Month: January 2023

Antoine Griezmann starred as Atletico Madrid returned to winning ways in LaLiga with a 3-0 victory over Real Valladolid.

Three goals in 10 first-half minutes at the Civitas Metropolitano put Diego Simeone’s side in control en route to their first league victory of 2023.

Griezmann’s stellar assist set up Alvaro Morata’s opener, with the France international then adding his own name to the scoresheet with a cheeky finish.

It was also Griezmann’s delivery that led to Mario Hermoso firing home on the rebound as Los Colchoneros set down a marker in the fierce battle for a top-four finish.

Morata started brightly and opened the scoring in the 18th minute, deceiving a defender with a feint and slotting past Jordi Masip after Griezmann’s outrageous backheel.

The hosts doubled their advantage five minutes later as Griezmann flicked Nahuel Molina’s driven cross beyond Masip at the near post.

Hermoso soon added a third, blasting in from close range after his initial header from Griezmann’s free-kick was parried by the goalkeeper.

Thinking ahead to the midweek Copa del Rey clash with Real Madrid, Diego Simeone shuffled his deck before the hour, and the introduction of Barcelona-linked Yannick Carrasco drew jeers from sections of the crowd.

But Atletico continued to threaten, Koke hitting the crossbar and Angel Correa seeing a low drive strike both posts.

Memphis Depay, making his debut after joining from Barca, was introduced for a 15-minute cameo as Atletico ultimately coasted to a straightforward victory that puts them three points clear of the chasing pack.

What does it mean? Atletico remain on track

After beginning 2023 with a defeat to Barcelona and a draw at Almeria in LaLiga, three points for Atletico against Valladolid was necessary with a real scrap developing for fourth spot.

Playing before their top-four rivals Villarreal, Real Betis and Osasuna, Atletico could not afford to drop further points having entered the game just three above tenth-placed Real Mallorca.

While extending that margin to six gives Atletico a little more security, it also keeps them in the driving seat unless Villarreal batter Girona on Sunday.

Griez is the word

Valladolid will surely be sick of the sight of Griezmann, with that first-half goal his ninth in 10 LaLiga appearances against Pucela.

Griezmann’s goal came with his only touch inside the opposition box, while his three chances created was the joint-most in the game alongside Correa.

Homesick Valladolid

Defeat for Valladolid was their fifth successive LaLiga loss without scoring, the first time in their history they have endured such a losing streak and failed to score in each game.

The wait for a goal on the road continues, with their last being against Getafe on October 1.

Key Opta facts

– Alvaro Morata scored his 50th goal in LaLiga; 25 in 67 appearances for Atletico Madrid, and 25 from 63 games for Real Madrid.

– Antoine Griezmann scored and delivered an assist in a single LaLiga game for the first time since November 2021 against Cadiz (also one goal and one assist).

– Antoine Griezmann has tallied a goal and an assist in a single game 12 times with Atletico Madrid, more than any other player for the club in the 21st century (Sergio Aguero had 11, and Diego Forlan had 10).

– This is the first time Atletico Madrid have scored three goals in the first 30 minutes of a LaLiga game since April 2017, when they beat Las Palmas 5-0.

– Memphis Depay is the first Dutch player to make an appearance in LaLiga for Atletico Madrid since John Heitinga in August 2009. The striker is the fourth Dutchman to represent the club in the competition after Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Kiki Musampa and Heitinga (all played 34 times).

What’s next?

Atletico make the short trip across the capital to face rivals Real Madrid in their Copa del Rey quarter-final on Thursday.

Newcastle moved up to third in the table after a goalless draw at Crystal Palace extended their unbeaten run to 15 Premier League matches.

The visitors dominated possession throughout the contest, which saw the visitors squander 15 corners, while the hosts were dealt a blow when Wilfried Zaha was forced off with injury in the second half.

Magpies goalkeeper Nick Pope, who kept his ninth straight clean sheet in all competitions, made a brilliant leaping save to deny substitute Jean-Philippe Mateta the chance to break the deadlock.

The result drew Newcastle level on 39 points with Manchester United, who face league leaders Arsenal on Sunday.

The visitors had an early chance when Joe Willock sent a cross to Miguel Almiron on the right of the area but he directed his volleyed effort into the side-netting.

Dan Burn finally forced Vicente Guaita into a low save with a sharp, left-footed strike, and the Magpies found themselves on the attack again when referee Craig Pawson determined Jeffrey Schlupp took the last touch as he battled with Almiron down the right byline.

Newcastle made nothing of Kieran Trippier’s resulting corner but kept up the pressure as Fabian Schar flicked the ball to Joelinton, who sent a low, tame effort from 10 yards straight at Guaita.

Joelinton remained in the hunt for an opener and struck from close range, the ball appearing to take a deflection off Tyrick Mitchell’s arm, but a quick VAR check determined there was no handball.

The hosts survived another Newcastle set piece when Eberechi Eze was punished for bringing down Almiron on the right and the ball bounced off Schar before Guaita claimed it out of the air.

Palace could have taken the lead before half-time through Eze’s corner, which found Chris Richards in a good position in front of goal but the American – making his second start for Palace – could only nod over the crossbar.

Palace were unable to create any real chances after the break, while Newcastle could not find the finishing touch as Joelinton saw a right-footed effort blocked, Bruno Guimaraes directed a dangerous effort wide and Sven Botman missed a good opportunity to nod in an opener.

It was more bad news for the Eagles when talisman Zaha, making his 450th start, pulled up with what appeared to be a hamstring injury forcing boss Patrick Vieira to bring on Michael Olise in the 65th minute.

It took a fine leaping save from Pope to avoid falling behind when the ball pinged around the area before landing at the feet of substitute Mateta, who unleashed an effort towards the top-left corner but watched the Magpies keeper tip away Palace’s best chance of the match.

The visitors continued to enjoy a considerable possession advantage through 80 minutes but were denied taking the lead by Guaita, who got his gloves on Alexander Isak’s header before blocking another from Schar.

Neither side was able to make anything of four minutes of added time, though 17-year-old substitute David Ozoh was still able to enjoy a milestone moment when he became the youngest player to play for Palace in the Premier League.

It was the second time the teams have drawn a blank, with a Carabao Cup clash going to penalties following a goalless stalemate.

Christian Gunter was lost for words after his Freiburg side were thumped 6-0 by Wolfsburg on their return to Bundesliga action on Saturday.

Freiburg entered the two-month break second only to Bayern Munich in the table after winning four of their final five league games of 2022.

But any thoughts of possibly rivalling 10-in-a-row champions Bayern were put into perspective by Wolfsburg at the Volkswagen Arena.

Christian Streich’s side were behind after just 59 seconds through a Patrick Wimmer strike, before Jonas Wind’s double put the hosts in complete control before half-time.

Yannick Gerhardt and Ridle Baku joined the scoresheet in the second half, and Luca Waldschmidt beat Mark Flekken from the penalty spot to complete the scoring.

“I don’t have any explanation. It wasn’t expected. We have to look at what went wrong,” Freiburg captain Gunter told Sky Sport.

“It’s extremely painful to start like this in 2023. Everything came together for them; it was a very bad day for us.”

Freiburg’s heavy loss sees them drop to fourth below Eintracht Frankfurt and Union Berlin, with all three sides five points behind leaders Bayern.

Reflecting on a chastening day for his side, Freiburg head coach Christian Streich said: “We lost 6-0 and didn’t have a chance.

“After the first minute, we got to know how good Wolfsburg are. In the end, we lost 6-0. What can I say? Maybe it’s best I don’t say anything.”

Wolfsburg’s win was their fifth in a row in Bundesliga – their best run since 2014 when winning six in a row – and moves them within four points of the Champions League spots.

“We got off to a very good start,” Wolfsburg coach Niko Kovac said. “From our second shot, we scored our second goal, then it was a sure-fire success from there.

“Basically, you can’t go wrong from there. I’m happy with the way this team is developing.”

Hamilton won the battle of the bottom sides as they reached the fifth round of the Scottish Cup with a 5-3 penalty shoot-out victory over Ross County.

The two sides could not be separated after extra-time at New Douglas Park which meant that penalties were required and it was the Championship strugglers who progressed.

It was a contest that showed plenty of signs of a game being played between two clubs in the lower reaches of their respective leagues, with 120 minutes dominated by sloppy possession and missed opportunities.

Hamilton boss John Rankin made one change from the side that beat Morton last weekend, with Chrissy McGinn coming in for Daniel O’Reilly.

Premiership basement boys Ross County made four changes following their draw at Motherwell. Out went Alex Iacovitti, David Cancola, Jordan Tillson and Jordan White, replaced by Keith Watson, Nohan Kenneh, Kazeem Olaigbe and Jordy Hiwula.

It was the visitors who started the better and had a flurry of early chances, most of them created by their brightest spark Yan Dhanda, who orchestrated some neat moves for Ross County from the base of midfield.

Hiwula – who was handed his first start since November – should have given the Premiership side the lead after latching onto Dhanda’s teasing low cross but could only smash his effort straight at Ryan Fulton.

Owura Edwards blasted the ball over from close range before Hiwula spurned another brilliant opportunity after 16 minutes when he was on the end of an inch-perfect Dhanda corner and his misguided header went over the crossbar.

Ross County boss Malky McKay shuffled the pack at the break as his side tried to assert their dominance, with Victor Loturi replacing Kenneh.

The visitors continued to peg back the home side and went agonisingly close to opening the scoring as Ross Callachan nearly found the corner with a looping header, but it was scrambled off the line by Dylan McGowan.

Jordan White did not do much different from Dhanda’s dangerous deliveries as he headed over the crossbar from close range with his first touch of the ball, while Andy Ryan drew a smart stop from Ross Laidlaw as extra-time loomed.

William Akio came close to winning it for County, but his shot was saved by Fulton, before – up the other end – Dario Zanatta’s effort came crashing back off the post.

Jordan White, who was subject to a bid from St Johnstone this week, missed his spot-kick from 12 yards and that proved decisive as Ryan’s effort sent the Championship side into the fifth round.

Jadon Sancho “has a way to go” before returning to Manchester United’s matchday squad, says Erik ten Hag, who has ruled the winger out of Sunday’s clash with Arsenal.

Sancho has not played for United since a 1-1 draw with Chelsea in October, with Ten Hag describing his absence as the result of “circumstances with fitness and mood”.

While the 22-year-old returned to team training earlier this week, he will not be involved when United bid to extend their unbeaten Premier League run to seven games against title-chasing Arsenal.

Asked about Sancho’s return to the group by MUTV on Saturday, Ten Hag said: “It is the next step. He still has a way to go.

“He will know that, but when he makes this progress, then he can return to the group for games. 

“Of course, we all hope for that, because he is a great footballer. He has great skills that can help us. 

“We have to cover so many games, but especially we need quality players, and he is definitely a quality player who can make the difference, and we are expecting that from him.”

United remain the only side to beat Arsenal in the Premier League this season, and they are bidding to complete just their second league double over the Gunners since Alex Ferguson’s 2013 retirement on Sunday, having beaten them home and away under Jose Mourinho in the 2017-18 campaign.

While United will be without Sancho and suspended midfielder Casemiro in north London, they have no other major absences to deal with, and Ten Hag is hopeful of another positive performance.

“As you know, Casemiro is absent, but for the rest, we have a good team, which has to battle with Arsenal,” he said.

“We have to go head-to-head, and we are convinced we are in a good way. We have a prepared team and a good plan and energy, and we will be acting on that.”

A first-half goal from Marvin Johnson was enough to give Sheffield Wednesday a 1-0 victory over Fleetwood at Hillsborough.

The Owls went ahead after 17 minutes when Josh Windass’ low ball was finished calmly into the roof of the net by Johnson.

Lee Gregory had a chance to double the lead from another Windass cross but the striker’s effort went wide before Dominic Iorfa saw his low drive saved by goalkeeper Jay Lynch.

Fleetwood frustrated the home side for large parts of the second half without creating any real chances of their own.

Danny Andrew got his free-kick on target but it was comfortably saved by Wednesday keeper Cameron Dawson.

Substitute Callum Paterson could have put the game to bed but his header went just past the post before Gerard Garner nearly snatched a point for Fleetwood, his close-range shot being stopped by Dawson.

Gregory was then fouled in the penalty area but the striker blazed his penalty over the bar with the last kick of the game.

Welshman Tom Bradshaw increased Cardiff City’s relegation fears and kept Millwall in the Championship play-off mix with the only goal of the game in south Wales.

Cardiff fans staged a protest before kick-off calling for owner Vincent Tan to sell the club and they have now gone 11 games without a win in all competitions.

Caretaker manager Dean Whitehead could not halt the Bluebirds’ slide, but they were spared the ignominy of falling into the bottom three thanks to Blackpool’s clash with Huddersfield Town being postponed.

Millwall remain in eighth, just two points below third-placed Watford.

The visitors started on the front foot with Mason Bennett firing high and wide from 25 yards and Zian Flemming trying his luck from 35 yards.

Callum Robinson saw a header tipped over at the other end, but Millwall should have been ahead in the 12th minute.

George Honeyman picked out Flemming in the middle, but the Dutchman’s side-foot effort was wide from 12 yards out.

Gary Rowett’s men did not have to wait too long to break the deadlock, however, as Bradshaw slotted home in the 26th minute.

Jaden Philogene gave the ball away to Jake Cooper, who was allowed too much space and time to advance and slide a pass through for Bradshaw.

Cedric Kipre should have dealt with it but allowed Bradshaw to squeeze a shot between Ryan Allsop’s legs while attempting to shepherd the ball out for a goal kick.

Cardiff responded well to that setback and could have been level before the break.

Philogene thumped a shot just over from 25 yards and the Aston Villa loanee then saw another effort blocked by Shaun Hutchinson after Robinson robbed Cooper in centre circle.

Robinson, a bright spark in the Cardiff attack, also had a cross-shot nodded behind by Callum Styles before the recalled Mark McGuinness missed the target from the corner.

But Allsop saved from George Saville and Bradshaw before the interval and there were boos from the home fans as the whistle blew.

The Bluebirds re-emerged a good two minutes before Millwall, and they started the second half as if they meant business.

Robinson curled just wide after one-two with Kion Etete on the edge of the box and Etete went round Hutchinson and curled a shot just off target soon afterwards.

Sheyi Ojo then wasted a great chance when he headed wide from Calum O’Dowda’s cross just before the hour mark.

Millwall were under the cosh, but they would have doubled their lead on the break if McGuinness had not blocked Honeyman’s goal-bound effort.

Cooper was lucky to escape sanction for an apparent forearm smash on substitute Isaak Davies late on, but Millwall otherwise kept Cardiff at arm’s length.

New Portsmouth boss John Mousinho got his tenure off to a winning start with a 2-0 victory against Exeter.

Second-half goals from Marlon Pack and Wales midfielder Joe Morrell secured Pompey’s first home triumph since September.

Amid fan protests against Portsmouth owner Michael Eisner, it was Exeter who came closest to scoring in the first half.

Luton loanee Matt Macey, making his Pompey debut in goal, ensured it remained goalless at the break with fine saves from Sam Nombe and Josh Key.

A shot over the bar by Colby Bishop on eight minutes, and a 20-yard effort put wide by Morrell was all the hosts had to offer in the opening period.

Lacey saved early in the second half from Jevani Brown, but it was Pompey who broke the deadlock on 55 minutes.

A cross from the right from Zak Swanson was headed clear to the boot of Pack, and he volleyed into the net from 25 yards.

A second from Morrell on 74 minutes sealed the points.

Gillingham chalked up back-to-back victories in League Two for the first time this season after winning 2-0 at fellow strugglers Colchester United.

David Tutonda and Tom Nichols were on target as the visitors built on last week’s win over Hartlepool.

Junior Tchamadeu fired into the side netting early on for Colchester and Noah Chilvers also went close for the hosts when his 25-yard strike was pushed away by goalkeeper Glenn Morris.

But it was Gillingham who took a 37th-minute lead through Tutonda when he headed home at the far post after Ollie Hawkins had flicked on Alex MacDonald’s ball into the area.

Colchester had a penalty appeal rejected when John Akinde tumbled under Will Wright’s challenge in the area before Dom Jefferies’ low shot was parried away by home keeper Kieran O’Hara in time added on at the end of the first half.

From the resultant set-piece, Gillingham striker Nichols firmly headed home MacDonald’s corner from close range.

Colchester pushed for a route back into the contest in the second half and dominated possession, with Morris denying Connor Hall and substitute Luke Hannant.

St Mirren booked their place in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup after coming out on top in a penalty shoot-out with Dundee.

The teams couldn’t be separated after a poor 120 minutes of few meaningful chances.

But it was the Premiership side who prevailed from the spot, with Greg Kiltie hitting the winning penalty to send his team through with Trevor Carson saving all three Dundee efforts.

St Mirren made two changes from the team beaten by Celtic in midweek, with starting places for Marcus Fraser and Mark O’Hara who replaced Ethan Erhahon and Joe Shaughnessy.

Dundee, in turn, made three alterations from their last game against Raith Rovers on January 6 as Zak Rudden, Shaun Byrne and Max Anderson were replaced by Luke McCowan, Alex Jakubiak and Josh Mulligan.

The visitors were forced into an early switch when Tyler French was late on Alex Gogic but came out worse and was stretchered off, with Anderson coming on.

After an eight-minute delay, Ryan Strain swept the resultant free-kick into Adam Legzdins’ arms.

The home side continued to threaten and O’Hara was next to try his luck from distance but again couldn’t beat the goalkeeper.

Strain tried again with another free-kick but this time it sailed high into the away supporters behind the goal.

Anderson had Dundee’s first chance but was snuffed out by Scott Tanser as he prepared to shoot, with Lee Ashcroft heading the resultant corner wide.

It took until the final minute of the first half for the visitors to register their first meaningful effort on target through Lyall Cameron but Carson made a big save to deny him.

Saints made two changes at half-time and Alex Greive, one of the substitutes, had a ‘goal’ chalked off for offside.

Jakubiak then created space for a shot but lashed his effort high over the bar before Cameron’s turn and shot was well held by Carson.

The match wound into extra-time and Gogic should have scored in the first few minutes but shot straight at Legzdins before Carson made a brilliant save to deny Kwame Thomas to take it to penalties.

O’Hara, Greive and Kiltie were successful for St Mirren, after Eamonn Brophy had his saved, with Carson denying Rudden, Thomas and Cameron.