Europe

There’s life without Lionel Messi in Barcelona, but if it continues in the same vein as Sunday’s 4-2 win over Real Sociedad, it’s going to be a batshit crazy existence. 

VIGO, Spain - Atlético Madrid began their LaLiga title defense with a 2-1 win away to Celta Vigo on Sunday thanks to two strikes from Argentine forward Ángel Correa although the game ended with a mass brawl and a player from each side was sent off.

Luis Suárez began the game on the bench and Correa took full responsibility for the team's attacking duties, firing Atlético ahead midway through the first half after a marauding run from Thomas Lemar.

Who needs Harry Kane? Well, Tottenham, because on the evidence of Sunday’s 1-0 win over Manchester City new manager Nuno Espírito Santo has already had a transformative effect on the defense. And also City, because on Sunday's evidence they desperately need a striker.  

With Kane left out of the squad entirely due to his very public dalliances with City, Spurs produced an electric performance from front to back with Japhet Tanganga going toe-to-toe with Jack Grealish, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg flying into tackles and Lucas Moura always excellent in possession. 

Welcome back, Premier League.

After a Saturday highlighted by Manchester United’s 5-1 beatdown of Leeds and Everton’s 3-1 second half comeback win over Southampton (and Christian Pulisic's goal), Sunday produced an instant classic between Newcastle United and West Ham at St. James’ Park.

Germany great Gerd Müller, widely regarded as one of the game's greatest goal scorers and nicknamed "Der Bomber”, has died at the age of 75, his former club Bayern Munich said on Sunday.

Müller scored 68 goals in 62 international games for West Germany, including the winner in the 1974 World Cup final, and is third in the all-time list of most goals in the competition with 14 goals behind Ronaldo (15) and Miroslav Klose (16).

He also won the European championship in 1972 with them.

PARIS — Lionel Messi watched on from the stands as Paris Saint-Germain made hard work of beating Strasbourg 4-2 in Ligue 1 on Saturday to continue their winning start to the new season.

Not yet fully fit, Messi, along with Neymar and fellow new recruits Gianluigi Donnarumma and Sergio Ramos, did not make the match squad, but saw his new club take an early lead through Mauro Icardi at Parc des Princes.

Lionel Messi is presented to the PSG fans

Borussia Dortmund is thanking its lucky stars that Erling Haaland didn’t leave the club this summer as the Norwegian God did unspeakable things to Frankfurt during a 5-2 victory on Saturday.

Haaland was involved in all five of Dortmund’s goals bagging a brace and having a hat trick of assists.

The 21-year-old set up Marco Reus for the first goal after dribbling the ball down nearly half of and slipping it through to the Dortmund veteran.

MANCHESTER — Bruno Fernandes scored his first hat-trick in English football in front of a raucous Old Trafford as Manchester United thrashed Leeds United 5-1 to get their Premier League season off to a flying start on Saturday.

French midfielder Paul Pogba also starred with four assists - one more than he managed in the whole of last season in the league - to help United run riot in front of their first full crowd in 17 months.

Christian Pulisic opened his 2021/22 Chelsea scoring account in the first game of the season with a true poacher’s finish. With Chelsea leading 1-0 in the first half courtesy of a Marcos Alonso thunderbolt free kick, Pulisic made it 2-0 in the 40th minute.

Christian Pulisic Goal vs. Crystal Palace

One match, one goal for Christian Pulisic!

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