Game Recaps

FC Porto manager Sergio Conceicao’s search for the right formation and personnel in both the Primeira Liga and Champions League has led to Mexican international Jesus “Tecatito” Corona being handed less minutes than he’d probably like, but the 24-year-old winger was handed a start against Pacos de Ferreira on Saturday and certainly gave his manager something to think about with a flawless 75-minute display that included a goal and an assist.

The largest Premier League attendance of all-time — 80,827 spectators inside Tottenham’s temporary Wembley Stadium home — witnessed a hugely absorbing encounter between Spurs and Liverpool on Sunday with the home side ultimately registering a comprehensive 4-1 victory. Liverpool’s defense, particularly center half Dejan Lovren, was an absolute shambles, and Tottenham were cruising at 4-1 by the match’s 56th minute thanks to a brace from Harry Kane and additional goals from Son Heung-Min and Dele Alli.

Based on the evidence here, Sofiane Boufal’s Southampton career is something of a slow burn. The Moroccan attacker arrived last season for a club-record fee of over $21 million. He then scored one Premier League goal in 24 matches for the Saints. But Boufal has already matched that total this season thanks to a match-winner against West Brom that could ultimately stand as the EPL Goal of the Season.

Iceland became the smallest nation to ever qualify for the Men’s World Cup earlier this month. The Iceland women’s national team is trying to follow suit. Iceland stunned Germany, the top-ranked team in Europe, 3-2 in UEFA qualifying for the 2019 World Cup on Friday in Wiesbaden, the first World Cup qualifying loss for the two-time world champions since 1998.

Club America vs. Chivas is always the biggest date on the Liga MX calendar. Originally postponed after Mexico City was hit by an earthquake, El Superclasico was finally played Wednesday.

Barcelona defeated Olympiakos 3-1 in the Champions League despite having defender Gerard Pique sent off in the 42nd minute. A Dimitris Nikolaou own goal, Lionel Messi free kick and Lucas Digne insurance strike were enough to overcome their Greek opposition on a wet and wild night at the Camp Nou. Messi’s goal was his 100th overall in European competition with 97 coming in the Champions League and three in the UEFA Super Cup.

Wednesday’s Chelsea-AS Roma game had everything. It had six goals in total, Antonio Rudiger playing against his former team, Gary Cahill wearing a bandage around his head like he just went to the dentist in 1876, Frederico Fazio getting magic spray on his junk because Pedro’s head smashed into his nether regions and an Edin Dzeko goal that might be one of the best you’ll see all year. In the end, Chelsea and AS Roma played to a wildly entertaining 3-3 draw in Champions League group play at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday. 

Benfica goalkeeper Mile Svilar will not be pleased with his performance Wednesday against Manchester United in the Champions League, as his mistake proved the defference between the two sides. The18-year-old caught a Marcus Rashford free kick and brought it with him across the goal line, which is not, you know, good.

Atletico Madrid were held to a 0-0 draw with FK Qarabag in Azerbaijan in Champions League group play on Wednesday despite playing with a man advantage for over 15 minutes. Atletico landed only three shots on target in another tepid display that makes Diego Costa’s January arrival all the more pressing.