On Friday we posed a number of questions as we looked ahead to the weekend action.
IN ENGLAND …
• Can Manchester United bounce back from FA Cup exit?
United recovered from Monday’s FA Cup exit by producing arguably their best performance of the season.
Tottenham were the visitors and with the race for the Champions League spots hotting up, this promised to be a testing encounter. In the event, the contest was over by half-time with goals from Marouane Fellaini, Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney, providing a perfect pick-me-up after the cup defeat to Arsenal.
IN FRANCE …
• Will this be a pivotal weekend in the title race?
It remains tight at the top in France. Leaders Lyon secured a hard-earned goalless draw at third-placed Lyon, but in the light of Paris Saint-Germain’s 3-2 defeat at Bordeaux, both teams will see that as a point gained. As things stand, Lyon lead PSG by two points, with Marseille two points further adrift.
Monaco, who have been the form team in France since the turn of the year, are fourth, four points behind Marseille and look well placed to capitalise on any slips from the teams above them.
IN ITALY …
• Second time lucky for Zeman?
Cagliari remain in dire straits after a 1-1 home draw with Empoli left them four points adrift of safety. Zdenek Zeman was back in charge of the club he left last December, but he could only look on in despair as his side conceded a 93 minute equaliser.
IN SPAIN …
• Can Ronaldo finally score from a free-kick?
Cristiano Ronaldo it still waiting to end his free-kick drought that stretches back almost a year to March 26, 2014. In fact, goals of any kind have dried up this year with Ronaldo netting just four times in his last eleven league games. He now trails Lionel Messi by two goals in the race to become Europe’s leading goalscorer.
IN SCOTLAND …
• Can Dundee United stop Celtic winning the domestic treble?
Celtic secured the first leg of the treble with a relatively comfortable 2-0 win over Dundee United. Kris Commons and James Forrest scored the goals that broke United’s resolve and earned manager Ronny Deila his first piece of silverware since taking over Celtic last summer.
The sides meet again on Wednesday in the quarter-final of the Scottish Cup.
IN AFRICA …
• Will any heavyweights fall at the first fence?
No significant shocks were recored in the African Champions League. Honours were even in the opening leg of the first qualifying round tie between holders ES Setif of Algeria and Gambia’s Real Banjul. Meanwhile, eight-times winners Al Ahly of Egypt enjoyed a comfortable 2-0 win over Rwandan outfit APR.
IN UNITED STATES …
• Is failure in England a recipe for success in MLS?
In the clash between two British managers it was Orlando City’s Adrian Heath who prevailed over Houston Dynamo counterpart Owen Coyle.
A 1-0 away win, courtesy of an own goal from Tyler Deric, secured a first ever win for the new franchise.
