LONDON (AP) - Tom Timmermann, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, United States
“If Ibrahamovic had played just one game this week, he still might have gotten the top spot on my ballot, but to have two dominant games like that in one week? I’m impressed.”
Paolo Condo, Gazzetta dello Sport, Italy
“It was a Parisian week: Four goals away in the Champions League and in Ligue 1 are a verdict, this is no more a growing team, this is the fifth knight in the Champions League contest along with Barcelona, Real, Bayern and I think Chelsea.”
James Porteous, South China Morning Post
“Bayern deserve the team of the week nod, an impressive win at Arsenal followed up by another thumping of one of the Bundesliga’s 17 also-rans. Real Madrid ensured they cashed in on rivals’ slips, taking the outright lead in La Liga for the first time since May 2012 after Barca and Atletico Madrid found trouble on the road, against Real Sociedad and Osasuna respectively.”
Richard Jolly, ESPN, England
“Real Sociedad claimed the scalp of Barcelona in a weekend of shocks in La Liga that puts Real Madrid in pole position to win the title.”
Julian Bennetts, Hayters news agency, England
“Another man who is enjoying a fine season is Daniel Sturridge, who scored in his eighth consecutive Premier League game on Sunday during Liverpool’s exciting 4-3 win over Swansea.”
Sam Tighe, Bleacher Report, United States
“Real Sociedad ripped Barcelona apart in shocking fashion this weekend, making them look as ordinary as Bayern Munich did in the Champions League last season. Some blame Gerardo Martino’s rotation policy, but this sort of beating has been looming for a while.”
Mark Rodden, Eurosport, France
“Toni Kroos completed more passes than the entire Arsenal midfield in the Champions League and his goal in that match once again proved that he is one of the sweetest strikers of a ball in world football.”
Mike McGrath, The Sun, England
“Real Madrid deserve recognition for pulling away at the top of the Spanish league after defeats for Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. Zlatan Ibrahimovic put in the most eye-catching personal performance.”
Marco Monteverde, News Corp, Australia
“Not only did Bayern take care of Champions League business against Arsenal in London, they backed it up domestically with a 4-0 thrashing of Hannover. Can anyone stop this team?”
Chris Tait, The Herald, Scotland
“Zlatan Ibrahimovic does not need his ego stroked and neither do his statistics require to be massaged to appear impressive. Two goals in the Champions League and a hat trick in Ligue 1 mark him out as one of the world’s best players.”
Tito Puccetti, ESPN, Argentina
“The Pep machine reduces all. 19 points clear in the Bundesliga. The question is: Can anyone stop them?”
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