The third weekend of September saw Europe's top teams return to action after the international break, and clubs such as Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich all wasted no time when resuming their endless pursuit of silverware.
There were precious few shock results across the top five leagues, though the Serie A champions found themselves frustrated in Monza, while Bundesliga contenders RB Leipzig were held to a home draw.
Elsewhere, Robin van Persie's first foray into management suffered a shocking nine-goal setback as a former Tottenham Hotspur striker helped himself to four goals in the Netherlands.
Here, Sports Mole rounds up the weekend's action from across the continent.
"IT'S LAMINE YAMAL!" 🎙️
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) September 15, 2024
The 17-year-old with Barcelona's opening goal in the derby against Girona 🔵🔴 pic.twitter.com/AlIk5ypaV5
In Spain, Barcelona stayed top of the standings as they continued a mightily impressive start to the season, with Lamine Yamal scoring twice in a 4-1 win over Catalan neighbours Girona.
Pedri and summer signing Dani Olmo were also on the scoresheet for Hansi Flick's in-form side, before substitute Ferran Torres was sent off following a reckless studs-up foul on Yaser Asprilla.
The Blaugrana are flying high in La Liga, already four points clear of their nearest rivals thanks to a flawless record so far, and they will now look forward to hosting Monaco in the Champions League.
Their nearest challengers are old foes Real Madrid, who have accrued 11 points from five games after a 2-0 win over Real Sociedad at Anoeta.
© Imago
Madrid's success was secured by second-half penalties from superstar forwards Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe, despite the absence of several key midfielders.
Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni were all unavailable, but Mbappe produced his third goal in two league games by beating Alex Remiro from the penalty spot after a foul on Vinicius, who had previously opened the scoring.
The unlucky hosts hit the woodwork three times - twice through rising star Luka Sucic - but Los Blancos survived and remain unbeaten after five rounds of La Liga.
Sitting just three points behind, their city rivals Atletico Madrid saw two summertime arrivals score for the first time on Sunday.
England midfielder Conor Gallagher opened the scoring in a 3-0 victory over Valencia, before Antoine Griezmann doubled Atleti's lead and ex-Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez celebrated his first strike at the Metropolitano.
First goal feeling... ❤️🤍 pic.twitter.com/QlypmmvOF8
— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) September 16, 2024
Having failed to find the net in his first four appearances, Alvarez converted a close-range finish during second-half stoppage time to keep Atleti in touch with Barca, Real and third-placed Villarreal, for whom Ayoze Perez scored a last-gasp winner in Mallorca.
As in Spain, Germany's top teams enjoyed a successful weekend, with Harry Kane scoring a hat-trick as Bayern Munich won 6-1 at promoted Holstein Kiel and Bayer Leverkusen striding to victory in Hoffenheim.
Bayern lead the Bundesliga with a maximum nine points from three rounds, as Vincent Kompany's side set out to dethrone Leverkusen.
They are two points clear of second-placed Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig, the latter of whom faltered, being held to a 0-0 home draw by Union Berlin after missing a penalty.
50 - Harry Kane was directly involved in 50 goals in 35 Bundesliga games - since det. data collection (2004-05) no other player reached that milestone that fast (Erling Haaland previously in 44 games). HurryKane. pic.twitter.com/KSbVhEk9QX
— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) September 14, 2024
The Bavarian giants were three goals to the good within 13 minutes, and Kane completed his first treble of the new season with a stoppage time spot kick.
After suffering a rare loss just before the international break - their first in the league for over a year - Leverkusen were quickly back into the groove, as Victor Boniface bagged a brace and Germany star Florian Wirtz netted a penalty in their 4-1 win.
In the process, Xabi Alonso's title-winners extended their unbeaten away run to 19 matches, which is the second longest streak in Bundesliga history, after Bayern strung together 33 without defeat between 2012 and 2014.
While Germany's reigning champions are looking up at top spot, so are Italy's Scudetto holders, as Inter Milan drew for the second time this term to drop one point behind a side managed by their former head coach.
Antonio Conte's Napoli were inspired by Romelu Lukaku in Sardinia, as the Belgian striker scored once and provided two assists in the Azzurri's comprehensive 4-0 win over Cagliari.
Romelu Lukaku has a goal and an assist against Cagliari tonight!
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 15, 2024
Loving life under Conte 💪
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/6rMqskOytV
Scotland midfielders Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour both made their debut from the bench as Conte's men posted a third straight success, before Inter spurned the chance to reclaim first place a few hours later.
Having gone behind to their Lombardy neighbours on 81 minutes, it was left to Denzel Dumfries to save the Nerazzurri's skin late on; the Serie A champions are now locked on eight points with Turin clubs Juventus - held to a goalless draw by Empoli on Saturday - and Torino.
Elsewhere, AC Milan also won 4-0 - in their case, against struggling Venezia - while Atalanta BC beat Fiorentina in a five-goal thriller in Bergamo. Roma are still winless and sit 15th in the standings.
Over the border in France, Paris Saint-Germain seized the Ligue 1 summit, as they continued their transition to life after Mbappe.
Stepping out of his international teammate's shadow this season, Ousmane Dembele scored twice in a 3-1 home win over Champions League new boys Brest, and Fabian Ruiz provided the highlight of another smart PSG showing with a superb long-range strike.
Luis Enrique's side have collected a maximum 12 points from four games so far, leaving them two clear of Marseille and Monaco - both winners at the weekend.
Marseille beat southern rivals Nice 2-0, while Monaco put three past Auxerre without reply on Saturday; Sunday's late game saw Lyon and Lens play out a goalless draw.
Elsewhere in Europe...
🥵 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓. 𝐀. 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓.
— AZ (@AZAlkmaar) September 14, 2024
Nine goals to seal our biggest Eredivisie win THIS CENTURY!
⚽️ 5. Mijnans
⚽️ 23. Parrott
⚽️ 48. Parrott
⚽️ 50. Parrott
⚽️ 56. Parrott
⚽️ 72. Sadiq
⚽️ 75. Meerdink
⚽️ 82. Belic
⚽️ 85. Buurmeester#AZ #azhee #TheFutureIsOurs | Presented by Unibet pic.twitter.com/9YSbJhmw8w
In a weekend that saw Arsenal defeat Tottenham in the North London derby once again, ex-Spurs striker Troy Parrott at least got one - or should that be four - over on former Gunners forward Robin van Persie.
Parrott netted a quartet of goals as AZ Alkmaar ruthlessly thrashed Van Persie's Heerenveen 9-1, including an incredible eight-minute second-half hat-trick.
The Irishman's finishing helped move AZ up to second place in the Eredivisie, just two points behind reigning champions PSV Eindhoven, as they posted a club-record margin of victory.
Meanwhile, managerial rookie Van Persie has vowed not to change his attacking approach, despite Heerenveen suffering their worst league loss ever.
Finally, a rather more pragmatic manager - the vastly experienced Jose Mourinho - is settling in nicely to life in Istanbul, as his Fenerbahce team sit top of the Turkish Super Lig after five matches.
Fener lead city rivals Galatasaray by one point following a 2-0 weekend win at Kasimpasa - albeit having played one game more - and Mourinho will surely allow himself a wry smile when peering down from the summit at former club Roma, who sacked him last season.
Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce are currently top of the Turkish Super League while his former club Roma are currently winless and 15th in Serie A this season 👀 pic.twitter.com/OXXJwv1slg
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 15, 2024
