PREMIER LEAGUE (HIGHLIGHTS)
Only one point separates the top six after six matches. City took some long overdue revenge at Stamford Bridge with Gabriel Jesus netting the only goal of the game. New boys Brentford stunned Liverpool by twice coming from behind to claim a point, whilst Man United followed up a disappointing 1-0 home defeat in the cup to West Ham with a 1-0 home defeat to Villa, including a shocking penalty miss from Fernandes. So much for the Ronaldo effect. Everton continued the Canaries’ dismal run of form with a comfortable 2-0 win, and Brighton missed a chance to go top but did salvage a last second point through Neal Maupay at Palace in the A23 derby. Antonio was also on target late on for West Ham, who won 2-1 at Leeds, and a late second goal from Jamie Vardy secured the Foxes a point from their tie with the Clarets. Arsenal have already caught up with lifeless Spurs after handing out an NLD pasting, having been at opposite poles of the table just three games ago. Elsewhere, Raul Jimenez got his first goal since returning from his head injury in a win for Wolves at Saints, while Watford and Newcastle drew 1-1.
LA LIGA (WEEK 6 / WEEK 7)
Real remain top after taking apart Mallorca and being held by Villarreal, but things are wide open in Spain after Atletico were finally caught out by an Alaves side recording their first win. Sociedad and Sevilla took full advantage, both taking six points from six to sit second and third. Falcao has been reborn at Rayo, with the edgy capital club now in fifth after taking a remarkable 13 points from their last 15. Barca looked better in a 3-0 win over Levante, but only after they dropped yet more points in a draw with Cadiz. Betis and Celta were the most notable climbers lower down the table thanks to two wins apiece, but Mallorca, Elche, Granada and Levante finished the week empty handed. Getafe are pointless after seven games.
SERIE A (WEEK 5 / WEEK 6)
I said it last week and I’ll say it again. This could be Napoli’s year. Victor Osimhen is unplayable at the moment, scoring three in the Azzurri’s two victories this week that maintained their 100% start. The Rossoneri are right on their heels after their own two wins, which included a debut strike from Daniel Maldini, who has a rather famous father that used to play for Milan himself. The two Nerazzurri played out a hugely eventful 2-2 with a missed penalty and disallowed goal at the death, while Lazio took the capital derby with a comfortable 3-2 win over Roma, who are now stuttering after their fast start under Mourinho. Implosion incoming. Juventus finally got their first two wins of the season this week, but they made awfully hard work of it with 3-2 wins over Spezia and Samp. Salernitana and Cagliari have only taken 1 point from the last 15 to sit at the bottom of the table with Venezia and Spezia just a couple of points ahead. Genoa and Verona, who played out a memorable 3-3 have just one point more than them.
BUNDESLIGA (HIGHLIGHTS)
Lewandowski finally failed to score, but Bayern are already in cruise control, winning 3-1 at bottom side Furth, who look highly likely to be relegated. Wolfsburg slipped up again, as Andrej Kramaric got his first league goal of the season in a 3-1 home win for Hoffenheim. Dortmund were stopped 1-0 in the Borussengipfel by a Monchengladbach finding the form that had deserted them thus far. Wunderkind Florian Wirtz scored in a fifth match in a row to take Bayer second in victory over Mainz. Freiburg bade farewell to the Dreisam Stadion with a 3-0 home win over Augsburg that left coach Christian Streich in tears, and Leipzig returned to form with a 6-0 thrashing of Hertha. Elsewhere, Union defeated Arminia 1-0, Frankfurt drew 1-1 with the Effzee, and Bochum Stuttgart finished goalless.
LIGUE 1 (WEEK 7 / WEEK 8)
Eight wins from eight for PSG with more last minute goals. Yawn. Lens are nine points behind in second after the Blood and Gold shocked third-placed Marseille at the Velodrome 3-2 following a surprise setback against Strasbourg. The Moustoir fortress remained impregnable as sixth-placed Lorient saw off fourth-placed Nice, who then bounced back against a Saint-Etienne side rooted to the bottom after five consecutive defeats. There are signs of life from the other big clubs, as Lille and Monaco both won their two matches. Lyon may have done the same had it not been for an early red card against Lorient. Brest and Metz complete the bottom three with Saint Etienne, but new boys Clermont and Troyes seem to be heading in their general direction.
