Barcelona continue to set the pace at the top of La Liga following a spirited, come from behind victory at Getafe on Saturday. A wonder goal from Gaku Shibasaki gave Azulones a shock lead, but second half strikes from Denis Suarez and Paulinho maintained Barcelona’s perfect start to the season after four matches.
Isco, the best player in the world on current form according to The18's Connor Fleming, has agreed to a new contract at Real Madrid that runs through the 2021-2022 season.
Here's Real Madrid's official statement:
There’s no fighting the feeling that the Champions League group stage has become more and more of a nonevent over the past few years. Over the course of this week’s action, we watched Chelsea hammer Qarabag 6-0, PSG pummel Celtic 5-0 and Manchester City put four unanswered past Feyenoord. Even the marquee matchup between Barcelona and Juventus had the feeling of an International Champions Cup match being played at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.
Real Madrid have missed Cristiano Ronaldo. The groomed one hasn’t suited up for Real Madrid since August August 23rd as CR7 is serving a 5 game suspension in La Liga for pushing a referee against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup. Cristiano is eligible to play in the Champions League and it was only right for him to open the scoring vs APOEL.
Over on FS2, Real Madrid lead 1-0!
There’s an immediate hot take available here that I just can’t commit myself to: the departure of Neymar from Barcelona has had an uplifting effect on 33-year-old midfielder Andres Iniesta, and El Ilusionista is about to enjoy the consummate season because of a mixture of peak footballing intelligence and a proverbial unchaining on the left-hand side of Barca’s midfield.
Juventus arrived at the 2016-17 Champions League Final having surrendered only three goals in 12 matches. Thanks in large part to Lionel Messi, that total was matched in the 2017-18 edition of the competition after only one match, or 69 minutes to be precise.
Messi scored a fantastic brace and Ivan Rakitic added one of his own as Barcelona throttled an under-strength Juventus 3-0 at the Camp Nou to begin Champions League group play.
For a man that has nearly done everything on the football pitch, the one thing evading Lionel Messi was scoring on Gianluigi Buffon. Lets check that one off the list.
Lionel Messi = still v good. https://t.co/1h1zrEqCxm
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) September 12, 2017
Gareth Bale has finally admitted what we’ve long known. In a recent interview the Wales and Real Madrid winger said his greatest flaw is that he is lazy.
Yep, just like you and me, Bale would rather sit on a couch watching Rick and Morty while eating Cheetos than score goals. And we have proof.