Europe

MADRID - Real Madrid's Karim Benzema netted a hat-trick as they capped their return to the refurbished Santiago Bernabéu stadium with a thrilling 5-2 comeback win over Celta Vigo in LaLiga on Sunday.

The Frenchman was unplayable at times as Madrid were reunited with their fans for the first time since March 1, 2020.

They played the whole of last season at reserve team Castilla's Alfredo Di Stéfano ground at their training complex.

MILAN, Italy - AC Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimović scored on his return from a four-month injury layoff as they comfortably defeated Lazio 2-0 at San Siro on Sunday to continue their perfect start to the Serie A season.

The 39-year-old Swede, who had not featured since sustaining a knee injury against Juventus in May, tapped in Milan’s second after 67 minutes, seven minutes after he came off the bench.

60': Subs on
67': Scores ⚽

The schools of Jürgen Klopp and Marcelo Bielsa clashed on Sunday in one of the holiest unions you’ll ever see between action and setting with Elland Road roaring on an end-to-end match on a balmy Sunday afternoon in West Yorkshire.

Leeds never fails to catch the eye — Kalvin Phillips might be the most underrated footballer in the Premier League, and Raphinha is an absolute spectacle — but Liverpool exudes a level of control in high-octane matches that’s unmatched.

BARCELONA - Thomas Lemar scored in the ninth minute of added time to give Atlético Madrid a last-gasp 2-1 victory at newly-promoted Espanyol in LaLiga on Sunday.

THOMAS LEMAR IN THE 98TH MINUTE!! pic.twitter.com/e9NG6CC0CW

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 12, 2021

Bayern Munich thrashed RB Leipzig 4-1 on Saturday to go up to second in the Bundesliga on the quest for a tenth straight league title. 

Tyler Adams, who played every minute of World Cup qualifying for the USMNT, didn’t feature in RB Leipzig’s defeat. The 22-year-old has still made headlines for his comments on Bayern’s tendency to purchase the best talent from the Bundesliga.

LONDON — Arsenal moved off the bottom of the Premier League standings and scored their first goal of the campaign after captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's scrambled 66th-minute effort gave them a 1-0 home win over Norwich City on Saturday.

The result lifted Arsenal to 16th place on three points from four games and left Norwich, who are still looking for their first point of the season, propping up the table.

Manchester United is filthy. Filthy filthy filthy. The Red Devils defeated Newcastle 4-1 on Saturday in a wildly entertaining match that featured the homecoming of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Old Trafford gave the warmest of welcomes to Ronaldo who started his first game for Manchester United in over a decade.

"NUMBER SEVEN, CRISTIANO RONALDO!"

The noise inside Old Trafford as Ronaldo's name is announced in Manchester United's starting XI pic.twitter.com/fivRej0qs5

Was it the prettiest goal? Not by any means. Do we care? Absolutely not. This Cristiano Ronaldo goal vs. Newcastle still had all the feels.

With the first half coming to a close, Ronaldo had a true poacher’s finish when Mason Greenwood’s effort from outside the box took a deflection that Newcastle goalkeeper Freddie Woodman spilled. Ronaldo was waiting on the doorstep to sweep home the game’s opening goal.

The USMNT injury updates include a mixed batch of good and bad news.

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel gave a Christian Pulisic injury update after the American forward suffered a knock to the ankle during the USMNT’s 4-1 victory against Honduras. Good news U.S. and Chelsea fans, Pulisic will only be out for 10 days.

“For Christian, unfortunately he came yesterday on crutches and he has an ankle injury with about 10 days," Tuchel said.