The List | 10 Things From The Weekend - 31/03/2014 - Football News

More twists and turns in the title race, flying banners over Old Trafford, Mourinho warning a ball boy he would get punched if he did not speed up his act –The Premier League had it all this weekend.
 
The rest of Europe did not exactly pale in comparison either, with a Serie A upset, three vital La Liga wins and Bayern Munich being held to a draw for once. With the season winding down but heating up, here are the ten things we learnt this weekend.

Juventus’ unbeaten run ends – Napoli managed to beat Juventus and end their unbeaten run of 22 games, with only two draws during that time. The Serie A league leaders still look good for the title and are many people’s favourites for the Europa League too. Not ideal preparation for their Thursday night tie, but with goals like the one from Mertens, Napoli were worthy winners.

Small side SOS for Chelsea – Going into the weekend they were league leaders and favourites to win the title. Now Chelsea are 6/1 with some bookies to win the league and that is all down to their failure to beat sides in the bottom half of the table. Bar having to play at Anfield, the Blues have to face Stoke, Norwich and Swansea before the league is out and will no doubt slip up once again.



Does anyone want to win the title? – An allegation that has been bandied around all season actually looked like it had some weight behind it with Chelsea slipping up (again) and then Manchester City failing to really take control of the table at the Emirates. Liverpool did take their chance however – but call themselves favourites for the league? You must be kidding.



Arsenal stop the rot – A 1-1 draw against a Manchester City side who looked like they might batter Arsenal is a fantastic result for the Gunners and it means that at least one of their players does not have to issue an apology this week. The title is not on the cards for Arsene Wenger and his men, but the FA Cup remains and that simply has to be won.



Watch out Arsenal, the Toffees are about – Everton are now creeping up behind the Gunners, and with four points separating them, a game in hand and Saturday's home fixture against them, who knows. Having gone from league leaders to fighting for fourth place, it is an all too familiar story for Arsenal. Everton meanwhile are on a roll.



The ‘luck’ is with Barcelona – Most sides would think themselves lucky to get a penalty in their biggest derby of the season – and even more so when one of your own players handles the ball in the box. That is exactly what happened to Barcelona, who were goalless against Espanyol with 10 minutes left on the clock. To further aid the Cules, the opposition keeper Casilla, was then sent off a few minutes later.



UnstoppaBALE – He may have been one of the players on the end of whistles from the fabulously forgiving Santiago Bernabeu crowd after the defeat to Sevilla on Wednesday night. ut Gareth Bale showed all his critics just how good he can be with a fabulous solo goal against lowly Rayo Vallecano in a game that his side simply had to win.



What a win for the La Liga leaders – Atletico Madrid may be the unfancied choice for La Liga champions but they deserve it more than anyone else. Without the spending power of Real Madrid or the favouritism that Barcelona enjoy, the second side from Madrid have topped the table and a Diego Costa special turned the game at the San Mames around for the club. Even being one nil down at the toughest ground in La Liga this term did not faze them.



Top of the table and the title is in their own hands - Win their next six games and the title will belong to Liverpool. What an achievement it would be for Brendan Rodgers and his men, who are refusing to get carried away. Probably a good thing given they still have to play Chelsea and Manchester City. Then again, they’ve made it this far.



The fans are behind Moyes, Just – The banner that flew over Old Trafford was booed by the majority of home supporters, who still seem to be behind David Moyes - Just. The Manchester United manager is hanging on by the skin of his teeth and he may have the support for this season, but another term of failure will not be tolerated.

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