European League Round-Up: Chelsea Stunned At Home, Marseille Extend Winning Start

Activities from the Premier League and French Ligue 1 was action packed on Saturday, with the English champions Chelsea getting stunned at home by Burnley, while Marseille were lone goals winners away from home.

 

ENGLAND

Watford and Liverpool battled out an exciting 3-3 draw at Vicarage Road in Saturday’s early kickoff, a game which produced a stunning six-goals, three apiece per half. The Reds would feel hard done by Miguel Britos’s added-time leveler for the Hornets, a contentious goal that denied them maximum points.

Stefano Okaka put Watford ahead before Sadio Mane equalized with his first shot of the season. Abdoulaye Doucoure put Watford ahead going into the break. On resumption of the second half, Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino leveled from the spot, after which club record signing Mohamed Salah put the Reds ahead for the first time on the day.

Marco Silva’s blushes were saved late on when Britos scored a goal despite looking to have been in an offside position after the ball struck his arm, a strike which ensured the young Portuguese tactician’s reign at Watford wasn’t off to a losing start.

Gary Cahill endured a miserable start to life as captain of Chelsea, as he was sent off in the 14th minute of a shocking 3-2 home defeat against Burnley.

Chelsea, who became the second title holders to lose on the opening day of the season, finished with nine-men, after Cahill and Cesc Fabregas were both sent-off for silly challenges in each half, a real let off for the squad considering their senior player status.

Sam Vokes netted a first-half brace added to Stephen Ward’s wonder-strike to ensure the visiting team went three-nil ahead into the break.

Record signing Alvaro Morata pulled a goal back for Chelsea moments after coming on as a substitute before David Luiz finished with a precise left foot strike which proved too-little-too-late as the Blues find themselves in 16th-place ahead of next weekend’s London derby against Tottenham Hotspur.

 

Huddersfield Town produced another stunning result on the day when they defeated Crystal Palace 3-0 away from home at Selhurst Park.

Joel Ward put through his own goal in the 23rd minute to hand the newly promoted side a shocking lead, before record signing Mounie netted a brace to ensure Frank de Boer started his Premier League managerial career in the worst possible way.

Manchester City defeated Premier League new boys Brighton and Hove 2-0 at the Amex Stadium, to ensure they avoided any unforeseen opening day drama. Sergio Aguero and an own goal from Lewis Dunk handed victory to Pep Guardiola’s men, who raced into second-place on the table.

 

FRANCE

Olympique Marseille moved into second-place thanks to a 1-0 away win over Claudio Ranieri’s Nantes. Lucas Ocampo netted the game winning strike in the 87th minute, even as OM managed to do the job on the night in the absence of star player Dimitri Payet who is side lined through injury.

Bordeaux were 2-0 winners on the night at home to Metz, thanks to strikes in either half from Valentin Vada and Younousse Sankhare, condemning the away team to yet another league defeat.

Goals from Enzo Crivelli and Thomas Mangani led Angers to a 2-0 away victory at new comers Amiens. It was a sweet win for Angers who flexed muscles against Amiens, and they will hope to extend this good form as the season progresses.