In this feature, GOAL picks out some of the under-the-radar stats you may have missed this week - and explains what they mean for Africa's biggest stars.
GettyIheanacho, Salah and Mendy: What did you miss this weekend?
Getty ImagesInsightful details from the weekend
Backpagepix.Yassine Bounou
Sevilla were beaten 1-0 at Barcelona on Sunday night, seeing their run without success extended to four games and consequently dropping to fourth spot, albeit level with Xavi’s men and Atletico Madrid on 57 points.
For Bono, who made a staggering five saves in the match, it was only the second time this season that the Morocco goalkeeper has made a high volume of saves without keeping a clean sheet since the reverse fixture in Seville (six saves).
Undoubtedly, the shot-stopper will be unhappy his efforts were not rewarded in both fixtures against the Blaugrana this term.
GettyKelechi Iheanacho
While Nigeria and Leicester City supporters will have wished that Iheanacho’s goal just after the hour sufficed against Manchester United, they witnessed a collector’s item, nonetheless.
That 63rd-minute goal was the Super Eagle’s first headed strike of the season in the Premier League and indeed in all competitions.
Having not scored with that body part all season, it was a fine way to net his first at Old Trafford against opponents he enjoys playing against.
Union Berlin.Taiwo Awoniyi
In a packed Stadion An der Alten Forsterei for the first time in two years, the home support witnessed history being made by Awoniyi.
The Union Berlin frontman capitalised on an ill-judged Jonas Hector back-pass to score the game’s only goal in the 49th minute against Cologne.
This was Awoniyi’s 12th Bundesliga goal of the season — matching Sebastian Andersson's club record of 12 goals in a single Bundesliga campaign set in 2019/20 — and becoming Union’s record top scorer in the top flight with his 17th league goal for the Berlin outfit, supplanting Max Kruse’s 16.
The 1-0 success was the home side’s first win in four Bundesliga matches (two defeats).
GettyMohamed Salah
Salah endured a frustrating afternoon at Anfield despite Liverpool’s 2-0 success over Watford on Saturday.
The Egypt attacker has now fired blanks in three of his last four Premier League games, with two of those games coming on Merseyside.
Furthermore, the league’s top scorer has failed to register a shot on target in successive domestic fixtures for the first time this season, albeit coming either side of the international break.
Should Jurgen Klopp be worried about his superstar?
GettyEdouard Mendy
Chelsea suffered a humiliating 4-1 defeat by Brentford at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, putting paid to the world champions’ five-match winning run in the competition.
Coincidentally, that thrashing against Thomas Frank’s troops came exactly a year after their 5-2 annihilation by West Bromwich Albion in West London, against another newly-promoted side.
Mendy was in goal for both games, a fact that will disappoint the Senegal man who disappointed somewhat when the Bees stung the Blues.
The Chelsea goalkeeper will have to wait another week to claim his 13th clean sheet of the campaign.