Football, Futbol, Fußball, Calcio: The Weekend Review

Goals, controversy, and drama of the highest order. This past weekend on the pitch had a little bit of everything.

Every week, we'll take a stroll through Europe to review the best - and worst - the top leagues on the continent had to offer. As always, there is plenty to discuss after a full slate of action.

This week, the trip begins in England.

The Storylines

Frank Lampard, right out of a Hollywood script

It was always going to be him. It had to be.

With Manchester City down by one on both the scoreboard and the pitch, Manuel Pellegrini turned to Frank Lampard in an effort to rescue a point against Chelsea. Lampard, whose 13-year career with the Blues saw him make 648 appearances and set a club record with 211 goals, was welcomed onto the pitch by cheers from the travelling Chelsea supporters.

Those stopped when he made a trademark run into the area and slotted home the equalizer from a James Milner cross. The football world, in England at least, stood still for a brief moment of disbelief. 

To say Lampard's response to the goal was reserved would be an understatement. The Englishman looked to be in shock, as if he just realized he had done something terrible to someone he loved.

Mesut Ozil silences the haters

You, over there. Yeah you, the one who has been all over Mesut Ozil the last couple weeks, questioning his playmaking abilities and forcefully declaring that he is not among the best at his craft. He can't hear you anymore.

The German, finally back in his preferred role playing centrally behind the striker, was dominant against Aston Villa, scoring once and setting up Danny Welbeck for another as the Gunners cruised to a 3-0 win.

Go criticize someone else, please.

Related: 3 things you need to know about Saturday's Premier League action

Related: 3 things you need to know about Sunday's Premier League action

The Highlights

Celta Vigo vs. Atletico Madrid (La Liga)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic no longer graces La Liga with his presence. Not to worry, his spirit lives on through Pablo Hernandez. He meant to do this.

Paderborn vs. Hannover (Bundesliga)

Moritz Stoppelkamp set a Bundesliga record this weekend with goal from 83 metres out. Because he's a show-off, it was a volley.

Real Madrid vs. Deportivo (La Liga)

James Rodriguez scored his first league goal with his new club this weekend. Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez promptly proceeded to upstage him with this left-footed volley.

Manchester United vs. Leicester City (Premier League)

Angel Di Maria continues to justify the £59.7-million transfer fee United paid for his services this summer. It's early, yes, but the Argentine is taking England by storm, and leaving goalkeepers - like Kasper Schmeichel - wishing he would go back to Real Madrid.

[Courtesy: Sky Sports]

The Lowlights 

There are plenty of atrocious people around

As a Liverpool - and former Manchester City - player, it's only natural that Mario Balotelli would enjoy watching Manchester United lose in dramatic, incomprehensible fashion (we'll get to that result in a moment).

The playful quip was met with a despicable response, as the Liverpool striker was subjected to a wave of racial abuse in the aftermath of the joke.

You don't need to know the specifics of the insults hurled in Balotelli's direction. Partly because you're smart enough to figure them out on your own, and mostly because I don't want to pollute this space by promoting the Twitter handles of utterly despicable human beings.

The Shocker

Leicester City scores 4 unanswered goals in second half to stun Manchester United 

David Moyes won't admit it, but quietly, he must have loved watching the spectacular implosion of his former club on Sunday.

Leading 3-1 midway through the second half against newly-promoted Leicester City, Manchester United watched helplessly as the Foxes scored four goals in 21 minutes to secure a truly remarkable win.

"We had complete control," Louis van Gaal said after the match. "How is it possible that you give this game away?

"You never expect that when you're 3-1 ahead. You have to kill the game and keep possession. We couldn't do that."

You don't say?

Too bad none of those shiny new attackers can play centre-back, eh Louis?

The Controversy

Red card worthy?

Pablo Zabaleta was sent off in the aforementioned match between City and Chelsea, which opened the door for the Blues to take the lead through Andre Schurrle.

While it was a silly tackle to make considering he was already on a booking, perhaps noted villain Diego Costa should also have seen red for his role in the subsequent altercation.

Then again, the video evidence suggests Costa kept himself in check just enough. 

The 1,000 Words

Roma midfielder Alessandro Florenzi had a special fan cheering him on from the stands inside the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday against Cagliari. For the first time in his career, Florenzi's 82-year-old grandmother was in attendance.

After scoring the second goal in a 2-0 win, the Italian raced into the stands to seek out his biggest fan. This embrace between the two may bring a tear to your eye.

(He received a yellow card for excessive celebration on the play because rules are stupid.)

[Courtesy: AS Roma]

It's okay to cry.

Stray Thoughts

• Antonio Conte may be gone, but Max Allegri's version of Juventus looked eerily similar to that of his predecessor in the 1-0 win over Milan on Saturday. It's almost as though they still have the best squad in Italy...
• Manchester City may have just built the most formidable centre-back partnership in the Premier League - and possibly Europe. Opposing strikers are going to hate playing against the colossal duo of Vincent Kompany and Eliaquim Mangala. Diego Costa certainly did.
• Bayern Munich could not muster a goal against a lowly Hamburg side that went into their match this weekend with just a solitary point from three games. Even for such a deep squad, the absence of Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben is glaring.
• The arms race between Real Madrid and Barcelona will never end. The former won 8-2 on Saturday. Naturally, the latter responded with a 5-0 win of their own 24 hours later. Get used to that this season.
• Napoli fell to a second consecutive league defeat, losing 1-0 to Udinese. Is Rafa Benitez in trouble?
• Maybe we were all terribly premature in predicting the decline of Southampton following their off-season fire sale.