16 things we loved this weekend: Saka, Ibra, Conte, Messi, Alexis…
We waved goodbye to club football for a fortnight after an excellent weekend of action. Premier League leaders Arsenal keep marching on, the relegation battle took yet more twists and Manchester City, Manchester United, Brighton and Sheffield United set up an intriguing FA Cup final four.
In Europe, Barcelona’s last-gasp El Clasico victory all but secures their first La Liga title in four years, Napoli extended their mammoth lead at the top of Serie A, PSG were struck by the Kim Kardashian curse with a rare home defeat and Borussia Dortmund moved to the top of the Bundesliga summit after Bayern suffered defeat to Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen.
Here are 16 of our favourite moments from the weekend.
Franck Kessie
What a moment.
KESSIE winning El Clásico and possibly LaLiga for Barcelona on the day Spain celebrate father’s day, celebrating as he always does, with a tribute to his late father who died when he was 11 pic.twitter.com/lNg6Adv2mE
— Alexandra Jonson (@AlexandraJonson) March 19, 2023
Bukayo Saka
The only player in the Premier League in double figures for both.
▪️ 10 goals
▪️ 10 assists.For the first time in his career, Bukayo Saka is in double figures for goals and assists in the Premier League 💫 pic.twitter.com/1iia4LTQI4
— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 19, 2023
Aaron Ramsdale
He’s seen that finish in training.
Ramsdale knew once Martinelli turned, that trust though🤩🤩🛑 pic.twitter.com/8KQRRIa5LH
— @iam Citizen (@Dajonah7) March 20, 2023
Nathan Redmond
Lovely stuff.
🇹🇷 Superb goal yesterday from Nathan Redmond in Besiktas’s 3-1 Süper Lig win #besiktas #SaintsFC pic.twitter.com/SyCJo8EVbO
— English Players Abroad (@EnglishAbroad1) March 19, 2023
David Brooks
It’s great to see him back in action.
David Brooks makes his first appearance for Bournemouth since September 2021, after his long battle with cancer ❤️ pic.twitter.com/glR5KJEqqV
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) March 18, 2023
Aleksandar Mitrovic
Scenes nobody everybody wants to see.
ABSOLUTE SCENES AT OLD TRAFFORD!! 😳
Tempers are flaring as Fulham go from 1-0 up to conceding a penalty and going down to 9-men… 🤯#ITVFootball | @EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/6vWTYNgRGT
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 19, 2023
Antonio Conte
The Italian’s press conference was pure box office.
🗣️ “They're used to it here. Don't play for something important. They don't want to play under pressure or under stress. Tottenham's story is this. 20 years there is the owner & they never won something. Why?”
Antonio Conte is absolutely FUMING in his post match presser 😤 pic.twitter.com/jPqMxnZUtQ
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) March 18, 2023
Tommy Doyle
Magic of the cup.
Tommy Doyle has sent Sheffield United to Wembley with this 90th minute strike in the #EmiratesFACup quarter-finals! 🚀🤯pic.twitter.com/eE1eNKWD0x
— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) March 19, 2023
Tanguy Ndombele
Lovely to see the mercurial Spurs loanee get in on the act in Napoli’s fairytale season.
Tanguy Ndombele's first goal in Italian football ✨
The Tottenham loanee combines with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to add to Napoli's rout of Torino. pic.twitter.com/iHY69Mu4BS
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) March 19, 2023
Manolo Gabbiadini
A wonderful banger from the former Saints striker.
Touch. Composure. Finish.
Manolo Gabbiadini let it fly 🚀 pic.twitter.com/t0LkNridDo
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) March 19, 2023
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
41 years and 166 days old. Okay, it was only a penalty, but fair play Ibra.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is now Serie A's oldest ever goalscorer 👴 pic.twitter.com/DTPuutwDiH
— GOAL (@goal) March 18, 2023
Alexis Sanchez
It’s lovely to see him rediscovering form in Marseille.
Turning back the clock, Alexis Sánchez! 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/u5MUlcP11k
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) March 19, 2023
Lionel Messi
PSG might’ve lost but this pass was insane.
Mbappe’s ability to spot the empty space and Messi’s skill to time the passes are just insane
by u/Straight_Entrance_44 in psg
Jose Morales
Pedro Goncalves, eat your heart out.
Morales from range!
The Villarreal man catches the Osasuna 'keeper off his line and scores from near the halfway line 😱🟡#LaLigaSantander pic.twitter.com/yYArmbbEkf
— Watch ElClásico live on Viaplay (@ViaplaySportsUK) March 19, 2023
Evan Ferguson
A proper striker.
That is sublime.
Rising star, @Evan_Ferguson9, showcases his talent once again ⭐️#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/VE7ajpvthA
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) March 19, 2023
Thiago Almada
Filthy.
Pure, unfiltered filth from Atlanta United’s Thiago Almada. pic.twitter.com/KiaNC7s3Zb
— HLTCO (@HLTCO) March 19, 2023
Cameron Archer
What a talent 🤩
A brace for @Cameronarcher_ against his former Club!#EFL | @Boro pic.twitter.com/UJB3OpKoCR
— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) March 19, 2023
This stat
Spooky.
March 18, 2022:
Wolves 2 Leeds 3 (Harrison, Rodrigo, Ayling)
March 18, 2023:
Wolves 2 Leeds 4 (Harrison, Ayling, Kristensen, Rodrigo)Same date. Same result. Same scorers.
Football works in unusual ways sometimes— James Marshment (@marshyleeds) March 18, 2023
This penalty blunder
Oh dear.
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) March 18, 2023
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