English Premier League
Manchester United commenced their Premier League season with an emphatic 4-1 win over Swansea City away at the Stadium of Light in Wales. Robin Van Persie opened the scoring for the reigning champions on 34 minutes with an acrobatic effort after getting between the two central defenders to chest down a lobbed pass from Ryan Giggs. Danny Welbeck doubled the lead two minutes later when he tapped in Antonio Valencia’s drilled pass following Patrice Evra’s cross from the left. Wayne Rooney came on in the second half and assisted Van Persie with his second goal of the evening. Wilfried Bony scored a consolation for the hosts but the three goal lead was restored when Welbeck too scored his second in injury time.
Manchester City got their campaign off to a great start as they beat Newcastle United 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium. David Silva opened the scoring on 6 minutes nodding in Edin Dzeko cross which was cleared only up to the Spaniard by Steven Taylor. Sergio Aguero doubled the lead in the 22nd minute when he did well to get away from Taylor to finish low following good work by Dzeko and Vincent Kompany. Things got worse for the Magpies as Taylor was sent off in 1st half added time. Yaya Toure curled a brilliant free kick into the top corner 5 minutes after the restart and Samir Nasri came on as a substitute to score his sides’ fourth on 75 minutes.
Jose Mourinho marked his return to Stamford Bridge with a win as Chelsea beat newly promoted Hull City 2-0. Hull custodian Allan McGregor conceded an early penalty when he bundled Fernando Torres over in the 6th minute. Frank Lampard stepped up to take the penalty but McGregor made amends with a good save. Kevin de Bruyne found Oscar with a neat through ball and the Brazilian poked the ball past McGregor to open the scoring for the Blues on 13 minutes. Lampard soon got on the score sheet as he converted a free kick with a vicious dipping effort after 25 minutes. Chelsea seemed to be making it all too easy for themselves but Hull came into the game to finish on a better note.
Arsene Wenger’s future at the Emirates was brought into question as his Arsenal side lost 3-1 at home to Aston Villa who have enjoyed a good pre-season. Olivier Giroud put the Gunners in front on 6 minutes turning in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s cut back. Christian Benteke equalised in the 22nd minute as Villa were awarded a penalty after Wojciech Szczesny brought down Gabriel Agbonlahor. Szczesny saved the spot kick from Benteke but the Belgian headed in the rebound. Another penalty was awarded to Villa in the second half and Benteke made no mistake this time around. Laurent Koscielny was sent off for a second yellow card on 67 minutes and as Arsenal looked for the equaliser, Antonio Luna scored the third for the visitors with 5 minutes left to play. Arsene Wenger needs to make some big signings to strengthen the squad and needs to do it fast with the transfer window closing in less than 14 days time.
Daniel Sturridge scored the only goal of the game as Liverpool beat Stoke City at Anfield. Jonathan Walters missed a great chance to earn a point for the Potters but new signing Simon Mignolet saved the day for the Reds with a great penalty save.
Roberto Soldado scored from the spot on his debut as Tottenham Hotspur beat Crystal Palace 1-0 away. Norwich City drew 2-2 at Carrow Road against Everton with Steven Whittaker opening the scoring for the Canaries. Everton fought back with Ross Barkley scoring a screamer and Seasmus Coleman adding a second only for Norwich’s record signing Ricky van Wolfswinkel to secure a point for the hosts. Sunderland despite having so many chances were beaten 1-0 by Fulham at the Stadium of Light courtesy of Pajtim Kasami’s goal.
Ricky Lambert scored from the spot on 90 minutes as Southampton beat hosts West Bromwich Albion 1-0 while West Ham United beat new comers Cardiff City 2-0 at home thanks to goals from Joe Cole and Kevin Nolan.
Spanish La Liga
Reigning champions Barcelona opened the season with a 7-0 thrashing of Levante at the Camp Nou. Lionel Messi and Pedro bagged a brace each while Alexis Sanchez, Dani Alves and Xavi also chipped in with goals. Isco won it for Real Madrid as they beat Real Betis 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu after Karim Benzema had cancelled out Jorge Molina’s opener. Valencia beat Malaga 1-0 while Sevilla were beaten 3-1 at home by Atletico Madrid.
German Bundesliga
Reigning German and European champions Bayern Munich beat Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0 away thanks to Mario Mandzukic’s goal while Borussia Dortmund beat Eintracht Braunschweig 2-1 at home courtesy of goals from Jonas Hoffman and Marco Reus with Kevin Kratz pulling one back for the visitors. Bayer Leverkusen beat Stuttgart 1-0 away while Wolfsburg thrashed Schalke 4-0 at home.
Italian Super Cup
Reigning league champions Juventus hammered Lazio 4-0 at the Stadio Olimpico to win their first piece of silverware for the new season. Paul Pogba opened the scoring in the first half with Giorgio Chiellini, Stephan Lichsteiner and Carlos Tevez scoring in the second half.
French Ligue 1
Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain had Edinson Cavani to thank as the Uruguayan striker rescued a point with a late equaliser as the game ended 1-1 against AC Ajaccio. Newly rich AS Monaco beat Montpellier 4-1 with Radamel Falcao scoring from the spot and Emmanuel Riviere scoring a hat trick. Marseille beat Evian Thonon Gaillard 2-0 while Lyon beat Sochaux 3-1 away.
Dutch Eredivisie
PSV Eindhoven beat Go Ahead Eagles 3-0 at home while AZ Alkmaar beat Waalwijk 2-1 away. Ajax Amsterdam beat Feyenoord Rotterdam 2-1 at home with Twente Enschede thrashing FC Utrecht 6-0 at home.
Portuguese Liga
Maritimo beat Benfica 2-1 at home while FC Porto beat Vitoria Setubal 3-1 away with Sporting Lisbon beating FC Arouca 5-1.
Scottish Premier League
Defending champions Celtic beat Aberdeen 2-0 away while Hibernian and Dundee United drew 1-1 and St Johnstone beat Ross County 4-0 with Inverness Caledonian Thistle beating Motherwell 2-0 at home.
