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A week on from international matches and MLS has returned to full strength. The superstars have reappeared, replacing the excuses that swam in their wake and results are once again indicative of each team’s true ability. 

5 takeaways from MLS Matchweek 6

#1. Columbus is scoring goals for fun

Life under new manager Wilfried Nancy left a bit to be desired for the Crew. The former CF Montréal boss saw his new side secure just four points from its first four matches, but back-to-back dominant displays have given this marriage a new outlook. 

Jordan Morris continued his historic goal scoring run as his tally in the 21st minute helped the Seattle Sounders to a 2-1 win over the LA Galaxy on Saturday in Carson, Calif.

Seattle (4-1-1, 13 points) ran its unbeaten streak against the Galaxy to 10 games, and became the first MLS team in history with a streak that long against the Galaxy (0-2-3, 3 points).

Barcelona vs. Roma was the biggest mismatch of the Women's Champions League quarterfinals on paper, and so it proved over two legs as Barça stormed to a 6-1 aggregate victory over the Italian side.

After winning 1-0 in Rome last week, Barcelona scored five at the Camp Nou on Wednesday night through Fridolina Rolfö's brace and further goals from Mapi León, Asisat Oshoala and Patri Guijarro. 

Italy international Annamaria Serturini was able to score one for La Lupa in Catalonia. 

Placed in the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying group of death with France, the Netherlands and Greece, Ireland's only hope of reaching Germany was protecting Dublin against all invaders. 

Up first on Monday night was a visit from the World Cup runners-up, France, who'd just blasted the Dutch 4-0 in Paris to kick-off their own campaign.  

Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas completed part of the training session with her Barcelona women's teammates on Monday as she continues to recover from a knee injury.

The Spain midfielder injured her knee in July before the women's European Championship.

"I'm glad to move on to the next phase of rehabilitation. I'm happy to be back training with the team," Putellas said on Monday. "It's a matter of patience, of continuing to work progressively with the team and getting back into shape."

A grain of salt. Perhaps the perfect idiom for MLS Matchweek 5. As teams traversed the FIFA-recognized international break, it became abundantly clear that some squads were better at handling life without their superstars than others. This imbalance made for some surprising results, but overall, a thoroughly entertaining week of games. 

Jordan Morris tallied four times to put him atop Major League Soccer's goal-scoring race as the visiting Seattle Sounders overcame an early deficit and defeated 10-man Sporting Kansas City 4-1 on Saturday night.

Léo Chú had three assists and goalkeeper Stefan Frei made two saves for the Sounders (3-1-1, 10 points), who snapped a 10-match road winless streak (0-9-1), the longest in franchise history. William Agada scored and John Pulskamp made three saves for Sporting K.C. (0-3-2, 2 points).

PARIS — New France captain Kylian Mbappé lived up to expectations with two goals in a 4-0 statement home win against the Netherlands as Les Bleus got their Euro 2024 Group B qualifying campaign started in ruthless fashion on Friday.

Mbappé, named skipper after goalkeeper Hugo Lloris ended his international career in January, set up Antoine Griezmann for the opener before scoring the third, after Dayot Upamecano had doubled the tally in a first half blitz, before wrapping the scoring up late in front of an ecstatic crowd.