Newcastle United delivered a strong statement of intent by dismantling Aston Villa 5-1 on the opening weekend of the new Premier League season. The Magpies £55m marque signing Sandro Tonali slotted into midfield with minimum fuss and was the directing intelligence as the Magpies showed last season’s Champions League qualification wasn’t a flash in the pan. A goal and an assist from the former AC Milan midfield metronome capped a spotless display that lifted Eddie Howe’s side to the apex of the standings.
Roberto de Zerbi’s Brighton Hove Albion are second on the nascent EPL table after they saw off a spirited fight from newcomers Luton Town 4-1 with record signing Joao Pedro among the goals. Champions Manchester City set the tone for a goals deluge by wiping the floor with former captain Vincent Kompany’s Burnley 3-0 thanks to a brace from reigning European Golden Boot winner Erling Braut Haaland.
The pick of the matches took place at Stamford Bridge where six time English top flight champions Chelsea battled to a one all stalemate with 19-time titlists Liverpool. In a game overshadowed by the two sides’ transfer market jostling for midfielders Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, Blues new signing Axel Disasi cancelled out Luis Diaz’s opener. Manchester United complete the opening match day when they host Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday.
In Spain, record champions Real Madrid are the early season pacesetters courtesy of a 2-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao courtesy of goals from Rodrygo Goes and £103m signing Jude Bellingham. Carlo Ancelotti’s Los Blancos are joint top along with Rayo Vallecano, 2-0 winners at Almeria, Osasuna who ambushed Celta Vigo 2-0 and Real Betis who overcame Villarreal 2-1 at the Estadio de la Ceramica. Winger Raphinha was sent off as eigning champs Barcelona were held to a goalless stalemate at Getafe.
Across the border in France, Rennes are the early season pacesetters after humbling newcomers Metz 5-1. They were joined on maximum points by Olympique Marseille and Monaco after France’s only European champions overcame Stade Reims 2-1 and the principality club bludgeoned Clermont Foot 4-2 thanks to a brace from Wissam Ben Yedder. Champions Paris Saint Germain were without 212 goal record scorer Kylian Mbappe Lottin as they were held to a barren draw at the Parc des Princes by Lorient.
Thomas Tuchel is feeling pressure that comes with failure to meet expectations at Bayern Munich after the Allianz Arena giants were pummelled 3-0 by Marco Rose’s RB Leipzig in the German Super Cup. The German Cup winners showed they can cope with the loss of stars Christopher Nkunku and Dominic Szoboszlai when Spanish international midfielder Dani Olmo grabbed a hat trick to sour the mood in Harry Kane’s debut game for the Bavarians.