European Football Update: Bayern held, Man United, Chelsea win

As usual, here is the review of some of the top football games played across Europe in the past week.

Premier League

Norwich v Chelsea

Norwich are winless in their last 14 Premier League meetings with Chelsea (D2 L12), since a 3-0 home win in December 1994 under John Deehan. Meanwhile, Chelsea have won their last six Premier League games against the Canaries in 2021-22.

Early goals from Trevoh Chalobah and Mason Mount plus Kai Havertz.s late strike move Chelsea eight points clear of Arsenal in third place; a resurgent Norwich strike back through Teemu Pukki’s penalty before Havertz’s third.

The Blues’ third win a row moves them eight points clear of Arsenal and seven behind second-placed Liverpool, who have played a game less. Norwich remain rooted to the bottom of the table, five points adrift of 17th-placed Everton, but with three more games already played.

Brighton v Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp’s men took the lead in surreal fashion when the brilliant Luiz Diaz bravely headed home and got poleaxed by Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez in the immediate aftermath.

The Liverpool forward walked away with no serious injury and despite a VAR review, Sanchez’s challenge was deemed not worthy of a red card.

Brighton who started brightly but faded, should have equalized just after half-time but Leandro Trossard skied an effort over the bar from close range. That proved a costly miss as Mohamed Salah netted the important second goal on 61 minutes from the penalty spot after Yves Bissouma was penalized for handball by referee Mike Dean.

Man United v Tottenham

Tottenham have made the battle for a top-four spot more difficult, after their 3-2 defeat to Man United on Saturday night.

Spurs managed to make a come back twice in the game, with equalizing goals in the 35th and 72nd minute, but it wasn’t enough to stop Christiano Ronaldo’s hat-trick, bagging his side all three points.

Ronaldo’s first-half thunderbolt and close-range finish, either side of Harry Kane’s penalty, gave United the lead at the break. After Harry Maguire’s own goal saw Spurs equalise for the second time.

Ronaldo had the final word as he completed a stunning hat-trick with a late towering header.

Serie A

Sampdoria v Juventus

Juventus kept their slim title hopes alive with a 3-1 win at relegation-threatened Sampdoria. An Alvaro Morata double and an own goal from Maya Yoshida done the damages as the Bianconeri extended their unbeaten run this calendar year. It was Juve’s 15th league match without defeat, a run stretching back to November.

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Sampdoria was awarded a penalty of its own in the 74th following a handball by Adrien Rabiot but Antonio Candreva saw his spot-kick saved by Wojciech Szczęsny.

Sampdoria got back into the game which made Abdelhamid Sabriri to score a free-kick which earn them their only goal.

Bundesliga

Hoffenheim v Bayern

Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich wasted a bagful of chances and hit the post as they were held 1-1 at Hoffenheim on Saturday, their second leg league draw in a row.

It was the host who took the lead, however, with Christoph Baumgartner’s volley at the far post in the 32nd minute.

Bayern’s Thomas Muller twice put the ball in the net only to be ruled offside and his side had to wait until first-half stoppage time to bag the equalizer by Robert Lewandowski.