Soccer Monday: Man U's controversial derby win, El Clasico Super Cup final and Messi returns
Soccer Monday: Man U's controversial derby win, El Clasico Super Cup final and Messi returns
Here are the big stories you may have missed this past weekend
It was a crowded calendar of matches this weekend across much of the soccer world.
There was plenty of derby action in the Premier League, El Clasico delivered a midseason trophy to Barcelona in the form of the Spanish Super Cup and Lionel Messi is back at Paris Saint-Germain following the World Cup.
Here are the top three things that happened.
3. Manchester United wins derby in controversial style
Marcus Rashford scored a late goal in his seventh straight match Saturday as Manchester United came back to defeat Manchester City 2-1 at home.
The derby wasn’t without controversy. Bruno Fernandes’ equalizer — a goal that was clearly offside — in the 78th minute made it 1-1. Rashford’s winner four minutes later sealed the victory.
In Sunday’s North London derby, leaders Arsenal downed Tottenham 2-0 on the road. The win was marred by violence when a fan kicked Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale while he tried to leave the field following the final whistle.
Arsenal remain in first place with 47 points — eight ahead of second-place Manchester City. Newcastle and Manchester City are tied for third with 38 points each.
2. Barcelona wins Spanish Super Cup edition of El Clasico
It was Real Madrid and Barcelona who locked horns Sunday in the Spanish Super Cup final.
Barcelona emerged victorious, thumping their rivals 3-1 at the King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The win marked the club’s first trophy in the post-Messi era.
Barcelona’s goals came from Gavi in the 33rd minute, Robert Lewandowski in the 45th and Pedri in the 69th. Real added a consolation goal from Karim Benzema in stoppage time.
The match was played in Saudi Arabia after the Spanish FA signed a deal last year worth $120 million that allows for the trophy to be contested in the Middle Eastern nation through 2029.
1. Messi is back (to mixed results)
Three weeks after leading Argentina to its third World Cup title, Messi made his club return.
And the player who many call the GOAT has had some mixed results since his return to the French capital.
Messi scored in his first match back last Wednesday in PSG’s 2-0 win against Angers in Ligue 1 action. But even with Messi in the lineup, PSG followed that up on Sunday by suffering their second defeat of the season — and second in two weeks — in a 1-0 defeat to Rennes.
PSG currently have 47 points, while second-placed Lens are just three behind after a 1-0 victory on Saturday against Auxerre.