Football Fans Enjoy Pulsating Action As Mahrez, Musa Barrow, Other African Stars Shine In Europe

SuperSport viewers on DStv and GOtv enjoyed another great weekend of football action, with the continuation of the 2019/20 FA Cup, La Liga and Serie A campaigns.

Over in Italy’s Serie A, the only African goal scorer this past weekend was Gambian winger Musa Barrow, who came off the bench to net the second in Bologna’s 3-1 win away to SPAL at the Stadio Paolo Mazza.

Yet he was not the only African to put in a significant performance in a key match: Franck Kessie and Ismael Bennacer helped Milan to a 1-0 win at Brescia; Sofyan Amrabat helped Hellas Verona win 3-0 at home to Lecce; and Kalidou Koulibaly, unfortunately, did not return for Napoli, though they did claim a 2-1 home win over league leaders Juventus on Sunday night to leave the race for the Scudetto wide open.

Bologna’s Musa Barrow jubilates after scoringa goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between S.P.A.L and Bologna FC at Paolo Mazza stadium in Ferrara, Italy, 25 January 2020. EPA/ELISABETTA BARACCHI

Spain’s La Liga saw a significant shift at the top of the table, with Real Madrid moving three points clear thanks to a 1-0 away win over Salisu Abdul Karim’s Real Valladolid on Sunday night, taking full advantage of Barcelona’s 2-0 loss away to Valencia the day before – the hosts featured a rampaging Geoffrey Kondogbia in the heart of midfield.

Elsewhere, SuperSport viewers saw the African trio of Allan Nyom, Djene Dakonam and Oghenekaro Etebo help Getafe win 1-0 at home to Real Betis (who had Zouhair Feddal sent off from the bench late on) to climb to fourth place on the log ahead of Atletico Madrid (who could only draw 0-0 with Leganes).

Valencia’s Geoffrey Kondogbia during the UEFA Champions League Group H at Stamford Bridge, London.

Over in England, the Premier League was absent this past weekend to make space for Fourth Round matches in the FA Cup. The headline result was minnows Shrewsbury Town coming from two goals down to hold Liverpool (who featured Joel Matip as a starter and Mohamed Salah as a sub) 2-2.

Riyad Mahrez put in an excellent showing for Manchester City in their 4-0 win over Fulham, Sofyan Boufal netted the equaliser for Southampton as they held Tottenham Hotspur 1-1, and Semi Ajayi was sent off for West Bromwich Albion but that didn’t prevent the Baggies from upsetting West Ham United 1-0 at the London Stadium.

Don’t miss the 2019/2020 football season on DStv and GOtv. Visit www.dstv.com and www.gotvafrica.com to subscribe or upgrade, and join in on the excitement. And while you’re on the move, you can stream matches on DStv Now.