Weekend Overview: Are Liverpool Metropolis's large risk? Mbappé ends LaLiga drought

Manchester United have grown accustomed to disappointment, however so lopsided was their 3-0 defeat to Liverpool at Outdated Trafford on Sunday that the query should now be requested whether or not their fiercest rivals are, actually, the closest competitors to that seemingly unbeatable outfit throughout city: Manchester City.

Whereas the champions of the Premier League continued their good kind, the Bundesliga‘s incumbents had a much less nice Saturday. Bayer Leverkusen‘s 35-match unbeaten run in league play got here to a screeching halt on simply Matchday 2, falling 3-2 to RB Leipzig on Saturday.

In LaLiga, Real Madrid picked up their second victory of the fledgling season, topping Real Betis in a tense 2-0 win, however of extra significance was a sure Kylian Mbappé ending his 333-minute scoring drought within the league. With Los Blancos already 4 factors behind league-leading Barcelona after simply 4 matches, they’re going to be hoping there’s lots extra to come back from their brand-new Galactico.

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

Premier League

High takeaway: Are Liverpool Metropolis’s nearest challengers?

In Mikel Arteta’s personal phrases, to catch Manchester Metropolis this 12 months, you are going to should be practically good. Properly, 4 matches in, and Arsenal have had a small stumble, Manchester United have by some means discovered themselves on the foot of the mountain, whereas Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have not but discovered any consistency. That leaves Liverpool as the one good crew after three matches — their newest win at Outdated Trafford on Sunday a lesson in executing a recreation plan with precision and ruthlessness. Their transition from Jürgen Klopp to Arne Slot has been practically flawless, with Ryan Gravenberch a revelation at No. 6.

For Arsenal, though drawing with good Brighton & Hove Albion is not at all a humiliation, they did not navigate Declan Rice‘s silly purple card and dropped key factors (you’re feeling they’ve to choose up most factors at house to catch Metropolis). For United, their points round defensive organisation don’t appear to have been remotely solved within the offseason.

Liverpool are left because the near-perfect challengers, however anybody who has aspirations of knocking over Metropolis may have seen how good they’re at adapting and managing issue. That appears to be one facet of the sport the place they’re forward of the remainder. They’ve in-built resilience and flexibility. No Rodri? No downside. Three from three, and Pep Guardiola’s crew’s kind is ominous.

Greatest match: Everton vs. Bournemouth

With 85 minutes gone at Goodison Park on Saturday and Everton two targets to the great towards Bournemouth, it simple for Sean Dyche’s crew and a little bit little bit of stress off his shoulders. They’d dominated the Cherries, carved out some nice probabilities, and have been within the driving seat. Then Bournemouth grabbed one again by means of Antoine Semenyo within the 87th minute, Lewis Cook headed house an excellent equaliser within the second minute of added time — having been left unmarked — and with the Toffees rattled, it was all Bournemouth. Jordan Pickford pulled off two good saves, however could not cease Luis Sinisterra scoring a 96th-minute winner.

It will make for brutal evaluation for Everton, however you need to give credit score to Andoni Iraola’s crew for the best way they carved out that comeback. Poor Everton, although, they can not catch a break and have zero factors from their first three matches.

Greatest aim: Bellegarde at Wolves

Nicolas Jackson‘s aim for Chelsea off the again of a speedy counterattack was fantastically labored, Eberechi Eze‘s equaliser for Crystal Palace in the identical match was a beaut, whereas Yukinari Sugawara‘s comfort was a candy strike, however the very best aim of the weekend was in Nottingham Forest‘s 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

After Chris Wood opened the scoring, Wolves looked for a solution, and it got here from a second of brilliance from Jean-Ricner Bellegarde. He collected the ball on the sting of the world, teed himself up, after which smashed a phenomenal, looping strike previous Matz Sels. An impressive aim.

A STRIKE AND A HALF. 🚀

Jean-Ricner Bellegarde ranges it for Wolves towards Nottingham Forest with an absolute BELTER.

📺 Peacock | #NFOWOL pic.twitter.com/FT3s1sOffq

— NBC Sports activities Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) August 31, 2024

MVP of the weekend: Haaland

Erling Haaland‘s hat-trick statistics are horrifying. He is already grabbed eight in little greater than two seasons, which places him equal fourth general within the Premier League tally. He is 4 off equalling Sergio Agüero on the high on 12, three off Alan Shearer’s 11 and one behind Robbie Fowler’s 9. He is additionally degree with Thierry Henry, Harry Kane, Michael Owen and one forward of Wayne Rooney.

He is exhibiting no indicators of slowing down, both, together with his price at present at one hat trick per 9 matches (Agüero was one per 23, Shearer one per 40, Fowler one per 42 matches). He’ll absolutely smash the document (maybe this season contemplating he already has two hat methods in as many matches) however on a weekend when Mohamed Salah was distinctive, full with that ambiguous message over his future, it is nonetheless Haaland taking the headlines. — Tom Hamilton

LaLiga

High takeaway: Mbappé ends LaLiga drought

You wait 4 video games for one after which two Mbappé targets arrive without delay. Actual Madrid’s new star signing had failed to attain in his facet’s opening three LaLiga matches however he lastly corrected that on the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday because the reigning champions beat Actual Betis 2-0 to safe a much-needed three factors — even at this early stage of the season. Early pace-setters Barcelona’s 7-0 win over Real Valladolid on Saturday had moved them seven factors away from Madrid. After attracts towards Mallorca and Las Palmas, with Jude Bellingham out injured, Mbappé scoreless in Spain and Vinícius Júnior struggling to search out high kind, the stress was on Los Blancos to ship towards Betis.

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Kylian Mbappe shakes off sluggish begin with brace for Actual Madrid

Kylian Mbappe opens his La Liga account as he scores each targets in a 2-0 win for Actual Madrid over Actual Betis.

Madrid have been pissed off for big components of the night time however they ultimately discovered a means by means of within the 67th minute. Mbappé latched onto an excellent Federico Valverde move to open the scoring and his LaLiga account. The celebration featured extra aid than he would have maybe imagined when he visualised his first Bernabéu aim after becoming a member of on a free switch from Paris Saint-Germain this summer season. The await his first aim ended at 333 minutes. His second arrived eight minutes later. Vinícius was fouled by goalkeeper Rui Silva and Mbappé buried the penalty.

The targets will quieten the questions that had been requested concerning the compatibility of Madrid’s new Galacticos. There stays room for enchancment, thoughts, heading into the worldwide break and coach Carlo Ancelotti nonetheless has work to do to get the very best out of Mbappé, Vinicius, Rodrygo and, when he is again, Bellingham on a extra constant foundation. He has loads of time on his fingers, although, and Mbappé’s brace ought to settle the France captain when he returns from Les Bleus obligation for a troublesome journey to Real Sociedad on Sept. 14.

Greatest match: Osasuna vs. Celta

Celta Vigo often is the crew to look at in Spain this season. They have been crushed 3-2 by Osasuna in one other thrillingly open recreation full of targets. That is 19 in 4 Celta matches to date. They’ve scored 10 of them. Solely Barcelona (13) have scored extra.

Greatest aim: Raphinha vs. Valladolid

The fantastic thing about Raphinha’s third aim towards Actual Valladolid was within the help. Lamine Yamal led a blistering Barcelona counter, deceiving Valladolid defenders as he carried the ball from his personal half into the ultimate third. Simply when it appeared like he would use Dani Olmo to his left, he noticed a move to Raphinha by means of the center that nobody else had seen. The Brazilian did the remainder.

HAT TRICK FOR RAPHINHA ‼️

INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCE 🎩 pic.twitter.com/iBpQBgl3xZ

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) August 31, 2024

MVP of the weekend: Raphinha

After scoring the primary hat trick of his profession, it must be Raphinha. After a summer season during which Barça have been linked with signing a left winger, his efficiency additionally got here with a message because the Catalans made it 4 wins from 4 in the beginning of the marketing campaign: “This exhibits we do not want any new signings,” he mentioned after. The primary aim was brilliantly taken, he was in the suitable spot on the proper time for his second and he accomplished his treble after an excellent Yamal run.

He has been one of many stars of Barça’s tremendous begin to the season, urgent with depth but additionally including high quality with the ball. “He is been incredible,” coach Hansi Flick mentioned. Not incredible sufficient, although, to be referred to as up by Brazil. He’ll get pleasure from a well-earned relaxation through the worldwide break. — Sam Marsden

Bundesliga

High takeaway: Leipzig finish Leverkusen’s unbeaten run

For the primary time in 15 months, Bayer Leverkusen have misplaced a Bundesliga recreation. After an unbelievable unbeaten run of 35 matches, Xabi Alonso and his gamers might have thought they have been invincible, however RB Leipzig reminded them of their vulnerability on Saturday with a 3-2 upset on the BayArena. Trailing 2-0 within the forty fifth minute, away from house towards the reigning champions, turning that scoreline round is an unbelievable accomplishment for the Crimson Bull-backed membership.

Loïs Openda had two photographs and scored two targets. His teammates mixed for six extra photographs and one other aim. Leipzig have been typically dominated by the house facet, routinely beneath stress, and Péter Gulácsi needed to conjure miracles at instances in aim (Leverkusen registered 26 photographs, 10 heading in the right direction, drawing eight saves from the Hungary No. 1), however their verticality devastating counterattack have been an excessive amount of for the defending champions.

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How the ‘magic ran out’ for Bayer Leverkusen within the Bundesliga

Alejandro Moreno reacts to RB Leipzig ending Bayer Leverkusen’s 35-game unbeaten streak within the Bundesliga.

For all of the instances when “Laterkusen” have roared again seemingly from the useless to grab wins and factors all through the previous 12 months, this time it was they who coughed up a late lead and conceded a winner within the final 10 minutes. The unbeaten run was by no means going to final one other full season, however not many would have guess on such an early stumble. Time will inform if it portends extra to come back.

Greatest match: Stuttgart vs. Mainz

VfB Stuttgart have been enjoyable to look at final season, and that hasn’t modified. Their 3-3 draw towards Mainz at house on Saturday was a rollercoaster of feelings. The hosts have been 2-0 up inside quarter-hour earlier than conceding twice within the second half, then they led once more within the 88th minute solely to drop two factors within the 94th.

Greatest aim: Arnold at Kiel

Maximilian Arnold has arguably the very best left foot within the Bundesliga and is a grasp of set items. We noticed it once more on Saturday, when the VfL Wolfsburg captain scored a phenomenal free kick to open the scoring at Holstein Kiel. He has executed it so many instances all through his profession that it hardly comes as a shock anymore.

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Maximilian Arnold scores within the 27′

Maximilian Arnold scores within the 27′

MVP of the weekend: Openda

It’s onerous to look outdoors Openda, the Leipzig striker scoring a brace to beat Leverkusen. After 24 targets in 34 appearances final season, his first one within the Bundesliga after arriving in the summertime from Lens, the Belgium worldwide, who was pissed off after not scoring towards VfL Bochum within the opening recreation of the season final weekend, has two in two already this marketing campaign. — Julien Laurens

What else you missed this weekend

Lukaku’s tremendous begin in Napoli

Romelu Lukaku‘s switch to Napoli from Chelsea has been one of many sagas of the summer season, so his debut for the 2023 Italian champions towards Parma in Naples on Saturday night time was extremely anticipated . It did not disappoint. The 31-year-old Belgian striker got here on after an hour to degree the rating within the 92nd minute, 4 minutes earlier than Frank Zambo-Anguissa netted the winner. — Laurens

Wrexham preserve shining in League One

A few steps beneath England‘s high desk, Birmingham turned League One on its head with their switch deadline day recruitment of Fulham ahead Jay Stansfield. Studies put the charge at £15 million with potential add-ons taking it to £20m — for comparability, that is greater than Liverpool spent to signal Federico Chiesa from Juventus. So you’ll be able to think about how the remainder of the groups really feel, even Wrexham, who’re after all bankrolled by Hollywood A-listers, however up to now, their document switch is across the £350,000 to £500,000 they splashed out on midfielder Ollie Rathbone.

After back-to-back promotions, this might be a season of consolidation, however Wrexham are effervescent properly. They’re unbeaten after 4 matches on ten factors, their newest win seeing them triumph 2-0 at Peterborough on Saturday. Each targets have been nicely labored — the primary a pleasant crew transfer to tee up Jack Marriott, whose deflected shot opened issues up, and their second a well-executed nook for Max Cleworth to go house. Peterborough had their probabilities however have been wayward, so might or not it’s three promotions on the trot? An extended option to go, however Wrexham have made a promising begin to life in League One the place for as soon as, they don’t seem to be the massive canine. — Hamilton

Celtic hammer Rangers in Outdated Agency

It is already wanting ominous for any facet not named Celtic within the Scottish Premiership. They laid down a marker within the Outdated Agency on Sunday by hammering Rangers 3-0 to make it 4 wins from 4 as they aim a thirteenth title in 14 years. Aberdeen even have most factors after 4 video games, however even at this early stage it is onerous to see anybody stopping Brendan Rodgers’ Hoops, who’ve already scored 12 targets and conceded none. — Marsden

Gyökeres making his mark in Lisbon

The switch window has solely simply closed, however if you wish to do some scouting forward of it reopening in January, then preserve your eyes on Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyökeres. He scored a penalty in Sporting’s 2-0 win over Porto within the largest recreation in Portugal this weekend. Each groups had received all three of their opening video games, but it surely was the Gyökeres-led Sporting, who received the league final 12 months, who prevailed in Lisbon. The Sweden worldwide netted 43 instances in all competitions final season and already has seven in 4 league video games this 12 months. Any European facet in want of a No. 9 come the brand new 12 months shall be monitoring him. — Marsden