TURIN, Italy - Cristiano Ronaldo scored a perfect hat-trick inside 32 minutes as Juventus bounced back from their midweek Champions League exit by beating Cagliari 3-1 away in Serie A on Sunday.
The 36-year-old striker found the net with a header, a right-footed penalty and a left-foot shot and celebrated by pointing to his ear in an apparent response to recent criticism.
Reports this week in Spain and abroad suggested Kosovare Asllani, one of the most recognizable and prolific forwards in the game, was on the outs at Real Madrid. The club, in its first season, reportedly wanted more from the Swede, who had yet to score in 2021 despite scoring eight in eight to start the campaign. Spanish daily AS wrote that the star striker had “dried up,” having failed to score since Dec. 13.
Schalke’s epic Bundesliga losing streak ended one game shy of the all-time record thanks to American teenager Matthew Hoppe scoring a hat trick to beat Hoffenheim 4-0 won Saturday.
Beşiktaş has reclaimed top spot in the Süper Lig after thrashing Rizespor 6-0 at Vodafone Arena on Wednesday. Canadian striker Cyle Larin had his greatest day in a Beşiktaş shirt, scoring four goals to give him 10 in 15 league appearances this season.
After a slow start to life in Europe, the 25-year-old has now scored five goals in his last three appearances to put the continent on notice. While we’re very pleased for Larin and Canada, three of his goals today were the result of a comedy of errors from Rizespor.
Lautaro Martínez's first hat-trick for Inter Milan helped his side crush Crotone 6-2, earning their eighth successive Serie A win on Sunday and sending Antonio Conte's team top of the standings above AC Milan.
Modern football is dominated by attacking players.
There are the creators. Mo Salah, Timo Werner, Richarlison. Guys who can generate something from nothing but are average finishers that need a lot of the ball to score.
Then there are the finishers. Romelu Lukaku, Aleksandar Mitrović, Chris Wood. They aren't productive 40 yards from goal but give them one chance inside the 18 and they'll take it.
Chelsea stayed within striking distance of Manchester United and Arsenal at the top of the FA WSL table after defeating West Ham 3-2 on Sunday at Kingsmeadow. Sam Kerr did the business with her first-ever hat trick for the Blues as the club set a league record for most consecutive home wins with 12.
Fans returned to Chelsea’s home ground for the first time this season and were on their feet in the 15th minute after Kerr’s sliding finish from Fran Kirby’s low cross.
Chelsea flexed its superiority with a comfortable 4-0 victory against Sevilla on Wednesday in the Champions League to claim Group E’s top spot. Four top-class Olivier Giroud goals vs Sevilla got the job done for the Blues.
The London club came into the fixture on a 14-game unbeaten streak in all competitions and immediately put the pressure on Sevilla after the first whistle. In the eighth minute Kai Havertz found open space to dribble before laying the ball off to Giroud, who finished the chance beautifully.
I think I speak for many other Liverpool fans when I say I was skeptical when the club signed Diogo Jota. Nearly $50 million for a player who scored just seven league goals last season? Especially with the attacking depth the Reds have? Mo Salah, Sadio Mané and Roberto Firmino starting. Divock Origi, Takumi Minamino, Xherdan Shaqiri, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita off the bench. Liverpool only has three senior center backs, and Klopp is going off and overpaying on a somewhat promising attacker? It didn't make much sense at the time.
The introduction of Marcus Rashford in the 63rd minute turned a 1-0 Manchester United lead over RB Leipzig into a 5-0 bloodbath with the chivalrous young forward recording a hat trick over the course of an unplayable cameo.