Game Recaps

Nicolas Pépé’s sending off earned Arsenal a point on Sunday, strange as it sounds. With the Gunners attack posing zero threat and the defense unable to cope with Leeds United’s progressive approach, Pépé’s 51st-minute red card galvanized Arsenal from front to back in a 0-0 draw at Elland Road.

Leeds dominated the opening 45 minutes with 60% possession, 13 shots (two on target) and some incisive play from Jack Harrison. Arsenal failed to mount any challenge whatsoever with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang isolated, Willian bullied and Joe Willock somewhere out there. 

Romelu Lukaku admitted that his flawed Inter Milan side still can't be considered a great team after his double helped to complete a thrilling second half comeback from two goals down to beat Torino 4-2 on Sunday, ending a four-match winless run in all competitions.

Simone Zaza struck late in the first half to give the visitors a deserved lead, and Cristian Ansaldi doubled their advantage from the penalty spot after the break.

Roma’s excellent start to the 2020-21 season continued on Sunday with a 3-0 win over Parma at the Olimpico. Since an opening day defeat to Hellas Verona, Roma has embarked on a 10-game unbeaten run across all competitions (seven wins and three draws) to move up to third in Serie A, as well as top of their Europa League group.

Everton's in-form striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin netted a brace and midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure scored his first goal for the club as they beat Fulham 3-2 to return to winning ways in the Premier League on Sunday.

Brazilian forward Richarlison, returning from a three-match ban, picked up a loose ball and ran wide to cross for Calvert-Lewin who tapped in his ninth league goal of the campaign 42 seconds into the contest.

MADRID — Atletico Madrid pulled off their first La Liga win over Barcelona in more than a decade as Yannick Carrasco capitalised on a blunder from Barca keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to secure a 1-0 victory at an empty Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday.

Belgian winger Carrasco broke the deadlock at the end of the first half, pulling off a classy backheel to knock the ball through the legs of Ter Stegen and keep his composure in front of goal after the German had charged out of his area.

Cristiano Ronaldo's first-half double allowed Juventus to climb to second in the Serie A standings with a 2-0 win over Cagliari at Juventus Stadium on Saturday.

After a relatively quiet international break for Ronaldo, with one goal in three games for Portugal, he scored in the 38th minute in Turin, finding the net for the fifth successive league match.

Four minutes later the unstoppable 35-year-old brilliantly struck at the far post to double his side's advantage, taking him to eight league goals for the season.

BERLIN — Erling Haaland scored four goals in a sensational second half to help Borussia Dortmund come from a goal down and crush hosts Hertha Berlin 5-2 on Saturday to take over second place in the Bundesliga.

Haaland struck twice between the 47th and 49th minutes to put his team in front after Matheus Cunha had stunned the visitors with an unstoppable shot from 25 metres in the 33rd.

Haaland added a third goal in the 62nd when he pounced on a Hertha mistake to round the keeper, and grabbed his fourth after Raphael Guerreiro had also scored for the visitors in the 70th.

What the actual fuck just happened? Orlando City beat NYCFC in a shootout in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs. We already wrote a story about the first 120 minutes of the match, which included some despicable play from Orlando’s Ruan, but the shootout was such madness it deserves its own write-up.

LONDON — Tottenham Hotspur moved top of the Premier League after a classic Jose Mourinho inspired performance delivered a 2-0 victory over Pep Guardiola's Manchester City on Saturday.

Goals in each half from Son Heung-min and substitute Giovani lo Celso, secured the three points and a fourth straight league win for Spurs, who are two points ahead of second-placed Chelsea.

Severely depleted Real Madrid conceded a fourth penalty in two games as it drew 1-1 at Villarreal in LaLiga on Saturday, dropping points for the second game in a row.

Zinedine Zidane's side was missing seven players through injury and illness, including the indispensable trio of Sergio Ramos, Karim Benzema and Casemiro, but the champions went ahead in the second minute with a diving header from Mariano Diaz.