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Another week in football zips by and it marked the midway point in the European Champions League group stages.
I never thought I’d see the day when a Russian club side would thrash Spanish opposition but it happened when Spartak Moscow defeated Sevilla 5-1.
Spartak is an interesting club, founded in the heady post-revolution days of the 1920s. It was an era where sporting clubs were formed among various government agencies: Dinamo Moscow for the police, CSKA for the army.
It was the club for the factory workers, so Spartak was more like a people’s club – and it still is by the looks of it. The club name derives from the Roman slave Spartacus, who led a rebellion against his former captors.
The team moved into their new stadium in 2014, and what a stadium the 45,000 Otkrytiye Stadium is. It was packed to the rafters for the UCL game against Sevilla, and the fans of the people’s club were in fine voice.
Spartak turned at the halfway mark in Group E in second place behind Liverpool. It will be a tight group, though, with only one point separating the first three teams.
Another team with a fanatical following is RB Leipzig. Formed only eight years ago by the Red Bull corporation, this club is playing in its first Champions League campaign. During the week they registered their first ever UCL win, defeating FC Porto 3-2.
They play out of the 41,000 capacity Red Bull Arena and seem to fill it every match. The fans are up close to the action and the atmosphere, coming through the TV screen at least, is sensational. Leipzig are second in Group G on four points, one ahead of Porto.
Heading Group G is the Turkish outfit Besiktas. If you want to get on a team outside the major European clubs, this is one to consider. Founded in 1903 and playing out of a brand-new stadium right on the banks of the Bosphorus, Besiktas have made a perfect start to the campaign with three wins from three.
Their most recent victory was a stunning 2-1 away result in Monaco. Keep an eye out for Besiktas who play Monaco at home in the next round.
In local happenings, George Calombaris, the Masterchef host, was fined during the week for punching a spectator at last year’s A-League grand final.
Calombaris, Melbourne Victory’s now ex-number one ticket holder, had been copping a ribbing from Sydney FC fans, some of which was personal. The pressure-cooker atmosphere combined with Victory’s defeat and perhaps falling ratings on Masterchef got to Colambaris, who lashed out at a teenage fan.
The judge described the case as a “tragedy”, and it was on a number of levels. It was a tragedy for George, who had a conviction recorded – though he will appeal. No doubt it was a tragedy for the teenager, who got punched in the guts. Perhaps it was a tragedy for the judge, a self-confessed Masterchef fan.
Apparently there is no truth in the rumour that George was actually tried by three judges who each wrote their decisions on a piece of cardboard before revealing it to a camera crew.
As usual, the Sydney derby did not disappoint. With a two-goal lead it looked as though the Western Sydney Wanderers might take the points, but a gift penalty to Sydney FC paved the way for a fight back.
A great second-half strike by Josh Brillante tied the scores and the match hung in the balance. It was an entertaining game with perhaps the only blemish being the lower than usual attendance.
It’s funny but there didn’t seem to be the usual buzz about the derby this time around.
Watching the match at a club in western Sydney, I was surprised at the number of people wearing Wanderers jerseys who were playing the pokies rather than watching the game.
The standard of football in the A-League has been great this year. I was only thinking how well the imported players have been going, but Mike Tuckerman’s article on Monday was right on the money.
Newcastle had a great result up in Brisbane, but it was distressing to see the injury to Ronny Vargas. There’s not much else to say but to wish him all the best in his recovery.
What did you think of the VAR decision? A superb team goal by Brisbane was rubbed out by the dreaded VAR. When you look at it, the offside decision was technically correct, but come on, the linesman has had a good look and let it go, so I’m happy for the goal to stand.
My verdict was that the decision was technically correct but morally reprehensible.
(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
Aaron Mooy was on the scoresheet in the English Premier League as Huddersfield Town beat Manchester United for the first time since 1952. That was a year before Princess Elizabeth became queen.
For United, the 1-2 defeat leaves them five points adrift of Manchester City.
Mooy came under consideration for my player of the week award, but I can’t go past Sam Kerr, who was voted the MVP of the US National Women’s League. That’s two of my gongs to Sam Kerr. I’m sure she’ll cherish them.
Until next week.
Personality of the week: Samantha Kerr
Team of the week: Spartak Moscow
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