This week’s football review (The Good, the Bad and the Ugly) Bhutan, Real Madrid and a Pitch Invasion
Good
Everyone was talking about Paris Saint Germain’s wonderful battling performance as the highlight of the week – the French side were down to ten men but still knocked out Chelsea from the Champions League last 16 – but surely the best football news of the week took place thousands of miles from London in Sri Lanka. The hosts were defeated 0-1 by Bhutan in the first round of the Asian qualifying section for the 2018 World Cup. Bhutan are officially ranked last in the FIFA rankings and had only ever won three matches before this but a goal from Tshering Dorji near the end of the game secured a vital first leg advantage for the tiny Himalayan nation.
Bad
It has been a bad week for Real Madrid. Defeat at Athletic Bilbao in La Liga last weekend left Madrid a point behind their rivals Barcelona at the top of the Spanish league table. They were then beaten 3-4 at home in the second leg of their last 16 Champions League tie against German side Schalke. They still managed to qualify for the quarter-finals 5-4 on aggregate but were made to suffer. Interesting times ahead for Real especially as the clasico takes place in a week’s time.
Ugly
The FA Cup quarter-final tie between two Midlands rivals Aston Villa and West Brom was marred by crowd violence last weekend. The game had to be stopped on two occasions due to pitch invasions. Luckily no one was hurt but Aston Villa had to issue an apology soon afterwards. Pretty ugly indeed.
Vocabulary
battling: Heroic, worked very hard for the win
down to ten men: Had a man sent off
The hosts: The home team
officially ranked last: They are the worst national side in the world!
secured a vital first leg advantage: They have taken a lead (they lead 1-0)
tiny Himalayan nation: Bhutan
second leg: The second of two matches to decide the team to progress to the next round
tie: Match
on aggregate: In total (used in two-legged matches)
was marred: was ruined
pitch invasions: Fans came onto the pitch