The Bellingham brothers, Jude and Jobe, were among half a dozen players who each grabbed braces on a weekend of an avalanche of goals across Europe. Real Madrid’s €103m star midfielder Jude Bellingham, responded to brother Jobe’s pair in Birmingham City’s 2-0 victory at Bristol City by netting twice for the Spanish champions as they overcame Almeria 3-1 in Liga Santander to maintain a one hundred percent winning record after two rounds of action. Los Blancos were joined on maximum points by 2002 and 2004 champions Valencia, 1-0 winners over newcomers Las Palmas at the Mestalla.
Reigning La Liga titlists Barcelona are among a cluster of teams that are two points off title pace. Xavi Hernandez’s Blaugrana needed two late goals from Pedri and Ferran Torres to see off a spirited challenged from Cadiz 2-0 to register their first victory of the season. The Catalan giants are joint third along with neighbours Girona who bludgeoned Getafe 3-0, and Atletico Madrid who were held to a goalless draw at Real Betis. Match day two is to be completed on Monday night with Jose Mendilibar’s Europa League kings Sevilla at Deportivo Alaves and Granada at home to Rayo Vallecano.
Brighton Hove Albion are the early season pacesetters in England thanks to their second consecutive 4-1 victory. Roberto de Zerbi’s high flyers lead the Premier League standings after Solly March’s brace helped them overcome Wolves at Molieneux Stadium. They were joined on maximum points by champions Manchester City, 1-0 winners over stubborn Newcastle United at Etihad Stadium courtesy of a Julian Alvarez strike. A Monday evening London derby between Crystal Palace and Arsenal rounds off match day two games.
In Germany, a brace apiece from Serou Guirassy and Silas guided Stuttgart to a 5-0 obliteration of Thomas Leitch’s Bochum at the Mercedes Benz Stadium. The former champions lead the nascent Bundesliga table on goal difference from perennial titlists Bayern Munich, who dismissed Werder Bremen 4-0 thanks to two goals from Leroy Sane and one each from record signing Harry Kane and Mathys Tel. Urs Fischer’s Union Berlin are third following their 4-1 victory over Mainz. The Champions League debutants were propelled to all three points by a hat trick from Kevin Behrens.
Luis Enrique’s Parc des Princes career is stuck in second gear after Paris Saint Germain were held to a one all draw by Toulouse despite taking a second half lead via a Kylian Mbappe Lottin penalty. Monaco are the early season pacesetters thanks to a 3-0 victory over Strasbourg The principality club were joined on six points by Stade Brest, 2-1 winners at newly promoted Le Havre. Ligue One’s two other Champions League representatives could only draw. Olympique Marseille were held to a 2-2 stalemate at Metz whereas Racing Lens drew 1-1 with Rennes.
Across the Alps, Capocannonieri Victor Osimhen struck twice as champions Napoli whitewashed newcomers Frosinone 3-1. The Nigerian was matched by Argentina striker Lautaro Martinez, who brace catapulted Inter Milan to a 2-0 victory over Monza at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium. But it is Fiorentina that are setting the pace for this season’s Scudetto after the Europa Conference League losing finalists pummelled newcomers Genoa 4-1. Record champs Juventus are a close second following their 3-0 victory at Udinese.