So, following a bumper summer of sport featuring the Olympics, Copa America, and the Euros, football is back to its regularly scheduled content.
So we're here to round up the five biggest headlines from the opening week of it all.
Premier League
In the Premier League old friends reunited, as match officials and controversy once again went hand-in-hand at Brentford's G-Tech Community Stadium.
With the game at 0-0, Crystal Palace's Ebere Eze fired a thunderous free kick past Mark Flekken from roughly 30 yards out. However, just before the ball the ball kissed off the post and beyond the glove of the outstretched Dutchman, referee Sam Barrott blew his whistle for an alleged foul from Will Hughes at the edge of the area, chalking off the goal before it even came to be.
And Palace's pain was further compounded with VAR unable to intervene as the ball hadn't crossed the line when the whistle was blown. A huge let-off for Brentford in a game that they went on to win 2-1.
To his credit however, in a refreshing moment of accountability and humanity, Barrott has since admitted his mistake.
Ligue 1
In France the biggest story definitely came from off the pitch, as the TV rights deal was finally agreed, bringing an end to a saga that could well have seen the death of several top clubs.
Despite agreeing a domestic TV deal last month to allow French fans to watch their clubs play on a week-to-week basis, the lack of an international deal (likely caused in part by the lack of a marketable world superstar following the departure of Kylian Mbappé) put serious threat of bankruptcy onto several sides.
Eberechi Eze's disallowed goal vs. Brentford.
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) August 18, 2024
A foul off the ball and the referee blowing the whistle before the ball entered the goal meant that VAR could not intervene.
What do you make of the decision?
📽️ @SkySportsPL pic.twitter.com/GBYyFi8Znw
Thankfully, DAZN and beIN Sports have stepped in to pay €400m and €100m respectively to split the games, an 11% drop from the previous 2021-2024 deal with Amazon and beIN sports. Whilst the total package, including international rights, stands well short of the €1b that was hoped for by French footballs top people, it represents a lifeline for clubs who mere weeks ago were at risk of staring bankruptcy in the face.
La Liga
Now over to Spain where El Clasico may be returning to its roots as Real's glorious galacticos look set to battle Barca's brilliant academy boys for the title in 2024/25.
And it was the Blaugrana who got off to the better start of the two with a 2-1 victory away at Valencia courtesy of two goals from Polish sharpshooter Robert Lewandowski. Meanwhile, in Mallorca, Real Madrid stuttered to a 1-1 draw with Mbappe failing to find the net on his league debut for Los Blancos.
Next up, Real face a similar test when Real Valladolid come to the Bernabéu, whilst Barcelona face up to Athletic Bilbao in hopes of making starlet Nico Williams regret his decision to stay with his boyhood club.
Will this season be a re-run of title battles of old? Only time will tell.
Serie a
In Serie A the biggest headline is probably Napoli's catastrophic start under Antonio Conte amidst the plethora of parity served up this weekend in Italy.
Reigning champions Inter Milan were pegged back in stoppage time by former AC Milan forward Junior Messias, whose former club required late magic of their own to rescue a point at the San Siro. In fact, of the opening ten fixtures, six ended in a draw.
However, in Verona there were no equals as Antonio Conte's Napoli succumbed to a heavy 3-0 defeat. With Victor Osimhen nowhere to be seen amidst hot speculation he's on his way out of Naples, all the fancy metaphors about snow and the sun can't hide the failings of Conte's men here.
They will certainly need to be much better if they're to return to former glory.
Championship
No, the EFL Championship isn't a top five league in Europe. But with the Bundesliga yet to start it seemed a worthy replacement considering the drama going on over at Deepdale.
Remarkably, just three games into the season, Preston North End are onto their third manager already. Following an opening day defeat to Sheffield United, Ryan Lowe moved on and was replaced by interim Mike Marsh who in turn lasted just two fixtures himself before the executioner came calling after Swansea put three past them with no reply. In fact, that defeat makes it seven straight league defeats without scoring stretching all the way back to April.
The Lancashire outfit have since appointed former Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom who will no doubt be hoping to beat his predecessors and make it past the two game mark.
Ben Watts
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Comments
1. Premier League Controversy:
"It’s unfortunate that such a stunning goal by Eze was denied by a premature whistle. Refereeing mistakes like this can change the dynamics of a match, and it’s commendable that Barrott admitted his error. Hopefully, this incident sparks discussions on how to better use VAR and prevent such situations from happening again. For fans who want to catch every match without missing a moment, check out iptvideal.com for high-quality streaming options."
2. Ligue 1 TV Rights Deal:
"The new TV deal is a lifeline for Ligue 1 clubs struggling financially. While the reduced revenue is a setback, securing international rights with DAZN and beIN Sports is crucial for the league’s survival. It’s a relief for fans and clubs alike, but it also highlights the need for the league to find new ways to boost its global appeal and marketability. If you're looking for the best way to watch Ligue 1 and other top leagues live, visit iptvideal.com for the best IPTV streaming services."
3. La Liga Rivalry:
"It’s exciting to see the La Liga title race heating up again between Real Madrid and Barcelona. Lewandowski’s form is impressive, and while Mbappé struggled on his debut, he’s sure to make an impact as the season progresses. It’s a nostalgic throwback to the era of intense Clasico battles, and fans will be eager to see how these two giants perform throughout the season. Don’t miss any of the action—get your live streaming fix at iptvideal.com."
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