European soccer news: Girona makes a comeback to the top, Man United does just enough, and more
With plenty of talking points from the English FA Cup, Spain’s La Liga, and the German Bundesliga, among other matches, Saturday was another exciting day for soccer fans around Europe. Highlights: Harry Kane scored as Bayern Munich held on to overcome Augsburg 3-2; Maidstone United overcame their FA Cup fourth-round disadvantage to upset Ipswich Town 2-1; and Barcelona rallied from a 2-0 deficit against Villarreal only to lose 5-3.
In other matches, Chelsea defeated Brighton in the Women’s Super League thanks to two goals from Lauren James, Real Madrid maintained their reputation as the league’s greatest comeback team by winning La Liga, and action in England’s League One was halted by an intruder on the pitch.
Twenty-four hours later, Girona again undone Madrid’s attempts to lead La Liga, while Manchester United advanced to the FA Cup fifth round with a victory over fourth-tier Newport County. Anfield also marked the beginning of the end for Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool defeated Norwich City in the fourth round.
After a terrifying scare from… Newport County?, Manchester United moves on to the FA Cup fifth round. Though the opposition’s jokes and memes were widely shared on social media, Rodney Parade’s response made it clear that the League Two hosts would not be taken lightly.
By the first quarter of an hour, you wouldn’t know it, though. Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo’s strikes put United ahead by two goals, and the last seventy-five minutes were supposed to be a formality.
However, if you’ve seen any of Erik ten Hag’s side this season, you’ll be aware of how improbable it was. Nine minutes before the half, Bryn Morris cut the lead in half, and two minutes after the restart, Will Evans tied the game.
Before the game, Ten Hag was the target of a chant that went, “You’re getting sacked in the morning.” If Newport had won, the attitude wouldn’t have sounded as absurd as it does when spoken by fans in the bleachers.
But Man United eventually found their footing. Thirty-two minutes into the game, Antony gave the visitors the lead. Four minutes into the second half, Rasmus Hojlund scored an insurance goal.
With their performance, the Red Devils advanced to the fifth round. Ten Hag took sufficient action to shield himself from awkward enquiries concerning his future. If only it were fair. — Austin Lindberg
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