The year is ending 2021 and it is time to take stock. A beautiful year, in which we have recovered two events such as the Eurocup and the Olympics following the COVID disaster in 2020. These have been the 10 best games of the year:
What could be the reason for including a Valencia-ÉIbar from matchday 37 of the league, in which the two teams did not play anything? The return of the fans to the stadiums. After such a hard time, which we are still living, seeing fans on the Spanish soccer fields was one of the great news of the year. From then on the ‘comeback’ began and we hope that we will never have to go through something like this again.
Of the City we could make a separate chapter only with their best parties. They are a machine for playing soccer under Guardiola’s baton and they guarantee spectacle and goals. I’ll stick with the one from the first day of this Champions League, when they passed over RB Leipzig. Half a dozen endorsed him, neutralizing young Nkunku’s brilliant hat-trick
Why highlight one more Klassiker? For the scorers. A match in which, on the one hand, Lewandowski scored a hat-trick fits into the 10 best games of the year. On the other hand, Haaland responded with a double. In the end, the highest quality of Bayern prevailed, but the face-to-face between the two great world scorers had remained for eternity. It will probably be the last time they meet in Germany.
This year’s Euro Cup final had everything: goals, extra time, injuries, drama, penalties, … the best culmination of a spectacular tournament. Shaw ahead of the pros as soon as they started, but the eternal Bonucci put the tie. On penalties, Jorginho could not close the scoring after failing the fifth, but the failures of Sancho, Rashford and Saka ensured the second European Championship in history for the Azzurri.
If there was any of whether Mbappé responded on the big nights, that day they were clear. In the first leg of the Champions League round of 16, the Frenchman destroyed Messi’s Barcelona with an unappealable hat-trick. All the goals were for sheer power and quality. That day, the Real Madrid fans (in addition, Paris Saint Germain was wearing white) were sure to enjoy and envision the future
Another game that comes in because of the emotional load it carried is the Champions League final. The City arrived as favorites, with 11 victories and 1 draw in the 12 duels that it had carried out until then. However, Chelsea and Tuchel showed that they had taken the measure to Guardiola and his team that year. Havertz justified his signing (81 million euros) with a goal that will remain for the eternity of the blue team. Second Champions of the club, 9 years after the first.
It was just over two months ago. Klopp’s Liverpool had no compassion for a United that was going through a delicate first third of the season. 0-4 at halftime to sign the humiliation since then, with a stellar Salah who would end the match with a hat-trick. A beating for football history.
Euro 2020 has been one of the most exciting in history. Many goals, extra time, excitement until the end … One of the craziest games was in the second round. He faced Spain and Croatia. La Roja came back from Pedri’s fatal own goal, went 1-3 but the Croats came back with two goals in injury time. In extra time, the disputed Morata and Oyarzabal gave a crazy victory to Luis Enrique’s men in an unforgettable duel
More than because of the level of the match, full of rough football and interruptions, this match enters the list for all that it meant. Di María’s early goal was enough for Argentina to beat Brazil to the Copa América in Maracana. In this way, he regained the continental throne 28 years later. It was Messi’s first title with the albiceleste. All very emblematic with the Rosario as MVP of the tournament.
Once again, an away game for Paris Saint Germain in the Champions League enters the list. Fate wanted the 2020 final to be reissued in the quarter-finals, and the Gauls were able to take their revenge. Bayern were able to equalize 0-2, but Mbappé’s double and Marquinhos’ goal were too much. Neymar had one of the best matches of his career under the snow in Munich.
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