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What goes around, comes around.

Such was the case this weekend in the wide world of soccer, more specifically in La Liga, whose refusal to use technology came back to bite them in the rear end, and for Borussia Dortmund, who suffered another stunning blow but keep hanging on to a lost cause.

Phantom goals, epic choke jobs, rainy come backs, and much more in this weekend’s edition of 90 Minutes’ Top Five.

1. Phantom goal sighting

Remember Frank Lampard’s “goal” against Germany in the 2010 World Cup?

The ghost of that infamous non-call returned in Valencia Sunday during the local’s 1-1 draw with Barcelona. This time, it was Lionel Messi whose first-half shot clearly bounced over the line (pictured below), but referee Ignacio Iglesias Villanueva failed to signal the score, instead allowing play to continue as if the ball never crossed the goal line. What about goal line technology? Oh yeah, La Liga doesn’t have it or VAR for that matter, unlike its counterparts in England, Germany, and Italy. The league has officially announced the VAR system will be implemented starting next season. But the fact that such a high-profile competition has refused to adopt any form of technology in 2017 is nothing short of dumbfounding.

Yes, VAR has been criticized in other countries, but it is undeniable that the system -along with goal line technology- is a necessity across world soccer. Messi’s phantom goal is just another case for it.

 
 

2. Bosz on borrowed time

The headline may sound old and repetitive on November 26, but it’s a notion that is more true now than ever.

Peter Bosz’s Borussia Dortmund jumped to a blazing 4-0 lead within the first 25 minutes of Saturday’s Ruhr derby against rival Schalke 04. By the end of the match, Schalke had incredibly crawled out of the abyss to come back and tie the game at 4-4, conquering such a feat for the first time in 41 years in Bundesliga. Naturally, the home faithful reacted with insults and debris hurled from the stand on to the stunned Dortmund players, as Bosz flashed a now-habitual concerned face. Even more incredibly, Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke backed Bosz to remain at the helm despite blowing a four-goal lead.

The fact that this latest disaster wasn’t the last straw is beyond inexplicable. At some point, sooner or later, the club must realize there’s no saving this failed season.

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DORTMUND, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 25: jc Domenico Tedesco of Schalke and Evgen Konoplyanka celebrate after the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and FC Schalke 04 at Signal Iduna Park on November 25, 2017 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Bongarts/Getty Images)
DORTMUND, GERMANY – NOVEMBER 25: jc Domenico Tedesco of Schalke and Evgen Konoplyanka celebrate after the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and FC Schalke 04 at Signal Iduna Park on November 25, 2017 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Bongarts/Getty Images)

3. Flashes of humanity

After all, Bayern Munich is, indeed, a team prone of losing, too.

Jupp Heynckes’ side suffered its first loss since the 72-year-old took over in October. As Heynckes himself put it, a bad first half cost Bayern the entire match, uncharacteristically unable to create much offense despite controlling possession overwhelmingly. Gladbach was able to build a two-goal lead by halftime, and it was enough to hang on despite an improvement by Bayern, which eventually led to Arturo Vidal’s late score. Despite the loss, there’s no reason for Bayern fans to be concerned whatsoever. This team just ended a five-match winning streak as part of an 10-game undefeated streak, the entirety of Heynckes’ stint so far.

It’s not the first flash of underwhelming soccer since Heynckes, either, taking into account the recent Anderlecht and Celtic matches, but it is undeniable that the team has transformed into the juggernaut we’ve becomed accustomed to.

MOENCHENGLADBACH, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 25: Corentin Tolisso of Bayern Muenchen (L-R), Javi Martinez, Kwasi Okyere Wriedt and Arturo Vidal leave the pitch after the Bundesliga match between Borussia Moenchengladbach and FC Bayern Muenchen at Borussia-Park on November 25, 2017 in Moenchengladbach, Germany. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Bongarts/Getty Images)
MOENCHENGLADBACH, GERMANY – NOVEMBER 25: Corentin Tolisso of Bayern Muenchen (L-R), Javi Martinez, Kwasi Okyere Wriedt and Arturo Vidal leave the pitch after the Bundesliga match between Borussia Moenchengladbach and FC Bayern Muenchen at Borussia-Park on November 25, 2017 in Moenchengladbach, Germany. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Bongarts/Getty Images)

4. City’s league for the taking

What else can Manchester City do to prove its superiority in the Premier League?

The latest demonstration came on Sunday at Kirklees Stadium in a come back effort against the ever-tough Huddersfield Town. What makes this latest victory remarkable is that the elements that made people in the English soccer community skeptical about Pep Guardiola’s ability to adapt and win in the Premier League were at full display: a road match at a tough venue in rough weather conditions against a tactically solid team that went ahead on the scoreboard thanks to an own goal. And once again, the Spaniard and his Manchester City side prevailed. The gap with rivals Manchester United remains at eight points, but most significant, City is still undefeated, winning 12 of 13 league matches, and one pace for the best season in Premier League history.

Are we witnessing the new version of the Premier League “invincibles?” Three months into the season, it’s looking more and more like it.

Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola (2nd L) celebrates with his players on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Huddersfield Town and Manchester City at the John Smith's stadium in Huddersfield, northern England on November 26, 2017. Manchester City won the game 2-1. / AFP PHOTO / Oli SCARFF / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images)
Manchester City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola (2nd L) celebrates with his players on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Huddersfield Town and Manchester City at the John Smith’s stadium in Huddersfield, northern England on November 26, 2017.
Manchester City won the game 2-1. / AFP PHOTO / Oli SCARFF / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images)

5. From Mexico with love

The free kick goal make a return this weekend, courtesy of Real Betis’ Andres Guardado, who whipped out a beautiful left-footed curler from the edge of the box in Betis’ 2-2 with Girona on Saturday to earn himself this weekend’s Top Five Goal of the Weekend.