Weekend Evaluate: Pulisic lights up Milan derby, Haaland reaches 100 objectives

One other topsy-turvy weekend of European soccer motion is within the books, with Christian Pulisic instrumental as AC Milan pipped Internazionale 2-1 within the Derby della Madonnina. His aim, mixed with Matteo Gabbia‘s late header, secured an important victory for Milan, easing stress on supervisor Paulo Fonseca and ending Milan’s six-game shedding streak within the rivalry.

Within the Premier League, Manchester City‘s feisty 2-2 draw with Arsenal noticed Erling Haaland notch his one hundredth aim for Pep Guardiola’s facet. Aston Villa‘s 3-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers was a terrific sport, whereas Darwin Núñez added one other worldie to his spotlight reel.

LaLiga noticed Atlético Madrid drop factors in a 1-1 draw towards Rayo Vallecano, falling additional away from Barcelona and Real Madrid within the course of. In Germany, VfB Stuttgart thrashed Borussia Dortmund 5-1, growing stress on new coach Nuri Sahin, whereas Schalke 04 sacked yet one more supervisor after a poor begin within the German second division.

What else occurred round Europe this weekend? ESPN’s Weekend Evaluate places a bow on all of the continental competitors.

Prime takeaway: Haaland the centurion

On high of watching a Manchester Metropolis-Arsenal match for the ages, with so much controversy and talking points, it was additionally a special occasion for Erling Haaland. The Metropolis striker scored his one hundredth aim for the membership in all competitions, in simply his a hundred and fifth look.

It is an unbelievable achievement solely matched by one Cristiano Ronaldo, who put up precisely the identical numbers at Actual Madrid. Haaland is minimize from the identical material than the Portugal legend. Time will inform if he’ll attain the identical heights however, at 24, Haaland is actually already writing his personal historical past at Metropolis and within the Premier League.

The Norway striker’s aim towards Arsenal, his first in 4 video games towards them, is already his tenth this season — in simply 5 league matches. What number of will he have on the finish of the marketing campaign? Can he beat his personal Premier League file of 36 objectives netted in 35 matches two seasons in the past? That is the problem.

Greatest match: Aston Villa 3-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers

Actually, the reply is Manchester Metropolis-Arsenal however as a result of now we have already addressed it, let’s change to Aston Villa-Wolves as a result of with the Villains this season, it is by no means boring. After getting back from two objectives down towards Everton final week, Unai Emery and his gamers overcame a one aim deficit in Saturday’s derby towards Wolves, scoring three objectives within the final quarter-hour of the sport.

Emery’s adjustments and ways labored a deal with. Jhon Durán commented his super-sub standing (4 objectives off the bench in 5 league video games this season), whereas Ollie Watkins scored once more, and Morgan Rogers confirmed why the long run is so vibrant for him.

Greatest aim: Darwin makes the troublesome look simple

It may very well be Riccardo Calafiori‘s superb strike or Ezri Konsa‘s spectacular end, however Darwin Nunez is the winner this week. The Liverpool striker began his first sport of the season and scored a magnificence. First his flick in direction of Mohamed Salah for the one-two, after which coming inside onto his left (and flawed) foot to curve an ideal shot into Kepa Arrizabalaga‘s aim. As soon as once more, the Uruguay worldwide made a troublesome talent and aim look simple. It is a disgrace that he’s not as medical with simpler probabilities.

Each angle. On repeat. 🔁 pic.twitter.com/zalt2ohwKi

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 22, 2024

MVP of the weekend: Nicolas Jackson

This one just isn’t even shut! Jackson was excellent for Chelsea on Saturday lunch time at West Ham United. Two objectives with two medical finishes, one help for Cole Palmer, one other large likelihood created for his No. 10, he was a relentless risk for the Hammers defence. The previous Villarreal man confirmed his actually good type of the second. It isn’t good, and he nonetheless misses some probabilities, however he’s getting higher sport by sport. — Julien Laurens

Prime takeaway: Gallagher scores, however Atléti lose floor

Conor Gallagher struck for the second time since becoming a member of Atlético from Chelsea in the summertime, however the England midfielder’s aim was solely sufficient to rescue a 1-1 draw towards Rayo Vallecano on Sunday. Atléti stay unbeaten by means of six LaLiga video games this season, though three of these have now led to stalemates they usually misplaced floor on Barcelona and Actual Madrid this weekend, two groups who had been bailed out by their stars.

Braces from Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha helped Barça to a 5-1 win at Villarreal, however there have been moments when the house facet, unbeaten in LaLiga earlier than this sport week, regarded able to claiming a degree. Barça’s win was tainted by a doubtlessly season-ending damage to goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen. It’s the newest in a string of damage setbacks suffered by the Catalan membership, however, up to now, they’ve overcome most hurdles positioned in entrance of them beneath new coach Hansi Flick.

“The staff has good character,” Flick stated after the victory. “The angle is unbelievably good. I find it irresistible, day-after-day, the combination between very centered and in addition having fun with enjoying soccer. That is what we like.”

After registering six wins of their first six league video games, Barça have a four-point lead on the high of the desk, away from a Actual Madrid facet who needed to come from behind to beat Espanyol 4-1 on Saturday because of the affect of Vinícius Junior off the bench within the second half. Of Madrid’s 13 league objectives this season, only one has come within the first half, however they continue to be unbeaten in 38 LaLiga video games and are closing in on Barça’s league file of 43.

Atlético, in the meantime, at the moment are fourth, six factors adrift of Barça and two factors again from Madrid, who they host subsequent weekend within the Madrid derby on the Cívitas Metropolitano.

Greatest match: Villarreal 1-5 Barcelona

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What’s behind Barcelona’s good begin to LaLiga?

Luis García explains how Barcelona have progressed since final season after their 5-1 win over Villarreal.

Barça’s successful margin at Villarreal solely tells half the story. Villarreal greater than performed their half in an exhilarating, end-to-end sport which might simply have ended 6-4. Marcelino’s facet had three objectives dominated out for marginal offsides, thumped the bar and regarded able to getting again into the sport till Raphinha’s brace sealed the factors for Barça, who additionally missed a penalty by means of Lewandowski. That the sport was such an entertaining affair ought to come as no shock: Barça gained 4-3 on the Estadio de la Cerámica final season and Villarreal gained 5-3 on the Olympic Stadium.

Greatest aim: Lukebakio curls one in

In a weekend of fine objectives however not nice ones, Dodi Lukebakio‘s strike, coming in from the appropriate wing and bending into the highest nook, was maybe the decide of the bunch. Sadly, for Sevilla, it meant nothing as they had been overwhelmed 2-1 by Alavés to depart them only one level above the relegation zone after one win in six video games. New coach García Pimienta is already beneath stress.

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Dodi Lukébakio will get on the scoresheet for Sevilla

Dodi Lukébakio will get on the scoresheet for Sevilla

MVP of the weekend: Vinícius Júnior

When Vinícius got here on within the fifty fifth minute on Saturday, Madrid trailed Espanyol 1-0 on the Santiago Bernabéu. What adopted was a cameo which proved his price to the staff — as if it was wanted. An excellent help with the skin of his boot arrange a aim for Rodrygo, and he then discovered the online himself, latching on to a Kylian Mbappé through-ball as Los Blancos racked up an enormous win. — Sam Marsden

Prime takeaway: Sahin beneath early stress

Each Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund went into this marketing campaign hoping that they’d flip issues round from the final season, the place they, for probably the most half, underdelivered. Whereas Bayern beneath Vincent Kompany stay unbeaten and have scored 29 objectives within the first six video games of the season — a brand new file for a Bayern supervisor — Dortmund suffered an enormous setback on Sunday.

The Black-and-Yellows misplaced 5-1 to VfB Stuttgart. Beforehand, gamers and officers had been involved with the best way the staff performed towards the likes of Bayer Leverkusen and Stuttgart through the 2023-24 season. A lot of the blame was placed on earlier boss Edin Terzic, but it surely’s now his successor, Nuri Sahin, who will face important criticism for Sunday’s humiliating outcome.

Greatest match: Bayer Leverkusen 4-3 VfL Wolfsburg

Sunday’s sport between Leverkusen and Wolfsburg rapidly changed into an thrilling back-and-forth affair. Wolfsburg had been, considerably surprisingly, main 3-2 at half-time. However Ralph Hasenhuttl’s facet grew to become the newest sufferer of Leverkusen’s comeback qualities. After scoring the equalizer within the forty ninth minute, the Werkself had been in a position to safe one other win in stoppage time because of Victor Boniface.

Greatest aim: Doan unleashes unstoppable strike

Freiburg beat Heidenheim 3-0 on Saturday, with Ritsu Doan scoring an absolute screamer for the lead within the 54th minute. The Japan worldwide obtained the ball from Eren Dinkci on the wing earlier than transferring in direction of the center the place Doan managed to shoot the ball from the sting of the penalty space completely, with the ball hitting the within of the put up.

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Ritsu Doan will get on the scoresheet for SC Freiburg

Ritsu Doan will get on the scoresheet for SC Freiburg

MVP of the weekend: Enzo Millot

France youth worldwide Millot shone in Stuttgart’s 5-1 win over Dortmund on Sunday. He scored Stuttgart’s third aim of the day and assisted one other two objectives. After a barely unlucky efficiency towards Actual Madrid within the Champions League, as Millot missed just a few main alternatives to attain at Santiago Bernabeu, the playmaker was a significant factor in Stuttgart’s destruction of Dortmund. — Constantin Eckner

What else you missed this weekend

Milan triumph in Derby della Madonnina

There was drama within the Milan derby as Matteo Gabbia’s late header earned AC Milan a shock 2-1 win towards reigning Serie A champions Inter Milan on Sunday. United States worldwide Christian Pulisic had given Milan an early lead on the San Siro however Federico Dimarco‘s aim drew Inter, who had been the house facet, degree earlier than the break. Nevertheless, Simone Inzaghi’s staff did not kick on as anticipated within the second half, setting the stage for Gabbia’s 89th-minute winner to ease the stress on Paulo Fonseca.

With only one win in 5 video games in all competitions this season, there had even been hypothesis that Fonseca, appointed in the summertime, might lose his job if Milan’s six-game shedding streak within the Derby della Madonnina was prolonged on Sunday. As an alternative, the Rossoneri at the moment are degree with Inter on eight factors after 5 video games, with simply three factors separating leaders Torino from the 2 Milan sides in sixth and seventh. Juventus and Napoli are among the many groups wedged within the center after enjoying out a dour goalless draw on Saturday. — Marsden

Sorry Schalke sack one other boss

Schalke 04 have sacked their supervisor as soon as once more. After a disastrous begin with solely two wins in seven video games throughout competitions, Schalke determined to half methods with supervisor Karel Geraerts and sporting director Marc Wilmots. Geraerts, who had beforehand coached Union SG within the Belgian Pro League, was employed in October of final yr to develop a staff that might obtain the promotion to the Bundesliga. However proper now, the second largest membership in Germany by way of the membership base is wallowing in 16th place in the second division.

One other unsuccessful yr within the second tier of German soccer could harm Schalke considerably financially. On the similar time, after yet one more managerial change, the eighth since 2021, Schalke’s board is beneath stress to search out somebody who is offered, inexpensive and in a position to construct a promising staff with restricted assets. — Eckner

Galatasaray hand Mourinho his first derby defeat

Fenerbahce and Galatasaray will face off in lots extra Istanbul derbies this season however, if they’re all like the primary one of many marketing campaign on Saturday, we’re in for a deal with.

First, the array of former stars on show was one thing else: Edin Dzeko, Fred, Allan Saint-Maximin, Dusan Tadic, Sofyan Amrabat on one facet; Victor Osimhen, Dries Mertens, Lucas Torreira and Davinson Sánchez on the opposite (to not point out Mauro Icardi and Michy Batshuayi on the bench!).

Then the sport itself was spectacular (4 objectives together with a worldie from Torreira), open (37 photographs in whole), end-to-end viewing. In the long run, Fener missed too many large probabilities and Fernando Muslera within the Gala aim was nearly unbeatable. It was a well-known 3-1 victory for the champions and a defeat for José Mourinho in his first derby since taking the managerial job at Fenerbahce. “The Particular One” was even trolled by his neighbours, who labelled him “The Crying One” on social media after the sport. Galatasaray have now gained all six of their Super Lig video games up to now this season and are already 5 factors away from their rivals. — Laurens