League champions and leaders were stunned across major European leagues on Friday and Saturday, a massive setback for the coaches, who were saddled with the responsibilities of leading these teams and now find themselves under fire following a weekend of disappointing losses.
English Champions Chelsea looked quite uncertain heading into the encounter against Crystal Palace following the injury enforced absence of the duo of Alvaro Morata and N’Golo Kante. The Blues were surprisingly defeated 2-1 by Crystal Palace. Remarkably, the Eagles had failed to score a goal in the league after 630 minutes of action but were ‘two-good’ on the day thanks to strikes from Cesar Azpilicueta (Own Goal) and Wilfred Zaha, leaving Antonio Conte with a bitter pill to swallow, following up the home defeat to Manchester City in the penultimate league game.
The title defence has been a sharp contrast to last season for the Blues who at this point had started their 13-game winning streak. Chelsea’s performance brings back ugly memories of 2015/16, when they fumbled and the result was the dismissal of Jose Mourinho. Could the same fate await livewire Conte, who appears humbled by the recent series of events?
Arsenal were equally stunned by Watford at Vicarage Road, in a game the Gunners attained a comfortable lead, only to lose to Watford in the final 19 minutes of the game. Worryingly for Arsene Wenger, the Gunners are yet to win away from home, their lone road point secured against 10-man Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and it could get even worse for the Frenchman in the days and weeks ahead.
Massimiliano Allegri surely must be sitting in a corner all alone, asking what hit him. Juventus were stunned 2-1 at home against Lazio on Saturday evening, the worst possible start to a busy week for the Italian champions which include a UEFA Champions League game. Juventus threw away lead a first-half lead, losing to two Ciro Immobile goals as they only hang onto second-place thanks to superior goals difference which could count for nothing if Inter Milan emerge victorious in the Milan derby on Sunday.
League leaders Borussia Dortmund were handed a first defeat of the season, losing 3-2 at home to RB Leipzig at Signal Iduna Park. It was a shocker for Coach Peter Bosz who was on a roller coaster following his summer arrival from Ajax Amsterdam and he must ensure he rallies his team together, with Bayern Munich appearing to get back to their very best in the aftermath of Jupp Heynckes temporary stint in-charge of the Bavarians.
French champions Monaco were stunned 3-2 away at Lyon on Friday, a result which ushered in the wave of shocking results. The Principality team twice fought back from the brink of defeat but ultimately had no answer to Nabil Fekir’s 90th minute winner. It was a massive setback to Coach Leonardo Jardim’s aspirations of retaining the title, as they trail leaders PSG by a massive six-points after nine rounds of matches.
