Welcome to the first edition of THT European Digest for the month of September, as we look to bring you the highlights of all the top leagues across Europe.
It has been a fantastic month of football, with goals and drama all across the continent. It has been a month where heavyweights have faltered and minnows have made their mark, coaches have been fired and players have been fined for wearing headphones! While leagues across Europe have just started out, the Russian League is in its penultimate stage and there is a close fight at the top with the top six teams being separated by only 9 points.
Here is a look at the best of the matches across all the top leagues in the month of September.
Match Of The Month – La Liga
Valencia Vs. Barcelona (2-2)
In week 4 of La Liga, Barcelona traveled to Mestalla to face then leaders Valencia. Barcelona usually struggles at Mestalla and this game was no exception. Valencia had done their homework and they brilliantly exposed Barcelona’s unusual three-man back-line. Unai Emery’s side dominated the first half completely and were 2-1 up at half-time, but they could have scored much more. Barcelona had scored in the only clear cut chance they had had, by Pedro.
In the second half, the defending champions did the best they could to salvage a point and they got the goal in the final minutes with Lionel Messi putting Cesc Fabregas through on goal and the latter slotting it home. It was a high intensity game with both teams trying to score as many goals as possible; Valencia dominated the first half and Barcelona were better in the second, making the draw a fair outcome.
Match Of The Month – Portuguese Primeira Liga
Porto Vs. Benfica (2-2)
Last Friday, the two favorites for the title faced each other at the Estádio do Dragão. Porto dominated the game, but Benfica managed to come away with an important point at the turf of their rivals in a very exciting game. Porto were always ahead, but Benfica managed to level the score on every occasion. Kleber opened the scoring in the 37th minute for Porto, with a header from Gaurin’s freekick. Cardozo equalized for Benfica two minutes into the second half.
However, parity lasted for four minutes only as Otamendi scored for the Europa League holder from a short corner. Benfica tried everything as the match went on and Gaiten scored eight minutes from time after being put through by Saviola. Benfica took home a well deserved point.
Match Of The Month – Russian Premier League
Rubin Kazan Vs. Zenit St Petersburg (2-3)
In what turned out to be an exciting match (matchday – 24), Zenit completed a miraculous comeback after going behind by two goals. Goals from Natcho (penalty) and Kislyak put the home side into a two goal lead within 23 minutes of the match. Zenit pulled one back in the 28th minute with a goal from Shirokov. Buoyed by the goal, Zenit came out in the second half with renewed vigor. A brace from Danny in the second half ensured a wonderful comeback and took them to the top of the league.
Match Of The Month – Italian Serie A
Palermo Vs. Inter Milan (4-3)
This was perhaps the match of the month in all of Europe. The match started at frantic pace as Palermo pushed hard at Inter from the beginning, but it was Inter who took the lead through Milito against the run of play in the 33rd minute after he deflected in Stankovic’s shot at goal from a half-cleared corner. The game exploded into life in the second half once again, as the host leveled the score through Miccoli’s goal from a lofted pass by Barreto. Barreto was once again in the thick of things as he fouled Samuel inside the box and Milito scored from the spot giving Inter the lead for the second time in the match.
Amazingly, just two minutes later, Palermo were back on level terms through Hernandez. More drama unfolded in the later stages of the game as Palermo scored twice in the last 4 minutes of the match. First Miccoli scored his second goal from a freekick, and then Pinilla made it 4-2 with a wonderful finish. Forlan pulled one back in the extra time, but it was too little too late for Inter. Gasperini’s first eague match in charge didn’t go according to the plan of the tactician.
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Match Of The Month – German Bundesliga
Hannover Vs. Borussia Dortmund (2-1)
The reigning champions suffered a shock defeat against Hannover in the sixth match of their season. Dortmund started strongly and took the lead from a wonderful Kagawa strike early in the second half. The champions were on the way to their first away win of the season, when Haggui equalized for Hannover in the 87th minute with a header from Pander’s freekick. The drama didn’t end there as Konan scored in the dying minutes of the match to give Hannover an unlikely victory. Artur Sobiech got his marching orders in extra time, but Dortmund were unable to make their numerical advantage count. It was the 3rd defeat of the season for Dortmund in the opening six rounds.
Match Of The Month – English Premier League
Manchester United Vs. Chelsea (3-1)
The champions hosted Chelsea at the Old Trafford (Matchday 5) in what turned out to be an entertaining match to say the least. A wonderful first half display saw the home team going into the half time with a three goal lead. Chris Smalling opened the scoring as he headed home an Ashley Young freekick, although replays showed that Smalling was in an offside position when the kick was taken. Chelsea created chances of their own, but failed to convert any of them. In the 37th minute, Nani scored a wonder goal to give United a two goal lead. Again replays showed that Nani was in an offside position when Evans played the ball to him. Wayne Rooney made it 3 – 0 just before the break after a marauding run from Jones.
Chelsea came out in the second half all guns blazing, as Torres got one back in the 46th minute, after Anelka put him thorough with a wonderful ball. Pressure grew on United as the London club pressed forward with intent, but it was United who were awarded a penalty against the run of play after a foul on Nani. Rooney stepped up and kicked it high into the stands. Torres failed to make United pay for that miss, as he inexplicably missed in front of an open net having rounded of De Gea after a beautiful pass from Ramires. United also had one shot cleared off the line by Cole and the dramatic match ended 3 – 1.
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- Red hot form!
Match Of The Month – Ligue 1
Toulouse FC Vs. Girondins de Bordeaux (3-2)
Toulouse completed a fantastic comeback against Bordeaux after going behind by two goals. A double by Diabate gave the visitors a 2 – 0 lead going into half time. The second half was filled with drama as Carraso, Bordeaux’s keeper was shown a red card and Tabanou scored from the spot. Toulouse made their numerical advantage count as Capoue equalized seven minutes later. In what was a dramatic finish to the match, Riviere scored the winner in extra time and got himself booked for his celebrations. This win meant that Toulouse were equal on points with the League leaders.
Match Of The Month – Scottish Premier League
Hibernian Vs. Dundee United (3-3)
Last weekend these two teams served up a thriller at the Easter Road. Gary O’Conner’s strike in the 22nd minute gave the home side the lead, but the away side cut the lead back with a goal from Daly six minutes later. In the 33rd minute, Rankin put through Swanson with a lovely pass, who calmly finished and gave United the lead. Hibernian pressed hard in the second half, but it was Dundee who doubled their lead in the 68th minute.
Daly scored his second with a header after finding himself unmarked from a Paul Dixon’s cross. Hibernian didn’t give up and in what turned out to be a frantic 60 seconds spell, the home side scored twice to draw level. Firstly an own goal from Robertson and then a curled strike from Agogo gave Hibernian an unlikely point in the match.
Match Of The Month – Eredivisie
VVV – Venlo Vs PSV (3-3)
Round 5 of matches saw Venlo clash with PSV in what turned out to be a crazy match. PSV dominated the early part of the match and soon they converted their dominance into a two goal lead. First it was Ola Toivonen who scored and was assisted by Dries Mertens. Soon the provider turned into goal scorer as Mertens doubled the lead in the 34th minute. Venlo, who were lying at the wrong end of the table, looked down and out at half time with no way back, but an inspired double substitution by manager Glen De Boeck just after the halftime, turned the match on its head.
In an unbelievable period of 6 minutes of football, Venlo scored thrice! Ferry de Regt opened the scoring for the home side in the 48th minute after an assist from substitute Barry Maguire. Uche Nwofor and Maya Yoshida scored in the 52nd and 54th minute respectively to give Vanlo the lead. PSV were stunned, but they fought back and drew level in the 76th Minute through former Aston Villa man Wilfred Bouma. In a dramatic end to the match Marcel Meeuwis was shown a red card, but the home side held on to a well deserved point in the end.
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- Bouma – PSV’s savior
Shock Result Of The Month
Novara Vs. Inter Milan (3-1)
In round 4 of Serie A, the first match was played between Novara and Internazionale at Silvio Piola. Inter had been winless all summer and faced with the minnows of Serie A, they had the perfect opportunity to chalk out their first win of the season. The match started with the Serie A newcomers taking the game to the former champions, Inter. Repeated attacks from Novara exposed Inter’s frailty at the back and with 38 minutes on the clock, the home team took the lead through Riccardo Meggiorini. A clever ball from Mazzarani found Riccardo, who shot into the far corner to give the home team a dream start.
Deprived of possession, Novara continued their raids at the Inter citadel, or whatever was left of it. Ranocchia provided Novara with a penalty in the 86th minute, when he brought down Morimoto inside the box. Playing with an ankle injury, not only did Ranocchia’s absence leave Inter with a man down, but clearly the discomfort of the team to adjust to the playing style of Gasperini was showing. Sneijder, a man who was central to Inter’s success, found himself playing in an awkward position and that hampered Inter’s gameplay. The match ended 3-1 in favor of Novara as Rigoni scored his second in extra time. The win was first win for Novaro in Serie A in over 55 years. In the event of this disastrous and humiliating loss, Gasperini was sacked, hardly three months into the new job.
European Player Of The Month
Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
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The first award of this series inevitably goes to the best footballer in the world presently, and that too by some distance. The Argentine has been in sublime form, racking up 6 goals and 4 assists in this month for the Catalan giants. In a mesmerizing display against Osasuna, Messi scored a hattrick and assisted two goals as well. His blistering form continued as he assisted two more goals against Valencia in a 2-2 draw. Messi wrapped up this month in fine fashion as he scored another hattrick, as Barcelon athrashed Atletico Madrid 5-0.
Special mentions should also go to the following players from other leagues.
EPL – Nani (ManchesterUnited) – 2 Goals and 3 Assists
SPL – Steven Naismith (Rangers) – 4 Goals
Eredivisie – Dries Mertens (PSV Eindhoven) – 5 Goals
Ligue 1 – Eden Hazard (Lille) – 4 Goals and 2 Assists
Serie A – Rodrigo Palacio (Genoa) – 4 Goals and 3 Assists
Bundesliga – Ribery (Bayern Munich) – 2 Goals and 3 Assists
Liga Sagres – Baba (Maritimo) – 4 Goals
RPL – Seydou Doumbia (CSKAMoscow) – 4 Goals
European Goal Of The Month
Lionel Messi
There has been some wonderful goals all across Europe in the month of September, but when someone scores three wonderful goals in a single game it takes some beating. We could have picked any of the three beauties he scored against Atletico Madrid and it would be a winner. The first goal came as he drove inside the box from the right side and beat three defenders on his way before calmly finishing it past the helpless keeper.
He skipped past two defenders while moving in from the right and then drove home through the legs of the third defender as he scored his second. The third of the lot came when he was through on goal after playing a lovely one-two with David Villa, Messi stroked the ball into the net through the keeper’s legs before the defender could get a block on him. It is a wonderful collection of goals from the little master as he proved his brilliance once again.
Special mentions should also go to Nani for his sumptuous long range strike against Chelsea at the Old Trafford. Daniel Estrada’s wonder goal has to be seen to be believed, only the Real Sociedad man can say whether his goal against Granada was an intended shot or a cross, either way it was brilliant. Clarence Seedorf rolled back the years with his cracker of a goal against Cesena as the midfielder scored with a wonderful curler which flew into the top right hand corner of the net.
European Team Of The Month
Javi Varas (Sevilla), Hugo Campagnaro (Napoli), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), Nani (Manchester United), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Falcao (Atletico Madrid), Rodrigo Palacio (Genoa)
Food For Thought
Here are some interesting Statistics for you to ponder about. The below table contains the top five players who have the highest “Successful Long ball Per Game” average in Europe at the moment.
| Name | Team | Successful Long ball per game |
| Schweinsteiger | Bayern Munich | 9 |
| Xavi | Barcelona | 8 |
| Modric | Tottenham | 8 |
| Cazorla | Malaga | 8 |
| Fabregas | Barcelona | 5 |
Stats courtesy www.whoscored.com
Trivia
VVV Venlo, the Eredivisie team is an unknown quantity for most of the football fans outside Holland, but this team has made it to the headlines for an action off the field. Venlo made it to the limelight in April 2011 by signing a 2 year old boy, Baerke van der Meij, on a symbolic 10-year contract, after a video featuring him scoring a hat trick into a toy box went viral.
Below is the link to the video through which the kid was scouted.
Baerke Van Der Meij, 1 year old, Football skills
Acknowledgement : Thanks to resident authors – Manuel Traquete, Arnab Bose, Somnath Sengupta and Parth Pandya for their inputs in this articles.