Pichichi contenders Robert Lewandowski and Karim Benzema demonstrated exactly why they remain prized assets to their clubs despite their advancing years when they grabbed a brace apiece as Barcelona, then Real Madrid won in Liga Santander. 34-year-old Poland star Lewandowski scored either side of a Pedri Gonzalez effort to lift Barca to a 4-0 rout of Real Valladolid.
Age-mate and Pichichi (Golden Boot) rival Benzema replied in kind as Real dismissed a valiant Espanyol 3-1 twenty four hours later. Madrid’s victory catapulted Carlo Ancelotti’s reigning Liga Santander, Champions League and Uefa Super Cup winners to a maximum nine points, the same same tally as joint leaders Real Betis, 1-0 winners over Osasuna. The upset of match-day three took place in Almeria where the newcomers overcame Julien Lopetegui’s Sevilla 2-1.
Liverpool registered a Premier League record equaling 9-0 pummeling of Bournemouth as Jurgen Klopp’s FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders bounced back from a 1-2 reverse at Manchester United in style. But the individual performance of the weekend was witnessed at Etihad Stadium where Manchester City’s Erling Braut Haaland’s second half hat-trick propelled the reigning champions to an unforgettable 4-2 win over Crystal Palace.
All Top Six rivals enjoyed a rare weekend of blitz as Chelsea overcame Conor Gallagher’s first half sending off to subdue Leicester City thanks to a Raheem Sterling brace, Tottenham Hotspur romped to a 2-0 win at Nottingham Forest courtesy of a Harry Kane double, Manchester United pipped Southampton 1-0 and leaders Arsenal edged Fulham 2-1. It is the first time in 18 years the Gunners have won four games in a row at the start of a season.
Across continental Europe, two one hundred percent winning records were terminated. Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich needed a late Leroy Sane leveller to help them to a one-all draw with nemesis Gladbach after they had trailed to a Marcus Thuram first half strike. A similar fate befell French behemoths Paris Saint Germain in Ligue One where Neymar’s late penalty salvaged a draw with Monaco. The principality club had set the tempo with a Kevin Volland strike.