely did not occur. We may properly find yourself with a title race in any case. — Tyler

Never write Real Madrid off

“Don’t write us off yet, we will come through this,” Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti mentioned earlier this week. And he was proper — other than the very fact everybody is aware of by no means to put in writing off Real Madrid anyway.

Madrid adopted up their gorgeous Copa del Rey comeback victory over Villarreal midweek by profitable 2-0 at San Mames towards Athletic Club on Sunday. Karim Benzema — who drew degree with Raul on 228 league targets, bettered solely by Cristiano Ronaldo — and Toni Kroos scored in every half to maintain Madrid inside three factors of leaders Barcelona.

– Kirkland: Real Madrid avert disaster with win at Bilbao

It was a candy finish to a tough fortnight. After shedding to Villarreal in LaLiga and being crushed by Barca within the Spanish Supercopa ultimate, some questions had been requested about Madrid’s post-World Cup type. Those questions accentuated once they discovered themselves 2-0 all the way down to Villarreal within the Copa del Rey in midweek at half-time. However, they got here again to win that sport 3-2 to arrange a quarterfinal with Atletico Madrid this week after which received away in Bilbao, which is without doubt one of the tougher away video games in LaLiga.

As Ancelotti mentioned, by no means write them off.

Madrid wanted to rediscover some type given the schedule dealing with them within the coming weeks, beginning with that Madrid derby within the Copa del Rey on Thursday. They then have league video games towards high-flying Real Sociedad and Valencia earlier than February journeys to Morocco for the Club World Cup and Liverpool within the Champions League. — Marsden

BENZEMA LEFT FOOT VOLLEY! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/6UukPzq5xI

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 22, 2023

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Goals

Morata objective enhances great thing about Griezmann’s flick

Alvaro Morata’s strike for Atletico Madrid this weekend was good, nevertheless it was particularly good due to the help from Antoine Griezmann. The France ahead despatched Morata by means of with a luxurious flick that deserved to be completed with a objective. Morata duly utilized, slicing again onto his proper foot to ship the defender sliding out of the image earlier than burying the ball within the backside nook.

The objective opened the scoring as Atletico routed Real Valladolid to maneuver again into the highest 4. Griezmann was additionally heading in the right direction on the day whereas Memphis Depay, a €3 million signing from Barcelona this week, made his debut off the bench. Things are trying up for Atletico … however we have mentioned that earlier than this season. — Marsden

HIGHLIGHTS: #AtletiRealValladolid

A masterclass from @AntoGriezmann helps @Atleti hold the three factors! 🔴⚪️#LaLigaHighlights pic.twitter.com/kcrBE0AyTh

— LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) January 21, 2023

Bellingham, Reyna bangers assist BVB past Augsburg

Borussia Dortmund video games are all the time a curler coaster, whether or not they’re profitable 5-0, shedding 3-0 or conceding 3 times in six minutes to show a 2-0 lead right into a 3-2 defeat. (These are all precise outcomes Dortmund have endured this season.) Sunday’s match towards Augsburg introduced a variation on that theme as Dortmund had leads of 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2, letting all of them slip just for Giovanni Reyna to thunder in a winner for a 4-3 full-time rating.

Let’s give credit score to 2 of their targets: first up, Jude Bellingham‘s thunderous opener for the hosts. Just when it regarded like Dortmund had squandered a spell of menace across the Augsburg space, Bellingham shuffled into an inch of area and thumped a shot past Rafal Gikiewicz.

BELLINGHAM SCORES IN DORTMUND’S FIRST GAME BACK 😤 pic.twitter.com/6i4pl4GXEr

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 22, 2023

Then, with issues tied 3-3 late within the sport, up stepped the U.S. worldwide Reyna for Dortmund’s winner. After a speculative lengthy ball was flicked on by Bellingham, Reyna solely wanted a second to manage and volley past Gikiewicz from a slender angle.

Two nice targets in a sport that had seven, and three factors for Dortmund. Enjoyable all spherical. — Tyler

GIO REYNA GOLAZO TO GIVE DORTMUND A 4-3 LEAD! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/3PpTXUV2q6

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 22, 2023

Di Lorenzo’s first for first-class Napoli

If there was a time to attain your first objective of the season, Giovanni Di Lorenzo couldn’t have picked a greater second. Just earlier than half-time on Saturday, within the derby away at Salernitana, the Napoli captain completed an awesome attacking transfer by smashing the ball below the bar of Memo Ochoa’s objective to open the scoring.

Di Lorenzo is the fifteenth totally different objective scorer within the league this season for Napoli, which is a outstanding determine that speaks to the unimaginable attacking energy of this staff.

Until the top, it has been a battle and a disappointing half actually for the Serie A leaders, who had been with out their revelation Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. But Di Lorenzo unlocked the sport in emphatic style. After beginning each single league sport this season and being a constant performer, it was becoming that in some unspecified time in the future he’d add one thing else to the three assists he has had to date this marketing campaign.

With this 2-0 win instigated by Di Lorenzo (Victor Osimhen — who else — scored the second objective), Napoli have now a 12-point hole on the prime of the desk over AC Milan, who play on Tuesday towards Lazio. And if even their right-back is beginning to rating and be decisive then it should actually be their yr. — Laurens

Frank + Giò = ⚽️

💙 #ForzaNapoliSempre pic.twitter.com/H9RhIf2RUc

— Official SSC Napoli (@sscnapoli) January 22, 2023

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Teams in hassle

Everton are on the brink

Liverpool followers may really feel like they’ve it unhealthy as of late, however their neighbors throughout the park are actually in it in the intervening time. Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at West Ham was Everton’s fourth straight (all competitions) for the reason that flip of the brand new yr, and it was one other deserved consequence: Frank Lampard’s aspect mustered simply 5 pictures in 90 minutes and slack defending allowed Jarrod Bowen to attain twice in seven minutes late within the first half. It was sadly all too simple for the Hammers, who had taken only one level from their seven league video games previous to this weekend and had huge confidence problems with their very own.

If there was ever a sport the place the Toffees might have turned the tide, it was this one and but it was a hopeless 90 minutes. Again. With reviews of board members staying away from video games as a result of “credible threats,” a number of pressure round Lampard’s tenure as supervisor and a troublesome run of video games forward — league-leading Arsenal at dwelling, adopted by Liverpool away — there would not appear a lot hope of respite.

With only one win in all competitions since Oct. 22, it is bleak proper now at Goodison Park. — Tyler

Celta Vigo hurtling towards the relegation zone

Celta Vigo finish the weekend out of the underside three, however solely on objective distinction after defeat at Mallorca on Saturday. Ignoring a 1-0 win towards Elche earlier this month — Elche haven’t received a league sport all season — you need to return to Oct. 2 to seek out Celta’s final victory in LaLiga.

That win over Elche was their solely three-point haul of their previous 11 matches, a run that is included defeats to Real Valladolid, Almeria and now Mallorca.

Not even eight league targets from captain and talisman Iago Aspas have been sufficient to maintain them out of hassle on the backside. Above Elche and Cadiz, they’re now one among three groups tied on 17 factors. With Athletic Bilbao, Real Betis, Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad to return of their subsequent 4 video games, it is laborious to see the place a win is coming from for Carlos Carvalhal’s strugglers. — Marsden

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Weekend MVP

Haaland breaks extra information

How do you reply to scoring just one objective in your previous 4 video games in case you are Erling Haaland? By scoring a hat trick, in fact. One in 4 would have felt like a mini drought for the Norwegian striker. It has not occurred many instances in his profession, although it was by no means going to final. The Wolves defenders tried their greatest and stored him quiet for 40 minutes earlier than Haaland the Inevitable took over.

Three targets within the area of 14 minutes both aspect of half-time, together with one penalty, made it 25 targets now in 19 league matches this season. It is an obscene quantity, unmatched within the historical past of the Premier League, and numbers that solely the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi would put up (Robert Lewandowski at his greatest too).

Haaland has now 4 hat methods within the Premier League already this season, and in simply his nineteenth profession sport at this degree. He destroyed the report of Ruud Van Nistelrooy, who took 65 (!) matches to internet his fourth hat trick in England. Luis Suarez did it in 81, Alan Shearer in 86 and Robbie Fowler in 89. Countless others by no means scored 4 hat methods of their Premier League profession.

Only Shearer, by the way in which, has had greater than 4 hat methods in a home season, again in 1995-96 when he netted 5 triples. Haaland nonetheless has 18 video games left to equal or beat him. It is simply unimaginable. The 22-year-old ahead has already crushed the previous three Golden Boot tallies of 23 (Mo Salah and Heung-Min Son final season, Harry Kane in 2020-21 and Jamie Vardy in 2019-20). Can he catch Salah’s report of 32 from the 2017-2018 season? It could be very possible. He is on track for nearly 50 league targets this marketing campaign if he continues like this.

And now, two extra stats on our weekend’s MVP to indicate once more how irrational his Sunday was and his season is. He scored his hat trick off 4 pictures towards Wolves. His 25 targets to date got here from 74 pictures. Sergio Aguero, who’s City’s all-time prime objective scorer, took 150 pictures to attain his first 25 targets for the membership. — Laurens