The Paris 2024 Olympics ended on Sunday night, but the new Premier League season is on the horizon.
Sports-loving fans will not forget the weekend of August 9-11, 2024, in a hurry following the conclusion of the biggest event of the summer.
Yes, every weekend always have a story to tell if you are a sports lover. However, last weekend was not like your regular weekend as it was indeed one of the greatest three days in sporting history.
It was a weekend that even non-sporting fans will never forget in their lives. It had everything from drama to sporting immortality.
While it was the end of this summer’s biggest event, last weekend also served as the curtain raiser for the new football season.
In usual fashion, Housebets review what made last weekend so special for sports lovers.
If you thought Manchester City would relax a little bit this new season, then you need to have a second thought.
The defending Premier League champion showed again that they remain the team to beat in England’s top flight after edging out Manchester United on penalties in the Community Shield.
City, who are seeking a fifth successive Premier League title this season, had lost their last three Community Shield games prior to Saturday’s clash.
However, they ended that run with a dramatic penalty shootout victory over their city rivals at Wembley Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
It was a statement of intent from Pep Guardiola’s men as they sent out a warning to the rest of the league.
City were the favourites going into the clash against Erik Ten Hag’s men, and they did not disappoint.
The Premier League champions dominated possession in the first half, keeping Manchester United players in their half despite missing a host of regulars.
But despite having the larger share of possession, City failed to create a clear chance in the first half.
In fact, it was United that came close to taking the lead in the opening half, but Marcus Rashford could not convert.
The first half ended goalless, although City started the second half with more vigour. Pep’s men increased the tempo, controlling the play just like they did in the first half.
But despite their dominance, they could not break down a resilient United defence. United, who were happy to sit back, were dangerous on the break and should have taken the lead through Rashford.
However, just like in the first half, the England international fluffed his lines with only the keeper to beat.
Rashford’s miss did not matter, though, as United took the lead in the 82nd minute through Alejandro Garnacho, who came on as a substitute.
Garnarcho’s goal stunned City, having dominated possession throughout the match. However, just as it looked like they were staring at a fourth successive defeat in the Community Shield, Bernardo Silva, a substitute, came up clutch to head home the equaliser in the 89th minute.
Silva’s equaliser sent the tie to penalties, but the Portuguese went from hero to villain as he missed City’s first kick to hand Man Utd the advantage.
But it did not matter as Sancho also missed before Jonny Evans missed again for United to hand City the win.
The biggest event of the summer, the Paris 2024 Olympics, ended on Sunday night and it had everything.
The countdown started on Friday with the Men’s Football Gold Medal match. Spain won their first gold in Men’s football since 1992 as they defeated hosts France 5-3 in a thrilling clash.
Spain, who are having a magical summer, went 3-1 up before France stormed back to take the tie to extra time.
However, Spain regained their lead in extra time before sealing the gold late in the game after France went all out in search of an equaliser.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, the United States Women’s National team, under Emma Hayes, claimed gold in the Women’s football match, beating Brazil 1-0.
On Saturday also, the United States Men’s basketball team, defeated France in a thrilling encounter at the Bercy Arena to claim another gold.
The sporting action concluded on Sunday with Sifan Hassan making history after winning the Women’s marathon.
That same Sunday, the United States Women’s basketball team replicated the feat of the men as they beat France in the gold medal match.
But the major talking point of Sunday was the closing ceremony, which had everything. The event started with a group of performers paying homage to Greece, the country that created the Olympic Games.
Following that, IOC chairman Thomas Bach and the Paris 2024 Olympics chairman gave speeches before the flag was handed to Los Angeles, the hosts of the next Olympics.
One of the greatest Olympians of all time Simon Biles was on hand to receive the flag before giving it to the iconic Tom Cruise, who dove from the top of Stade de France in Tom Cruise fashion.
The Top Gun: Maverick star then made his way out of the stadium with the Olympic Flag on his motorbike before flying and skydiving to where the Hollywood sign is located in LA (in a pre-recorded tape).
Cruise then passed the flag to a host of American Olympians before Billie Eilish performed in Long Beach.
However, the LA handover did not finish until Snoop Dogg, the star of the Olympics, performed with Dr Dre.
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