Game Recaps

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.

Champions Bayern Munich had to work their way back from a goal down in their Bundesliga season opener on Friday as they earned a 1-1 draw at Borussia Moenchengladbach thanks to last season's top scorer Robert Lewandowski.

The Bayern forward, who scored an all-time league record 41 goals last season, but was repeatedly denied by Gladbach keeper Yann Sommer, volleyed in from a corner to level in the 42nd minute after Alassane Plea had put the hosts in front in the 10th.

Brentford hadn’t played a game in England’s top flight in nearly three-quarters of a century. The Bees came swarming back on Friday to open their Premier League campaign by thumping Arsenal 2-0 on the opening night of league play.

The Arsenal vs. Brentford highlights are a reminder of how much better this sport is in front of a full stadium. The scenes before the game were enough to give goosebumps

The scenes that Brentford supporters have waited 75 YEARS FOR.

The Clausura and Campeón de Campeones titles signaled a clear change in Cruz Azul’s fortunes, and backup goalkeeper Andrés Gudiño continued that roll in the CCL semifinals at Estadio BBVA on Wednesday night to ensure that La Máquina stayed within striking distance of Rayados come the return leg at the Azteca on Sep. 16. Monterrey won 1-0, but that never really does seem like a good result in CONCACAF.

Especially since Monterrey could’ve buried Cruz Azul before then, but Rogelio Funes Mori’s record-setting goal for Rayados might never come.

Two years ago, Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga refused to be taken off in the closing minutes of a Carabao Cup match when coach Mauricio Sarri wanted to bring on Willy Caballero for penalty kicks before losing to Manchester City. On Wednesday, it was Kepa brought on in the closing minutes, and this time he came off as a winner. 

PARIS — Paris St. Germain started its Ligue 1 campaign with a comeback 2-1 win at promoted Troyes on Saturday while anticipating the arrival of six-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi, who appears set to join the French giant.

Messi will be holding a news conference at 10 a.m. GMT on Sunday after Barcelona said earlier this week that the 34-year-old Argentine will leave the club.