- Mbappe exposes Barca
- All set for Der Klassiker
- Another Inter comeback
- Archer again for Auxerre
- Tolu unstoppable for Ajax
LaLiga: Mbappe exposes Barca
After nine straight LaLiga wins, Barcelona fell 2-1 to Real Madrid at Spotify Camp Nou, with Mbappe netting both goals for Mourinho’s side. Does Barca have a flaw?
It may sound odd after such a dazzling start under Hansi Flick, but sky‑high ambitions mean Champions League success hinges on handling elite opponents.
Following a 4-2 loss to PSG where keeper Joan Garcia limited the French to four, Barcelona still couldn’t stop Madrid’s breakthrough. Mourinho even detailed the tactic.
He said, “Attacking space against Barcelona is tough; you must use midfielders.” He cited Camavinga and Bellingham as the keys to shatter the line.
In his debut Clasico, Mbappe was caught offside seven times – a six‑year European‑league record. This time he arrived to decide, as Camavinga surged forward.
Barca sit atop the table and can overwhelm most foes. Yet Flick must win marquee matches to chase the Champions League; Inter and Atletico have ousted them before, and this loss serves as a stark warning. In my view, Flick’s tactics need urgent tweaking.
Julian Alvarez, once a summer target and last season’s Champions League quarter‑final scorer against Barca, is now forging ties in Madrid. Fresh from his first season goal, he delivered Saturday’s winner.
The Argentine struck the lone goal at Deportivo A Coruña and later apologised for his ‘dream‑transfer’ remarks. Simeone praised his contrition, and Atletico sit just two points behind Barca in second.
Valencia’s woes continued as they dropped the derby to Villarreal after a chaotic cameo by Harvey Elliott. The English substitute was sent off for dissent, then Georges Mikautadze netted a stoppage‑time winner.
LaLiga results: Alaves 1-1 Malaga, Rayo Vallecano 0-3 Elche, Racing Santander 2-1 Espanyol, Valencia 1-2 Villarreal, Atletico Madrid 1-0 Deportivo A Coruna, Athletic Club 4-0 Getafe, Celta Vigo 0-0 Real Betis, Real Sociedad 2-1 Levante, Barcelona 1-2 Real Madrid.
Bundesliga: All set for Der Klassiker
Bayern Munich face off‑field turmoil as coach Vincent Kompany battles a viral infection and captain Joshua Kimmich takes compassionate leave after his father’s death. Bigger matters loom beyond football.
Nevertheless, they edged a tough away game at Freiburg, who had won five straight at home. The win keeps Bayern level on points with Borussia Dortmund atop the Bundesliga ahead of next weekend’s Der Klassiker.
A late Maxi Beier strike secured Dortmund’s 1-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt, preserving their chase. Leverkusen, however, slipped after a 3-0 defeat at Hoffenheim.
Andrej Kramaric opened the scoring, marking his 18th consecutive penalty in the league. Patrik Schick failed to find the net for the first time this season. So far, Niclas Fullkrug leads the scoring charts.
Werder Bremen’s favourite converted both penalties in a 3-2 win at Mainz, moving ahead of Schick with eight goals. West Ham and AC Milan fans may be surprised, but he’s thriving back in Bremen.
RB Leipzig thumped Elversberg four‑nil, while Rayan Philippe snatched an 88th‑minute winner for Paderborn against parent club Hamburg. Borussia Mönchengladbach bounced back, beating Stuttgart after an opening‑season slump.
Bundesliga results: Stuttgart 2-3 Borussia Monchengladbach, Augsburg 1-1 Union Berlin, Cologne 0-0 Schalke, Mainz 2-3 Werder Bremen, Paderborn 1-0 Hamburg, RB Leipzig 4-0 Elversberg, Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Eintracht Frankfurt, Hoffenheim 3-0 Bayer Leverkusen, Freiburg 1-3 Bayern Munich.
Serie A: Yet another Inter comeback
How many more times can Inter pull this off? Earlier they fell two goals behind in three straight games yet still amassed seven points. Last week they conceded first to Bologna and still won. This time was the most stunning.
Fiorentina led into stoppage time, but Inter snatched victory at San Siro. Marcus Thuram equalised in the 91st minute and earned the penalty that Piotr Zieliński converted in the 98th. Thirteen points gained from losing positions.
Lazio continue to dominate the Italian narrative, delivering a convincing win over Parma with their highest possession tally yet and, unlike three prior victories, the superior expected‑goals figure.
Gennaro Gattuso’s side sit level on points with Inter, sharing an identical record, while Roma and Milan remain unbeaten. Milan simply bounced back, with Ruben Amorim’s side turning a Bournemouth loss into a win at Udinese.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s Roma rallied from two down to draw 3-3 away at Napoli. Scott McTominay scored twice for the hosts, yet Leonardo Balerdi’s unlikely brace salvaged a point for Napoli.
Eight goals were shared between Atalanta and a spirited Frosinone, who defy expectations in sixth place. Juventus found a touch of form at Lecce, and Como followed their Manchester United upset with a win over Sassuolo.
Serie A results: Torino 3-2 Monza, Cagliari 0-2 Bologna, Como 2-0 Sassuolo, Napoli 3-3 Roma, Lazio 2-1 Parma, Inter 2-1 Fiorentina, Atalanta 4-4 Frosinone, Genoa 1-0 Venezia, Lecce 0-2 Juventus, Udinese 0-2 Milan.