Article by: Obriel Maposa (Editor Sports)
Pirlo’s Juventus era begins
Juventus began their quest for a 10th straight Scudetto with a new manager but a familiar face as Pirlo began his tenure in Turin. Cristiano Ronaldo was amongst the goal scorers as Juve won 3-0 against Sampdoria. This was Pirlo’s first competitive game as the manager of the club he made so many appearances for. In transfer news the club is rumoured to be close to completing the signing of Alvaro Morata who Pirlo played with before as they look to bolster their attack.
New Season Same Bayern Munich
The 2019/20 treble winners Bayern Munich began the season in emphatic fashion as they ended it. Bayern Munich began the Bundesliga with a 8-0 victory demolishing Schalke. It was not a surprising scoreline for the Bavarians as they had ended the season in exhilarating form. New boy Sane who moved from English Premier League side Manchester City was involved in the goals as he assisted and scored one. The 2020/21 season will definitely be an exciting one for football fans as Bayern Munich seem unstoppable.
Liverpool Starts Strong
The Merseyside based side followed their game week one win with a 2-nil win in the capital, London the home of Chelsea who have been deemed to be closing the gap of last season’s top 2 because of their summer spending. The meeting at Stamford Bridge was arguably the game of week two not to miss for football fans. Chelsea looked solid and compact for majority of the 1st half but a red card before half time made the chances for Chelsea slimmer against a Liverpool side that will challenge for the title again. Subsequently a brace from Mane in the second half sealed the win for the visitors.
Mbappe Return marks 1st PSG Win
PSG got their 1st win of the campaign as they welcomed back Kylian Mbape. Kylian Mbappe scored as Paris Saint-Germain beat Nice 3-0 on Sunday. The French Capital based outfit had lost its first games as a result of a depleted squad due to a few positive Covid 19 cases. “I was just happy to put the jersey back on because here in Paris when you miss a game, it’s like you’ve missed 10,” Mbappe told Canal Plus television.
Real Madrid begins 35th League
Title defence Los Blancos began their La Liga title defence this past weekend at Real Sociedad’s Reale Seguros Stadium. The game was a goalless draw as the Spanish Capital based side failed to get off to a winning start. Real Madrid were in the news the past weekend as the Bale saga finally came to an end with the Welsh International joined Spurs. The only positive from the game is the return of Ødegaard who impressed on loan last season.
Simona Halep wins Italian Open Karolina Pliskova retired through injury as Simona Halep claimed the Italian Open in Rome on Monday. Second-ranked Pliskova received treatment on her lower back and leg after Halep won the opening set. “I know that’s not the way how Karolina wanted to finish the tournament and the final,” Halep said at the trophy presentation ceremony. “Good luck in the French Open, hopefully we will meet again there in the final. “Finally, after two finals I could win this title. I love this tournament and I’m really happy that I have this beautiful trophy in my hands now,” she added, having lost the final in 2017 and 2018.
Novak Djokovic wins Italian Open
Novak Djokovic won his fifth Italian Open as well as sealing a record 36th Masters 1000 title thanks to a 7-5 6-3 victory over Diego Schwartzman on Monday. Schwartzman, who knocked out nine-time champion Nadal earlier in the competition, was unable to contain the top-ranked Serb in front of 1,000 spectators admitted into the main Centre Court.