Review of games across top European Leagues

It was another week of action with some top teams continuing their good run. However, the likes of Barcelona and PSG suffered defeat.

Oladipupo Mojeed brings us a review of some of the top games across several European leagues.

English Premier League

Manchester United 1-1 Everton

Andros Townsend scored for the third time in four matches to earn Everton a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.

Townsend, who scored for Crystal Palace at the same venue last season, converted an Abdoulaye Doucoure pass at the end of a swift counter-attack started by Demarai Gray in the 65th minute.

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Anthony Martial had put United ahead just before half-time. The striker curled home his first Premier League goal since February from a Bruno Fernandes pass.

Cristiano Ronaldo came off the bench in the second half but was unable to find a winner on his 200th Premier League appearance.

Indeed, it was Everton who thought they had won it late on. Yerry Mina’s close-range finish from a Tom Davies pass was ruled out for offside following a VAR review.

Manchester United and Everton sit third and fourth respectively, both on 14 points.

Chelsea 3-1 Southampton

Late goals by Timo Werner and Ben Chilwell earned Chelsea a 3-1 win over 10-man Southampton. The win took the Blues to the top of the table.

Trevoh Chalobah opened the scoring for Chelsea on nine minutes, heading in at the far post after Ruben Loftus-Cheek flicked on Chilwell’s corner.

Southampton equalised in the 61st minute through James Ward-Prowse’s penalty, awarded for Chilwell’s foul on Tino Livramento.

Werner was denied by a brilliant save from Alex McCarthy on 72 minutes, moments before Ward-Prowse was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Jorginho after a VAR check.

The German striker later provided the decisive moment, sliding in from Azpilicueta’s cross before Chilwell volleyed in from close range on 89 minutes to secure victory.

Chelsea are on 16 points, two clear of Liverpool having played a match more, while Southampton drop to 17th on four points.

Brighton & Hove Albion 0-0 Arsenal

Brighton & Hove Albion were left to rue missed chances as they were held to a goalless draw by Arsenal at a wet Amex Stadium.

In an open first half, Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit a post with a header against the run of play. At the other end, Leandro Trossard, Dan Burn, and Shane Duffy all missed opportunities.

Jakub Moder failed to hit the target with two long-range efforts early in the second half as Brighton continued to press for a breakthrough.

Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez saved from Emile Smith Rowe on a counter-attack with 15 minutes remaining as Arsenal enjoyed their best spell of the match.

Two late efforts by Brighton substitute Solly March were saved by Aaron Ramsdale and Duffy headed wide from a corner as neither side could find a winner.

Brighton climb to fifth on 14 points, four points, and places ahead of Arsenal.

Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Aston Villa

Spurs halted a run of three straight defeats and returned to winning ways. Son Heung-min played a starring role in a 2-1 home win over Aston Villa.

Son was involved in both goals. The first teeing up Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to give the hosts a 27th-minute lead. The Dane slotted into the bottom-right corner from outside the penalty area.

Both teams had chances on either side of half-time, with Son having the best opportunity when he was denied by Emiliano Martinez from six yards out.

Villa then scored a 67th-minute equaliser, with Matt Targett delivering a low cross from the left for Ollie Watkins to finish at close range.

But Spurs restored their lead with a very similar goal four minutes later. Son beat Kortney Hause on the outside and forced an own goal from Matt Targett as the defender slid for the ball with Lucas Moura.

Spurs climb to eighth, two points outside the top four and two ahead of Villa, who drop to 10th.

Liverpool 2 – 2 Manchester City

A magnificent solo goal from Mohamed Salah helped Liverpool maintain their unbeaten start despite Manchester City twice coming from behind in a 2-2 draw at Anfield.

City goalscorers Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne had the best chances to break the deadlock as the champions controlled a goalless first half.

But Liverpool took the lead on 59 minutes as Sadio Mane fired in his 99th Premier League goal. The goals resulted via sublime play from Salah on the break.

City leveled on 69 minutes through Foden’s drilled finish from an acute angle after Gabriel Jesus had found him.

A sensational solo effort from Salah, who beat four City players and fired in a shot off the post from a tight angle, put Liverpool back in front on 76 minutes.

De Bruyne equalised five minutes later with a finish from the edge of the area, before a superb sliding block from Rodri denied Reds midfielder Fabinho a late winner.

Liverpool remain unbeaten but drop to second with 15 points. City are one point and one place below them.

Spanish La Liga

Atletico Madrid 2-0 Barcelona

Atletico Madrid got back to winning ways by defeating Barcelona 2-0 at the Wanda Metropolitano. Goals in the first half from Thomas Lemar and Luis Suarez were enough to secure three points for Diego Simeone’s men. This also moved them level with Real Madrid at the top of the table.

Barca slumped to their second loss of the week, and the calls for Ronald Koeman’s dismissal may only grow after another disappointing result.

Atletico are next in action against Granada on October 16 after the international break. Barcelona face Valencia in their next match on October 17 at Camp Nou.

Espanyol 2-1 Real Madrid

Espanyol have well and truly announced their return to the top flight by stunning Madrid.

The Catalonians fought hard for the victory with De Tomas and Vidal putting the hosts 2-0 up. Madrid pulled a goal back through Benzema but didn’t improve enough to avoid their second defeat in a week.

Espanyol’s victory lifts them to 12th in La Liga. Moreno’s men were magnificent here and should have no problems in staying up this season if they continue playing this way. Madrid stay top of the league on goal difference but missed the chance of extending their points further.

Espanyol will be delighted with the win. Madrid will once again rue their lack of cutting edge having dominated the game. Ancelotti has to get his team firing if this bumpy spell isn’t to become symbolic of their season.

Torino 0 – 1 Juventus

Manuel Locatelli rode to the rescue of the Bianconeri to break hearts across the city in Turin. It is Juventus who take bragging rights in their derby clash with Torino.

The hosts will be crushed, having gone blow-for-blow for so long. But their visitors snatched three points late in the day.

Ivan Juric will have a lot to think on and for a long time to too. This is because of thetwo-week lack of club football. His side deserved more than an empty hand at the end, but such is the cruelty of sport.

Massimiliano Allegri though has spun this one around over the past few weeks. With success at home and in Europe, he revives Juventus’ hopes. There is a long way to go, of course, and they could have come away with just a point. But they snatched a win and that’s all that matters.

Sassuolo 1 – 2 Inter Milan

Edin Dzeko’s second-half turn off the bench proves the brilliant difference for Inter. His goal tied things up with Sassuolo before he drew the penalty There are no spoils shared in Serie A games; the champions take it all.

Alessio Dionisi will have plenty of time to chew over that one, but it will undoubtedly sting, given how often his side took it to the Scudetto holders. They started October with a loss and the only way is up.

Simone Inzaghi has seen his side cut the gap at the summit though – and now, he will have to hope that Napoli slip up elsewhere for a best-case scenario.

French Ligue 1

Rennes 2 – 0 PSG

PSG suffer their first defeat of the season. The home side took a surprise lead on the stroke of half-time, with Laborde firing them ahead with a lovely finish.

It then took them a matter of seconds to double their advantage in the second half, with Laborde this time turning provider, as Tait finished off a quick counter, to make it 2-0.

PSG struggled to get going after the break, but managed to get the ball into the back of the net. However, Mbappe’s goal was ruled out by VAR for offside.

This victory moves Rennes up to seventh in Ligue 1, while PSG remain top. But their unbeaten run comes to an end. Next up for Rennes is a trip to Metz after the international break. Meanwhile, PSG will look to get back to winning ways when they face Angers.

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German Bundesliga

Bayern Munich 1 – 2 Frankfurt

Frankfurt came from behind to beat Bayern 2-1 for their first win this season. Goretzka gave the hosts the lead just before the half-hour mark after Hinteregger’s mistake and slotted his shot into the far bottom corner.

Just three minutes later, the captain made up for it though as he thumped in a header at the other end.

Gnabry hit the post, but Bayern couldn’t capitalise on their pressure. After soaking it up, Frankfurt broke on the counter through Kostic, and he drilled a great goal past Neuer and into the far corner.That’s Nagelsmann’s first loss since taking over at Bayern, but they stay top of the league despite it.

He’ll be hoping they can bounce back against Bayer Leverkusen after the international break. Frankfurt’s first win moves them up to 13th and next up for them is Hertha Berlin in two weeks’ time.