Weekend Watch: Not What Was Intended

By: chris | February 18th, 2008

In short, it was a very, very good weekend to be the home team, and a very, very bad weekend to be Arsenal.

ManYoo 4 - Arsenal 0: Given that Arsene Wenger was unleashing a team far from optimal it’s fair to say that Gunners faithful didn’t have high expactations, but dayum. This was an old-fashioned close the door, take the belt off and cock the arm back beating from the Devils, who were at full force. But I can’t imagine Arsene didn’t expect this. Arsenal has to be throwing the cup when Darren Fletcher bagged a brace. (Right?)

Juventus 1 - Roma 0: Because it’s not worth discussing anymore, what was written for the Italian page:

Aside from one moment, it was an even game, with Juventus controlling the first half and Roma taking the other. A Pavel Nedved dive (it was a dive, there’s no debating it, he got hit on the way down) allowed for a free kick which was too close for anybody to miss. And there’s your game.

Rio!.:
Botafogo 2 - Fluminense 0: Brazilians know how to do a proper derby. It’s not one unless both teams end up with 10 men at the very best. Fluminense had a chance being down 1-0 and Botafogo losing the first man in the 76th, but they lost their own man in the 88th and Lucio Flavio nailed the coffin shut in the 90th. (Lucio Flavio also being a fanastic name - two points.)
Flamengo 2 - Vasco da Gama 1: Late winner from Ronaldo Angelim sealed the 2-1, but MOTM goes to Edmundo for his post-game presser: “I should not have been on the pitch. I was not prepared.” He sucked and he isn’t afraid to say it. Bravo.

Sunday

Marseille 2 - PSG 1: Things started off awfully not-so-good with PSG winning a peno in the second in front of the Velodrome crowd. Jeromy Rothen made it a cool 1-0, but Taye Taiwo evened it up and Mamadou Niang gave l’OM the lead just after halftime. The game stayed status quo and Marseille get the bragging rights.

Genoa 0 - Sampdoria 1: Twas the Antonio Cassano Show once again, with the mighty magician from Bari running through Genoa like it was a training course. Christian Maggio finished off a Talentino slalom run in the 87th and Sampdoria take down their city rivals just like that.

Club Brugge 1 - Standard Liege 2: The upset of the weekend, if you will. (Alright, probably not, because when it comes to Belgian footbll I have no idea what the hell I’m talking about.) Liege had yet to lose, but had only won 3 in 10 games away from home. So they now join CB in first place in the fight for Belgian supremacy.