THT European Digest (October) : Review Of Top Leagues Across Europe

By Amlan Majumdar
13 years Ago

Welcome to the 2nd edition of THT European Digest, here we bring you all the highlightsAi?? across the top European leagues for the month of October.

Another lip smacking and at times even jaw dropping month of football has passed us by. There has been some big matches held all across Europe and finally the contenders are being separated from the pretenders. Here is a look at the best matches from all the top leagues for the month of October.

Match Of The Month ai??i?? La Liga

Levante Vs. Real Sociedad (3-2)

It was round 9 of the La Liga and Levante hosted Real Sociedad at Ciutat de Valencia. Levante were the surprise league leaders going into this match and they needed to win in order to maintain their lead at the top of the table. Real Sociedad had other ideas though, Dani Estrada shocked the home crowd and scored in the 4^th minute of the match. Levante fought back and equalized in the 2^nd half, when Nano equalized for them. The comeback was complete when Valdo put the home team ahead in the 61^st minute of the match after Barkero provided the assist.

The was not the end of drama though, in what was a frantic last ten minutes of the match, Sociedad restored parity when Inigo Martinez scored for the away team in the 86^th minute. Levante did not sit back after this, as they were desperate to score and score they did. In the dying minutes of the match Ruben Suarez scored for Levante as the home side held on to their spot at the top table. However, Juan GarcAi??a GarcAi??a also received his marching orders in extra time.

Match Of The Month ai??i?? Portuguese Primeira Liga

Sporting CP Vs. Gil Vicente (6-1)

It was week 8 in the Potuguese League and Sporting continued their winning streak with an empathic 6-1 win over Gil Vicente. Captain Daniel CarriAi??o headed in after being set up by centre-back partner Polga. Ricky Van Wolfsinkel scored from the penalty spot to double the lead after 57 minutes. Diego Capel and Bojinov both scored a brace after this as Roberto got a consolation goal for the away team. In this match, Sporting played some of the best football seen this year in Portugual and any doubts about Sportingai??i??s title credentials were washed after this scintillating display.

Match Of The Month ai??i?? Russian Premier League

Anzhi Makhachkala Vs. CSKA Moscow (3-5)

Big spenders Anzhi hosted 2^nd placed team CSKA Moscow in what turned out to a high scoring affair. Samuel Eto’o opened the scoring for the home side in the 4^th minute but their lead didnai??i??t last long as Seydou Doumbia equalized in the 24^th minute.

CSKA came out firing all cylinders in the second half. Seydou scored the his second of the match and put his team in front in the 46^th minute. Brazilian Vagner Love doubled the lead for the away side with his well taken goal in the 62^nd minute. The final ten minutes of the match were played at frantic pace as 4 goals were scored in this period. Gadzhibekov was unlucky to score an own goal in the 81^st minute and that was not it as Dzagoev scored for CSKA as soon as the play resumed. CSKA took a 5-1 lead and was expected to cruise to victory with only eight minutes of playing time remaining. The home side had other ideas though, as super-sub Jan Holenda scored a brace in the space of four minutes, but it was too little too late. The final score read Anzhi 3 ai??i?? 5 CSKA.

Seydou Doumbia, the CSKA man is in superb form this season.

Match Of The Month ai??i?? Italian Serie A

Lecce Vs. AC Milan (3-4)

Milan traveled to Stadio Via del Mare to play Lecce. The away team was in desperate needs of points in order to get themselves back in the title race, but things go according to plan for Milan early in the match. The Southerners took the lead in the 4^th minute of the match as captain Giacomazzi scored with a header from a curling cross supplied by GrossmA?ller. Lecce doubled the lead in the 30^th minute, after Massimo Oddo a former Milan player scored from the spot. Abbiati was penalized for felling Corvia in the box. There was more shock in store for the champions as the home side made it 3-0 in the 37^th minute of the match, as Grossmuller scored. Even the Lecce players were not able to believe what was happening.

The second half was a different story though, the stage was set for one of the greatest comebacks in recent Serie A history. Two substitutions were made by Allegri at the start of the 2^nd half, which later turned out to be a match-changing decision. Aquilani and Kevin-Prince Boateng came on for Ambrosini and Robinho respectively. Aquilani and Boateng combined to pull one back in the 49^th minute, with Boateng smashing his shot into the top corner. Just 5 minutes later Boateng scored his second of the match, smashing another thunderbolt into the top left corner. Cassano was the provider this time.

Quite amazingly Milan drew level in the 63^rd minute as Boateng scored what was one of the most memorable hattrick in Serie A history. The drama didnai??i??t end there, as in the 83^rd minute Milan completed their comeback when Mario Yepes of all people scored from a Cassano corner. Milan held on their lead and took three points which saw they climb up to the fifth spot of the table.

Match Of The Month ai??i?? German Bundesliga

Monchengladbach Vs. Leverkusen (2-2)

Borussia-Park witnessed a thriller as Monchengladbach hosted Leverkusen. The away side got off to a superb start as Stefan Reinartz scored in the 20^th minute to give them the lead. Michael Ballack was the creator of that goal. The home cam out fighting in the second half and equalized through Marco Reus in the 65^th minute, assisted by Arango. Just seven minutes after this the home side went on to take the lead after Marco Reus scored. Arango was in the thick of things once again as he racked up another assist. Leverkusen didnai??i??t give up the cause and showed a lot of character to equalize just three minutes before the end of time. Andre Schurrle scored an important goal thanks to an assist from Kadlec. The game ended in a pulsating 2-2 draw.

Monchengladbach should have won this game by a big margin, but Leno is Leverkuson goal produced some stunning saves throughout the match. His opposite number, Stegen had an impressive game too.

Match Of The Month ai??i?? English Premier League

Chelsea Vs. Arsenal (3-5)

It was a London derby to remember. It was a match where both side went all-out on attack and similarly defending was nervy to say the least. Arsenal came into this match on back of good run of form, after winning seven of their last eight matches. Chelsea on the other hand looked to recover from the set back they suffered at the hands of QPR the previous weekend.

The game began at a frantic pace and it was maintained till the final whistle. Chelsea took the lead early on through ever reliable Frank Lampard, who headed in from close range in the 14^th minute. Both teams created some glorious chances thereafter, but failed make them count. But it was only a matter of time before Arsenal scored, Van Persie scored his first of the match after Gervinho created the opening. Chelsea replied back nine minutes later, after John Terry scored from a Frank Lampard corner.

Arsenal came back strong in the second half. It took them just four minutes to draw level after the game resumed. Andre Santos scored after Alex Song put him through on goal. Immediately after this Szczesny had a lucky escape, when he could have easily been red carded after a foul on Cole. The gunners took the lead in the 56^th minute through Theo Walcott. The winger scored one of the weirdest goal one has ever seen, where he inexplicably managed to find his way through three defenders before beating Cech at his near post.

Chelsea crawled their way back into the match in the 81^st minute through a fantastic strike from Mata as the Spaniard drilled the ball home past Szczesny. But four minutes later Arsenal were back in the lead once again. Malouda played a poor back pass towards John Terry, who slipped at the vital moment which allowed Van Persie a free run towards goal. The Dutchman rounded off the keeper and slotted home to score his second of the game. 4-3 it was. As Chelsea pushed forward for an equalizer, Arsenal scored another one on the break. They broke four on three, Arteta laid the ball out to Van Persie, who in return smashed the ball past Cech to complete his brilliant hattrick. Final score read Chelsea 3 ai??i?? 5 Arsenal.

Match Of The Month ai??i?? Ligue 1

Dijon FCO Vs. Olympique de Marseille (2-3)

Dijon hosted Marseille at the Stade Gaston Gerard in week 12 of Ligue 1. The visitors were in desperate need of points and got off to a dream start as Loic Remy scored in the first minute of the match. Charles kabore provided the assist. Their lead was doubled just ten minutes later through Benoit Cheyrou.

The second half was a different story though, Brice Jovial pulled one back for Dijon in the opening minute of the second half. The home side buoyed by this goal, went on to equalize in the 63^rd minute when Guerbert assisted Benjamin Corgnet, who scored past Mandanda. Marseille didnai??i??t lose heart, they fought back and their talisman Mathieu Valbuenaai??i??s pass was drilled home by Alou Diarra. That strike separated the two teams at he final whistle after a thrilling display for the 90 minutes.

Match Of The Month ai??i?? Scottish Premier League

Kilmarnock Vs. Celtic (3-3)

Kilmarnock welcomed Celtic to the Rugby Park this month, but it turned out to be anything but a rugby match. Celtic, who are off the pace early on in the season, needed to put in a strong display to re-ignite their title challenge. They got off to a poor start though, when Shiels put the home side ahead in the 26^th minute of the match. It got from bad to worse for the visitors as goals from Heffeman (40^th minute) and Fowler just before the half time, gave Kilmarnock a 3-goal lead.

Celtic had a mountain to climb in the second half, which they did. A brace from Stokes in space of three minutes pulled the away side back into contention. Mulgrew completed the amazing comeback in the 80^th minute as he scored past Jaakkola. 3 goals by Celtic in space of just seven minutes left the home side shell-shocked. They however did manage to hold on to a draw. Which they deserved based on the first half performance.

Match Of The Month ai??i?? Eredivisie

Roda JC Kerkrade Vs. NAC Breda (4-3)

Roda hosted NAC in the first week of October. The home side came into this match on the back of two heavy defeats to Vitesse (5-0) and PSV (7-1) in the previous weeks.

The match got off to a great start as Roda took the lead in the 10^th minute. Sanharib Malki scored his first of the match. Laurent Delorge doubled the lead for the home side in the 27^th minute. Rodaai??i??s defensive frailties were again visible as Omer Bayram pulled one back for the Visitors in the 31^st minute. The match was being played at thrilling pace and it was end to end stuff, as both the teams defense came under huge pressure. Malki completed his brace in the 36^th minute and restored the two-goal advantage for Roda.

NAC came out stronger in the second half and Nemanja Gudelj scored for the visitors in the 54^th minute. Ruud Shaper thought he might have put the game beyond doubts when he scored in the 63^rd minute, but NAC had other ideas. Alex Schalk scored in the 80^th minute, and gave the visitors some hope of an unlikely point. Roda manged to hold on till the end and gained a very important three points.

Shock Result Of The Month

Manchester United Vs. Manchester City (1-6)

Old Trafford was all set for the Manchester Derby, it was round 9 of the Premier League and Manchester United faced off against their noisy neighbors Manchester City. Expectant fans of both the clubs filled up the stadium; those who couldnai??i??t make it there grabbed their pop-corns and flung themselves in front of the television set. The stage was set and the world was waiting, but no one could have hardly fathomed the dramatic score line they are going to witness at the end of this match.

MNU 1 vs 6 MNC by FootballSoccerHighlights

In the events that followed, Mario Balotelli scored a brace and asked the world ai???Why always me?ai???.Ai?? Johny Evans took Balotelliai??i??s message too seriously and pulled him down in the box to get his marching orders. Aguero sneaked in the third, while super-sub Dzeko scored a brace after coming on as well. David Silva, who ran the show, also got his much-deserved goal. Darren Fletcher scored a consolation goal, with a wonderful strike against the run of play. City ran away 6-1 winners, a score line not even their sternest supporters could have dreamt of a the start of the match. It was a mauling for Sir. Alexai??i??s side, something anyone donai??i??t see regularly, that too at the Old Trafford. It was an epic game, in every sense of the word.

European Player Of The Month

Robin Van Persie (Arsenal)

This monthai??i??s award goes to the flying Dutchman. He had been flying in every sense of the word lately. The Arsenal captain is the current leading scorer in the league with 10 goals. He has racked up 7 goals and 1 assist in the month of October. Van Persie has lead from the front and is the main reason behind the turn around in Arsenalai??i??s fortune. At times he has almost single-handedly carried the team on his shoulder. The Dutchman has won two man of the match award (in the league) in this month. Van Persie scored a brace against Sunderland and followed that up with another brace against Stoke. He rounded off the month in style, scoring a brilliant hat-trick in the London derby against Chelsea.

Special mentions should also go to the following players from other leagues.

La Liga ai??i?? Ai??Lionel Messi (Barcelona) ai??i?? 5 Goals and 1 Assists

SPL ai??i?? Nikica Jelavic (Rangers) ai??i?? 3 Goals

Eredivisie ai??i?? Bas Dost (Heerenveen) ai??i?? 4 Goals

Ligue 1 ai??i?? Nene (PSG) ai??i?? 4 Goals and 1 Assists

Serie A ai??i?? Antonio Di Natale (Udinese) ai??i?? 4 Goals and 1 Assists

Bundesliga ai??i?? Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich) ai??i?? 2 Goals and 1 Assists

Liga Sagres ai??i?? Ricky van Wolfswinkel (Sporting CP) ai??i?? 2 Goals

RPL ai??i?? Ai??SeydouAi??Doumbia (CSKA Moscow) ai??i?? 6 Goals

European Goal Of The Month

Ai??Dani Alves (Barcelona)

Barcelona are known for their tiki-taka and their build-up before the goals. Dani Alves seemed to have got bored of the same drills and decided to showcase his underused skills. He unleashed a pile driver which the poor Mallorca keeper had no answer to.

European Team Of The Month

Javi Varas (Sevilla), Dani Alves (Barcelona), Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Lukasz Piszczek (BorussiaDortmund),Ai??Nene (PSG), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Xavi (Barcelona), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Higuain (Real Madrid), Robin Van Persie (Arsenal)

Food For Thought

Here are some interesting Statistics for you to ponder about. The below table contains the top five teams who have the highest ai???Pass Successai??? percentage in Europe at the moment.

Team	League	Pass Success Percentage

Barcelona	La Liga	91 %

Bayern Munich	Bundesliga	87 %

Manchester City	EPL	87 %

Real Madrid	La Liga	87 %

Chelsea	EPL	86 %

Stats courtesy www.whoscored.com

Trivia

German club Borussia Monchengladbach has a old and rich history in football. The club was founded in the year 1900. In a match between Borussia and Inter in 1971 a bizarre incident took place, which is still a much debated topic. The German club won the match 7 ai??i?? 1, but unfortunately or rather fortunately for Inter an empty Coca-Cola tin can was thrown at Inter striker Roberto Boninsegna, who collapsed to the ground, supposedly hit by that tin (ai???BA?chsenwurf vom BAi??kelbergai???). Inter launched a protest against the result to UEFA, who ruled that the match will be replayed in Berlinai??i??s Olympiastadion. The rematch ended in goalless draw.

Here are the highlights of that classic match Borussia Monchengladbach Vs Inter – 1971

Categories: COVER STORY, UEFA
Tags: England EPL Eredivisie Europe European football French League German Bundesliga La Liga Ligue 1 Portuguese League Review Russian Premier League Scottish league Serie A SPL