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FOOTBALL PICKS OF THE WEEK! 

Leo Messi DEBUT BUT MBAPA STOLE THE SHOW 


 

 It was a much anticipated debut that football fans across the globe waited eagerly for, since his shocking switched from FC Barcelona to PSG on August 10th, changing club for the first time in more than his three decades playing career. 

Leo Messi turned out in a different football jersey other than Barca and the Argentina national team shirts 👕.

 Everything look weird just like your first experience of rollercoster ride. You can't simple say what it was like.

 From his first touch on the ball and that trademark run up the right flank of the pitch, Reims fans couldn't helped than shout "Messi, Messi". 

 What they usually see on television was live in front of them and it was certainly weird 😳. 

 The build up to the match between Reims and PSG - Paris Saint-Germain was overshadowed by Leo Messi debut that Gerad Piques had to bought Ligue-1 viewing rights in Spain for 2.2 million viewers who eventually tuned in to watch Messi make his debut.

 The match ended two goals to nill in favour of the Parisian club, thanks to a brace from Kylian Mbapa, a subject of two bids from Real Madrid C.F.. 


 
 Liverpool FC PICKED A POINT BUT Chelsea Football Club SHOWED WHY THEY ARE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS


 Elsewhere at Annfield Virgil van Dijk lead, Trent Alexander-Arnold created and Mo Salah cancelled out Kai Haverzt 22mins strike through penalty to level the scores heading into half time. 

 In the build up play to eventual Mo Salah penalty, it would be an endless debate to what referee, Anthony Taylor judged to be a handball in this era where video assistant referee ( VAR) is there for a better call to such incidents

. Reeces James straight red card seemed rather too hash a call from referee Taylor but the argument from the flipped side was that James's hand was away from his body which eventually stopped Sadio Mane goal-bound shot. 

 Rules states that once you deny a goal-scoring opportunity via handbal you have to also send the player off. And in that, Taylor had no choice to make his decision in just 13 seconds.



 Jurgen Klopp admitted after the match that his side weren't sharp enough but credit should be given to Thomas Tuchel's tactical prowess to grind a point from the 2019 Premier League champions with over half an hour of play with 10 men on the pitch. 

 

 Mason Greenwood RESCUED A POINT FOR Manchester United. 



 Cristiano Ronaldo wasn't at Molineux on Sunday for the visit to Wolverhampton but 76mins without a goal for Manchester United could have told you why they needed him so badly at Old Trafford.

 It could have gone Bruno Lage Wolves side but David De Gea had to made several good saves to keep the scores at nill nill. 

 With time ticking away, and the scoreboard still showing nill nill, it was Mason Greenwood who lashed onto a stray pass after a scrambled defence from Wolves who failed to clear the ball off their defensive half, to send a powerful shot passed Wolves goal keeper with Wolves players shouting for a Paul Pogba's foul in the build to Greenwood's goal.

 

 Memphis Depay SECURED THREE POINT FOR A SLUGGISH BARCA SIDE.



 Barca raced to an early lead at Camp Nou against Getafe thanks to a 2mins goal from Sergi Roberto.

 The first two minutes of play shown a lively Barca side who are trying to adapt to the post-Messi era.

 With passes, constant pressing on the opponent half. The visiting team defensive third couldn't withstand the pressing which resulted in Barca getting a goal in just two minutes of the first half.

 Barca fans knows that things can never be the same again, perhaps not when the club debt stood at 1.2 billion dollars which has seen them watch the transfer market rather than making that statement signing like Erling Haaland and further losing Leo Messi to PSG, but Saturday's result at Camp Nou would have given them hope of fighting for silverware this season. 

 Gone are days Getafe was a just a club who came to Camp Nou to be thrashed, Nah! Not anymore. This side has evolved and they play more attacking football than they did last season. Shortly after Barca lead, the visiting team kept the ball, made the pitch big and wide, causing them all sort of problems in the defensive third and eventually got the equaliser just immediately. 

 Heading into the second half, Barca struggled with possession, losing the ball to Getafe fewer times than they have it back and with the match looking set to end in a draw, Memphis Depay came to the rescue for the second time of asking with a fine finish to give barca all three point. 

 Europe 🇪🇺 club competitions are on hold as players head into the international break but more on the offer when play resume comes September second week. My pick of the week! 


 ~ Patrick Ekong ©️

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