Man Utd on brink, Chelsea-Spurs will get feisty, Madrid rally whereas Barca sputter

With Spain’s LaLiga and Italy’s Serie A kicking off this weekend, all of Europe’s main soccer leagues are again in motion. And though the seasons are barely underway in leagues akin to England’s Premier League and the Germany’s Bundesliga, there already has been loads of drama and storylines.

ESPN correspondents Rob Dawson, Alex Kirkland, Julien Laurens, Sam Marsden and James Olley all break down the massive stuff it’s worthwhile to know concerning the weekend.

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Soar to: Speaking factors | Greatest objectives | Groups in hassle | MVP of the Weekend

Speaking factors

Martinez’s woes on Ten Hag?

There are many points for Erik ten Hag to wade by following Manchester United’s 4-0 humiliation at Brentford on Saturday, and Lisandro Martinez is certainly one of them. There was debate about whether or not the Argentina man can deal with the physicality of the Premier League since his transfer from Ajax Amsterdam, and it was noticeable that he was focused by Brentford with lengthy balls as much as Ivan Toney.

– Premier League’s finest and worst kits of the previous 30 years

Ten Hag changed Martinez at half-time and introduced on Raphael Varane in his place, and whereas it is nonetheless very early, there shall be concern that Ten Hag has bought certainly one of his key summer time signings unsuitable. You solely have to take a look at the gamers introduced in and the opposite names linked with strikes to see that Ten Hag has been central to United’s recruitment this summer time, and Martinez’s efficiency at Brentford doesn’t mirror nicely on the brand new supervisor. — Dawson

Conte and Tuchel ignite new rivalry

Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte beforehand solely had good issues to say about one another, however Sunday’s tempestuous 2-2 draw between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur featured clashes that may absolutely ignite a contemporary managerial rivalry.

On an unusually scorching London afternoon, the temperatures had been at their highest on the touchline as first Conte after which Tuchel took turns to have fun with rising antagonism because the groups traded blows in a pulsating 90-minute encounter. Twice, they needed to be separated by gamers and employees from each golf equipment, the second time after a handshake throughout which Tuchel took umbrage at Conte’s lack of eye contact.

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Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte admit they loved their heated exchanges following Chelsea’s draw with Spurs.

Referee Anthony Taylor despatched each managers off on the ultimate whistle as Spurs celebrated salvaging a degree from an underwhelming show by Harry Kane’s 96th-minute header. Tuchel launched a livid assault on Taylor afterward, claiming he shouldn’t be allowed to officiate Chelsea video games in future — a suggestion that’s virtually sure to land him in additional scorching water with the Soccer Affiliation — however it was his fracas with Conte that drew probably the most consideration.

Chelsea and Tottenham have a long-standing and bitter rivalry. However right here was a brand new chapter, and with Spurs harboring goals underneath Conte to shut the hole on the Premier League’s best sides, it may be set to run and run. — Olley

Bench rescues Madrid in opening win

There was one thing acquainted about Actual Madrid’s LaLiga opener at Almeria on Sunday: a dramatic 2-1 comeback win, with the champions preventing again from a purpose down to assert all three factors. In actual fact, by Madrid requirements, this was a reasonably tame turnaround, with the objectives from Lucas Vazquez after which David Alaba — offering one of many moments of the weekend with a chic free kick, curled into the highest nook seconds after taking the sphere in its place — coming within the 61st and seventy fifth minutes, reasonably than added time.

ALABA FREE KICK GOLAZO WITH HIS FIRST TOUCH OF THE MATCH 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Bto4ZoMMsb

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) August 14, 2022

Madrid had been troubled by a well-organized Almeria workforce, with coach Carlo Ancelotti’s 5 modifications leaving the facet missing some fluency, particularly in midfield, the place Casemiro and Luka Modric had been missed. The sport went on, although the guests’ superiority started to inform, and by the point Vazquez made it 1-1, just one final result appeared attainable.

The truth that Ancelotti might name on Modric, Eden Hazard, Alaba, Casemiro and Dani Ceballos as substitutes confirmed the exceptional depth of Madrid’s bench. Even when issues do not go to plan from the off, they’ve ample sources in reserve to show issues round. — Kirkland

Barcelona’s new stars nonetheless must mesh

Barcelona have spent greater than €150 million in new signings this summer time, however they had been held to a goalless draw on the opening day of the marketing campaign at Camp Nou by Rayo Vallecano, who haven’t spent a penny within the offseason.

Barca handed debuts in assault to Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha, who arrived at a mixed price of €100 million, however neither of them might mark his debut with a purpose. It might have been even worse for Barca, too, with Sergio Busquets despatched off late on and Rayo striker Radamel Falcao having a purpose dominated out for offside moments later.

Barca had, as anticipated, dominated giant components of the match towards a facet they misplaced to twice final time period, registering over 20 pictures on purpose, however it seems like it might take time for his or her new arrivals to click on. There may be work for Xavi Hernandez to do on the coaching floor forward of a tough journey to Actual Sociedad subsequent weekend — even when he used the draw to say Barca “nonetheless must strengthen” earlier than the switch window closes this month. — Marsden

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Luis Garcia discusses Barcelona’s struggles and whether or not they need to be anxious transferring ahead.

Targets

Lukaku’s dream begin

It took Romelu Lukaku 81 seconds to attain on his return to Internazionale. The purpose in itself was nothing particular. The Belgian participant was simply on the proper place on the proper time after Federico Dimarco’s cross and Matto Darmian’s header throughout purpose. It was a typical Lukaku end together with his eye for purpose and his anticipation within the field.

It’s the dream begin for second stint with Inter Milan and in Serie A. There are excessive expectations round Lukaku. He’s again to regain the title after rivals AC Milan beat the Nerazzurri to it final season, when Lukaku was at Chelsea.

Lukaku did not have way more than his purpose to point out for (just one different shot in the entire recreation, 32 touches, 15 passes made), however he led the road nicely, and that is an important factor. In fact, scoring on his debut does not imply a lot for him. Do not forget that final season, he netted solely quarter-hour into his Chelsea debut, away at Arsenal. We all know what occurred in the remainder of the marketing campaign. Let’s not get too carried away, then, though this actually feels otherwise. Lukaku is again dwelling. — Laurens

The Yellow Submarine on due course

Alex Baena had already scored his first ever LaLiga purpose, placing Villarreal 2-0 up at Actual Valladolid, by the point he picked up the ball on the left within the ninetieth minute. What occurred subsequent stunned everybody — even himself — because the 21-year-old academy product reduce inside earlier than unleashing an unstoppable, viciously dipping shot previous goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo, flying off the crossbar and into the web to make it 3-0.

HIGHLIGHTS: #RealValladolidVillarreal 0-3

💛 @VillarrealCFen kicked their season off by taking three factors off newbies @realvalladolidE on Saturday afternoon!#KickOffLaLigaSantander #LaLigaHighlights pic.twitter.com/iFOx7HHi4G

— LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) August 13, 2022

Villarreal’s gamers ran off to have fun, laughing deliriously, seemingly shocked by what they’d simply seen. Starting the season with an away win is a radical turnaround from early final 12 months, when the workforce went from August to December with out a victory on the highway, and it is simply the beginning {that a} workforce with Champions League ambitions require.

One other academy product, Nicolas Jackson, scored within the recreation too. With Villarreal tweeting “The kids are alright” after the win, The Yellow Submarine simply may be. — Kirkland

Kubo’s contact an indication of stability?

Takefusa Kubo has nice pedigree, having come by Barcelona’s academy earlier than becoming a member of Actual Madrid by way of FC Tokyo, however his profession has not fairly taken off but. The 21-year-old confirmed glimpses of his potential on mortgage at Mallorca, however strikes to Villarreal and Getafe did not work out so nicely.

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Takefusa Kubo purpose twenty fourth minute Cádiz 0-1 Actual Sociedad

A everlasting swap to Actual Sociedad adopted this summer time and, if Sunday’s purpose is something to go by, he may profit from lastly having a steady dwelling. Mikel Merino’s cross was chic, and Kubo’s good contact and end on his debut gave La Actual a hard-fought 1-0 win away at Cadiz to open the season with three factors. — Marsden

Groups in hassle

Not going to get simpler at Man Utd

It is virtually spectacular that Manchester United persistently appear to seek out methods to sink to new depths. Simply once you thought it could not get any worse, they handle to concede 4 objectives in 35 minutes at Brentford and drop to the underside of the Premier League desk. Stretching again to final season, United have misplaced 9 of their previous 14 aggressive video games and 6 of their previous eight. That is relegation kind by anybody’s requirements.

– Social media reacts to Man Utd’s stunning loss

Nobody is suggesting that might probably occur, however they appear to be a workforce who do not know the place their subsequent purpose is coming from, not to mention their subsequent win. United’s subsequent two dwelling video games are towards Liverpool and Arsenal, with journeys to Southampton and Leicester sandwiched in between. The begin to the season is already a catastrophe, however it might get much more messy in a short time — Dawson

Leverkusen’s struggles are actual

Bayer Leverkusen had been so entertaining final season, scoring for enjoyable, with Patrik Schick and Moussa Diaby taking the Bundesliga by storm, and Gerardo Seoane bought loads of issues proper for his first season on the membership. How completely different already is that this marketing campaign. Bayer have simply been crushed twice for his or her first two league matches, at Dortmund (1-1) and this weekend towards Augsburg (2-1), after they had solely misplaced two of their first 9 final season.

Having additionally been knocked out of the German Cup within the first spherical by third-division workforce Elversberg (4-3), Bayer are unrecognizable. They created a number of probabilities on the weekend with an anticipated purpose of two.57 and 24 pictures, 10 on course, however couldn’t end. They ended the sport with 5 forwards, however the effectivity, as soon as once more, was not there. The strain is already huge on Seoane, they usually want a response at dwelling once more subsequent weekend towards TSG Hoffenheim. — Laurens

Weekend MVP

Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal)

Gabriel Jesus marked his dwelling debut towards Leicester Metropolis following a £45 million transfer from Manchester Metropolis with exactly the type of all-action show he was signed for. The 25-year-old curled dwelling his first Premier League purpose for Arsenal with a intelligent Twenty third-minute end earlier than a back-post header doubled his contribution 12 minutes later. Jesus additionally registered two assists — for Granit Xhaka and Gabriel Martinelli — because the Gunners maintained their 100{cf07cd047201b183b19c0b335dbd7d35a498f84568531c8abe8643bd3ccfd494} file firstly of the season with a 4-2 win at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

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Steve Nicol reacts to Gabriel Jesus’ efficiency in Arsenal’s 4-2 win over Leicester.

Jesus was all the time anticipated to set the Arsenal press together with his energetic operating, however the nice unknown was whether or not he might show prolific in entrance of purpose away from the relentless chance-creating machine that’s Manchester Metropolis. Harder challenges await, however this was a vastly encouraging technique to begin. — Olley