Europe

Pre-match press conferences are usually occasions for managers to give injury updates and talk about how their opponent is going to be tough, no matter who it is. This is a tried-and-true formula, and it mostly works as long as the journalists stick to said injury updates and platitudes about the other team. Let's be honest: no one ever learns anything at pre-match press conferences and it's amazing coaches don't answer every question with "I don't know, we haven't played the game yet."

Valencia maintained their unbeaten start to La Liga play with an impressive 3-2 victory over Real Sociedad at the Anoeta on Sunday. With the score level at 2-2 and both sides down to 10-men, Italian striker Simone Zaza hit the game-winner in the 85th minute with the assist provided by 20-year-old Portuguese attacker Goncalo Guedes.

There’s a fine line between great goalkeeping and bad shooting. ADO Den Haag and Sparta Rotterdam goalkeeper Roy Kortsmit toed that line on Saturday. Four times Den Haag sent shots toward Kortsmit’s goal, four times the Dutch keeper knocked the shot away, a Kortsmit quadruple save. 

But was it great goalkeeping or poor shooting? Both? Neither? Decide for yourself.

A short while after many his fellow Americans took a knee during the national anthem at Wembley Stadium, DeAndre Yedlin showed solidarity by taking a knee in the middle of Newcastle’s match against Brighton & Hove Albion south of London on Sunday. 

Tomer Hemed took exception and stamped on the back of the American’s leg.

Coutinho is back and thirsty for scoring. On his second EPL star of the season, he assisted Mohammed Salah with a beautiful cross for the first goal and then brilliantly scored a free-kick that sent Liverpool to a 3-2 win over Leicester City on Saturday.

After all the rumors that put him in the orbit of Barcelona, Coutinho ultimately remained in Jurgen Klopp’s side and has proven once more how important he is for Liverpool’s aspirations.

Wayne Rooney has had an interesting season so far back at Everton. He has scored some historic goals, and gone through a historic slump with this teammates.

Now, his season has gotten even more interesting, as Rooney picked up an injury against Bournemouth that left him looking like an anime villain.

Wayne Rooney injury to eye. pic.twitter.com/rMw0TyB5NK

Bayern Munich goalkeeper and Germany No. 1 Manuel Neuer is out until January after undergoing foot surgery recently. While Neuer is considered one of the best goalies in the world, most assumed Bayern would have the strength and depth to maintain its high standars without him. That was until a Sven Ulreich howler cost the German giants two points on Friday.

Real Sociedad have quietly gone about assembling one of the strongest squads in all of La Liga, but their promising start to the season was brought to a halt by Levante center half Chema Rodriguez last night. Levante would ultimately win 3-0, but it was Chema’s wonder goal on the stroke of halftime that put his side ahead for good.

Apparently, even eSports talents can get sent out on loan. Ajax, for decades a premier producer of precocious players, is also one of the frontrunners in the eSports world. On Thursday they signed new player Lev Vinken to their squad — and immediately sent him out on loan to league rival Sparta Rotterdam.

Chelsea wantaway striker Diego Costa appears to have finally wrangled the move he has been angling for, back to Atletico Madrid and their shiny new stadium.

The statement on Atletico Madrid's website: