One other topsy-turvy weekend of soccer is within the books and a few of Europe’s high golf equipment are starting to look ominous.
Liverpool and Manchester Metropolis each eked out essential, carefully fought wins to steal a march on title-rivals Arsenal within the Premier League, whereas Actual Madrid and Barcelona each ensured that they head into subsequent week’s Clasico (Saturday, 3 p.m. ET; stream reside on ESPN+) off the again of victories.
In Serie A, Antonio Conte’s Napoli beat Empoli 1-0 to remain two factors away from Inter Milan on the high of the league, whereas in Germany it is Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig going stride-for-stride on the Bundesliga summit.
Yvan Neyou, Tim Kleindienst and John Stones all scored objective of the month contenders, however it was Harry Kane‘s hat trick in Bavaria that actually stood out.
What else did you miss round Europe this weekend? ESPN’s Julien Laurens, Sam Marsden and Constantin Eckner recap all of the motion.
Prime takeaway: Arsenal endure nightmare weekend
There could not have been a extra nightmarish weekend doable for Arsenal. Whereas title rivals Manchester Metropolis and Liverpool each gained, at Wolverhampton Wanderers and towards Chelsea, respectively, the Gunners misplaced their first sport of the season in all competitions at Bournemouth.
William Saliba was despatched off after simply half-hour, the north Londoners’ third pink card in eight league video games this season, and he’ll miss Liverpool’s journey to the capital subsequent weekend.
With out the injured Bukayo Saka, Mikel Arteta’s group by no means discovered their common rhythm with the ball, whereas Bournemouth’s environment friendly press put the guests beneath plenty of strain. Regardless of conceding two objectives after the break, Arsenal nonetheless had their probabilities to return to London with one thing to indicate for his or her efforts, Gabriel Martinelli letting slip a very engaging alternative with the match nonetheless scoreless.
After that defeat, Arsenal are actually three factors behind Metropolis and 4 behind Liverpool. Completely all the things went towards the Gunners this weekend.
Finest match: Southampton 2, Leicester 3
For a conflict between two promoted sides, we obtained an absolute deal with on Saturday. Between them, Southampton and Leicester Metropolis had solely gained as soon as this season in 10 mixed Premier League video games, the Foxes getting one of the best of Bournemouth two weeks in the past, so each groups knew how large this encounter was. The Foxes had been 2-0 down inside a half hour, they trailed by the identical margin on the hour mark, and accomplished the 3-2 comeback win within the eighth minute of second-half stoppage time. It’ll undoubtedly be a turning level of their season.
Finest objective: Stones vs. Wolves
It wasn’t essentially the most stunning of the weekend, however Stones’ winner for Manchester Metropolis at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday deserves our award for greatest objective as a result of it sealed an enormous victory. After being the hero who earned the champions a late level towards Arsenal final month, Stones gave his group three extra within the closing minute at Molineux on Sunday, a consequence Pep Guardiola’s group wanted to reap the benefits of the Gunners’ slip-up on Saturday and to maintain tempo with Liverpool.
JOHN STONES WINS IT IN THE FINAL SECONDS FOR MANCHESTER CITY. INCREDIBLE. pic.twitter.com/JsO025yDeF
— NBC Sports activities Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) October 20, 2024
MVP of the weekend: Mohamed Salah
The massive sport of the weekend between Liverpool and Chelsea did not disappoint on Sunday, regardless of a gradual begin, and there was room for just one hero: Salah. The Egypt worldwide, whose type has been a bit inconsistent currently, scored and offered a beautiful help for Curtis Jones within the Reds’ large 2-1 win. The 32-year-old ahead has now 5 objectives and 5 assists in eight Premier League matches this season to this point. — Julien Laurens
Prime takeaway: Barça’s future shining brightly
Barcelona and Actual Madrid each gained forward of the season’s first Clásico; however whereas Madrid made arduous work of beating Celta Vigo — extra on that in a second — Barça recorded a confidence-boosting 5-1 win over Sevilla. There have been two extra objectives for the league’s high scorer, Robert Lewandowski, making it 12 in 10 matches, and there have been encouraging performances from this season’s star man Raphinha and midfielder Pedri.
One of the best information of the matchday was the return from damage of Gavi, 349 days since he final performed for Barcelona. His emergence to heat up obtained the loudest cheer of the night time at Montjuic, and he was handed the captain’s armband as he took to the sphere.
The overriding sensation, as Barça celebrated Pablo Torre‘s second objective within the 88th minute, was simply how younger this group are. Torre, Pedri, Gavi, Pau Cubarsí, Alejandro Balde, Marc Casadó and Fermín López are all of their early-20s. Lamine Yamal is simply 17. Barcelona’s future is vibrant; however earlier than getting too carried away, let’s examine how they get on towards Madrid subsequent weekend.
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Barcelona thrashes Sevilla 5-1
Barcelona will get two objectives from Robert Lewandowski, a screamer by Pedri and a pair late objectives from Pablo Torre to take down Sevilla 5-1.
Finest match: Celta 1, Madrid 2
Actual Madrid’s 2-1 win over Celta Vigo had all the things: a loud ambiance at a rain-soaked Balaidos, three excellent objectives from Mbappé, Williot Swedberg and Vinícius Júnior, an age-defying cameo from Luka Modric — who created the successful objective simply three minutes after approaching instead — and an agonising, added-time miss from Celta’s Anastasios Douvikas. Madrid gained the sport, however Celta confirmed their new group, stuffed with homegrown expertise, can compete with one of the best.
Finest objective: Neyou vs. Atlético
Each Mbappé’s long-distance roller and Swedberg’s intricate group transfer for Celta — which got here after 4 first-time touches — deserve a point out, however let’s go for Yvan Neyou‘s first LaLiga objective, which put Leganés 1-0 up at Atlético Madrid on Sunday. Atlético fought again to win 3-1, however that should not undo the enjoyment of Neyou’s first-half rocket previous Jan Oblak into the highest nook.
MVP of the weekend: Iñaki Williams
Williams wanted simply two minutes, and 4 touches, to stake his declare for efficiency of the weekend in Spain. His first objective in Athletic Membership’s 4-1 victory over Espanyol at San Mamés was a masterclass in economic system of motion, turning and ending earlier than the defence had time to react. Seconds later, he had one other, thrashing the ball previous goalkeeper Joan García from an angle. Youthful brother Nico Willians will get all of the headlines, however Iñaki has by no means regarded higher. — Alex Kirkland
Prime takeaway: Title race is tight however Bayern are again
Bayern Munich had been in a little bit of a stoop earlier than the worldwide break, going winless of their earlier three video games following a formidable begin into the season, however any doubts had been put to relaxation on Saturday due to a 4-0 win over VfB Stuttgart. The guests, managed by former Bayern reserve group coach Sebastian Hoeness, wished to make an announcement at Allianz Area, however as a substitute Bayern steamrolled Stuttgart within the second half, with Kane scoring a hat trick.
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Harry Kane nets hat trick for Bayern Munich
Harry Kane will get a hat trick to guide Bayern Munich previous VfB Stuttgart.
Those that have accused Kane of failing to indicate up in huge video games might have a look at the opponent and see extra proof to help their idea, however Stuttgart had been final season’s runners-up. However, the England worldwide could be glad to have his title on the rating sheet once more having gone goalless in his three earlier video games.
Bayern are sitting on the high of the Bundesliga desk, with RB Leipzig in second place. These two groups, and probably defending champions Bayer Leverkusen, appear to have the general high quality to compete for the German championship this season. Whereas the arrival of supervisor Vincent Kompany has been a breath of contemporary air for Bayern, and the document champions have each likelihood of reclaiming their throne, they will not escape from their rivals within the title race anytime quickly.
Finest match: Gladbach 3, Heidenheim 2
Borussia Monchengladbach proceed to have a rollercoaster of a marketing campaign, and their 3-2 win over Heidenheim on Saturday was the embodiment of that. The sport at Borussia-Park become an thrilling back-and-forth, with Gladbach rising because the winners thanks to 2 objectives by Tim Kleindienst within the second half. Regardless of the three objectives or the three factors, head coach Gerardo Seoane nonetheless hasn’t managed to create the required defensive stability to guide Gladbach within the higher third of the desk.
Finest objective: Kleindienst vs. Heidenheim
Kleindienst’s first objective in Gladbach’s slim win over Heidenheim was one of many highlights of the matchday. The 29-year-old, who not too long ago made his first look for Germany, transformed a cross from Alassane Pléa with a stupendous and equally tough back-heel strike, giving Gladbach the lead over his former group.
MVP of the weekend: Harry Kane
When you rating three objectives within the marquee sport of the weekend, you have got undoubtedly earned the MVP award. Kane remains to be an elite striker, even when he doesn’t at all times have the anticipated presence in video games. For years, Bayern relied on Lewandowski to sink defences, and now they’re relying on Kane to do the identical on a relentless foundation. — Constantin Eckner
What else you missed this weekend
Resurgent Napoli lead Serie A beneath Conte
Napoli’s 1-0 win at Empoli means Antonio Conte’s group are nonetheless high of the Serie A desk, with nearest rivals Inter Milan two factors behind them due to their very own tight, 1-0 victory over AS Roma on the Stadio Olimpico. In reality, there was no change in any respect within the higher echelons of the desk, with all top-six groups recording victories, essentially the most emphatic being Fiorentina’s 6-0 thrashing of Lecce.
Napoli and Inter had been each beneath strain to ship after Juventus, in third, had edged previous Lazio a day earlier. A win for Napoli was on no account assured, provided that Juve and the Viola had each already dropped factors at Empoli this season. Conte wasn’t glad together with his group, calling them “spectators” in Sunday’s first half, however issues improved after the break, when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia‘s penalty was decisive.
Napoli completed an enormous 41 factors behind champions Inter final season. Underneath Conte, they’re now resurgent league leaders. — Kirkland
Cologne staring down one other yr in second tier
Cologne hope to solely keep for one yr within the 2. Bundesliga, however similar to Schalke and Hertha Berlin the yr earlier than, they need to realise that going up towards the steadily evolving competitors in that league can pose a severe problem for any big-name membership. The three-time German champions, who’ve been considerably damage by a switch ban imposed by FIFA, which can finish on Jan. 1, and are managed by former New York Crimson Bulls boss Gerhard Struber, misplaced 5-1 at Darmstadt on Friday.
Cologne are actually tenth within the 18-team desk. Given their defensive shortcomings, the choice makers within the Rhine metropolis might have to just accept actuality and both make a splash within the January switch market or start planning for no less than one other yr in Germany’s second division, which has grow to be the house of so lots of soccer’s fallen giants. — Eckner
