The big game between Manchester United and Chelsea ended in a goalless draw at Old Trafford as both teams failed to create any meaningful chances.
Both defenses were up to the task and both sides had to resort to shots from distance. Wayne Rooney who is being pursued by Chelsea started for United, his first start since April and was the livewire for the Red Devils. United had a couple of penalty claims denied and could have won it right at the end had Robin Van Persie’s volley found its way through the crowd. The “Special One” Jose Mourinho has given the “Wanted One” Wayne Rooney 48 hours to decide where he wants to play after the transfer window closes with Chelsea rumoured to be lining up a 3rd bid for the wantaway centre forward.
Big spending Manchester City were beaten 3-2 away at Cardiff City as passion yet again proved to get the better of money. The hosts took it to their mighty visitors from the off with the forwards harrying the City defenders. It took City 20 minutes to get their first chance of the game which was cleared by Andrew Taylor. Edin Dzeko missed a great chance to put his side in front as he failed to control Yaya Toure’s pass. Cardiff could have gone into the break with the lead had Fraizer Campbell made proper contact following a lofted pass from Aron Gunnarsson. City took the lead on 52 minutes when Toure and Sergio Aguero combined to set up Dzeko who blasted home leaving David Marshall in goal with no chance. Cardiff were level on the hour mark as Gunnarsson slotted home the rebound after Joe Hart had saved Campbell’s initial effort following some great play by Kim Bo-Kyung. Campbell was the hero for the Welsh newcomers as the former Manchester United striker scored on 79 and 87 minutes to hand Cardiff an unassailable lead with substitute Alvaro Negredo pulling one back in injury time for the side from the blue part of Manchester.
Arsenal showed that new signings were not a necessity as they beat fellow Londoners Fulham 3-1 at Craven Cottage. Olivier Giroud opened the scoring for the Gunners on 14 minutes after which Lukas Podolski bagged a brace. Darren Bent on loan from Aston Villa scored a consolation for the Cottagers marking the striker’s first goal for the club on his debut and his sixth for a premier league outfit. Both teams had chances and several players, Aaron Ramsey in particular was lucky not to be sent off.
Liverpool beat Aston Villa 1-0 at Villa Park thanks to Daniel Sturridge’s goal on 21 minutes. Aston Villa had more chances than their visitors but failed to convert any as Paul Lambert’s side succumbed to their second successive defeat.
Tottenham Hotspur won 1-0 at White Hart Lane beating Swansea City thanks to another penalty which was converted by new signing Roberto Soldado who has two premier league goals and both are from the spot. Tottenham are rumoured to have signed an agreement with Real Madrid for the sale of Welsh winger Gareth Bale with the transfer fee said to be around 86 million British pounds.
Everton and West Bromwich Albion drew 0-0 at Goodison Park while Hull City beat Norwich City 1-0 at the KC Stadium thanks to Robert Brady’s 22nd minute penalty. The Tigers hung on to the lead to win after Yannick Sagbo was sent off in the 27th minute. Newcastle United drew goalless against West Ham United.
Southampton drew 1-1 at home against Sunderland with Jose Fonte’s late equaliser earning a point for the Saints after Emanuele Giaccherini had put the Black Cats in front after 3 minutes. Stoke City beat Crystal Palace 2-1 at the Britannia Stadium thanks to goals from Ryan Shawcross and Charlie Adam after Marouane Chamakh had given the newcomers the lead.
In the midweek fixture played last Wednesday, Chelsea beat Aston Villa 2-1 at Stamford Bridge. Christian Benteke cancelled out teammate Antonio Luna’s own goal only for Branislav Ivanovic to win it for the Blues on 73 minutes.
Spanish La Liga
Barcelona beat Malaga 1-0 away thanks to Adriano’s goal while Karim Benzema scored the solitary goal as Real Madrid beat Granada away. Raul Garcia scored a brace and Tiago, Arda Turan and Diego Costa also scored as Atletico Madrid thrashed Rayo Vallecano 5-0 at the Vicente Calderon. Espanyol beat Valencia 3-1 at home while Villarreal beat Real Valladolid 2-1 at home.
German Bundesliga
Champions Bayern Munich beat Nurnberg 2-0 at the Allianz Arena courtesy of goals from Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben after David Alaba’s 1st half penalty was saved by Raphael Schafer. Robert Lewandowski scored the only goal of the game as Borussia Dortmund beat Werder Bremen 1-0 at the Signal Iduna Park. Dortmund had a staggering 32 shots with only 8 being on target. Bayer Leverkusen beat Borussia Monchengladbach 4-2 at home while Hannover 96 beat Schalke 2-1 at home.
Italian Serie A
Carlos Tevez scored on his Serie A debut as champions Juventus beat Sampdoria 1-0 away while Luca Toni scored a brace for Hellas Verona as they beat AC Milan 2-1 at home with Andrea Poli scoring for the visitors. Inter Milan beat Genoa 2-0 at home while Lazio beat Udinese 2-1 at home. AS Roma beat Livorno 2-0 away while Napoli thrashed Bologna 3-0 at home.
French Ligue 1
Paris Saint-Germain beat Nantes 2-1 away thanks to goals from Edinson Cavani and Ezequiel Lavezzi while big spending AS Monaco were held to a goalless draw at home by Toulouse. Marseille beat Valenciennes 1-0 away while Lyon were beaten by a single goal at home by Stade de Reims.
Dutch Eredivisie
Heerenveen drew 3-3 at home against Ajax Amsterdam while Feyenoord Rotterdam beat NAC Breda 3-1 at home. Heracles Almelo and PSV Eindhoven drew 1-1 while Vitesse Arnhem and Twente Enschede drew 0-0 with FC Utrecht beating AZ Alkmaar 2-0 at home.
Portuguese Liga
FC Porto beat Maritimo 3-0 at home while Benfica beat Gil Vicente 2-1 at home. Braga beat Belenenses 2-1 at home with Sporting Lisbon hammering Academica de Coimbra 4-0 away.
Scottish Premiership
Champions Celtic were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Inverness Caledonian Thistle while Dundee United thrashed St Johnstone 4-0 at home. Hibernian beat Kilmarnock, Motherwell beat Patrick Thistle and Ross County beat St Mirren with score lines of 2-1, 1-0 and 3-0 respectively.
