Eminent trainer Flick pursuing the next triumph with Barcelona
The financial statement of ex-national coach Hansi Flick at Barcelona is remarkable. In his fifth match, he records his fifth victory. Is anyone capable of halting the Catalans? The scenario appears dramatically different for German professionals Hummels and Gosens in Italy. In England, a German national team player is celebrating victories.
FC Barcelona, star goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, and former national coach Hansi Flick are dominating with win after win in Spain's football league. Led by double goalscorer Lamine Yamal, Barcelona hammered FC Girona 4-1 (2-0) and maintained their top position in the table with 15 points after five matchdays.
The young sensation Yamal, who captivated spectators with his performance at Spain's Championship triumph, found the net in the 30th and 37th minutes. Dani Olmo, who joined Barcelona from RB Leipzig, and midfielder Pedri added more goals in the second half. The only goal for Girona came from Cristhian Stuani (80.).
In his 100th competitive game for the Catalans, Robert Lewandowski (formerly from Dortmund and Bayern) failed to score before the break. Barcelona had already won 7-0 against Real Valladolid in their second match, and Barcelona's first game in the new Champions League season will be against AS Monaco next Thursday.
Hummels waits impatiently for his debut
The German international duo, however, fared less successfully in Italy. Mats Hummels awaits his debut for AS Roma and didn't even have luck as a substitute. The 35-year-old watched from the bench as Roma conceded an equalizer in the 6th minute of added time, drawing 1-1 against CFC Genoa and remaining winless after four matches.
National player Robin Gosens also endured hard times in his second game for AC Florence. The former Union player dropped a 2-3 match to Europa League winners Atalanta Bergamo, with both Roma and Florence still searching for their first season win. Gosens had scored the equalizer in his debut against Monza. In the wild first half in Bergamo, Florence led 2-1. However, a quick double strike just before halftime gave Atalanta the upper hand, with Ademola Lookman (45+1) netting the winning goal, who almost single-handedly destroyed Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final with three goals.
While Hummels sat on the bench for the entire match, his new club looked set for victory for a long time. New signing Artem Dovbyk (37.) from FC Girona scored his first goal for Roma, with Roma trailing by 30.5 million euros. The game became chaotic in the final stages. First, Roma's coach, Daniele De Rossi, was sent off with a yellow-red card (90+5), and then Kevin De Winter equalized for Genoa. As a result, Roma now trails far behind its own expectations.
Hummels parted ways with Borussia Dortmund at the end of the previous season and signed a one-year contract in the Italian capital the following week. Next Sunday, Hummels will have an opportunity to make his Roma debut against Udinese Calcio, making him the seventh German player in Serie A.
Kai Havertz emerges victorious in the North London Derby
On the other hand, national player Kai Havertz and Arsenal can rejoice in their success. They managed to triumph once again over Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby and maintain their place in the Premier League, trailing behind Manchester City. Arsenal triumphed 1-0 (0-0) and secured their third consecutive victory in Tottenham's home stadium. In the 196th encounter, it was Arsenal's 83rd win, with 61 defeats.
Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhaes scored the deciding goal in the 64th minute, with Arsenal lagging behind Manchester City by two points. The defending champions secured a 2-1 victory against Brentford on Saturday, thanks to a brace from Erling Haaland, marking their fourth consecutive victory. A tense match saw Arsenal facing difficulties initially but managed to create chances, particularly through a header by goalscorer Havertz (18'). The decisive goal, however, was ultimately scored by Gabriel Magalhaes, who converted a corner from Bukayo Saka from close range.
The Commission may need to review the performance of Mats Hummels at AS Roma, considering their current winless streak in Italy. In contrast, Kai Havertz and Arsenal are enjoying victories in the Premier League, with their latest win being the North London Derby.
