Kai Havertz practiced modesty. “I’m glad I was able to help the team achieve their goal,” said the Arsenal match-winner after leading the Gunners to the top of the English Premier League table, at least until this Sunday evening: “It was what – something special because the final was so close.”
It was in the 86th minute that Havertz scored the winning goal to make it 2–1 (1–1) against Brentford. But, according to Brentford team manager Thomas Frank, the eighth consecutive victory of the Londoners in the championship should not have happened – the coach really saw the German national team player in his soul.
“In my opinion, Havertz should not have been on the pitch when he scored,” the Dane said angrily: “It was a clear swallow. It might have been hard for the referee to see it, but the linesman should have seen it.” Frank was referring to the 65th minute in his criticism. Havertz, already booked in the first half, fell to the ground in the visitors’ penalty area with no discernible contact and the 24-year-old shouldn’t have complained about the yellow-red card.
It was Havertz who should have been nominated by national coach Julian Nagelsmann for March’s international tournament on Thursday, but it didn’t matter after the final whistle. “We really wanted these points and we got them,” the striker said: “Sometimes these games make us stronger than 6-0 wins.” Havertz and Arsenal need that strength on Tuesday. England will then face Porto in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 (21:00 on Champions League ticker FAZ and on DAZN). The Portuguese won the first match with a score of 1:0.
The dream of the Champions League is becoming more and more real for the Spanish Girona: the surprise team has once again overtaken the great Barcelona in the Spanish La Liga. The 2-0 (1-0) win saw the Catalans secure second place, 62 points behind Real Madrid (66), but the record champions can extend their lead again this Sunday (18:30/DAZN) against Celta Vigo » from Vigo. Barcelona are third (61).
Porto (13th) and Savio (87th) scored the winning goals for Girona. The Europa League cushion is already twelve points with ten games remaining in the season, but fifth-placed cup finalists Athletic Bilbao still have Sunday’s game at Las Palmas ahead of them.
Atlético Madrid have to worry more and more about the premier class. This afternoon, star coach Diego Simeone’s team failed their Champions League dress rehearsal ahead of the round of 16 second leg against Inter Milan (first leg 0-1) next Wednesday (21:00 ticker FAZ live Champions League onwards ). DAZN) and waits after this shameful 0:2 (0:1) against relegation candidate FC Cadiz with one win in six away matches. Atlético are just five points ahead of Bilbao, while Cadiz won for the first time after 23 league games without a win.
Source: Frantfurter Allgemeine
I am a sports journalist with over 10 years of experience covering news, events and stories from around the world. I have written for several online news outlets and have also been published in print magazines. I am currently working as an author at the World Herald News, where I cover primarily sports-related stories.
