We’re heading in the direction of the tip of October and with that, the ultimate weekend of matches for the month taking place all throughout Europe. As at all times, there may be drama and pleasure inside varied storylines that transcend the ultimate scores of matches.
On Friday, we noticed Tottenham proceed their unbeaten Premier League streak beneath new supervisor Ange Postecoglou defeating Crystal Palace 2-1. On Saturday, we noticed Brentford lead a second-half cost as they defeated Chelsea 2-0 at Stamford Bridge. In Spain, Actual Madrid‘s Jude Bellingham struck twice, together with the game-winner in a 2-1 win towards Barcelona in El Clasico. Lastly in Germany, we noticed a chaotic match as Bayern Munich hit SV Darmstadt for eight targets, as Harry Kane scored one other hat trick.
On Sunday, Manchester Metropolis reiterated that town is certainly blue, after thrashing Manchester United 3-0. Liverpool loved a equally comfy scoreline of their victory over Nottingham Forest at Anfield.
Right here is your look again in any respect the enjoyable from this weekend to date.
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SUNDAY REVIEW
The Sunday lead: If Liverpool lastly have a midfield, look out
Liverpool took the sector Sunday and expended little vitality in dispatching Nottingham Forest 3-0 in a recreation that confirmed simply why Jurgen Klopp & Co. targeted their summer time enterprise on fixing that midfield. The Reds dominated proceedings from begin to end, having fun with almost 75% of possession, racking up 21 photographs to Forest’s 9 and inflicting United States keeper Matt Turner no scarcity of stress between the posts.
A lot has been written about Liverpool’s work-in-progress XI this season, as they rebound from an underwhelming marketing campaign final 12 months that noticed them end exterior the highest 4, however Sunday confirmed that they are additional alongside than their rivals would possibly suppose. Alexis Mac Allister was a succesful holding midfielder tasked with screening the again 4 and disrupting passing lanes, whereas Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch have been fixed two-way threats, successful possession in transition and at all times trying to surge upfield.
Collectively, the trio managed the center of the park and helped the house aspect guarantee there could be just one winner.
Diogo Jota opened the scoring, changing the rebound after Darwin Núñez‘s shot compelled a effective save from Turner, the ball spilling to the Portugual worldwide for a straightforward end on the half-hour mark. (Jota celebrated by holding Luis Díaz‘s shirt aloft in recognition and solidarity together with his teammate, whose mother and father have been confirmed as kidnapped of their native Colombia over the weekend.)
Núñez then doubled the hosts’ lead lower than 5 minutes later, smashing residence from shut vary after effective method play by Mohamed Salah and Szoboszlai, who discovered loads of house to take advantage of down the precise all afternoon. Salah added a 3rd with just below quarter-hour left, gleefully scoring from Turner’s error.
Discounting the dramatic Spurs defeat, Liverpool’s rebuild seems firmly on monitor, with seven wins and two attracts from their opening ten league video games. — James Tyler
Sunday speaking factors across the leagues
Historical past suggests Ten Hag could also be working out of time
Manchester United will do every thing they will to stay with Erik ten Hag because the defeats stack up this season, however the historical past books are making uncomfortable studying for the Dutchman. A prolonged damage checklist is not serving to but it surely’s now 5 defeats within the league — probably the most after 10 video games since 1986. In newer reminiscence, Jose Mourinho (in 2018-19) and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (in 2021-22) have been each sacked earlier than Christmas, however on each events, United had higher data after 10 video games than Ten Hag does now. They misplaced three of their first ten video games beneath each Mourinho in 2018-19 and Solskjaer in 2021-22, however neither supervisor lasted for much longer.
Ten Hag is not beneath stress but however questions can be requested about his determination to bench Raphaël Varane and Sergio Reguilón towards Manchester Metropolis for “tactical” causes. His substitution of Rasmus Højlund halfway by way of the second half was greeted with loud boos from the United followers inside Outdated Trafford.
After a heavy residence defeat to Metropolis, it is out of the blue a giant week for Ten Hag with a Carabao Cup tie towards Newcastle United to return on Wednesday earlier than a visit to Fulham within the Premier League on Saturday. He actually cannot afford to lose both recreation.
When Mourinho and Solskjaer began to really feel the stress, issues started to unravel in a short time, so Ten Hag must cease the bleeding as shortly as potential. United do not need to sack Ten Hag however he desperately wants a very good run of outcomes and a few constructive performances from his workforce to instil some confidence that he stays the precise man for the job. — Rob Dawson
1:40
Is Ten Hag’s Man United any higher than Solskjaer’s?
Luis Miguel Echegaray feels Manchester United are not any higher beneath Erik Ten Hag than they have been with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
‘Followers’ embarrass French soccer
Marseille vs. Lyon, the Olympico as the sport is understood in France, was speculated to be the showdown of the weekend in Ligue 1. A large recreation, a giant rivalry and an enormous event for each groups. Gennaro Gattuso’s Marseille wanted a win to proceed climbing up the desk (at the moment ninth) whereas Fabio Grosso’ Lyon, backside of the desk, wished their first win of the season.
Ultimately, nobody obtained what they wished. The Lyon bus was attacked on its method to the Stade Velodrome, with Grosso struggling facial accidents from shards of damaged glass, and the sport was cancelled and postponed.
This isn’t the primary time this kind of factor has occurred in France, sadly, and possibly not the final, sadly. These “followers” are presenting the world a horrible picture of French soccer as soon as extra, and it comes within the midst of negotiations for a brand new tv rights deal.
Embarrassed, Ligue 1 now faces tough questions because it ponders subsequent steps. Ought to it punish Marseille? Ought to Lyon be awarded the three factors? Ought to the sport even be rescheduled? And what lesson ought to the league and French soccer as an entire study from it?
In too many golf equipment, followers are uncontrollable and show unacceptable behaviour. Clearly not sufficient is being carried out as a result of shameful incidents maintain repeating themselves. — Julien Laurens
Atletico thriving out of the highlight
With Actual Madrid and Barcelona getting all the eye, particularly on a Clásico weekend, Atletico Madrid are fairly completely satisfied to maintain choosing up factors and placing collectively a quietly glorious begin to the season.
Sunday’s 2-1 win over Alavés took Atletico to 25 factors, simply three behind leaders Actual and second-placed Girona, with a recreation in hand. The consequence by no means regarded unsure from the second winger Rodrigo Riquelme put them forward within the twenty sixth minute. When Álvaro Morata made it 2-0 earlier than half-time, it was basically recreation over.
Atletico are flying. They’ve now received their previous six LaLiga video games, a run kicked off by the arrogance enhance of their 3-1 win over Actual within the Madrid derby. This newest victory was their 14th consecutive league win on the Metropolitano, a run stretching again to February that equals Atletico’s best-ever residence streak.
Riquelme’s aim was expertly taken. The teen’s expertise has by no means been in query — he shone at youth stage and in loans at Mirandés and Girona — however there have been some doubts about how a aptitude participant like him would match right into a Diego Simeone workforce. On this proof, the reply is at left wing-back.
Morata, too, deserves credit score. Antoine Griezmann‘s excellent type has obscured the truth that his often-maligned strike associate Morata is within the type of his life, with six targets in LaLiga already and 9 in all competitions. However similar to Atletico as an entire, Morata may be higher off doing his job out of the highlight. — Alex Kirkland
Individuals Overseas: Reyna underwhelms in first begin
Earlier than Sunday’s match at Eintracht Frankfurt, it had been 260 days since Giovanni Reyna final began a match for Borussia Dortmund. That streak got here to an finish at Deutsche Financial institution Park, with the 20-year-old U.S. worldwide taking part in from the off, but it surely doubtless started one other countdown: how lengthy will he have to attend earlier than getting one other begin?
1:59
Dortmund and Frankfurt share six-goal thriller
Borussia Dortmund twice come from behind to attract 3-3 with Eintracht Frankfurt in a pulsating encounter.
Reyna was substituted at half-time as Dortmund trailed. He may very well be credited with making issues occur on two or three events, however these moments have been few and much between. Worse, a lot of Eintracht’s risk got here within the type of wing-back Buta, who marauded up and down the precise wing Reyna was tasked with serving to Ramy Bensebaini patrol.
These 45 minutes have been probably the most he is performed for the membership since March’s Champions League exit by the hands of Chelsea.
One might argue that amid his prolonged damage historical past, Reyna merely hasn’t had the prospect to ascertain himself in Dortmund’s first workforce this season. Extra doubtless, although, is that he’s just too far down the pecking order to obtain plentiful alternatives.
Reyna is at his finest when he is working in the course of the assault, a task that he is made his personal with the USMNT. For Dortmund, although, Marco Reus is match and in type — one thing of a uncommon confluence of occasions — whereas Julian Brandt stays one of many Bundesliga‘s most underrated playmakers. These are No. 10s any supervisor could be detest to lose from their lineup.
Given the Westphalia membership’s present make-up, it is tough to see how Reyna could make the case for extra minutes. And primarily based on his efficiency on Sunday, it is tough for Dortmund to consider he is worthy of extra of them on the expense of Reus or Brandt. — Austin Lindberg
Information of the day
And at last, on Sunday …
From the second Romelu Lukaku left for Chelsea in the summertime of 2021, it was clear: he had betrayed Inter Milan followers, and he wasn’t welcome again.
🔊 VOLUME UP
The San Siro trustworthy make their emotions often called Romelu Lukaku returns to face his former membership. pic.twitter.com/Ud0T6hGU63
— CBS Sports activities Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) October 29, 2023
That will have modified only a 12 months later, after a single underwhelming season at Stamford Bridge led to his return to San Siro on mortgage, but it surely modified once more this previous summer time. That is when the Nerazzurri have been negotiating to signal him completely, just for him to ghost the membership. Inter walked away from negotiations, and followers doubled down on their mistrust of the 30-year-old Belgium worldwide.
Now at AS Roma, Lukaku returned to face his former aspect for the primary time on Sunday, and Inter followers made clear that he was as unwelcome as ever. Earlier than the match, ultras distributed 30,000 whistles with directions to let Lukaku hear it each time he touched the ball.
He heard it, all proper, however he was gracious sufficient to applaud the Inter trustworthy’s enthusiasm. These wearing black and blue went residence happiest, after Marcus Thuram (ostensibly the person who’s changed Lukaku in Inter’s squad) scored the lone aim in a 1-0 win. — Lindberg
SATURDAY REVIEW
The Saturday lead: Brentford strike twice to defeat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea’s new homeowners can change the supervisor, the teaching employees, and the gamers but some issues keep the identical.
There was an all-too-familiar really feel to Saturday’s 2-0 residence defeat to Brentford which has by way of strains from the Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, and Frank Lampard head coach eras at Stamford Bridge: create possibilities however compound a failure to take them by conceding delicate targets.
And so to some extent, Mauricio Pochettino has inherited this downside regardless of a dramatic turnover of gamers within the £1 billion spree overseen by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital since their Could 2022 takeover. There have been indicators of progress: seven factors from 9 earlier than this weekend, together with a 4-1 win at Burnley, promising flashes from Mykhailo Mudryk and a formidable begin to life in London from 21-year-old summer time signing Cole Palmer.
But when blowing a 2-0 lead towards Arsenal final weekend to attract 2-2 was a warning Chelsea’s performances stay incomplete, they did not heed it towards Brentford. The cyclical really feel is simply enhanced by Brentford securing their third consecutive win at Stamford Bridge, this time by way of second-half targets from Ethan Pinnock and Bryan Mbeumo.
This recreation had three distinct phases. Chelsea have been good for 25 minutes, Noni Madueke hanging the crossbar early on earlier than Marc Cucurella and Raheem Sterling missed good alternatives within the field. Sterling had a penalty shout turned down after going to floor beneath a problem from Mads Roerslev halfway by way of the half however the management they’d of proceedings progressively started to slide thereafter.
The tempo and incision of their passing steadily receded after which got here the sucker punch: a aim conceded from a throw-in. Mathias Jensen and Mbeumo exchanged passes earlier than the latter crossed to the again put up for Pinnock to move in. It was shambolic defending.
1:00
Jude Bellingham comes up clutch to present Actual Madrid a late lead
Jude Bellingham faucets residence the aim to present Actual Madrid a 2-1 lead in stoppage time towards FC Barcelona.
Chelsea chased the sport to the extent that goalkeeper Robert Sánchez got here up for a stoppage-time nook however as an alternative, Brentford broke and Neal Maupay fed Mbeumo to sidefoot into an empty internet. In an acrimonious finale, Chelsea coach Jesus Perez was despatched off and boos greeted the ultimate whistle, albeit reflecting frustration somewhat than hostility in the direction of their new supervisor.
Pochettino wants time to mould a workforce out of those expensively assembled elements and there may be nonetheless mitigation in an damage checklist totalling 9 first-team gamers which restricted his potential to vary issues off the bench right here. However Brentford — with out something like the identical sources — have been with out star striker Ivan Toney and key defender Rico Henry but produced a coherent and scientific show that leaves Chelsea with only one residence win from 13 matches.
The one groups they’ve overwhelmed within the league this season are Luton, Fulham, and Burnley. They’re eight factors off the highest 4 already. Pochettino must discover a method to break the cycle sooner somewhat than later. — James Olley
Saturday speaking factors across the leagues
Tottenham proceed unbeaten streak beneath Postecoglou
If Tottenham are going to take care of a title problem this season then they’ll should maintain discovering other ways to win. That is simply what they did with a 2-1 win at Selhurst Park on Friday evening as they opened up a five-point hole on the high of the Premier League earlier than their rivals performed on the weekend.
Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace workforce, maybe nonetheless pumped up by the pre-match playlist and accompanying mild present that tried to show the Archibald Leitch-designed Selhurst Park right into a 90’s warehouse rave for kick-off, set off in pursuit of the white shirts with vigour as they snapped on the Spurs participant’s ankles, actually at occasions, throughout the first half.
Spurs’ struggles throughout the first 45 minutes have been the primary time this season by which you could possibly sense Kane’s absence in supervisor Ange Postecoglou’s new-look workforce. Kane’s potential to strike from a seemingly hopeless probability has determined a lot of these kinds of matches previously — he scored the primary two targets in Spurs’ 4-0 win on this fixture final season.
However Spurs’ inventive points have been put behind them eight minutes into the second half when the holder of Kane’s outdated No. 10 shirt, James Maddison, fired a ball throughout aim that was put into his personal internet by Palace defender Joel Ward. Son Heung-Min doubled Spurs’ lead from one other Maddison-inspired transfer 13 minutes later earlier than Jordan Ayew scored late on for the house aspect.
Maddison has now scored or assisted in every of his first six Premier League away video games for Spurs, contributing two targets and establishing six. The constructive vibes round Spurs brought about Postecoglou to joke that the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has the texture of a “nightclub” on Thursday, and with Maddison persevering with to orchestrate proceedings, the get together ambiance is not displaying any indicators of letting up. — Tom Chambers
Actual’s Bellingham achieves dream El Clasico debut with brace
When Jude Bellingham was a child, he would keep up late to look at the Clásico, regardless of the insistence from his mom that he must be in mattress.
Talking forward of his first look within the fixture as a Actual Madrid participant this week, he reeled off a few of his highlights, together with Cristiano Ronaldo‘s well-known “Calma” celebration at Camp Nou in 2012. “These iconic moments keep on with you,” he mentioned.
On Saturday, he created his personal iconic second, scoring twice within the second half, together with a 92nd-minute winner, as Madrid got here from behind to beat Barcelona 2-1 on the Olympic Stadium. After the second, he stood within the nook of the pitch, his arms up, as he does after most targets, in a picture that can be added to the Clásico historical past books.
The afternoon had began with the Rolling Stones entrance and centre. Mick Jagger and Ronnie Wooden have been current to see Barça play in a shirt that includes the band’s brand. By the tip, although, it was The Beatles’ ”Hey Jude” ringing out from the few hundred supporters within the away finish.
In hindsight, trying again over his sensational begin in Spain, maybe it was at all times going to be about Bellingham. Of his 13 targets for Madrid, 4 have now been match-winners. Three of them have are available in stoppage time.
Nonetheless, for big elements of the sport, Xavi Hernandez’s ways — switching to a again three with wing-backs — had shackled Bellingham and Vinicius Jr. Barça have been good worth for his or her lead on the break, secured by way of Ilkay Gündogan‘s sixth-minute opener, and solely the put up prevented Fermín López and Iñigo Martínez from including to the tally.
1:28
Olley: Pochettino should break shedding cycle quickly
James Olley reacts to a different disappointing defeat for Chelsea as they misplaced 2-0 at residence to Brentford.
Madrid finally discovered their manner into the sport after the hour mark. Bellingham’s first aim was a cracker from distance and his second was a case of being in the precise place on the proper time as Luka Modric‘s stray contact fell in his path.
It left Barça coach Xavi seething at shedding a recreation he felt his aspect ought to have received, whereas Madrid returned to the highest of LaLiga, stage on factors with Girona and 4 away from the Catalans.
“The abstract of the sport may be very easy,” Xavi mentioned. “We had 60 actually good minutes and scored one aim. Madrid had 20 good minutes and scored twice. However that is soccer, for those who do not rating the second… We’d like 5 – 6 [chances] to attain a aim; with three, they rating two.” — Samuel Marsden
Neuer returns for Bayern, whereas Kane scores hat trick in wild recreation
320 days after Manuel Neuer broke his leg in a snowboarding accident, the Bayern Munich captain returned to motion main his workforce towards SV Darmstadt.
The 37-year-old goalkeeper doubtless didn’t count on to be witness to such a wild recreation that ensued in Munich’s Allianz Enviornment. A complete of three crimson playing cards within the first half marked a brand new Bundesliga report. It took Joshua Kimmich solely 4 minutes to be despatched off, because the midfielder didn’t management the ball in entrance of the penalty space and subsequently fouled Marvin Mehlem, who would have in any other case had an open street in the direction of Neuer.
Darmstadt smelled blood within the aftermath and tried to go toe-to-toe with the German report champions. The friends had some success in testing Bayern’s again line and creating possibilities, however they left themselves open to being caught by counterattacks. Two counterattacks compelled Klaus Gjasula and Matej Maglica to aim last-man tackles which they missed. Pink playing cards towards each have been the results of Darmstadt’s high-risk ways.
As soon as the temperature contained in the Allianz Enviornment was again to regular, it was all Bayern, as Harry Kane, Leroy Sané, Thomas Müller and Jamal Musiala scored the targets to safe an 8-0 win for Bayern, with Kane bagging a hat trick.
No matter current outcomes, it’s nearly a certainty that Bayern video games flip into dramatic affairs lately. In the meantime, Neuer confronted 4 shots-on-goal and saved a clear sheet in his return. The veteran goalkeeper loved a pleasant warmup for Bayern’s upcoming problem within the Bundesliga after they journey to Dortmund subsequent weekend. — Constantin Eckner
0:58
Moreno: Bellingham finest participant on the planet proper now
Ale Moreno sings the praises of Jude Bellingham after the younger English midfielder scored twice in Actual Madrid’s 2-1 win vs. Barcelona.
Individuals Overseas: VAR denies McKennie help; Inexperienced scores
It was a combined bag of a weekend for the primary USMNT stars as Weston McKennie was denied an help on Moise Kean‘s aim in Juventus‘ 1-0 win towards Hellas Verona because of the intervention of VAR. With each McKennie and Timothy Weah beginning for Massimiliano Allegri’s workforce, Juve now go high of the Serie A desk in the interim with Inter and the American contingent of AC Milan respiratory behind their necks.
We additionally noticed some gamers go on the receiving finish of a loss. In Germany, Kevin Paredes performed 74 minutes however was unable to assist his Wolfsburg aspect as they fell 3-2 to Augsburg within the Bundesliga. In England, Auston Trusty performed the complete match and was a part of a Sheffield United protection that wasn’t capable of cease Arsenal because the Gunners scored 5 towards them with Eddie Nketiah getting a hat trick.
Nonetheless, it wasn’t all doom and gloom for the Individuals overseas! Julian Inexperienced (keep in mind him?) was capable of go on the scoresheet on Friday to assist Greuther Fürth defeat VfL Osnabruck 4-0 and proceed their push for potential promotion from the 2. Bundesliga. — Roberto Rojas
45′ TOOOR fürs #Kleeblatt!
Juuuuuu wunderschön! @J_Green37 mit einem direkten Freistoß oben hyperlinks ins Eck. Traumfreistoß! 🤯
___
1:0 #SGFOSN pic.twitter.com/WNxhNjiIn2— SPVGG GREUTHER FÜRTH (@kleeblattfuerth) October 27, 2023
Information of the day
And at last, on Saturday …
With all of the speak about Bellingham and Kane flying the England flag right this moment with some memorable performances overseas, there was additionally one other Englishman who stole the headlines within the Premier League.
In North London, Eddie Nketiah scored his first-ever Premier League hat trick as led Arsenal to a 5-0 win over Sheffield United. “Right here with the followers, my household and mates, it is an incredible feeling,” mentioned the 24-year-old post-match. “I am actually proud of the three targets and the win. It is a dream come true.”
1st PL hat-trick! That was for you Auntie Child #RIP ❤️🙏🏾 @Arsenal pic.twitter.com/q1VkzOXav3
— Eddie Nketiah 📞 (@EddieNketiah9) October 28, 2023
With that win, Arsenal proceed unbeaten as they at the moment sit in second place simply two factors behind their bitter rivals Tottenham. Even when Kane and Bellingham can be sure starters for Gareth Southgate’s England workforce, this Nkeitah efficiency at the least sends a message to the England boss that he positively needs to be thought-about for the long run and be a part of an already stacked attacking Three Lions aspect. — Rojas
