BRENTFORD LEAVE IT LATE AGAINST BOURNEMOUTH
Brentford faced Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium in their final away game of the season. In an action-parked first half, Dominic Solanke had two goals ruled out by VAR in a space of ten minutes while Brentford equally had their chances at goal. It was quite surprising that the first half ended goalless. Brentford had a penalty ruled out in the second half but there was more entertainment to come in the closing minutes.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man! Bryan Mbeumo proved to be the hero for Brentford again as he struck emphatically in the 86th minute to give Brentford the lead finishing superbly into the bottom corner from Yoane Wissa’s lofted pass, sending the away fans into raptures. What a time for the Cameroon International to score his 50th goal for the club. Solanke wasn’t going to be outdone as he equalized shortly after for The Cherries but The Bees ultimately had the last laugh as the previous combo that gave them the lead earlier combined once again to give the Bees the lead in the 95th minute.
Mbeumo turned provider as he turned the ball into the path of Congolese forward Wissa who hammered it into the back of the net. The Cherries vanquished by The Bees.
RED-HOT BRAHIM
Starting a 2nd consecutive league match on the left wing, Brahim took the opportunity excellently. The Moroccan international was at the heart of Madrid’s first goal as his cutback deflected kindly into the path of Fran Garcia who proceeded to side foot the ball into the back of the net.
The midfielder got in on the goal action after the break. Receiving the ball on the halfway line from Ceballos, he turned the defender expertly and raced off with the ball. Cutting on to his right foot and sending another defender away skillfully, he unleashed a shot into the corner extending Madrid’s lead further.
He completed his brace within a space of 9 minutes smashing home on the turn from Luka Modric’s cutback into the middle. Beyond his goals, his all round play was equally impressive as he completed six dribbles, more than any other player on the pitch. With the form he is in at the moment, he is on course to record double figures in league goals for the first time in his career. Way to go Brahim!
EN-NESYRI’S BRACE NOT ENOUGH
The Moroccan striker was back in action as Sevilla faced 8th placed side Villarreal on Saturday. Sevilla were in a good form in the league going into this fixture unbeaten in their previous 5 matches, picking up 4 wins and 1 draw in that period. After a flurry of missed chances for Villarreal, Youseff En Nesyri gave Sevilla the lead in the 26th minute with a well taken penalty after Kiko Femenia was penalised for a handball in the 18 yard box. He stepped up and dispatched the ball into the corner calmly beyond the outstretched arms of the goalie.
Sorloth equalised thereafter for Villarreal but En Nesyri wasn’t one to be outdone. He restored Sevilla’s lead just before the halftime rising highest to nod home Jesus Navas’s cross, further extending his lead as the highest scoring Moroccan in La Liga history.
They held onto their lead till the 84th minute as Colombian defender Mosquera equalised for Villarreal and Sorloth ultimately secured the three points for Villarreal in the 97th minute. A real heartbreak for the Andalusian side snapping their 5 game unbeaten run.
The striker will feel hard done as his clinical efforts were unable to secure a point for the 12th placed Spanish side.
BEBOU BACK AMONG THE GOALS
Ilhas Bebou rediscovered his goal-scoring form as Hoffenheim faced off against Darmstadt. He had failed to find the net in their previous four matches. Darmstadt were utterly decimated at home by Hoffenheim and Bebou played a prominent role in this merciless rout. The Togolese striker gave Hoffenheim an early lead in the 2nd minute timing his run to perfection & connecting superbly with Grillitsch’s ball over the top of the defence, rounding the goalkeeper up & finishing expertly from a difficult angle. The floodgates were opened!
Hoffenheim increased their tally to four-nil in the 26th minute of the match, not giving the hosts a chance to catch their breath. Bebou turned provider for Beier, threading a through ball into the path of the German midfielder and the latter got his goal with help from the post just before the halftime break. Provider turned goalscorer once again in the 51st minute showing skill and composure to grab his second. Picking up the ball from Kramaric’s slight nudge, he evaded the defender swiftly and struck a right-footed shot firmly into the back of the net. A good day at the office for the Togolese striker. The win was vital as the 7th-placed German side aims to secure a European spot before the season ends.
AUBAMEYANG THE HERO ONCE AGAIN
Pierre Errick Aubameyang has been in sensational form for Marseille throughout the season. He has come up clutch for the French side on numerous occasions and he did so again in his latest outing at the Velodrome as Marseille faced off against Lorient.
He came slightly close to giving his side the lead in the 19th minute, sending the ball flying over the bar from a free kick on the edge of the box.
The Gabonese striker wasn’t going to be kept out for long, connecting with a cross from Murillo in the 36th minute, Aubameyang directed the ball into the back of the net with a well placed header to give the home side the lead. Marseille subsequently doubled their lead through defender Gigot who tapped in at the far post to go two nil up but Lorient pulled one back and halved the deficit through Benjamin Mendy.
Not backing down, he was clinical as Marseille restored their two goal lead, dispatching a penalty with ease in the 54th minute following a foul by Katseris on Mobagna. Lorient came really close to adding to their goal tally but Les Olympiens saw the match out holding on to their two goal lead.
The forward has now been involved in 40 goals and assists across all competitions in his debut season for the french side. He became the all time top scorer in the Europa league in February and he is the top scorer in this season’s edition. Not bad for a 34 year old.
ZIYECH JOINS GALATASARAY ON A PERMANENT DEAL
Hakim Ziyech joined Galatasaray on a season long loan deal from Chelsea at the beginning of the season. According to a report by journalist Fabrizio Romano last week, the deal has now been sealed on a permanent basis. Fabrizio Romano posted on X: “Hakim Ziyech will not return to Chelsea as he’s staying to Galatasaray on permanent move. “Obligation to buy clause, triggered and signed as Chelsea already sent letter to Gala confirming the agreement.”
There were rumours and speculations in January that Galatasaray could terminate the loan deal early due to his injury problems in the first half of the season. He dispelled the rumours through his revitalized performances in the second half of the season. His performances eventually led Galatasaray to trigger the clause to sign the Moroccan winger on a permanent deal last week. His spell with the Turkish side has been successful so far & he will be aiming to defend the Super Lig title successfully for the Turkish club in the coming weeks as they sit on top of the table six points clear of second placed Fenerbahce. The winger secured the Turkish Super Cup earlier in the season after Fernabache fielded their under-19 team in the fixture and forfeited the match.
ONUACHU AT THE DOUBLE
Paul Onuachu was the star of the show for Trabzonspor as he grabbed a quick fire brace in their Turkish league fixture against Istanbulspor. He scored twice in the opening seven minutes to give the 3rd placed Turkish side an early cushion in the match.
His first goal was an emphatic header as he rose highest to prod home the ball from a well taken corner.
The second came right after kickoff as Edin Visca capitalized on a terrible howler by defender Racine Coly. He threaded the ball into Onuachu’s part who took one touch to set it properly and finished thunderously on the half volley. Transponzpor had two penalty calls waved off by the referee in the first half but they got their third just a few minutes after the break, the final nail in the coffin for their opponents. The on-loan Nigerian striker put in a man of the match performance and has been in impressive form for the Turkish side this season.
