That tedious and timely annual ritual is finally out the way.
Fans, players and journalists rejoiced as club football returned at the weekend, marking the conclusion of that ever-frustrating first international hiatus of the season.
And what a cracking return to action we were treated to. The team at Football FanCast have been hard at work reacting to the weekend fixtures and, in some cases, analysing how recent results could impact the return of European football this week.
There were plenty of themes to dissect from the action, and our team of regional correspondents and website editors have collectively come together to round up some of the major talking points, ranging from the title race in La Liga to Nottingham Forest’s shock win away at Championship pace-setters Swansea City.
Here’s what the team have had to say…
[snack_break title="Real and Barca return to form"] Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - FC Barcelona v Valencia - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 14, 2019 Barcelona's Luis Suarez celebrates scoring their fourth goal with Antoine Griezmann REUTERS/Albert Gea
Both Barcelona and Real Madrid returned to winning ways at the weekend as the Catalans netted five against a crumbling Valencia and Real Madrid put three past a courageous Levante. The clash at the Camp Nou was mostly a one-way street, with Barcelona dominating from start to finish, while Los Blancos had a brilliant first half and a horrible second.
Obviously, the pair of La Liga titans have stuttered during the early stages of the season but signs that order is being restored were there for all to see during the course of the weekend.
Ernesto Valverde and Zinedine Zidane have endured difficult starts but the weekend proved that you can’t keep them down for too long.
Despite the early hiccups and injury woes, the Blaugrana and Los Blancos have began their ascent back to the top.
Let’s see how they continue.
Domagoj Kostanjsak – La Liga correspondent
[snack_break title="Eddie the eagle"]
The main talking point from a Leeds perspective this weekend was Eddie Nketiah. The forward helped himself to yet another late goal after quickly becoming an Elland Road hero following a strike against Brentford a few weeks ago.
He repeated that against Barnsley on Sunday as he got on the end of Kalvin Phillips’ free-kick to prod home, with the provider instantly vindicating the club’s decision to agree terms on a new contract.
Marcelo Bielsa has teased the idea of playing Nketiah and Bamford in a two up top but with the latter now going goalless for two matches, it may be that their loan man earns a start in the coming weeks. After all, his manager hailed him a complete player after the game.
The 20-year-old continues to get into the right place at the right time, something that bodes well for the Whites’ promotion dreams.
Matt Dawson – Leeds United correspondent
[snack_break title=”Guardiola longs for Laporte”]
Well that was quite the turn-up for the books wasn’t it? The Manchester City juggernaut was stopped firmly in its tracks on Saturday afternoon by a side who had already shipped seven goals against Chelsea and Liverpool this season.
There was every expectation the Citizens would sweep aside Daniel Farke’s men, and the real question revolved around how many goals they would score on their way to victory. Instead, in one of the biggest shocks in recent memory, the newly-promoted Canaries exposed the Etihad side’s defensive weaknesses and made a mockery of the team that has won back-to-back league titles.
Pep Guardiola’s side already find themselves five points behind leaders Liverpool, and Aymeric Laporte’s lengthy lay-off looks all the more decisive now. If the City boss can’t figure out a way to paper over the cracks until the Frenchman’s return, the Premier League trophy will no doubt be heading to a new home at the end of the season.
Vijay Jeevathayalan – Manchester correspondent
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Having started the season so well from a defensive point of view – just two goals were conceded in the first four games – Crystal Palace came crashing back down to earth with a mauling at the hands of Tottenham.
Patrick van Aanholt was genuinely awful, whereas Joel Ward lost his battle with Son Heung-min in miserable fashion.
In the centre of defence, Mamadou Sakho was seemingly rushed back to start after injuries to Scott Dann, James Tomkins and Martin Kelly, and the Frenchman really didn’t look fit as he was run ragged by Son, Erik Lamela and Harry Kane – Sakho had played just 11 minutes of the campaign prior to Saturday’s game.
Roy Hodgson can only pray that he gets a few more bodies fit soon, although it must be taken into account that his side were facing a Champions League finalist.
Billy Meyers – South London & south coast correspondent
[snack_break title="Set-pieces down leaderless Toffees"]
In Everton’s visit to Bournemouth it was a case of staring familiar mistakes directly in the face, and there are worrying signs for Marco Silva if he intends to improve on last season’s eighth-placed finish.The Toffees are now winless in three on the road in the league this term and they’ve conceded five goals in that time. Everton conceded the most from set-pieces in the league last season and two more against the Cherries prove it is a detrimental problem that requires immediate attention.A first goal of the season for Dominic Calvert-Lewin was one minor positive to take.There is a lack of leadership throughout the team, and that is particularly a concern in defence. If that continues, their fragility from set-pieces is likely to continue, as is their tendency to roll over when falling behind – having never won from a losing position in the Premier League under Silva.Kealan Hughes – Merseyside correspondent
[snack_break title="Maguire silences boo boys"]
After a disastrous turn in form since the 4-0 mauling of rivals Chelsea, Manchester United were in dire need of a pick-me-up against Leicester. The Foxes had been flying high in the Premier League, and with that dangerous combination of James Maddison and Jamie Vardy, an upset was no doubt on the cards.
Instead, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side were impressively resolute, and didn’t allow the visitors to generate much in the way of opportunities. Key to that was the performance of Harry Maguire, who was coming up against his old club.
The England international was an immense presence at the heart of the United defence, shackling Vardy with consummate ease. A target of incessant boos from the Leicester faithful, the 6 foot 4 powerhouse silenced the travelling contingent tucked away in the corner at Old Trafford with an assured display, proving exactly why the Red Devils forked out a world-record fee for a defender to prise him away from the King Power Stadium.
Wolves’ Premier League woes continued but this time at the hands of Frank Lampard’s Chelsea, who stuck five past them with only two in return.
Nuno Santo’s men had taken Europa League qualification by storm, winning all six of their matches to earn a spot in the group stages which they’ll begin later this week though their form domestically has faltered as a result.
They sit second-bottom without a victory in five games, so something has to change pretty quickly if they want to reach similar heights of last season where they finished seventh in the Premier League.
Striker Raul Jimenez has played over 40 games for both club and country in this calendar year, which in itself epitomises the added strain the west Midlands club have faced to date.
Lewis Blain – Midlands correspondent
[snack_break title="Comical Krafth"]
The biggest takeaway from Newcastle’s trip to Anfield is that Emil Krafth may just be the most Mike Ashley signing of all time.
Fans have already slapped the “bargain basement” tag on the Sweden international, as he was out of position on several occasions from a defensive standpoint and missed a golden opportunity to get the Magpies back in the game.
The 25 year-old has now started four times for the club, and only in the win at Tottenham was there even the smallest sign he may actually have what it takes to play in the Premier League, though that was partially thanks to the tireless running that Miguel Almiron provided in front of him.
Then again, what can you expect from a £5m arrival who has only played for Osters IF, Helsingborgs IF, Bologna FC and SC Amiens?
WhoScored list no strengths (seriously, none) and weaknesses in passing, crossing and tackling – nothing important then! If ever a signing summed up Ashley’s regime, Krafth may just be it.
Ben Goodwin – Editor
[snack_break title=”Awesome Aurier”]
Serge Aurier raised more than a few eyebrows last week when he was asked whether he was concerned about being on the bench for Tottenham given the competition he has for his position, replying: “What competition? There isn’t any.”
So, when Mauricio Pochettino named the Ivory Coast international in the starting XI for the first time this season, the pressure was undoubtedly on him to perform.
The 26-year-old did exactly that and firmly put his money where his mouth is by providing one assist for Son Heung-min, while another cross of his from the right was directed past his own goalkeeper by Patrick van Aanholt – all within the opening 45 minutes.
On this showing and if he can maintain that form, he will be Tottenham’s undoubted first-choice right-back ahead of the likes of Kyle Walker-Peters, Davinson Sanchez and Juan Foyth, and could prove to be a key player in the final third for the remainder of the campaign.
As usual with Aurier though, it is all about whether he can find that consistency that has been missing ever since he joined Spurs from PSG.
James Beavis – Editor
[snack_break title=”Lamouchi silencing critics”]
Nottingham Forest put the league on notice this weekend by defeating unbeaten league leaders Swansea City on their own patch.
Lewis Grabban fed substitute Alfa Semedo from the by-line to allow the midfielder to score an easy tap-in for the game’s only goal – Forest are now unbeaten themselves since losing the opening match of the Championship season against West Brom.
There were a lot of doubts heading into the current campaign after Martin O’Neill’s sudden sacking and to replace him with what was considered a ‘nobody’ only raised further questions, but Sabri Lamouchi is starting to prove critics wrong and could well be what the City Ground have been longing for.
‘Stability’ is the crucial thing needed in the east Midlands, and that victory over Swansea encapsulated that entirely. Encouraging.