Free Kicks

A relegation six-pointer in Ligue 1 produced a serious Puskás Award candidate on Sunday as Lorient’s Armand Laurienté struck a 40-yard free kick that both salvaged a draw for his side and kept them out of the relegation zone at the expense of Nantes.

Randal Kolo Muani had given Nantes an early lead, and it looked as though they’d secure the three points which would push them up to 17th while dropping Lorient into 18th (the relegation playoff place). 

Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann fired Barcelona to a 2-1 win at home to Athletic Bilbao in LaLiga on Sunday, avenging their recent defeat to the Basque side in the Spanish Super Cup final.

Messi curled in a free kick after 20 minutes for his 650th Barça goal on the day the club pledged to sue Spanish newspaper El Mundo for publishing the full details of the Argentine's contract.

Atlético Madrid's Luis Suárez fired in two goals as they thrashed Cádiz 4-2 away in an action-packed game on Sunday to march 10 points clear at the top of LaLiga.

Suarez gave Atléti the lead in the 28th minute with a curling free kick which was cancelled out by Cádiz forward Álvaro Negredo seven minutes later before Saúl Ñíguez restored the visitors' advantage moments before the break.

When Kevin Davies took the field for Bolton Wanderers, the action on the pitch often resembled a barroom brawl rather than a soccer match.

Under manager Sam Allardyce, Davies consistently led the league in both fouls committed and fouls received, setting multiple records along the way.