Haaland, Raphinha on song as Man City, Liverpool and Barca lay down marker – The Kampala Report

Liverpool turned on the style to thump old rivals Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford to confirm their status as top challengers to Manchester City’s four-year dominance of the English Premier League. A brace from Colombian live wire Luis Diaz and a Mohamed Salah second half strike propelled Arne Slot’s 19-time champions to joint top along with Pep Guardiola’s Cityzens.

The defending champions had take sole possession of first spot a day earlier by subduing West Ham United 3-1 via an Erling Braut Haaland hat trick, the eleventh of his Etihad Stadium career. Arsenal fell two points off title pace after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Fabian Hurzeler’s ebullient Brighton and Hove Albion.

In Spain, Kylian Mbappe Lottin scored his first two Liga Santander goals for Real Madrid to propel the champions past hard battling Real Betis 2-0. The win kept Carlo Ancelotti’s side within touching distance of leaders Barcelona who obliterated Real Valladolid 7-0 thanks to a hat trick from Raphinha. Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid are joint second on eight points after they overcame Athletic Bilbao 1-0 with a last gasp strike.

Bayer Leverkusen lost their first Bundesliga match in 36 outings when they were ambushed 3-2 by RB Leipzig who netted twice through Belgian forward Lois Openda. The division’s Uefa Conference League flag bearers Heidenheim top the standings on goal difference following their 4-0 victory over Augsburg. Record champions Bayern Munich are level on six points with Heidenheim and RB Leipzig thanks to their 2-0 win at home to Freiburg.

In Italy’s Serie A, Inter Milan striker Marcus Thuram demonstrated why he was such a clever free transfer 14 months ago when he grabbed a brace to propel Simone Inzaghi’s Nerrazzuri to a 4-0 triumph over Gian Piero Gasperini’s bedazzled Atalanta.

Victory kept the defending champions joint top on the standings with Juventus who were held to a goalless draw by AS Roma, and Torino, 1-0 winners at Venezia. Udinese have also collected seven points thanks to a 1-0 win over Cesc Fabregas’ bottom placed Como.

Paris Saint Germain are the only team with a one hundred percent winning record after three rounds of Ligue One action thanks to their 3-1 victory at Lille Metropole. Roberto de Zerbi’s Olympique Marseille moved into second spot with a 3-1 victory at Toulouse thanks to a brace from Ligue One top scorer Mason Greenwood while Monaco and Racing Lens cancelled each other out 1-1.