17 things we loved this weekend: Iniesta, Vardy, Coutinho, Frankfurt

Quick Reads

Planet Football
21st May 2018

Barcelona said farewell to an icon this weekend, while Chelsea and Manchester United fought out a close-run FA Cup final.

The season came to a definitive end domestically, with a number of cup finals taking place as well as the last round of fixtures in La Liga.

We’ve taken a look at some of the best bits from the weekend, including some magic in Portugal, crazy scenes in Germany and the strangest goal of the season in Ireland.

Andres Iniesta

The great man played at the Nou Camp for the final time on Sunday, and gave himself plenty of time to savour the experience.

Andrés Iniesta was out on the Camp Nou pitch until 1.30am last night taking selfies reflecting on his time at Barcelona. Cherishing his final moments at the club. What a photo. pic.twitter.com/ONe792yceS

— FourFourTweet (@FourFourTweet) May 21, 2018

Peter Drury

Inter Milan produced a stunning comeback to qualify for the Champions League, and who else would be behind the mic? It’s not the best of Drury, but it is still very good.

This is sensational!

😒 2-1 down after 77 minutes
😲 2-3 up after 81 minutes

Inter are on the verge of Champions League football! pic.twitter.com/zBOzmMTbJf

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 20, 2018

The Portuguese Cup final

We’re not sure how, or why, but this is brilliantly bizarre.

Antonio Conte

The Italian lifted his second trophy in two years on Saturday.

Antonio Conte at Chelsea:
Took over a side that finished 10th
1x Premier League title
1x FA Cup
€81.2 million net spend

“Not good enough”

Jose Mourinho at United:
Took over a side that finished 5th
1x League Cup
1x Europa League
€261.6m net spend

“Progress”

— joshua jones (@joshuapsjones) May 19, 2018

Safe

Okay, so we don’t really know what’s going on in this random Netflix clip, but what’s your dad celebrating for?

Watching "Safe" on Netflix and "safe to say" this garden party football game is in need of VAR. pic.twitter.com/yrX7STJq2i

— Il Mediano (@ilmedianofm) May 20, 2018

Chris Stockton

Non-League player Stockton got to play at Wembley this Sunday in the FA Vase final… for Stockton.

“It’s not about the name on the back of the shirt”

Unless you’re Stockton’s Chris Stockton https://t.co/Z8t6i0BEA7

— Sunday League Hipster (@HipsterManager) May 20, 2018

Eintracht Frankfurt

There were brilliant scenes from fans and even the substitutes spilling onto the pitch as Frankfurt’s Mihat Gacinovic raced the length of the pitch to get to score into an empty goal and seal their first major trophy for 30 years.

WATCH: Frankfurt bench spills onto the pitch as DFB Pokal winner is scored

Lee Mason

In a situation which can often feel lacklustre, fourth official Lee Mason truly gave the national anthem everything he had ahead of the FA Cup final.

Fourth official Lee Mason belting out the national anthem there.

GET HIM ON THAT PLANE.

— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) May 19, 2018

Cabinteely

Who’s ready for a really bizarre goal from the League of Ireland?

Wojciech Szczęsny

The former Arsenal keeper pulled off this impressive catch during Juventus’ victory parade.

Once a keeper, always a keeper.

What a catch! pic.twitter.com/2VFllNWEA0

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) May 20, 2018

Jamie Vardy

This couldn’t actually happen, could it? Chanting ‘Jamie Vardy’s having a fiesta’ doesn’t quite have the same ring to it..

Really like the sound of Jamie Vardy to Atletico Madrid – has the retro feel of a Jimmy Greaves to Milan, Ian Rush to Juventus, John Aldridge to Real Sociedad.

— Adam Hurrey (@FootballCliches) May 20, 2018

Philippe Coutinho

It seems the former Liverpool man is finally stepping up to the plate at Barcelona.

Willian

The Brazilian didn’t take too kindly to Antonio Conte leaving him out of the starting line-up for Saturday’s FA Cup final, then.

Interesting placement of trophy emojis by Willian here… #cfc pic.twitter.com/yjTpN39Olz

— Liam Twomey (@liam_twomey) May 20, 2018

BBC Sport

Here’s the Beeb’s trailer for the upcoming World Cup, just to get the old juices flowing.

Chelsea Ladies

The new Invincibles.

FULL-TIME@ChelseaLFC GO INVINCIBLE!! The champions come back from two goals down against @LFCLadies to win at Prenton Park and cap off an amazing season 👏#FAWSL pic.twitter.com/PudNqcIcGj

— The FA WSL (@FAWSL) May 20, 2018

Andres Iniesta

Ok, so we’re trying *really* hard not to make this a gushing piece about how much we cried over Iniesta on Sunday, but this display as the teams walked out is glorious, turning the Spaniard’s famous No.8 on its side to represent infinity.

Bas Dost

In the aforementioned Portuguese cup final, Sporting were on the wrong end of an upset as they were defeated 2-1 by Aves, with Dost missing an absolute sitter.