Lyon vs PSG, 0-1
Neymar moves to score the winning goal
Despite the booing and object thrown at him, Neymar made good his pay check with a terrific display of football wizardry in the 86th minute. He had his back to the post and after receiving the ball, he swung around and immediately jabbed the ball beyond the reach of goalie, Lopes. It was not just a breakthrough for the visitors, it put an end to Lyons resistance. With three minutes to go, that goal was well deserved by the defending champions who had played the game with a winning spirit.
Sevilla vs Real 0-1
Madrid Zinedine Zidane smiled heartily when Karim Benzema did what he is best known for with his head, he rose higher than the Sevilla defender after collecting a beautiful pass from Dani Carvajal and scored the winning goal of the match in the 64th min.
The goal not only took the steam out from the threatening Sevilla side but also cancelled out a looming historical tragedy. According to football analysts:
“If Real had lost tonight, it will be the first time since 1973-74 that neither Real Madrid or Barcelona have managed to reach nine points after five games in La Liga.”
The hosts were undeterred and pressed on with determination which led to a goal that sent the home crowd roaring, but, no. The referee that ruled the scorer Javier Hernandez was offside.
Arsenal vs Aston Villa
Aubameyang takes the saving free kick for Arsenal at Emirate
Imagine Arsenal trailing Aston Villa 0-1 at half time at the Emirate. The silence, surprise and sagging hope. And then six minutes to go everything changed for the home team!
Villa’s John McGinn put the visitors ahead in the 20 min of the first half.
Arsenal leveled early in the second period in the 59th min through a Nicolas Pepe’s penalty kick. But Villa replied within the minute through Wesley to restore Villa’s lead.
Chambers scored the equalizer in the 81st min. And the minutes ticked away, keeping the fans on edge until Aubameyang gave the unexpected victory.
His stunning free-kick with six minutes remaining completed an unlikely turnaround for the Gunners, who had Ainsley Maitland-Niles sent off in the first half and were still trailing going into the final 10 minutes.
West Ham vs Man United, 2-0
Andriy Yarmolenko weaves through Man United players to make it 2-0
West Ham manager, Pellegrini sums up the match in his comments: “We have more quality, but we’re also more consistent and more solid,” he said.
“It’s good to win, especially against Manchester United here at home and to keep a clean sheet. We tried to win from the beginning.
“We didn’t allow them to create chances and Andriy’s goal was the key factor to open the game. It was a good goal.”
“Maybe we played too fast in the first 45 minutes, which is why we lost so many balls,” added the former Manchester City boss. “But I told the players at half-time that if we defend the way we did in the first half, we were not going to concede too many opportunities [in the second half].”
And his players followed his instruction and did the job, thus sending the team from to fifth in the table – 12 places and seven points better off than at the same stage last season.
Chelsea vs Liverpool, 1-2
Liverpool’s Firmino scores the winning goal and Kante pulls one back for Chelsea
Chelsea played the game but Liverpool got the result, which mattered most and they are still soaring away at the top of the table with 18 points, five solid points from the defending champion, Man City. The season is still a long way to go but they have set their eyes on the target: To end their 30-year wait for the title.
Crystal Palace vs Wolves 1-1
Dendoncker own goal gave Palace the opener in the 46th min and Wolves which had control of the field in the first half had to wait till stoppage time at 90+5 min to get the deserved goal by Jota, thus earning their first draw and saving themselves from a fourth successive defeat.
