Ahmed Musa dazzles for Leicester against Barcelona, Chelsea’s Oscar scores twice and earns praise, whilst Abel Hernandez returns from injury to bag a brace for Hull.
There were nine Premier League teams in action over the last couple of nights – here’s how the action played out.
Leicester 2 Barcelona 4
Riyad Mahrez and the fit-again Jamie Vardy started for Leicester, but it was record signing Ahmed Musa who grabbed the headlines – and the goals – as the Foxes lost again to big-name European opposition.
Trailing 3-0, Musa’s superb run and finish sparked a second half Leicester revival and he struck again, from a Jeffrey Schlupp pass, to reduce the arrears further before Barcelona sealed their victory with six minutes to go.
Claudio Ranieri started with Mahrez behind Vardy in a 4-4-1-1, with Marc Albrighton and Demarai Gray on the flanks. The Foxes boss then made seven changes at the break and new signing Bartosz Kapustka was given his debut just after the 60 minute mark, but it was Musa’s night.
After the match, the Italian heaped praise on his £16 million man:
“He is an international player and his performance was good “Everyone saw that. Now, he has to understand the Premier League. We paid a lot of money for him because we believe in him. What he showed today, he showed pace, quality, scoring goals. That is it. Musa can play in this way and also when he improves his fitness he can also play in the wide positions, just like Kapustka. We know him very, very well. He can play in all the positions, striker, behind, right, left. It’s important his fitness is getting better.”
Leicester XI: Zieler, Chilwell (Fuchs 46), Morgan, (Hernandez 46), Huth (Wasilewski 46), Simpson (Amartey 62), Drinkwater, King (Mendy 46), Albrighton (Kapustka 62), Gray (Schlupp 46), Mahrez (Okazaki 46), Vardy (Musa 46)
Manchester United 0 Everton 0
It was live-streamed on Facebook and attracted more than 50,000 fans to Old Trafford, but Wayne Rooney’s testimonial stopped short of providing any goals or, indeed, much entertainment.
The man himself began the evening in the no.10 role behind Zlatan Ibrahimovic and was replaced early in the second half by Marcus Rashford, who played up front with Ibrahimovic dropping into the hole.
Jose Mourinho had already made six changes at the break, with Luke Shaw particularly impressive at left back.
Everton manager Ronald Koeman didn’t include new recruit Idrissa Gueye in the squad and opted to start with a 3-5-2 system, with Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman as wing-backs, to stifle United – perhaps a sign of things to come for the Toffees when travelling to face the Premier League’s bigger clubs this season.
The previously in-form Gerard Deulofeu partnered Chelsea target Romelu Lukaku up top were both poor, though John Stones played the full match and impressed throughout. Mo Besic is a concern for the Toffees, though, after limping off injured.
After the match, Koeman took time out to discuss his change in tactics:
“I think we played differently to what we have done in our previous friendlies. It was a different system and that can be difficult for players. I like to change things sometimes and in friendlies you can take that opportunity. We played with a very good defensive organisation. United did not create a lot of big chances, maybe two in the first half, but nothing in the second. That aspect of football was good tonight but our ball possession was not good enough.”
Man United XI: De Gea (Romero 64), Valencia (Darmian 64), Bailly (Jones 46), Blind (Mata 64), Shaw (Rojo 46), Carrick (Schneiderlin 46), Herrera (Fellaini 46), Lingard (Young 46), Rooney (Rashford 53), Martial (Mkhitaryan 46), Ibrahimovic (Memphis 64).
Everton XI: Stekelenburg (Robles 46), Coleman, Baines (Oviedo 65), Funes Mori, Stones, Holgate (Besic 65 (Davies 77)), McCarthy (Gibson 65), Barry (Cleverley 65), Barkley (Lennon 65), Deulofeu (Mirallas 46), Lukaku (Kone 65).
Chelsea 3 AC Milan 1
Antonio Conte seems to delight in keeping everyone on their tactical toes, and he was in fine form against Milan, switching from 4-2-4 to 4-1-4-1 to accommodate new signing N’Golo Kante’s second half debut.
That could spell trouble for one of Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas, who took the central midfield roles before the break, and it was the Spaniard who failed to impress.
Intriguingly, the Chelsea future of another midfielder, Oscar, suddenly looks more secure after the Brazilian scored twice against Milan as as second-half sub.
Conte was certainly happy to single him out for post-match praise:
”Oscar is an important player and I think the season when Chelsea won the title, he played a fantastic season. Last season was bad for all the players, not only for Oscar or for another player, for all. I think Oscar is a good player with a great talent and he can improve a lot. I am seeing in him a good attitude and a good will. I think this match told me a lot – about the players who keep and who can go on loan or we can sell. Today, it was important because I have a more clear idea than before.”
Bertrand Traore opened the scoring after Milan failed to deal with a Victor Moses cross before Oscar slotted home a penalty following a handball from an Eden Hazard pass. The Brazilian sealed the win late on when picked out by Juan Cuadrado.
Hazard owners will be somewhat concerned, though, that he was on the pitch when the Brazilian stepped up to take the spot-kick, which could suggest he isn’t first-choice under the new manager.
Conte handed Branislav Ivanovic some valuable pitch time, with the Serb finally recovering from a shoulder injury, and gave new signing Michy Batshuayi another run-out in place of the disappointing Diego Costa, who also recovered from injury in time for yesterday’s clash.
At the back, Conte has also issued an update on Kurt Zouma. The defender was expected to be sidelined until mid-September with a knee injury but has since stepped up his recovery:
“Zouma is improving a lot and this is good news for us. But we know that his injury was very bad and for this reason we must respect him. It’s important that Zouma takes his time to be sure to go into the team and to stay till the end. For me it’s important to see that he is improving and I am very happy for the guy.”
Chelsea XI: Courtois; Aina (Ivanovic 59), Terry (c), Cahill, Azpilicueta; Matic (Chalobah 29), Fabregas (Oscar 59); Willian (Cuadrado 79), Traore (Hazard 52), Costa (Batshuayi 59), Moses (Kante 52).
Udinese 0 Middlesbrough 0
Former Aston Villa stopper Brad Guzan made his debut and registered a second-half clean sheet as Boro kept their Serie A opponents at bay.
The American keeper was forced into frequent action in an entertaining, but ultimately goalless, encounter in which new boy Gaston Ramirez finally received international clearance.
Coach Aitor Karanka was delighted with the Uruguayan’s impact:
“He is quality. We know him, we know how important he was for us last season. If it’s possible he can be more important for us this coming season.”
Dutch midfielder Marten de Roon played no part in the match, although Karanka downplayed the extent of his injury:
“He had a hip problem. De Roon could have played but I didn’t want to take a risk because we have another game on Saturday and I hope he can play in that.”
Middlesbrough XI: Mejias (Guzan 46); Barragan, Baptiste, Jackson (Nsue 66), Friend (Capt. To 45) (Gibson 46 (Capt. From 46)), De Sart, Forshaw, Stuani (Adomah 77), Ramirez (Nugent 77), Reach (De Pena 66), Rhodes (Negredo 77).
Southampton 1 Espanyol 1
An Oriol Romeu header from a James Ward-Prowse set-piece grabbed the headlines, but the underlying interest revolved around formation.
Southampton coach Claude Puel again went with a diamond in midfield, with Romeu at the base and Dusan Tadic at the head, and Nathan Redmond partnering Shane Long in a pacy attack.
If Redmond can deliver in that forward role, the 6.0-valued midfielder in the Fantasy Premier League will become a very attractive FPL asset indeed.
Puel made four changes at the interval, with goalkeeper Alex McCarthy on for his debut, while Jordy Clasie, James Ward-Prowse and Long were replaced by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Steven Davis and Charlie Austin.
Euro 2016 players Jose Fonte, Cedric Soares and Ryan Bertrand are still yet to figure in pre-season, with Puel confirming that the English defender is currently sidelined:
“Ryan for the moment has a little injury. We will see if he can play in the next game on Sunday, but we hope to have him back soon”.
Southampton XI: Forster (McCarthy 46), Martina, Yoshida (Jones 83), van Dijk (Stephens 83), McQueen, Romeu (Reed 71), Clasie (Hojbjerg 46), Ward-Prowse (Davis 46), Tadic (Rodriguez 71), Redmond (Isgrove 71), Long (Austin 46).
Caykur Rizespor 1 Hull City 3
A brace from Abel Hernandez and a Robert Snodgrass goal helped Hull come from behind to see of their Turkish opponents.
Hernandez equalised from the penalty spot after he was fouled, Snodgrass crossed for the Uruguayan to head home the second and then Sam Clucas teed up Snodgrass for the third and final goal.
Caretaker manager Mike Phelan managed to name a starting eleven made up entirely of senior players, with Tom Huddlestone, Jake Livermore and Hernandez all returning from injury. Huddlestone played alongside Curtis Davies in the centre of defence before Livermore took over the role in the second half.
After the match, Phelan conceded that neither Huddlestone or Livermore are up to match sharpness yet:
“They need a bit more but I’m sure they’d say it themselves. They’re a yard or two short at the moment but they should be able to get that back. We have to be cautious because we can’t afford any more injuries.”
Popular budget FPL keeper Eldin Jakupovic returned to action in the second-half after being forced off with a back injury last weekend.
Mohamed Diame, who scored the winner in last season’s Championship play-off final, took no part in the match after rejecting a new deal at Hull and signing for Newcastle instead.
Hull XI: Kuciak (Jakupovic 46), Elmohamady,Huddlestone (Bowen 61), Davies, Robertson, Snodgrass, Livermore, Meyler, Clucas (Ter Horst 85), Diomande (Hinchliffe 82), Hernandez (Olley 71).
Bournemouth 1 Valencia 1
Benik Afobe earned Bournemouth a draw against their La Liga opponents as coach Eddie Howe fielded a strong side.
Howe started with two Smiths – Adam and Brad – as full-backs and Simon Francis and Steve Cook in central defence. New loan signing Nathan Ake held in front of the back four with Andrew Surman and Lewis Cook central, Jordon Ibe and Max Gradel on the flanks and Afobe up front.
The striker equalised from a Simon Francis assist in an entertaining encounter equally notable for the absence of Arsenal target Shkodran Mustafi from the Valencia line-up.
Bournemouth XI: Boruc, A Smith (Jordan 63), S Cook, Francis (O’Kane 73), B Smith, Ake (MacDonald 73), Surman, L Cook (Butcher 79), Gradel, Ibe (Green 79 (Ndjoli 90)), Afobe.
Bromley 1 Crystal Palace 2
A Palace Under 21 side boosted by a smattering of senior players eased to victory at Bromley thanks to a brace from midfielder Sullay Kaikai.
Welsh international Jonny Williams made his first start since Euro 2016 and it was his chest pass that released Kaikai for the opening goal.
The dead-ball specialist then made it two from a fine free-kick 25 yards out.
Assistant manager Keith Millen was pleased with the performance of the players both young and more senior.
“Martin Kelly, Chung-yong Lee and Jonny Williams who is coming back and needs game time, they set the example and the U21s were excellent.”
Crystal Palace XI: Perntreou, Wynter, Kelly, Phillips (Woods 73), Croll, Boateng (Husin 46), Dreher, Lee (Berkeley-Agyepong 73), J.Williams (Anderson 46), Kaikai (R.Williams 67), Ladapo.
