The French topflight is one of Europe’s most fiercely fought contests this season and Paris Saint Germain kept themselves one point clear at the top
ADVERTISEMENTThe French topflight is one of Europe’s most fiercely fought contests this season and Paris Saint Germain kept themselves one point clear at the top of it after twice coming from behind to beat Marseille 3-2 in Le Classique.
Andre Pierre Gignac scored a brace for Marseille but the goals were cancelled out by Blaise Matuidi and then Marquinhos before defender Jeremy Morel scored an own goal to settle the contest in PSG’s favour.
Bayern Munich continue title march
Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski returned to his former club Dortmund for the first time since his transfer at the start of the season.
And he turned out to be the difference in a hot tempered affair .
He claimed the only goal in the 39th minute at the Signal Iduna Park.
After Roman Weidenfeller saved Thomas Müller’s initial effort Lewandowski was on hand to header home the rebound into an empty net.
The Bavarians are 10 points clear of Wolfsburg at the top of the table with seven games left – they need four more wins to secure a record-extending 25th Bundesliga crown.
Up and down
And now, let’s see who made our ‘up and down’ list over the last week. Starting with La Liga’s new top scorer.
Cristiano Ronaldo was unstoppable in Real Madrid’s 9-1 win over Granada. The Portuguese international scored five goals on the night – the first time in his career he’s accomplished that feat.
He now has a league-topping 36 goals this term.
Happy to have scored 5 goals with this excelent team work. Thank you for all your support. … http://t.co/XXJMmFN3XEpic.twitter.com/UI6FbpoNuj
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) April 5, 2015
Charlie Adam also makes the up list this week.
He was one of a handful of players to score a wonder goal over the weekend in the Premier league.
Adam unleashed a sensational shot from 65 yards to lob the giant Thibault Courtois to score in Stoke’s 2-1 defeat by Chelsea.
Thank you for all the amazing tweets. Nice way too get my 50th goal in English football.shame we couldn't get at least a point from the game
— Charlie Adam (@Charlie26Adam) April 4, 2015
Turkish football is down.
Trabzonspor fans are suspected of carrying out a gun attack on Fenerbahce’s team bus in Trabzon following a league game.
The bus driver was seriously wounded in the attack which has prompted officials to suspend the Turkish league for a week.
ADVERTISEMENTFenerbahce say their team bus was shot at by a gunman after their league victory at Rizespor http://t.co/LmviRLyYZJpic.twitter.com/JbB4DN6SVT
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) April 4, 2015
On this day
In the USA, football is almost a religion. American football that is. Soccer, as they call it has, on the contrary, a more recent story and only in the last few years has seen a rise in popularity. But when and who featured in the first Major Leauge Soccer match? Let’s see in ‘On this day’‘.
On 6 April 1996, the San Jose Clash hosted DC United for the inaugural Major League Soccer match. San Jose won, 1-0, but United went on to win the league title.
The new league was part of the deal that brought the World Cup to the United States in 1994.
Only ten teams contested that first season, followed by a playoff tournament to decide the league champion.
ADVERTISEMENTIn addition to the tournament, MLS departed from the International Football Association Board rules by using a countdown clock (which paused for stoppages of play) and shootouts to decide matches that were even at the end of regulation.
It looked as if the shootout procedure might be needed in that first game, played before a capacity crowd of 31,683 at San Jose’s Spartan Stadium.
But with two minutes left, Clash forward Eric Wynalda dribbled into the DC United box, beat one defender, then split two others to fire a shot into the far corner of the net.
It was the very first goal scored in MLS and was enough to give the victory to the Clash.
In 1999, the Clash renamed themselves the Earthquakes, taking the name from the city’s old NASL team.
ADVERTISEMENTThe team moved to Houston in 2006 and became the Dynamo, while the Earthquakes name and records remained in San Jose.
After a two-year hiatus, the Earthquakes team rejoined MLS in 2008.
The 10 best plays from Week 5 Saturday MLS action: http://t.co/1Z8xLAznOA
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 6, 2015
We might be wrong
It’s that time of the show where we stick our reputation on the line and predict a few European domestic league games.
If you think we’re going to be wrong, comment and send us your predictions on the social networks, using #TheCornerScores.
ADVERTISEMENTMan United – Man City 2-0
Sevilla – Barcelona 1-3
Napoli – Fiorentina 1-0
Bloopers
We end The Corner with a cheeky cartoon about the last round of Euro 2016 qualification matches. (see clip above)
If you find any funny football videos, send them to us using #TheCornerBloopers.