Croatia
Indonesia
Nigeria
South Africa

Marco Asensio hat-trick sees Real Madrid put six past Mallorca to go top

sportsmole.co.uk, 22 September 2021, 22:20
A Marco Asensio hat-trick saw Real Madrid hit six in a thrashing of Mallorca to return to the top of LaLiga.

Karim Benzema and Isco also found the net for Carlo Ancelotti's side in a 6-1 win at the Bernabeu but it was the Spanish international who had featured in the Olympics last month who stole the show.

Against his old club, Asensio refused to overly celebrate his landmark night but made the most of a first start of the campaign to help knock Atletico Madrid off the summit.

Sevilla are in third after three goals inside 22 minutes helped down Valencia 3-1 while Europa Cup winners Villarreal claimed a maiden win of the league season.

Arnaut Danjuma and Alberto Moreno found the net in a 4-1 triumph over Elche for Unai Emery's men and Espanyol edged out basement club Deportivo Alaves by a 1-0 score.

Achraf Hakimi scored a 95th-minute winner to help Paris St Germain claim a 2-1 win at Metz to remain perfect in Ligue 1.

The right-back opened his account for his new club after five minutes but that effort was cancelled out by Kiki Kouyate to ensure the score was level at the break.

With Lionel Messi absent due to injury, Mauricio Pochettino turned to Angel Di Maria and Julian Draxler from the bench but it was Hakimi who produced the goods.

Neymar picked out the Morocco international with a wonderful through ball and he cut inside before he fired into the bottom corner with Metz, who had Dylan Bronn sent off in stoppage-time, still winless and propping up the table.

The other clubs in the top four were unable to win after Angers and Marseille played out a stalemate in the clash between second versus third while Lens suffered a 1-0 loss at home to Strasbourg to ensure PSG hold a seven-point advantage at the summit.

Xherdan Shaqiri was on target in Lyon's 3-1 victory over Troyes and Lorient got the better of Nice thanks to Thomas Monconduit's first-half effort.

Wissam Ben Yedder struck a brace to help Monaco clinch a second win of the season, beating Saint Etienne by a 3-1 score after England-born goalkeeper Etienne Green was sent off with 27 minutes gone to leave his side second bottom.

Champions Lille also started to show signs they were back on track after Burak Yilmaz picked up two assists in their 2-1 win over Reims while Nantes edged a four-goal thriller with Brest, who are the other side in the relegation zone.

Montpellier and Bordeaux shared the spoils after a 3-3 draw and there were also six goals in the game between Rennes and Clermont Foot but all of them went to Rennes.

Brahim Diaz was on target for AC Milan in a 2-0 victory over Venezia which took them back level on points with Serie A leaders Inter Milan.

Theo Hernandez wrapped up the points with eight minutes left for Stefano Pioli's men and Juventus were also victorious for the first time this season in the division.

A 3-2 win at Spezia ensured Massimiliano Allegri got off the mark at the fifth time of asking in Serie A since his return to Turin.

Moise Kean, Federico Chiesa and Matthis de Ligt helped Juventus come back from 2-1 down while Empoli triumphed at Cagliari and new boys Salernitana earned a first point following a 2-2 draw with Verona.

Top News

21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa handed Manchester City a 2-1 defeat on Saturday, adding to the woes of Pep Guardiola's side, who have now endured nine losses in their last 12 matches. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery has claimed that his side decided to defeat Manchester City "through domination" on Saturday afternoon. 21 December 2024 talksport.com "This is a crisis." 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid will be bidding to return to winning ways in La Liga when they welcome Sevilla to Bernabeu on Sunday. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid have added Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk to their wishlist for the summer transfer window, according to a report. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona will be without the services of Hector Fort for Saturday's La Liga clash against Atletico Madrid, with the defender ruled out of the contest due to a hamstring problem. 21 December 2024 talksport.com It was the nightmare before Christmas for new Coventry City manager Frank Lampard. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City's horror run of form continued on Saturday afternoon, with Pep Guardiola's side beaten 2-1 by Aston Villa in the Premier League. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Everton and Chelsea lock horns in a vital clash with implications at both the top and the bottom of the Premier League on Sunday. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Seeking to replicate their astounding 3-0 win at Old Trafford from the 2023-24 season, Bournemouth head north to face Manchester United in Sunday's Premier League contest. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Vitor Pereira will take charge of his firsr game as manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers when they travel to the King Power Stadium to face Leicester City in the Premier League on Sunday. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has suggested that a decision on the club's alleged financial misconduct charges could be announced as early as February. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi has admitted he had to be "selfish" in his decision to reject Liverpool in the summer transfer window. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Separated by 10 places in the Primeira Liga table before gameweek 15, second-placed Benfica are clear favourites to outdo Estoril Praia at Estadio da Luz on Monday. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal and Manchester City have reportedly sent offers to sign Barcelona attacker Dani Olmo in the January transfer window. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal and Manchester City have reportedly sent offers to sign Barcelona attacker Dani Olmo in the January transfer window. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City attacker Oscar Bobb has revealed he plans to return to action in January. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa and Manchester City have announced their starting lineups for Saturday's Premier League game. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to keep pressure on several teams trying to dethrone them as Serie A champions, Inter Milan will welcome Como to San Siro on Monday. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou should not walk away from the Lilywhites even if some fans pledge temporary loyalty to Liverpool this weekend, ex-Spurs goalkeeper Kasey Keller has said. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Juventus are reportedly prepared to sell Kenan Yildiz during the January transfer window, with the club looking to fund a mid-season deal for Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali. 21 December 2024 talksport.com England World Cup winner George Eastham has died, aged 88. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly willing to let Marcus Rashford leave on loan during the January transfer window, but the Red Devils will refuse to let him move to another Premier League club. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk After their incredible success streak was finally brought to an end last week, Fiorentina will aim to start another winning run on Monday, when they meet Udinese. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk George Eastham, a member of England's 1966 World Cup-winning squad, has died at the age of 88, his former club Stoke City have announced. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Diego Leon "has signed all documents" to become a Manchester United player next summer. 21 December 2024 talksport.com Cole Palmer would struggle to stop players from copying his celebration, it has been revealed. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bristol Rovers vs. Wrexham (Saturday, 12.30pm) Relegation-threatened Bristol Rovers will begin life without manager Matt Taylor on Saturday when they host high-flying Wrexham in a League One clash at Memorial Stadium. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The January transfer window is almost here and clubs around the UK and Europe are lining up moves as they look to take advantage of the opportunity to strengthen. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sivasspor vs. Samsunspor (Saturday, 1.00pm) Sivasspor will aim to end a wretched run of results in the Turkish Super Lig when they host a Samsunspor side that have also faltered lately, in Saturday's gameweek 17 clash at New Sivas 4 Eylul Stadium.