There was plenty of action across Europe on Saturday and the major leagues recorded goals and a fair share of shocking results across board. Here are selected stats from action in the top European leagues.
Liverpool 0-0 Manchester United
Much has been said of the tactics deployed by managers of both teams but the result could have been very different if Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea wasn’t in fantastic form. He made a great save with his left leg from a Joel Matip shot in the first half. That was his fifth save off a big chance in the Premier league this season – no Premier League goalkeeper has made more.
Jurgen Klopp also extended his good run against the top team 6 sides in England, recording his 37th point in those matches – the most amassed by any manager since the German became Liverpool manager.
Manchester City 7-2 Stoke City
Pep Guardiola’s side brushed past The Potters and playmaker Kevin de Bruyne was central to their success with two assists. He now has the most assists (32) in the Premier league since his made his City debut in September 2015.
Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Bournemouth
Christian Eriksen was the hero as Spurs won their first league game in Wembley, but worryingly for Spurs fans is that Harry Kane has failed to score from 28 shots in their four home games.
Crystal Palace 2-1 Chelsea
Crystal Palace have had to wait 731 minutes spanning over 7 league matches to record their first goal this season as Cesar Azpilicueta scored an own goal to give them the lead against the Champions. They went on to also record their first win of the season.
Getafe 1-2 Real Madrid
Tipped to be a difficult game for the struggling Champions, Real Madrid found themselves starring at a draw in the closing stages of the game before Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up to score the winner – his first goal in the La Liga this season. Ronaldo had never failed to score a league goal in the first two months of the season in eleven (11) years.
Atletico Madrid 1-1 FC Barcelona
Atletico Madrid had not conceded a goal in the La Liga against an away team in the new Wanda Metropolitano until Luis Suarez’s 82th minute equaliser which also extended Barcelona’s unbeaten record against Atletico Madrid in the league to fifteen (15) matches including eight (8) wins.
BVB Dortmund 2-3 RB Leipzig
Dortmund lost at home to last season’s runners-up RB Leipzig against all odds. The loss was Dortmund’s first in the Bundesliga at the Signal Idunal Park in 42 games and they would surely be disappointed with the result.
Juventus 1-2 Lazio
Disappointing result for the Old Lady as they lost their first game at the Allianz Stadium for the first time in 58 matches. The second longest home unbeaten record in the club’s history. Ciro Immobile, who was Lazio’s hero with two goals against his former employers now has 15 goals in all competitions – the highest by any Italian in the top European leagues.
