Soccer is back! 

Well, football has been going since summer, but the highly anticipated 2023 season of Major League Soccer finally kicked off this weekend and delivered top-tier entertainment on opening day.

So, if you’re an MLS fan, lucky you, because this week’s edition of Peak of the Week features some of the best action from the United States along with the usual top highlights from Europe’s top leagues.

Game of the week: DC United vs. Toronto FC

The 2023 MLS season commenced on February 25, and amidst all the hype surrounding the new Apple TV deal, opening day lived up to its billing.

Fans were spoiled with multiple thrillers but DC United’s late comeback win over Toronto FC took the cake, unfortunately for Reds fans.

After former Leeds man Mateusz Klich opened the scoring for the hosts, TFC rallied back to take a 2-1 lead by the 83rd minute, thanks to strikes from Federico Bernardeschi and Mark-Anthony Kaye.

But there was a cruel twist in the tale as DC’s big man up front, Christian Benteke, scored a stoppage-time equalizer in the 90th minute with a free header at the back post. The drama wasn’t done there as Ted Ku-Dipietro scored his first MLS goal in the 98th minute to ensure a capital gain of three points for the hosts.

DC United manager Wayne Rooney is familiar with comebacks from his playing days, and now it seems like he is coaching his players to emulate his past heroics on the pitch.

Team performance of the week: Almeria vs. Barcelona

When Almeria took the field against Barcelona on Sunday, all odds were stacked up against them.

The relegation-threatened team were facing the league leaders who were hoping to extend their lead at the top to 10 points, which most away fans would have thought was the likely outcome. Almeria had never won a game against the Catalans before, only managing to avoid defeat just twice in their previous 13 meetings while conceding three goals on average.

But the Andalusian club piled on the misery for Barcelona, who were already reeling from a Europa League elimination after a loss to Manchester United earlier in the week.

Almeria scored early in the 24th minute via El Bilal Touré before playing disciplined football to keep Barcelona at bay. Despite having less than 30 per cent of the possession, the home side had more shots on target than the Catalans, who were trigger-happy with their crosses to no avail.

It was a huge shock and the much-needed three points now give Almeria some breathing room, with them occupying the 15th spot in La Liga. Barça are still seven points clear of Real Madrid at the top, but it’s been a bad week.

Player of the week: Kylian Mbappé – two goals and an assist vs. Marseille

It is hard to believe Kylian Mbappé is only 24 years old.

The French goal machine was back doing what he does best when PSG played Marseille on Sunday in Ligue 1 action.

The World Cup winner scored twice and set up a third goal for Lionel Messi to complete a 3-0 crushing win during the battle of the teams in first and second in the table. The league leaders were without the injured Neymar, but they didn’t miss the Brazilian following Mbappé’s heroics.

With his double, Mbappé also equalled Edinson Cavani’s tally of 200 goals for PSG, becoming the joint-club top scorer in the club’s history.

The Frenchman is in the form of his life after netting a brace during PSG’s previous Ligue 1 game against Lille. With the Champions League second-leg game against Bayern Munich around the corner, the Germans will already be struggling with thoughts of how to keep him quiet again, after holding him to a goalless cameo in the first leg.

Honourable mention: Lionel Messi – two assists and a goal vs. Marseille

Playing as a second striker along with Mbappé, Lionel Messi took a stroll in the park against Marseille, returning two assists and a goal in the process. He set up both goals for Mbappé, before the Golden Boy returned the favour. With Messi’s strike, the Argentinian joined Cristiano Ronaldo to become only the second player to reach 700 club goals. 

Goal of the week: Ángel Di María vs. Nantes

Scorer of goals in World Cup and UEFA Champions League finals, Ángel Di María doesn’t need to be told twice to show up when his team needs him in a big game.

So, when Juventus faced Nantes in the second leg of the Europa League round of 32 game, the Argentinian scored not one, not two, but three goals. And that included an absolute scorcher.

Just five minutes into the game, Di María received the ball at the edge of the box. With no hesitation, he curled the ball into the back of the net with his first touch, leaving the defence as mere ballwatchers.

Even at 35, he is a vital cog in the Old Lady’s attack and every now and then, he still has the ability to wave his wand and score worldies at will.

Moment of the week: Manchester United win their first trophy in 6 years

“Maybe it was a risk, but I am stubborn… This is the club for me.”

Those were the words used by Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag during the post-match press conference after winning the Carabao Cup on Sunday.

When the Dutchman started his Old Trafford reign with two Premier League losses against Brighton and Brentford, he had swords at his neck with all the criticism. But what followed was harsh decisions, some great coaching, and a complete overhaul of the club’s outlook from the last few years.

And, on Sunday, Ten Hag’s Red Devils reaped the reward of his early management, ending a six-year trophy drought when they defeated Newcastle United to lift the Carabao Cup.

First-half goals from Casemiro and Marcus Rashford (of course) were enough for United to win their 67th trophy in English football.

The only European club still alive in four competitions before this weekend, United have three more trophies to play for But, more importantly, the Red Devils might just finally be back.

Honourable mention: St Louis City SC winning their first-ever MLS game

2023’s expansion side St Louis City SC were facing a mountain of a challenge in their first-ever MLS game, travelling to Austin FC, one of the favourites to win the MLS Cup. But the new expansion team stunned the hosts, winning 3-2 thanks to an 86th-minute goal from João Klauss. A promising start for the debutants!