Barcelona trounced Atletico Madrid 5-0, with Lionel Messi grabbing a hat trick. Cristiano Ronaldo also netted three as Madrid came from 1-0 down to beat Rayo Vallecano 6-2. Sevilla beat previously second place Valencia 1-0, and Malaga drew at Real Zaragoza. Leaders Real Betis can open up a four point lead with a win at Getafe on Monday.
In Italy, Juventus jointly lead the way despite a 1-1 draw with Catania. They are level on points with Udinese, who drew 0-0 at Cagliari. Inter Milan won their first match of the season 3-1 at Bologna, whilst Roma also got their first win 1-0 at Parma. AC Milan beat Cesena 1-0 at home, whilst Atalanta’s good start continued with a 2-1 win over Novara. Genoa went down 2-1 at Chievo to end their good start and Napoli drew 0-0 with Fiorentina.
Manchester United’s 100% record came to an end on Saturday as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Stoke. Nani put them ahead early on but Stoke battled back with their direct style and eventually levelled through a header from a corner from Peter Crouch.
Manchester City are level on points with their city rivals after a 2-0 win over Everton, and Chelsea kept touch with a 4-1 success against Swansea. Newcastle also continued their good start with a 3-1 win over Blackburn. Arsenal got back to winning ways with a 3-0 win over Bolton, whilst Liverpool (2-1) beat Wolves and Tottenham won by the same score at Wigan.
In France, PSG leapt to the top of the league with a stunning 3-0 win at Montpellier, ending their victims superb start to the season. It means they are just ahead of Lyon, who cruised to a 3-1 win over Bordeaux. Champions Lille drew 1-1 with Lorient as Joe Cole got his first goal for the club, whilst Rennes missed the chance to go top with a 1-1 draw with St. Etienne. Marseille’s poor form continued with a 1-1 draw at Valenciennes, and Toulouse continued their good form with a win at home to Nancy.
Bayern Munich continued their superb start in Germany with a 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen at home, with Werder Bremen second after beating Hertha Berlin 2-1. Borussia Moenchengladbach beat Nuremberg 1-0 to continue their good start to the season and are third. Champions Borussia Dortmund beat Mainz 2-1 away.
AZ Aalkmar are top of the Eredivisie after a 2-1 win over Feyenoord, with Twente second after a 1-1 draw with Ajax away. PSV beat Roda 7-1 and are fourth.
In Portugal, Braga beat Nacional 2-0 to keep touch with Benfica and Porto, who drew 2-2 on Friday night, and in Turkey Istanbul BB are surprise leaders after a 2-0 win at Manisaspor. Fenerbahce beat Kayserispor 1- 0 to keep touch at the top.
Diego Souza struck all three goals in Vasco de Gama’s 3-0 win at Cruizero, to keep the Brasiliero leaders clear at the top of the Brazilian championship.
Cruizero, who are threatened by relegation, then had to contend with hundreds of angry fans protesting at their training ground.
Corinthians remain second and beat Bahia 1-0 to keep in contention, whilst Rivaldo scored an injury time equaliser for third placed Sao Paulo, who drew 2-2 with fourth place Botafogo.
Argentine leaders Boca Juniors could only draw 0-0 with Argentinos Juniors, who have not won a game yet this season, but they remain four points clear of Racing, who also drew by the same score with San Lorenzo in a game they dominated. Champions Velez Sarsfield beat Independiente 1-0.
