Episode IV of European League Football recaps a weekend that saw a pair of juggernauts keep rolling on while another pair stumbled. Elsewhere an old lady came back into the light while some usual suspects began to flex their muscles and announce themselves this season. Italy finally kicked off as well as the continent's leagues returned to action after the international break.
Weekend of Sep 10:
France:
Promoted side Ajaccio from the island of Corsica finally got their campaign to stay in the top flight off to a start with a solid win in a potential relegation six pointer at home to bottom side Valenciennes. Frederic Sammaritano scored a brace to take his tally for the season up to four while Araujo Ilan scored the third. Gael Danic scored the opener for the visiting team who remain winless, rooted to the foot of the table.
Stade Rennes and Toulouse both notched crucial 1-0 wins on the road, beating Caen and more impressively, Olympique Marseille. While Etienne Capoue's solitary strike saw off the challenge of Caen for the purples from the south, Jires Kembo-Ekoko scored the winner at Marseille, who were at full strength despite their upcoming Champions League match at Olympiakos.
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| Frederic Sammaritano notched a brace |
Also on Saturday, title contenders Lille and Lyon both won away from home, beating St. Etienne and Dijon respectively. Lille's win was a big one with the green and white stripes displaying resiliency this season after several key departures from the roster. Old hands from last season, Eden Hazard, with a brace, and Ludovic Obraniak scored the goals, after defender David Rozenhal had give the home team the early lead with an own goal. Lyon got strikes from Maxime Gonalons and Bafetimbi Gomis sandwiching an equalizer from Benjamin Corgnet.
The rest of the games saw a goalless draw between Bordeaux and Evian TG; while Lorient and Sochaux tied 1-1 at Montbeliard. Eduoard Butin put the home side up before Innocent 'Don't call me Pope' Emeghara levelled for Lorient.
Sunday saw three more games played with leaders Montpeller maintaining their impressive start to stay ahead of fellow early pace setters Toulouse and Rennes with a 1-0 win over Nice. Souleymane Camara scored the winner for Montpellier with his third goal of the season. Nancy and Auxerre drew 0-0 while record signing Javier Pastore scored the winner for PSG in their 1-0 win over Brest.
While Lyon, Lille and PSG have all moved into the top four, Montpellier still lead the table. Toulouse and Rennes are tied with the Lille and PSG on points but are fifth and sixth on goal difference. Alain Traore still leads the scoring charts with five goals, ahead of Sammaritano with four.
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Germany:
After Bayer Leverkusen moved into the top four with a solid 4-1 win at promoted Augsburg on Friday, fellow title contenders Bayern Munich and Bremen both kept pace with wins on Saturday. Stefan Keissling and Erin Derdiyok scored goals for Robin Dutta's men while Sidney Sam scored a double. Hajime Hosogai had given Augsburg the early lead.
Dortmund, the defending champions, had one eye on their upcoming Champions League with Arsenal in a 2-1 home loss to promoted Hertha Berlin. Raffael and Peter Niemeyer scored the goals to give HSC an unassailable 2-0 lead before Robert Lewandowski scored a late goal for Borussia who were without Mario Goetz.
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| Sidney Sam punched twice for Bayer |
Bayern Munich moved into the lead handing out a second thrashing this season, 7-0, with Freiburg being the recipients this time. Mario Gomez scored four goals, Frank Ribery a double and Nils Petersen added an injury time marker as well. Bayern have 12 points from their five games having reeled off four straight wins after an opening day loss. Hoffenheim were also big winners dispatching Mainz 4-0 on the road. Roberto Firmino and an own goal from Nikolce Noveski came either side of a double from Ryan Babel.
Stuttgart won 3-0 beatin Hannover at home with Shinji Okazaki, Zdravko Kuzmanovic and Serder Tasci completing the rout. Elsewhere Claudio Pizarro notched himself a double over Hamburg at home. Hamburg are already in trouble, winless in five and rooted to the bottom of the table while Bremen move upto second, behind Bayern's outrageous goal difference. Borussia 'Gladbach continued their impressive start with a 1-0 win over Kaiserslautern thanks to a strike from key Venezuelan attacker Juan Arango. Gladbach improve to third.
Another promoted side Cologne lost at home to Nurnberg, the latter getting two penalty conversions from Timmy Simons, the Belgian striker while Adil Chihi replied for the home team. In the big game late on Sunday, Wolfsburg beat Schalke 2-1 with Mario Madzukic scoring a double to bring back the points at the Volkswagen Arena after Spanish striking legend Raul had given Schalke the lead.
Bayern lead the 18 team table while Hamburg are at the bottom. Mario Gomez now has eight goals to lead the striking charts, having notched consecutive hat-tricks.
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England:
The two Manchester Club leaped further ahead of the rest of the Premiership by heaping misery on their chosen opponents this week. While United produced a typically rampaging and physical performance to crush usual whipping boys Bolton at the Reebok Stadium. Wayne Rooney scored his second straight hat-trick while Javier Hernandez scored a double.
City, at the same time, were putting Wigan to the sword at Eastlands, wining 3-0 off a Sergio Aguero hat trick, also his second such triple play of the season. After a summer move from Atletico Madrid, he has taken to the English Premier League like a duck to water, fitting in seamlessly in City's slick, fluid style.
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| United look unbeatable |
Spurs won 2-0 at Wolves with goals from Jermaine Defoe and new boy and former Gunner Emmanuel Adebayor scoring the goals. Spurs move off the foot of the table. Jonathan Walters won and then scored a penalty to beat Liverpool at home, 1-0 while Peter Odemwingie got off the mark with a 1-0 win at promoted Norwich. Arsenal also won 1-0, beating Swansea at home, in a performance lacking confidence but full of substance. It was ugly at times, but the Gunners are off the mark in the W column. Swansea were very unlucky to lose with Andrew Arshavin scoring a goal off a gaffe from 'keeper Michel Vorm.
Fulham and Blackburn traded goals by Bobby Zamora and Ruben Rochina to draw 1-1 at Craven Cottage, while Everton and Aston Villa also drew, 2-2 at Goodison Park in a game replete with both ebb and flow. Leon Osman gave Everton the lead before Stilian Petrov levelled for Villa. Leighton Baines then scored a penalty to put Everton back in the lead before Gabriel Agbonlahor scored a late equaliser to retain a share of the points for Villa.
While the two Manchester clubs surge into the distance, it appears only Chelsea may be able to reel them in. The kept pace with a 2-1 win at Sunderland, with John Terry and Daniel Sturridge putting them up 2-0 before Dong Won Ji pulled one back for the Mackems.
United, City and Chelsea occupy the top three while Rovers, predictably are in the relegation zone. Wayne Rooney leads the scoring charts with eight goals, ahead of City pair Edin Dzeko and Aguero, who have six each. Money does talk.
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Spain:
Barcelona slipped up, being held to a surprising 2-2 draw at Real Sociedad. Despite spotting a 2-0 lead to the Blaugrana through goals by Xavi and Fabregas, Sociedad were good value for their point replying through Imanol Agirretxe and French winger Antoine Griezmann. As a result Real moves into the provisional lead, if you can call it that, after two games, with their 4-2 win over Getafe. Real will be concerned by the goals Getafe getting it back to 2-1 and 3-2 with a double from Nicu Fedor, before Gonzalo Higuain sealed the win with Real's fourth. Earlier a Karim Benzema double and a Ronaldo strike had give Real a 2-0 and 3-1 lead.
Villarreal and Sevilla served up an enterntaining 2-2 draw at El Madrigal. Goals from Alvaro Negredo and Alexis gave Sevilla the points either side of goals from Giuseppe Rossi and Marco Ruben for the Yellow Submarine. In another big game, Valencia beat Atleti 1-0 thanks to second straight goal from Roberto Soldado.
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| Joaquin checked in with a double |
On Sunday, promoted Real Betis beat Mallorca 1-0 thanks to Ruben Castro's late strike while Osasuna beat Sporting Gijon 2-1. Alvaro Ejudo Carmona and Francisco Martinez Modeste aka Nino scored for Osa while David Barral replied for Gijon. A Sergio Garcia double secured Expanyol the points over Bilbao who got a goal from national team striker
Fernando Llorente. In the other games, both Rayo Vallecano and Zaragoza as well as Santander and Levante drew 0-0.
Monday night saw Malaga, who have big things predicted of them, crush promoted Granada 4-0 in an south coast derby. Both Joaquin and Santi Cazorla scored doubles. After the initial skirmishes, Madrid, Betis and Valencia are all perfect while Ronaldo and Soldado have both scored four goals in two games.
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Italy:
After a player strike, Serie A roared into action this past weekend. Lazio and Milan served up a thrilling 2-2 draw on Friday night, first up, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Antonio Cassano scoring to cancel out early goals from Miroslav Klose and Djibril Cisse. All the action happened in the first half hour.
Thereafter Napoli served up intent of their title aspirations with a powerful 3-1 win at Cesena. Ezequiel Lavezzi, Marek Hamsik and Hugo Campagnaro score the goals for Napoli while Roberto Guana briefly levelled for Cesena. Juventus, renewed and retooled under new coach Antonio Conte, crushed Parma 4-1 at home with new boys Stephen Lichsteiner and Arturo Vidal scoring alongside Simone Pepe and Claudio Marchisio. Parma replied through former Juve midfielder Sebastian Giovincio from the penalty spot.
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| Fabrizio Miccoli's pair upset Inter |
Promoted Novara drew 2-2 at Chievo with Franco Maranini and Massimo Paci levelling matters after strikes from Sergio Pellissier and Cyril Thereau had give then Verona side a 2-0 lead. Genoa and Atlanta also drew with the same scoreline where Miguel Veloso and Giandomenico Mesto scored goals from the home side red and blues, either side of a Max Moralez double.
Udinese won 2-0 at Lecce with Dusan Basta and Antonio Di Natale securing the points, while Roma crashed at home to another red and blue side, losing 2-1 to Cagliari. Daniele Conti and Moustafa El Kabir giving the Sardinian side the points before Daniel De Rossi put Roma on the board in injury time.
The final game on Sunday turned out to be the most exciting with Palermo edging Inter 4-3 at home. Although Diego Milito with a double and namesake Forlan scoring on his debut for the Nerazzurri, goals from Abel Hernandez, Maurcio Pinilla and a double from Fabrizio Miccoli gave Palermo the opening day win. Three goals were scored in the last five minutes.
The season is under way in Italy.
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Scotland:
Celtic saw off the challenge of fellow league contenders Motherwell in ridiculously easy fashion with a 4-0 win that will renew mockery of the league's parity and competition level. Despite being tied on points in a tussle between second and third, the Hoops ran riot, with goals from Sung-Yong Ki, Joe Ledley and a double from James Forrest. Predictably, Rangers also won, in a rather closer game, winning 1-0 at Dundee off a Kyle Lafferty goal.
Celtic have been granted a reprieve in Europe after their conquerors in the playoff round, FC Sion, being tossed from the Europa League for fielding an ineligible player.
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| Paul Heffernan leads the scoring |
In other games Inverness and Hearts drew 1-1 while Killie beat Dunfermline 3-2 at home, in an entertaining affair, with Paul Heffernan, no King of Queens, scoring a double for them. The two Saints, Mirren and Johnstone drew goalless as did Hibs and Aberdeen in the Edinburgh derby.
As expected Rangers and Celtic are the top two in the league with the former leading 16 points to 15. With his double Heffernan is tied with Steven Naismith with four goals at the top of the scoring charts.
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Holland:
Joint leaders Twente were rocked in a 2-1 defeat at Roda with Marc Janko's goal overturned by strikes from Ruud Vormer and Mitchell Donald. Fellow leaders Ajax, were as usual, slightly more fortunate, beating Heracles 3-2 at Almelo. Miralem Sulejmani and a double from Siem De Jong gave the Amsterdam club the points in between goals from Glynor Plet and Willy Overtoom.
PSV were also surprisingly held, 3-3 at VVV. Ola Toivonen and Dries Mertens had given Eindhoven a 2-0 lead before goals from Ferry De Regt, Uche Nwofor and Maya Yoshida shifted the momentum to Venlo. A late leveller from Wilfred Bouma restored a point for PSV, who were unable to capitalise on an even later dismissal of Marcel Meeuwis.
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| Siem De Jong scored a brace |
In other results, Heerenveen crushed Groningen 3-0 at home, while Feyenoord beat NAC Breda 3-1 away. Utrecht won 3-2 at Excelsior as Graafschap beat NEC and RKC edged Den Haag both by 1-0 scorelines. In the remaining game, a potentially enthralling contest between fourth and fifth turned out to be a rout for AZ who crushed Vitesse 4-0 and moved into second place. Pontus Wernbloom scored a double while Rasmus Elm with a penalty and Rory Beerens added goals for Alkmaar.
Ajaz lead the latter at the top of the table, 13 points to 12, while Mertens leads Janko atop the scoring charts with seven goals to the latter's six.
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Belgium:
The cream is beginning to rise to the top as the unheralded early season leading trio have started to sink down the table.
Heavyweights Anderlecht and Standard Liege are both on the move, winning this week after slowly getting their season in gear. Mechelen and Mons have meanwhile dropped out of the top five after losses while Cercle Brugge maintain their impressive start. Crosstown rivals side Club Brugge also won and remain unbeaten, edging Mechelen 2-1 on the road.
Leaders Gent however, set the pace and won for the fourth time in a row, beating Warengem 3-1 away. Bernd Thijs with a double and Ibrahima Conte scored the goals after Guiseppe Rossini had give the home side an early lead. Anderlecht got goals from Milan Jovanovic and Guillame Gillet to beat Kortrijk 2-0 at home while Liege edged Westerlo at home off a Franck Berrier penalty.
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| Cercle Brugge keep rolling |
Leuven beat Mons 3-1, Cercle beat Beerschot 2-1 and Lierse and Lokeren drew 1-1. Friday's game however saw defending champions Genk triumph 4-3 at Sin Truiden, with Thomas Buffel scoring a double, Jelle Vossen a 67th minute strike and Daniel Toszer the late winner. Genk improve to eighth spot.
Gent and Cercle both have 13 points in first place while Club are in third with 12 points. Cercle's Rudy, who scored a double this weekend has five goals to sit aside Jeremy Perbt at the top of the scoring charts.
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Portugal:
After Porto made up for their delayed schedule with consecutive wins on Tuesday and Friday, 5-2 at Leiria and 3-0 over Setubal, respectively, they moved to their customary spot at the top of the table with four wins from four games.
Benfica kept pace with their third win in a row, beating Guimares 2-1 at home with penalty goals from Oscar Cardozo giving them the points while Edgar Silva replied for Guimares. Braga also won, beating Gil Vicente 3-1 while Sporting edged Pacos 3-2 at Ferreira.
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| Academica's Eder scored a double |
In other results, Maritimo beat Rio Ave 2-1, Olhanense lost to Feirense 2-1, Beira Mar lost to Leiria and Academica continued their good form, crushing Nacional 4-0 in the monday night game with a double from league leading scorer Eder. Porto, Benfica and Braga are the top three while Sporting Lisbon are in seventh. Academica are in fourth with three wins out of four.
Of Porto's eight goals scored this week, James Rodriguez scored three, Kleber Pinheiro scored two, and Silvestre Varela, Joao Moutinho and Fernando Belluschi scored one each. Cardozo and Eder are stop the scoring charts with four goals each.
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Russia:
Dinamo Moscow turned the title race on its head with a massive 4-0 win at CSKA that kept their hosts behind leaders Zenit, who lost themselves at fellow Moscow side Lokomotiv.
CSKA would have fancied themselves at home to Dinamo as they attempted to put some distance to their opponents in third. However Dinamo crushed the early season league leaders with goals from Anriy Voronin, Kevin Kuranyi, Leandro Fernandez and Alaeksandr Kokorin. The result stymies CSKA who remain second on 46 points, now just two points ahead of Dinamo in third.
Zenit would have liked what they saw as they travelled to Lokomotiv, themselves seventh in the table. And after going 2-0 up through Danko Lazovic and Alexander Bukharov, they would have fancied extending their lead to three points. However an epic
second half comeback saw Lokomotiv score four without reply as Victor Obinna, Felipe Caicedo and a double from Manuel Da Costa, seal the improbable win. Zenit remain tied at the top of the table with CSKA on points but ahead on goal difference. Lokomotiv improve to 39 points and fifth place.
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| Roberto Carlos scored |
Anzhi were the other big movers, beating Volga 2-1 with goals from high profile pair of Samuel Eto'o and Roberto Carlos. Mihaita Plesan had given visiting Volga the lead. In other games, Spartak won 1-0 at Amkar, while Rubin were shocked 3-1 at Krasnodar. Rostov beat Nalchik 1-0 away and Sovetov beat Tomsk 2-0 at home. In Monday's game, Ruud Gullit's former club Terek Grozny lost at home to Kuban, the other club from Krasnodar.
Zenit, CSKA, Dinamo, Anzhi, Lokomotiv, Spartak, Rubin and Kuban round out the top eight. Seydou Doumbia and Alexander Kerzhakov still share the scoring lead with 13 strikes apiece.
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