As the threat of coronavirus has lessened over the past few weeks, international sporting has once again taken center stage. Late August saw a litany of sports events occur, with each event holding its fair share of highlights.
European club football came to an end in the form of the highly anticipated Champion’s League final.
Bayern Munich – fresh off of winning the German Bundesliga – were clear favourites over Paris Saint Germain, who were playing in their inaugural final. Bayern did not disappoint, as a 59th-minute header by Kingsley Coman secured the German team their sixth European Cup title.
They are the only team to have won a continental treble this season, triumphing in the Champion’s League, Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal German Cup.
The Europa League final also saw its fair share of action. Spanish team Sevilla faced off against Inter Milan in Cologne, in a match which Sevilla was favoured to win (Sevilla is the most successful Europa League team, having won a record 5 titles).
A brace from Luuk de Jong and an unfortunate own goal by Inter’s Romelu Lukaku gifted Sevilla their sixth European cup. Sevilla’s victory also grants the team a berth at next season’s Champions League.
Bayern Munich and Sevilla will face off in the UEFA Super Cup on the 24th of September. Formula 1 has also had a bumper of activity over the last few weeks.
Lewis Hamilton scorched his way through the Spanish Grand Prix and Belgian Grand Prix, winning both races in times of 1:31:45.279 and 1:24:08.761 respectively.
The Italian Grand Prix was the only race Hamilton was unable to win, however, as Pierre Gasly secured his maiden Grand Prix title in a time of 1:47:06.056.
Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes currently lead the 2020 Grand Prix championship rankings. In tennis action, Novak Djokovic maintained his dominance as he won the 2020 Western & Southern Open Men’s Singles title, defeating Milos Raonic 1–6, 6–3, 6–4.
Victoria Azarenka won the Women’s Singles title after Japan’s Naomi Osaka was forced to withdraw due to a hamstring injury. Djokovic currently leads the 2020 ATP Tour with three trophies to his name.
On a local front, Kaizer Chiefs, despite leading the Premier Soccer League, log with one goal difference, was unable to defend their 2019/20 PSL title. Chiefs only managed a 1-1 draw against Baroka FC whilst Mamelodi Sundowns managed a 3-0 win over Black Leopards at Dobsonville Stadium.
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