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..::Football IV::..
- Thread starter Wolverine GTR
- Start date
Burnley 0-2 Manchester United: Martial and Rashford send Solskjaer's men fifth
Anthony Martial scored his third goal in two Premier League matches to help Manchester United to a 2-0 victory over Burnley at Turf Moor that moves the Red Devils up to fifth in the table.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men kept their first clean sheet in the league since September and successfully broke down Burnley's packed defence with some patient attacking play, forcing the opener just before half-time and doubling their lead in second-half stoppage time through Marcus Rashford.
After losing 2-0 at Watford in their previous away game, United delivered the improvements they sorely needed at the back while dominating possession in midfield despite the absence of Paul Pogba, who was rested following his return to fitness, as they built on a 4-1 win over Newcastle United on Boxing Day.
Burnley were looking to make it three league wins from four but failed to recover from an error by full-back Charlie Taylor that led to Martial's strike, squandering a flurry of late opportunities before Rashford scored his 12th league goal of the season.
Rashford stung Nick Pope's palms with a free-kick from 30 yards in a cagey opening spell in which the England forward also hit the outside of the post with a low, first-time shot from the edge of the box.The ball fell to Martial little more than six yards out after 33 minutes, but the France international's effort was crucially blocked on the line by former United defender Phil Bardsley.
Having kept the visitors at bay for 44 minutes, Burnley self-destructed when Taylor fumbled possession and allowed Andreas Pereira to feed Martial, who took a touch and stroked a low shot past Pope into the bottom-right corner.
Martial had the ball in the net again four minutes into the second half, but the goal was disallowed for a foul on James Tarkowski and Burnley almost equalised when Bardsley's angled drive drew a diving save from David de Gea.Harry Maguire brought down Jack Cork on the edge of the United box to present substitute Johann Gudmundsson with a chance from a free-kick, but the Iceland international blazed over the crossbar.
Burnley threatened an equaliser throughout a frenetic final 15 minutes only to be caught out right at the end when Daniel James sprinted over the half-way line in posession and squared to Rashford, who rounded Pope before scoring his second in as many games.
Norwich City 2-2 Tottenham: Kane rescues late point for Mourinho's men against bottom side
Harry Kane scored a late penalty to rescue Tottenham a 2-2 draw against bottom-of-the-table Norwich City in Saturday's Premier League clash.
The England international marked his 200th appearance in the competition by winning and then converting a spot-kick with seven minutes remaining at Carrow Road.Mario Vrancic's first Premier League goal had earlier given Norwich a first-half lead and Teemu Pukki had one ruled out by the video assistant referee for a contentious offside.
Christian Eriksen's free-kick temporarily restored parity before Serge Aurier comically put into his own net, but Kane spared Spurs' blushes somewhat in the closing stages.
Norwich have won only one of their last 15 league games and are winless in seven at home, but they profited from some poor Tottenham play to take the lead after 18 minutes.Juan Foyth was caught in possession and Vrancic, making just his second Premier League start, carried the ball forward and caught out Paulo Gazzaniga with his shot.
The hosts thought they had a second before half-time when Pukki controlled Vrancic's long pass and slotted home, only for VAR to intervene and adjudge the striker was offside.
Jose Mourinho brought on Davinson Sanchez and Lucas Moura at half-time and Tottenham levelled up soon after through Eriksen's free-kick, which took a slight deflection on its way past Tim Krul.Dele Alli then had a goal ruled out for offside after finishing from an acute angle, but Tottenham were guilty of more farcical defending at the other end as Toby Alderweireld's clearance bounced off Aurier and rolled into the net.
But Mourinho's men salvaged a point late on when Christoph Zimmermann brought down Kane, who held his nerve from the spot to bring up his 136th Premier League goal on his landmark outing.
Harry Kane scored a late penalty to rescue Tottenham a 2-2 draw against bottom-of-the-table Norwich City in Saturday's Premier League clash.
The England international marked his 200th appearance in the competition by winning and then converting a spot-kick with seven minutes remaining at Carrow Road.Mario Vrancic's first Premier League goal had earlier given Norwich a first-half lead and Teemu Pukki had one ruled out by the video assistant referee for a contentious offside.
Christian Eriksen's free-kick temporarily restored parity before Serge Aurier comically put into his own net, but Kane spared Spurs' blushes somewhat in the closing stages.
Norwich have won only one of their last 15 league games and are winless in seven at home, but they profited from some poor Tottenham play to take the lead after 18 minutes.Juan Foyth was caught in possession and Vrancic, making just his second Premier League start, carried the ball forward and caught out Paulo Gazzaniga with his shot.
The hosts thought they had a second before half-time when Pukki controlled Vrancic's long pass and slotted home, only for VAR to intervene and adjudge the striker was offside.
Jose Mourinho brought on Davinson Sanchez and Lucas Moura at half-time and Tottenham levelled up soon after through Eriksen's free-kick, which took a slight deflection on its way past Tim Krul.Dele Alli then had a goal ruled out for offside after finishing from an acute angle, but Tottenham were guilty of more farcical defending at the other end as Toby Alderweireld's clearance bounced off Aurier and rolled into the net.
But Mourinho's men salvaged a point late on when Christoph Zimmermann brought down Kane, who held his nerve from the spot to bring up his 136th Premier League goal on his landmark outing.
Wolves 3-2 Manchester City: Traore, Jimenez inspire fightback as Ederson sees red
Manchester City blew a two-goal lead at Wolves as Raul Jimenez and Matt Doherty netted late on at Molineux to secure a thrilling 3-2 home victory, with the 10-man champions' hopes of usurping runaway leaders Liverpool taking another huge blow.
City found themselves with an unlikely 2-0 lead just after half-time thanks to a Raheem Sterling brace, the lead remarkable given the 12th-minute dismissal of Ederson, but Wolves fought back spectacularly in the second half – Adama Traore playing a vital role.
Ederson's early sending off left City in a tricky position, though they initially responded well and went ahead through Sterling – the attacker tapping in a penalty rebound after Rui Patricio had saved two of his spot-kicks, the first ultimately being retaken due to encroachment.
Sterling doubled his tally with a lovely finish early in the second half and it looked as though it would be enough, but the lively Traore pulled one back before then setting up Jimenez in the latter stages following a woeful error from Benjamin Mendy.There was still time for a stunning winner as Doherty finished off a fine move in style in the 89th minute to clinch the win, leaving City – who hit the crossbar through Sterling in stoppage time – 14 points adrift of Liverpool.
A A gripping first half looked to be going Wolves' way when Ederson was dismissed for catching Diogo Jota after rushing out of his box in the 12th minute, with Sergio Aguero's return from a month-long injury absence ending prematurely as he was hooked for replacement goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.But Riyad Mahrez was tripped by Leander Dendoncker in the opposing penalty area soon after and, following a lengthy VAR review, the spot-kick was given.
Sterling's subsequent effort was stopped by Patricio, only for VAR to penalise Wolves following encroachment from Conor Coady. The retake brought about another save, but this time the England forward converted the rebound.City managed to reach half-time with their lead intact and Sterling got his second just after the interval, racing on to Kevin De Bruyne's throughball and beating Patricio with a clever chip.
But Sterling gave possession away a few minutes later and Traore capitalised, sending a 25-yard drive crashing in off the left-hand post.Mendy was the next City player to make a costly error, trying to shepherd the ball out of play only to be out-muscled by Traore, who teed up Jimenez to steer home.
And Doherty completed the turnaround with a left-footed strike from the edge of the box following a clever interchange with Jimenez – Sterling's last-gasp free-kick causing a brief moment of worry as it clipped the bar.
Manchester City blew a two-goal lead at Wolves as Raul Jimenez and Matt Doherty netted late on at Molineux to secure a thrilling 3-2 home victory, with the 10-man champions' hopes of usurping runaway leaders Liverpool taking another huge blow.
City found themselves with an unlikely 2-0 lead just after half-time thanks to a Raheem Sterling brace, the lead remarkable given the 12th-minute dismissal of Ederson, but Wolves fought back spectacularly in the second half – Adama Traore playing a vital role.
Ederson's early sending off left City in a tricky position, though they initially responded well and went ahead through Sterling – the attacker tapping in a penalty rebound after Rui Patricio had saved two of his spot-kicks, the first ultimately being retaken due to encroachment.
Sterling doubled his tally with a lovely finish early in the second half and it looked as though it would be enough, but the lively Traore pulled one back before then setting up Jimenez in the latter stages following a woeful error from Benjamin Mendy.There was still time for a stunning winner as Doherty finished off a fine move in style in the 89th minute to clinch the win, leaving City – who hit the crossbar through Sterling in stoppage time – 14 points adrift of Liverpool.
A A gripping first half looked to be going Wolves' way when Ederson was dismissed for catching Diogo Jota after rushing out of his box in the 12th minute, with Sergio Aguero's return from a month-long injury absence ending prematurely as he was hooked for replacement goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.But Riyad Mahrez was tripped by Leander Dendoncker in the opposing penalty area soon after and, following a lengthy VAR review, the spot-kick was given.
Sterling's subsequent effort was stopped by Patricio, only for VAR to penalise Wolves following encroachment from Conor Coady. The retake brought about another save, but this time the England forward converted the rebound.City managed to reach half-time with their lead intact and Sterling got his second just after the interval, racing on to Kevin De Bruyne's throughball and beating Patricio with a clever chip.
But Sterling gave possession away a few minutes later and Traore capitalised, sending a 25-yard drive crashing in off the left-hand post.Mendy was the next City player to make a costly error, trying to shepherd the ball out of play only to be out-muscled by Traore, who teed up Jimenez to steer home.
And Doherty completed the turnaround with a left-footed strike from the edge of the box following a clever interchange with Jimenez – Sterling's last-gasp free-kick causing a brief moment of worry as it clipped the bar.
Ibrahimovic returns to AC Milan on short-term contract
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has returned to AC Milan on a contract until the end of the current Serie A season with the option to extend the deal for a further season.
The 38-year-old former Sweden international had been without a club since the end of his previous contract at MLS club LA Galaxy.He previously spent two years at Milan, scoring 56 goals in 85 appearances and winning the Serie A title in 2011.
Now, he joins a Milan side fighting for a top-half finish. With 17 games played, Stefano Pioli’s side are in 11th place, with half the points of league leaders and arch-rivals Inter.
He has continued to score prolifically since leaving Italy in 2012, enjoying productive spells with Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United prior to his move to Los Angeles.
"I'm coming back to a club I hugely respect and to the city of Milan which I love," Ibrahimovic said. "I’ll fight together with my teammates to change the course of this season. I will do everything to make it happen".
He will travel to Milan on January 2 to undergo a medical, before joining his new team-mates for training. A press conference is expected to be held once the final details of the move are signed off.Ibrahimovic had been linked with a number of clubs around Europe and beyond, and it had been suggested in recent days that he could follow former manager Carlo Ancelotti to Everton.
The mercurial forward will be expecting to make an impact straight away. Milan's current top scorers are forward Krzysztof Piatek and left-back Theo Hernandez, with four goals apiece to their names.However, it is more than two months since Ibrahimovic's last competitive match - a 5-3 MLS Cup playoff defeat to Los Angeles FC at the end of October.
He could make his first appearance at home to Sampdoria on January 6, with further fixtures against Cagliari, SPAL, Udinese and Brescia to come in January.Having also represented Inter and Juventus earlier in his career, Ibrahimovic already has years of pedigree in Italian football.
He has twice been top scorer in Serie A, as well as being named Player of the Year three times and Foreign Player of the Year on five occasions.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has returned to AC Milan on a contract until the end of the current Serie A season with the option to extend the deal for a further season.
The 38-year-old former Sweden international had been without a club since the end of his previous contract at MLS club LA Galaxy.He previously spent two years at Milan, scoring 56 goals in 85 appearances and winning the Serie A title in 2011.
Now, he joins a Milan side fighting for a top-half finish. With 17 games played, Stefano Pioli’s side are in 11th place, with half the points of league leaders and arch-rivals Inter.
He has continued to score prolifically since leaving Italy in 2012, enjoying productive spells with Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United prior to his move to Los Angeles.
"I'm coming back to a club I hugely respect and to the city of Milan which I love," Ibrahimovic said. "I’ll fight together with my teammates to change the course of this season. I will do everything to make it happen".
He will travel to Milan on January 2 to undergo a medical, before joining his new team-mates for training. A press conference is expected to be held once the final details of the move are signed off.Ibrahimovic had been linked with a number of clubs around Europe and beyond, and it had been suggested in recent days that he could follow former manager Carlo Ancelotti to Everton.
The mercurial forward will be expecting to make an impact straight away. Milan's current top scorers are forward Krzysztof Piatek and left-back Theo Hernandez, with four goals apiece to their names.However, it is more than two months since Ibrahimovic's last competitive match - a 5-3 MLS Cup playoff defeat to Los Angeles FC at the end of October.
He could make his first appearance at home to Sampdoria on January 6, with further fixtures against Cagliari, SPAL, Udinese and Brescia to come in January.Having also represented Inter and Juventus earlier in his career, Ibrahimovic already has years of pedigree in Italian football.
He has twice been top scorer in Serie A, as well as being named Player of the Year three times and Foreign Player of the Year on five occasions.
Pellegrini sacked by West Ham after Leicester City defeat
West Ham sacked manager Manuel Pellegrini hours after the club suffered a 2-1 defeat to Leicester City on Saturday.That loss, their fourth in just five matches, leaves the Hammers sitting 17th in the Premier League, just one point clear of the relegation zone after 19 games. Pellegrini joined West Ham in May 2018 with the former Manchester City manager guiding the club to a 10th-placed finish in his first season in charge.
West Ham sacked manager Manuel Pellegrini hours after the club suffered a 2-1 defeat to Leicester City on Saturday.That loss, their fourth in just five matches, leaves the Hammers sitting 17th in the Premier League, just one point clear of the relegation zone after 19 games. Pellegrini joined West Ham in May 2018 with the former Manchester City manager guiding the club to a 10th-placed finish in his first season in charge.
"People were talking about us being top-six contenders and now we're so far away," Rice said. "Fans are coming to the game pretty much not wanting to come. We need to pick up fast."Overall, West Ham won 24 of their 64 matches under Pellegrini, losing 29 and drawing 11.
The club next faces Bournemouth on New Year's Day with the Hammers yet to confirm who will be in charge for that clash.
West Ham sacked manager Manuel Pellegrini hours after the club suffered a 2-1 defeat to Leicester City on Saturday.That loss, their fourth in just five matches, leaves the Hammers sitting 17th in the Premier League, just one point clear of the relegation zone after 19 games. Pellegrini joined West Ham in May 2018 with the former Manchester City manager guiding the club to a 10th-placed finish in his first season in charge.
West Ham sacked manager Manuel Pellegrini hours after the club suffered a 2-1 defeat to Leicester City on Saturday.That loss, their fourth in just five matches, leaves the Hammers sitting 17th in the Premier League, just one point clear of the relegation zone after 19 games. Pellegrini joined West Ham in May 2018 with the former Manchester City manager guiding the club to a 10th-placed finish in his first season in charge.
"People were talking about us being top-six contenders and now we're so far away," Rice said. "Fans are coming to the game pretty much not wanting to come. We need to pick up fast."Overall, West Ham won 24 of their 64 matches under Pellegrini, losing 29 and drawing 11.
The club next faces Bournemouth on New Year's Day with the Hammers yet to confirm who will be in charge for that clash.
Jardim sacked by Monaco for a second time as former Spain boss Moreno takes over
Monaco have sacked head coach Leonardo Jardim for the second time in just over a year and replaced him with former Spain boss Robert Moreno.Jardim was reappointed by the Ligue 1 club in January, three months after first being dismissed, but results in 2019 have been mixed.
Pressure had recently been building on Jardim, who previously led Monaco to the French title and a Champions League semi-final in 2017, after last week's 3-0 home loss to Lille in the last 16 of the Coupe de la Ligue.
Monaco confirmed on their official website on Saturday that the 45-year-old has been dismissed with immediate effect and Moreno installed in his place on a deal that runs through until 2022.
“We are very pleased to announce the arrival of Robert Moreno,” vice president and general manager Oleg Petrov said in a statement. “We strongly believe in him and in his ability to lead the team to success. We welcome him to AS Monaco.
“On behalf of president Dmitry Rybolovlev, I would also like to thank Leonardo Jardim for all the work accomplished and all the successes achieved in recent years.“Leonardo and his staff did their utmost to keep the club in Ligue 1 last season, then give the team the place it deserves in our championship. We wish him good luck for the future.”
Moreno has never previously managed a club at professional level, with his only previous top-level experience coming with the Spain senior side earlier this year.
He took temporary charge of La Roja in March when Luis Enrique – with whom he had worked as an assistant to at Roma, Celta Vigo and Barcelona – stepped down for personal reasons.Moreno was handed the job on a permanent basis in June after impressing in his caretaker role, but Luis Enrique returned five months later after qualification for Euro 2020 had been sealed.
The Spaniard will take charge of Monaco training next week ahead of the Coupe de France clash with Reims on January 4, with his first Ligue 1 game a rearranged meeting with champions Paris Saint-Germain the following weekend.
Monaco have sacked head coach Leonardo Jardim for the second time in just over a year and replaced him with former Spain boss Robert Moreno.Jardim was reappointed by the Ligue 1 club in January, three months after first being dismissed, but results in 2019 have been mixed.
Pressure had recently been building on Jardim, who previously led Monaco to the French title and a Champions League semi-final in 2017, after last week's 3-0 home loss to Lille in the last 16 of the Coupe de la Ligue.
Monaco confirmed on their official website on Saturday that the 45-year-old has been dismissed with immediate effect and Moreno installed in his place on a deal that runs through until 2022.
“We are very pleased to announce the arrival of Robert Moreno,” vice president and general manager Oleg Petrov said in a statement. “We strongly believe in him and in his ability to lead the team to success. We welcome him to AS Monaco.
“On behalf of president Dmitry Rybolovlev, I would also like to thank Leonardo Jardim for all the work accomplished and all the successes achieved in recent years.“Leonardo and his staff did their utmost to keep the club in Ligue 1 last season, then give the team the place it deserves in our championship. We wish him good luck for the future.”
Moreno has never previously managed a club at professional level, with his only previous top-level experience coming with the Spain senior side earlier this year.
He took temporary charge of La Roja in March when Luis Enrique – with whom he had worked as an assistant to at Roma, Celta Vigo and Barcelona – stepped down for personal reasons.Moreno was handed the job on a permanent basis in June after impressing in his caretaker role, but Luis Enrique returned five months later after qualification for Euro 2020 had been sealed.
The Spaniard will take charge of Monaco training next week ahead of the Coupe de France clash with Reims on January 4, with his first Ligue 1 game a rearranged meeting with champions Paris Saint-Germain the following weekend.
Manchester United moved up to fifth in the Premier League following their win at Burnley, and club legend Paul Scholes believes they now have a good opportunity to finish in the Champions League places.
Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford were on the score sheet in a 2-0 win, and Tottenham’s draw with Norwich meant three points from Turf Moor took the Red Devils above Jose Mourinho’s side and just a point behind fourth-place Chelsea.
Club veteran, Scholes, thinks victories like the one at Burnley show Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have what it takes to finish in the top four, and with a little more consistency they should be able to work their way even further up the table.
“We've seen that obviously, they beat Tottenham, they beat City, the way they did,” he said on BT Sport.
“Okay, we talk about being consistent - a poor result at Watford, a poor performance really, but they came here tonight, a tough place to come.“Burnley does make it really difficult for you, but United were in complete control apart from maybe five or 10 minutes towards the end."
Scholes also noted that Frank Lampard’s Chelsea side can be just as inconsistent, and this may give United a way into the top four.Chelsea face Arsenal this weekend and currently have a game in hand on United, but they haven’t managed to string together two wins in a row since October.
Lampard’s side defeated Tottenham away from home this month, but have also lost to Bournemouth and Southampton at Stamford Bridge, as well as losing away at Everton. “Six weeks ago you're thinking the only way they [Manchester United] get into the Champions League is through the Europa League, possibly winning that,” added Scholes.
“Now, with Chelsea losing a little bit of form as well, losing a bit of consistency, you're not sure what you're going to get from them from week to week.“What are they? A point behind them now? Chelsea have still got a game in hand, but they'll be looking back at United. “They look confident now, and I think the minimum they should be expecting is to finish in the top four."
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Wolves 0-0 Manchester United: Replay required as Molineux clash fails to ignite
Manchester United's FA Cup campaign started in underwhelming fashion as they drew 0-0 with Wolves in a dire third-round meeting at Molineux.In a repeat of last season's quarter-final – which finished 2-1 to Wolves – the encounter did not come alive until Marcus Rashford hit the crossbar moments after coming on in the second half.
Sergio Romero has been the busiest of the goalkeepers prior to Rashford's chance, though United believed they should have had a penalty when Leander Dendoncker bundled into Brandon Williams.
Having been let off the hook when Rashford's effort hit the woodwork, Wolves upped the pressure late on but, though Matt Doherty had a goal rightly disallowed and Raul Jimenez hit the woodwork, the tie will have to be settled in a replay at Old Trafford.
United were fortunate to escape unscathed 13 minutes in when Doherty was found unmarked from a corner, Romero's instinctive save keeping out the defender's volley.
Wolves, however, were themselves lucky just after the half-hour mark, with VAR official Michael Oliver deeming a clumsy tackle from Dendoncker on Williams not worthy of a penalty.
United looked set to be dealt a blow when Romero went down with an apparent hamstring injury shortly after the restart, though the goalkeeper battled on and was in place to block Pedro Neto's strike.
After Juan Mata went close with a free-kick, Rashford almost made an instant impact when introduced with 20 minutes remaining, only for Conor Coady to deflect his strike onto the bar.
Doherty had the ball in the net in the 76th minute, only for the goal to be disallowed due to the full-back heading the ball onto his arm, with Jimenez then rattling the woodwork from a tight angle to sum up a frustrating day for both sides in which United failed to muster a single shot on target.
Manchester United's FA Cup campaign started in underwhelming fashion as they drew 0-0 with Wolves in a dire third-round meeting at Molineux.In a repeat of last season's quarter-final – which finished 2-1 to Wolves – the encounter did not come alive until Marcus Rashford hit the crossbar moments after coming on in the second half.
Sergio Romero has been the busiest of the goalkeepers prior to Rashford's chance, though United believed they should have had a penalty when Leander Dendoncker bundled into Brandon Williams.
Having been let off the hook when Rashford's effort hit the woodwork, Wolves upped the pressure late on but, though Matt Doherty had a goal rightly disallowed and Raul Jimenez hit the woodwork, the tie will have to be settled in a replay at Old Trafford.
United were fortunate to escape unscathed 13 minutes in when Doherty was found unmarked from a corner, Romero's instinctive save keeping out the defender's volley.
Wolves, however, were themselves lucky just after the half-hour mark, with VAR official Michael Oliver deeming a clumsy tackle from Dendoncker on Williams not worthy of a penalty.
United looked set to be dealt a blow when Romero went down with an apparent hamstring injury shortly after the restart, though the goalkeeper battled on and was in place to block Pedro Neto's strike.
After Juan Mata went close with a free-kick, Rashford almost made an instant impact when introduced with 20 minutes remaining, only for Conor Coady to deflect his strike onto the bar.
Doherty had the ball in the net in the 76th minute, only for the goal to be disallowed due to the full-back heading the ball onto his arm, with Jimenez then rattling the woodwork from a tight angle to sum up a frustrating day for both sides in which United failed to muster a single shot on target.
Espanyol 2-2 Barcelona: De Jong sent off as Wu Lei rescues derby draw
Barcelona failed to regain their two-point lead at the top of LaLiga after Wu Lei scored a late equaliser for Espanyol in a 2-2 derby draw that saw Frenkie de Jong sent off for the visitors.
The champions fell behind 23 minutes into a contest they dominated but in which their best football was rarely in evidence against the division's bottom club.
Thankfully for Ernesto Valverde, Luis Suarez was at his lethal best, instinctively making it 1-1 shortly before he brilliantly teed up Arturo Vidal for Barcelona's second.
But after De Jong was shown a second yellow card, Espanyol ramped up the pressure and Wu clinched a precious point for LaLiga's bottom club as he became the first Chinese player to score against Barca in a competitive game.
The result leaves the champions level on points with Real Madrid at the top of the table at the midway point of the season.
Barca were punished for their tepid start to the game when Marc Roca floated a free-kick into the box where David Lopez lost his marker and beat Neto with a glancing header into the far corner of the net from 12 yards.
The visitors dominated the ball as they so often do in LaLiga but failed to threaten until five minutes from half-time when Lionel Messi headed into Diego Lopez's arms shortly before Suarez toe-poked a low shot onto the outside of the post.
The equaliser came swiftly after the restart, Jordi Alba landing a deliciously weighted pass onto Suarez's instep, and the Uruguay international's first-time finish tucked the ball just inside Diego Lopez's near post.
Suarez somehow managed to better Alba's cross when he deftly chipped the ball with the outside of his right boot to substitute Arturo Vidal, whose powerful header bulged the net despite Diego Lopez getting a hand to it.
He got both hands to Suarez's next shot, a powerful rising drive from 12 yards after Messi put him through, the Espanyol keeper palming the ball away from danger.De Jong received his second yellow card for a shirt-pull on Jonathan Calleri and Espanyol exploited the additional space with three minutes left.
Matias Vargas played Wu into the area and the China international rifled a low shot into the left corner of the net from a tight angle to rescue a point that his side deserved for their perseverance and bravery against new coach Abelardo's old team.
Barcelona failed to regain their two-point lead at the top of LaLiga after Wu Lei scored a late equaliser for Espanyol in a 2-2 derby draw that saw Frenkie de Jong sent off for the visitors.
The champions fell behind 23 minutes into a contest they dominated but in which their best football was rarely in evidence against the division's bottom club.
Thankfully for Ernesto Valverde, Luis Suarez was at his lethal best, instinctively making it 1-1 shortly before he brilliantly teed up Arturo Vidal for Barcelona's second.
But after De Jong was shown a second yellow card, Espanyol ramped up the pressure and Wu clinched a precious point for LaLiga's bottom club as he became the first Chinese player to score against Barca in a competitive game.
The result leaves the champions level on points with Real Madrid at the top of the table at the midway point of the season.
Barca were punished for their tepid start to the game when Marc Roca floated a free-kick into the box where David Lopez lost his marker and beat Neto with a glancing header into the far corner of the net from 12 yards.
The visitors dominated the ball as they so often do in LaLiga but failed to threaten until five minutes from half-time when Lionel Messi headed into Diego Lopez's arms shortly before Suarez toe-poked a low shot onto the outside of the post.
The equaliser came swiftly after the restart, Jordi Alba landing a deliciously weighted pass onto Suarez's instep, and the Uruguay international's first-time finish tucked the ball just inside Diego Lopez's near post.
Suarez somehow managed to better Alba's cross when he deftly chipped the ball with the outside of his right boot to substitute Arturo Vidal, whose powerful header bulged the net despite Diego Lopez getting a hand to it.
He got both hands to Suarez's next shot, a powerful rising drive from 12 yards after Messi put him through, the Espanyol keeper palming the ball away from danger.De Jong received his second yellow card for a shirt-pull on Jonathan Calleri and Espanyol exploited the additional space with three minutes left.
Matias Vargas played Wu into the area and the China international rifled a low shot into the left corner of the net from a tight angle to rescue a point that his side deserved for their perseverance and bravery against new coach Abelardo's old team.
Atletico Madrid 2-1 Levante: Felipe makes it four wins in a row
Felipe's first LaLiga goal helped in-form Atletico Madrid to a 2-1 home win over Levante.
Three goals during a manic five-minute spell in the first half settled the match but did not typify an otherwise tepid encounter at the Wanda Metropolitano.Angel Correa scored for the second straight game and while Roger Marti's ninth league goal of the season pulled Levante level, Felipe settled it with a powerful header.
Atletico now have four consecutive victories across all competitions and moved back to within five points of city rivals Real Madrid, while the result ended a three-match winning streak for Levante.The hosts almost scored in the first minute on Saturday when Correa's shot was saved, Joao Felix and Saul Niguez then unable to convert follow-up attempts.
But Atletico opened the scoringafter 13 minutes when Thomas Partey found Kieran Trippier on the right and the defender's volleyed cross was converted by Correa's superb first-time finish.
Roger replied three minutes later when his volley deflected in off the arm of Alvaro Morata after he had latched on to Jose Campana's free-kick.Atletico swiftly got back in front, though, Renan Lodi whipping in a left-wing delivery that Felipe impressively headed in from 12 yards out, his effort coming just 109 seconds after Roger's strike.
Correa's shot forced a good one-handed saved from Aitor Fernandez shortly before the break and the Levante goalkeeper also kept out an effort from Joao Felix just before the hour mark.
Joao Felix also fired wide from the edge of the area late on but Atletico were still able to hold on for victory in relative comfort, albeit Jan Oblak had to make two late saves to deny Enis Bardhi.
Felipe's first LaLiga goal helped in-form Atletico Madrid to a 2-1 home win over Levante.
Three goals during a manic five-minute spell in the first half settled the match but did not typify an otherwise tepid encounter at the Wanda Metropolitano.Angel Correa scored for the second straight game and while Roger Marti's ninth league goal of the season pulled Levante level, Felipe settled it with a powerful header.
Atletico now have four consecutive victories across all competitions and moved back to within five points of city rivals Real Madrid, while the result ended a three-match winning streak for Levante.The hosts almost scored in the first minute on Saturday when Correa's shot was saved, Joao Felix and Saul Niguez then unable to convert follow-up attempts.
But Atletico opened the scoringafter 13 minutes when Thomas Partey found Kieran Trippier on the right and the defender's volleyed cross was converted by Correa's superb first-time finish.
Roger replied three minutes later when his volley deflected in off the arm of Alvaro Morata after he had latched on to Jose Campana's free-kick.Atletico swiftly got back in front, though, Renan Lodi whipping in a left-wing delivery that Felipe impressively headed in from 12 yards out, his effort coming just 109 seconds after Roger's strike.
Correa's shot forced a good one-handed saved from Aitor Fernandez shortly before the break and the Levante goalkeeper also kept out an effort from Joao Felix just before the hour mark.
Joao Felix also fired wide from the edge of the area late on but Atletico were still able to hold on for victory in relative comfort, albeit Jan Oblak had to make two late saves to deny Enis Bardhi.
