The Spanish champions Real Madrid had to wait for two stunning strikes from a dependable Marco Asensio as they drew 2-2 at home with Valencia on Sunday while Sevilla grabbed a rare deserved first win of the season by defeating Getafe 1-0.
Asensio, 21, impressed the Santiago Bernabeu Faithfuls with a long- range opening strike but Valencia scored two impressive team goals either side of the break through their homegrown youngster Carlos Soler and the debutant Geoffrey Kondogbia. Marcelino’s side led with 13 minutes to go, forcing Asensio to rescue Real with a superb free-kick in the 83rd minute.
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| Real Madrid’s Marco Asensio celebrates with his teammates after scoring the opening goal against Valencia. Photograph: Javier Lopez/EPA |
Madrid missed the presence of their talisman Cristiano Ronaldo and captain Sergio Ramos through suspension but almost stole the three points in stoppage time when Karim Benzema’s shot was turned on to the post by Valencia goalkeeper Neto.
The Brazilian midfielder Ganso gave Sevilla a first league win under new coach Eduardo Berizzo with a stylish late flick against promoted Getafe, who missed several chances to score. Real have four points from their two games heading into the international break while Barcelona, Real Sociedad and Leganes won both their opening matches.
Athletic Bilbao earned a first win under coach Jose Angel Ziganda by defeating fellow Basque side Eibar 1-0 away and Leganes won 1-0 at Espanyol.
In Italy, Suso spared AC Milan from the prospect of a frustrating home draw with Cagliari by whipping in a match-winning free-kick at San Siro. The ambitious and relentless Rossoneri led their Sardinian opponents in the 10th minute when teenager Patrick Cutrone grabbed his second goal in as many games, but Cagliari soon capitalised on a Franck Kessie mistake to level through Joao Pedro. In the 70th minute, the former Liverpool winger Suso steered a perfect set-piece beyond Alessio Cragno for a 2-1 victory.
Fellow Serie A title hopefuls Napoli won 3-1 for the second time this campaign as Piotr Zielinski’s strike launched a comeback against Atalanta. Bryan Cristante’s fourth-minute opener gave Napoli food for thought and it was not until the 56th minute that Zielinski played a half-volleyed drive from distance that rippled the top of the net. Dries Mertens and Marko Rog then put the game beyond Atalanta with their first goals of the new campaign.
Andrea Belotti kept himself in the shop window ahead of Thursday’s transfer deadline by scoring an acrobatic opener in Torino’s 3-0 home victory over Sassuolo. The Italy striker, who scored 26 league goals for Il Toro last term, is a reported target of Chelsea and Monaco but his 100 million euro (92.3million) asking price is much for potential suitors. He reminded any scouts in attendance at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday of his ability with a scissor-kick that powered Lorenzo De Silvestri’s cross home for a 45th-minute opener and Torino wrapped up the three points with late goals from Adem Ljajic and Joel Obi.
In-form Radamel Falcao scored twice as champions Monaco extended their 100 per cent start to the season with an emphatic 6-1 victory over Ligue 1 rivals Marseille. The Colombia international striker powered home a penalty and then netted with a diving header to take his tally to seven goals in four league games and move Monaco onto 12 points alongside leaders Paris St Germain.
Source: THE GUARDIAN
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