Almanac Soccer: English Premier League Matchweek 28 Highlights

 

Premier League Matchweek Highlights 28 24/25

 

After a weekend break from the Premier League due to the 5th round of the FA Cup, this weekend did not disappoint, with the race for European places really heating up. Here are my three highlighted games.

 

 

Nottingham Forest v Manchester City

 

The opening game of Matchweek 28 saw Nuno Espirito’s 3rd placed Nottingham Forest host Pep Guardiola’s 4th placed Manchester City at the City Ground. Manchester City almost made the perfect start to the game when Erling Haaland won the ball just outside the penalty area before he scraped his effort just wide. The Citizens then hit the post in the 15th minute after new signing Nico Gonzalez rattled the frame of the goal with a wonder strike from 25 yards out, still in search of his first ever Premier League goal. The first half was quite clearly dominated by Manchester City, with Forest keeper Matz Sels putting in a brilliant display in the first 45 minutes, hoping to register his 12th clean sheet of the league season, which would see him go two clear of Arsenal keeper David Raya. The first half finished goalless, with Nuno needing a much better 2nd half performance from his players if they were to hold onto 3rd place on the table.

 

The hosts came out much quicker for the 2nd period and it showed, with Nicolas Dominguez having his brilliant volleyed effort early on kept out by City keeper Ederson. The Brazilian shot stopper was then forced into action again, brilliantly diving down low at the last second to tip Callum Hudson-Odoi’s low and hard effort onto the post. Finally, in the 83rd minute, Forest broke the deadlock. Morgan Gibbs-White played a brilliant pass across the pitch over to the right wing where Hudson-Odoi was located. The winger cut back onto his right boot, surprising City full back Josko Gvardiol before squeezing the ball in at the near post to win the game for Forest. The hosts were successfully able to hold out for the final minutes of the tie to win 1-0, a crucial 3 points in the race for top 4. Forest remain 3rd in the table while City remain 4th, now 4 points behind Nuno’s side, as they leave the door ajar for Chelsea who play on Sunday.

 

 

Tottenham Hotspur v AFC Bournemouth

 

The following game of Matchweek 28 saw Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur take on Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Spurs made a terrible start to the game, almost conceding inside 20 seconds after centre half Christian Romero played a horror pass across the backline and right into the path of Evanilson. The Brazilian striker got a shot off quickly, watching as his effort was tipped just wide of the post by Spurs keeper Guglielmo Vicario. After an evenly contested 1st half, Pedro Porro cheaply gave the ball away to Bournemouth full back Milos Kerkez who was able to break away down the left wing. The Hungarian ate up the North London turf, motoring down the flank before whipping in a beautiful cross over to the back post. Unmarked and ready to meet his ball was Marcus Tavernier who slid in to smash the ball past Vicario to give the Cherries the lead just before the interval. The half time score finished 0-1 with Ange needing a much stronger 2nd half performance from his side if they were to come away with anything.

 

Bournemouth thought they’d found a two goal cushion just 6 minutes into the 2nd period after Tavernier and Antoine Semenyo showed great link up play down the left wing. Tavernier then played the ball centrally to Evanilson, splitting the Tottenham defence before Evanilson squared it to Justin Kluivert who was left with a tap in from 12 yards out. Unfortunately for the Cherries, it was ruled out as Semenyo came in from an offside position when he played the ball back to Tavernier. Bournemouth then found a 2nd goal that stood in the 65th minute after Ryan Christie played a brilliant ball into the feet of Kluivert. The Cherries’ top scorer then threaded it through to Evanilson who slotted the ball past Vicario to score his 6th of the season. Just as it looked like Spurs were out of the contest, 22-year-old Pape Sarr conjured up a strike from the football heavens to half the deficit. The Senegalese star was dribbling with the ball down the right wing where from about 25 yards he decided to cross the ball perfectly into the top left corner. His outswinging shot was unsavable, looping over the reach of Bournemouth goalkeeper Kepa. Only 15 minutes later, Tottenham found a brilliant opportunity to level the tie after Son Heung-Min was fouled inside the area, chasing down a ball from James Maddison and eventually being brought down by the outstretched arms of Kepa. After winning it, Son stepped up and cheekily rolled the ball down the middle of the goal from 12 yards to level it at 2-2. In the end, there was not enough time for a winner as the full time score finished all square at 2-2. Ange’s side completed a solid comeback, but it was still far from a performance to be proud of as Spurs sit 13th with 34 points. Bournemouth drop 2 points away from home and they also miss out on the chance to climb into the top 6. Iraola’s side sit 8th on 44 points.

 

 

Manchester United v Arsenal

 

The last game of Matchweek 28 played on Sunday afternoon, which was arguably the most anticipated of the weekend, saw Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United host Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal at Old Trafford. Arsenal made a much more dominant start but all of their efforts were outside the penalty area, with Mikel Merino, Martin Odegaard and Leandro Trossard all missing their respective long range efforts. It was clear that Arsenal were missing their strikers, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, and just before the break things got even worse. Trossard gave away a needless free kick in first half stoppages, fouling Alejandro Garnacho and giving United captain Bruno Fernandes a brilliant chance to try and give the home fans something to get excited about. Fernandes took full advantage of the opportunity, curling the ball beautifully into the top right corner to give the Red Devils a priceless lead going into the break. At the interval, the score stood at 1-0 with Arsenal yet again staring down the barrel of another silly loss.

 

United came so close to doubling their advantage in the 54th minute after Diogo Dalot received the ball down the left wing in the host’s latest counter attack. Running in from the right was fellow wing back Noussair Mazraoui where his unmarked run was spotted by Dalot. Dalot crossed the ball over where Mazraoui drilled it with his first touch at the bottom left corner, forcing a brillant save from Arsenal keeper David Raya who denied the Moroccan with his outstretched shin. Arsenal then equalised the game in the 74th minute through their record signing, Declan Rice. Jurrien Timber did superbly to dribble into the penalty area and then find Rice on the edge of the 18-yard box. Arsenal’s no.41 then curled the ball effortlessly into the far left of Andre Onana’s net to score his 2nd of the season. Moments after leveling the game, Rice was then forced to keep it at 1-1 after Mikel Merino carelessly gave the ball away to United substitute Rasmus Hojlund. The Dane was maybe a bit rusty, allowing the experienced Rice to run back and heroically intercept his shot. The end of the game was very end to end with both teams making real efforts to snatch all 3 points. Odegaard saw his long range effort saved in the 1st minute of stoppage time by United keeper Onana before Garnacho made a tireless run down the right wing to create one last chance. He then played it into the penalty area to Mazraoui who turned past Rice before cutting it back into a dangerous area. Fernandes ran onto the ball and smashed it at Raya, with the Spanish keeper pummeling backwards in the air before recovering and punching the ball away from danger. The full time score finished 1-1, with the match a prime example of why the Premier League is the best league in the world. Arsenal close the gap between Liverpool in 1st by 1 point, although the title race is now over as they are 15 points adrift. Manchester United move into 14th on 34 points, but fans will be feeling slightly more positive after one of their best performances of the season.

 

 

Written by Ollie Wade – Read the rest of Matchweek 28 at Premier League Matchweek 28 24/25 – Kickoff chronicles 

 

 

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