AMAD DIALLO STRIKES LATE TO EARN MANCHESTER UNITED FOREST DRAW
Manchester United's winning streak ended in a 2-2 draw at Nottingham Forest. Casemiro put United ahead, but goals from Morgan Gibbs-White and Nicolo Savona were only partially answered by Amad Diallo's late volley.
Amad Diallo celebrates his late equaliser - Photo Credit: PA Wire
When struggling Nottingham Forest held Manchester United to a 2-2 draw, Ruben Amorim's hopes of winning the league for the fourth time in a row were dashed.
When Casemiro's first-half goal gave Amorim's squad a 1-0 lead at the City Ground, it appeared as though they would move up to second place in the standings.
After the interval, however, Forest, who had not scored in the league since September 20, came charging back.
After Morgan Gibbs-White tied the score for the home team in the 48th minute, Nicolo Savona's tap-in two minutes later completed a stunning comeback.
However, United, who have significantly improved in recent weeks following a dismal start to the season, salvaged a point in the 81st minute thanks to a stunning volley from Amad Diallo.
Forest, who replaced fired manager Ange Postecoglou with Sean Dyche last month, is still in the relegation zone.
The City Ground seemed like the ideal location for United to continue their comeback and move back up the table, at least on paper.
The visitors got off to a strong start. Before the Slovenian missed another shot, close-season acquisition Benjamin Sesko ought to have done better from a pull-back by Bryan Mbeumo.
The decision to give United the corner that resulted in the first goal infuriated the home crowd. As Casemiro headed in his third goal of the season, jeers erupted from all sides of the stadium.
Late in the first half, Diallo had a fantastic opportunity to increase his team's lead by rushing over from a decent position. However, United collapsed after the restart due to his carelessness.
Gibbs-White easily defeated the United wing-back, heading past goalkeeper Senne Lammens to give the home team their first league goal since September.
Ninety-two seconds after the crowd was lifted, the turnaround was finished. Savona earned redemption with a close-range strike after United failed to handle another long ball into the penalty area.
After Forest had only partially cleared a corner, United replied brilliantly, with Bruno Fernandes' dazzling effort hitting the post at the hour mark. However, the home team's resistance was broken by Diallo's shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Diallo's rasping attempt in stoppage time was stopped by a goalline clearance, but Forest would have suffered a crushing defeat.
Despite his personal effort, Diallo of Manchester United commented after the game that the outcome was unsatisfactory.
When he told Sky Sports, "We are obviously upset to go home with one point,"
"We are now more confident. We have faith in the system and the manager. We are making every effort. The manager has the same faith in us that we do.
The visit to the City Ground on Saturday coincided with the best period of Erik ten Hag's turbulent tenure and was a year to the day when the Portuguese were announced as his successor.
Gibbs-White, the captain of Nottingham Forest, described the outcome as difficult.
He told Sky Sports, "The dressing room is unhappy not to get all three, but getting a point is good."
"I do not believe the first one was really a corner; we gave up two stupid corners. The boys all claimed that the ball had not gone out at halftime from where I was standing, which was quite a distance away.
ENZO MARESCA LAVISHES PRAISE ON REECE JAMES FOLLOWING STELLAR MIDFIELD SHOWING
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca praised captain Reece James after his dominant midfield display in the 1-0 derby win over Tottenham. James provided crucial physicality alongside Moises Caicedo.
Manager Maresca Applauds Reece James - Photo Credit: Getty Images
After playing a crucial part in our derby triumph away at Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea captain Reece James was showered with praise from Enzo Maresca.
Throughout Maresca's tenure as Blues head coach, our captain has switched between his established position at right-back and a new midfield one. On Saturday, he played in the latter at Tottenham.
With yet another outstanding display, Moises Caicedo stole the show and set up Joao Pedro to score the game's lone goal after winning possession. But perhaps even more crucial to the win was his midfield partner for the day.
Our head coach noted that James' presence there was considered vital since Caicedo and James controlled the centre of the field, even though Spurs tried to crowd out the midfield by giving them a numerical advantage there with their team selection.
It somewhat relies on the strategy. Maresca said, "I believe we needed a little bit more physicality in the centre yesterday."
It was anticipated that they would play alongside [Pape Mater] Sarr, [Rodrigo] Bentancur, and [Joao] Palhinha. They had four midfielders, which surprised us because [Lucas] Bergvall also played.
"There should have been a little more physicality in the middle, but it really relies on the strategy."
James did not appear out of place in our midfield once more. Maresca is now in the fortunate position of knowing that he can count on his captain to give his best effort as a midfielder, defender, and—possibly most importantly—a leader.
Enzo continued, "I think Reece is doing wonderful when he is playing as a midfielder, he is doing fantastic when he is playing full-back, and as far as leadership with the players inside the changing room goes."
REAL MADRID STAR ÁLVARO CARRERAS CELEBRATES EMOTIONAL FIRST CAREER GOAL
Real Madrid crushes Valencia 4-0 with Álvaro Carreras scoring a stunning first goal for the club. The victory extends their La Liga lead to seven points under manager Xabi Alonso.
Álvaro Carreras scored his first goal for Real Madrid - IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire
Real Madrid easily defeated Valencia in another La Liga victory under Xabi Alonso. Kylian Mbappe scored two goals in the league leaders' 4-0 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The third and fourth goals were the two best of the match. Jude Bellingham started the first half with a strong drive from the area's boundary. But the Englishman's goal was overtaken by left-back Álvaro Carreras, who hit a fantastic shot from a sharp angle into the top corner.
After joining the team this past summer from Benfica, it was the Spaniard's first goal. Carreras discussed the strike after the game, suggesting it might be the first of many to come.
Proud of His First Goal in a Real Madrid Shirt, Álvaro Carreras
The 22-year-old has been playing at his peak lately and was one of four players that Xabi Alonso brought in this summer. Although ecstatic about his goal, Carreras never felt pressured to score since he knew that his main responsibilities were elsewhere.
It concluded Real Madrid's outstanding performance, in which they dominated a weak Valencia team from beginning to end. With a victory over Elche, rivals Barcelona may reduce their lead to five points. The victory increased their lead at the top to seven points over Villarreal and eight over Barcelona.
Carreras would have been pleased with another clean sheet for himself and his Los Blancos defence, so the goal was a bonus. They now lead the league with five in 11 games. At the end of the season, he and his defenders will be evaluated based on that.
This defence will be put to the test once more when they play Liverpool at Anfield in the Champions League. Even though the Premier League winners are not playing at their best, Carreras and his players will have to contend with the intense atmosphere on the pitch.