Football returned to Europe's major leagues over the weekend, and it was a rollercoaster of action with plenty of highs and lows.
In this inaugural weekly feature, Ballgist highlights the standout performers and the unfortunate blunders from the latest round of fixtures From stunning comebacks to costly mistakes, here’s a look at the biggest talking points from the past few days.
Winner – Joshua Zirkzee
Joshua Zirkzee celebrates his late winner for Man Utd
What better way to kick off our new feature than with a match-winning debut for one of the world’s biggest clubs? Manchester United’s latest signing, Joshua Zirkzee, made his mark in dramatic fashion. The 23-year-old, who joined the Red Devils from Bologna as part of a youth-focused recruitment drive, wasn’t initially chosen to start against Fulham. However, Zirkzee made an immediate impact when introduced, scoring a crucial goal in the 87th minute. His deft touch on Alejandro Garnacho’s cross secured a thrilling late winner, sending Old Trafford into ecstasy and marking a victorious start to United’s Premier League campaign.
Loser – Antonio Conte
Antonio Conte suffers three nil loss in first competitive match with Napoil
Antonio Conte’s first game in charge of Napoli didn’t go as planned. His new side suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Verona. The loss marked Napoli’s first opening-day defeat in nine years. The absence of star striker Victor Osimhen was evident, as Napoli failed to capitalize on any of their five attempts on goal. The heavy defeat leaves Conte’s Napoli at the bottom of Serie A and in dire need of a turnaround.
Winner – AC Milan
Noah Okafor’s dramatic 95th-minute equalizer
While a 2-2 draw with Torino might not initially seem like a winning result, the circumstances tell a different story. AC Milan found themselves trailing 2-0 heading into injury time but mounted a sensational comeback. Alvaro Morata’s debut goal in the 89th minute gave Milan a glimmer of hope, and Noah Okafor’s dramatic 95th-minute equalizer secured a memorable draw, turning what looked like a certain defeat into a hard-fought point.
Loser – Bento
Bento – Al Nassr first choice Goalkeeper
Bento’s performance in Al Nassr’s Saudi Super Cup clash against Al Hilal was a nightmare. After a solid first half with his team leading 1-0, Bento’s fortunes took a turn for the worse in the second half. The Brazilian goalkeeper conceded four goals in just over 15 minutes, including a howler where a poor first touch led to an easy goal for the opposition. His blunders were a significant factor in Al Nassr’s heavy defeat and drew frustration from their star player, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Winner – Levente Bosze
Levente Bősze – 15 years old Hungarian talent
What were you up to at 15 years old? Levente Bosze was making history in the Slovakian league. At just 15 years and 181 days old, he made his professional debut and played a key role in his team’s 3-0 victory, even providing an assist. Bosze’s performance made him the youngest player ever to appear in the Slovakian division, and his name is one to remember.
Loser – Barnabas Lacik
Barnabas Lacik with two yellows in the space of a minute
Barnabas Lacik had a weekend to forget after being substituted onto the pitch in the 86th minute of Vyskov’s Czech second-tier match against Opava. Within just a minute, Lacik was off the pitch again, having received two yellow cards in rapid succession. This astonishingly brief appearance must be a record of sorts, and it caps off a weekend of notable red card incidents, including Real Madrid’s Ferland Mendy being sent off in their 1-1 draw with Mallorca.
Football season is back in full swing, promising an exciting ride for fans and players alike. Stay tuned for more highlights and lowlights from the beautiful game in the coming weeks.
