United surge into Prem lead
Despite a slow start, Manchester United managed to dismantle cellar-dwellers Sunderland with a 3-0 win at Old Trafford. Wayne Rooney returned to the scoresheet with his first goal in 11 league matches. That was after Memphis Depay’s first goal in league play while Juan Mata capped a fine afternoon when he smashed home the third.
Manchester City sit a point behind their arch-rivals after collapsing to a 4-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur. After taking the lead through Kevin De Bruyne, City lost their way as Eric Dier, Toby Alderweireld, Harry Kane and Erik Lamela all beat goalkeeper Willy Caballero.
Newcastle 2 – Chelsea 2
Leicester 2 – Arsenal 5
Liverpool 3 – Aston Villa 2
Barca win despite injured Messi
FC Barcelona relied on a Luis Suarez double after Lionel Messi trudged off with an injury in their 2-1 defeat of Las Palmas. Messi clattered into an opposing defender while closing in on goal with just three minutes gone in the game. An internal collateral ligament tear in his left knee means he will be sidelined for 7-8 weeks.
Real Madrid surrendered the league lead after a wasteful 0-0 draw at home against Malaga. With 69% possession and 31 shots taken at goal, Los Blancos handed the lead to Villarreal who beat former champions Atletico Madrid 1-0 at El Madrigal.
Sevilla 3 – Rayo Vallecano 2
Sporting Gijon 1 – Real Betis 2
Dep La Coruna 3 – Espanyol 0
More misery for the Champions
Juventus slumped to a third defeat from six games this season in their 2-1 defeat at Napoli on Saturday. Lorenzo Insigne gave Napoli the lead before Gonzalo Higuain capitalized on Hernanes’ mistake to fire home on 62 minutes. Youngster Mario Lemina brought one back instantaneously for Juve but that was all they could muster.
AS Roma moved into sixth place after trouncing newcomers Carpi 5-1 at Stadio Olimpico. Five different scorers netted for Roma including a free kick goal from Miralem Pjanic.
Genoa 1 – AC Milan 0
H Verona 1 – Lazio 2
Bologna 1 – Udinese 2
Bayern make it seven straight
It took them 51 minutes to go into the lead the job was done nonetheless as Bayern Munich defeated Mainz 3-0 at Coface Arena. Five-goal hero in midweek Robert Lewandowski continued his hot scoring form with another double to make it seven goals in five days. Kingsley Coman scored the third which added to his earlier assist.
Borussia Dortmund sit four points behind leaders Bayern Munich after drawing 2-2 with newly promoted team Darmstadt. Aytac Sulu claimed the stoppage time goal that secured a massive point for the small club.
Werder Bremen 0 – Bayer Leverkusen 3
Wolfsburg 1 – Hannover 1
Hamburg 0 – Schalke 1