The latest weekend of football delivered everything fans could ask for: dramatic comebacks, dominant victories, unexpected defeats, clean sheets, record-breaking performances and important results across Europe and Africa. From the English Premier League and Laliga to Ligue 1, the Bundesliga, CAF competitions and the Rwanda Premier League, several teams made strong statements while others were left with plenty to worry about.
English Premier League: Drama and Record-Breaking Performances
The third matchday of the 2026/27 Premier League season produced several memorable results, with Manchester City and Arsenal maintaining perfect starts while Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa continued to struggle.
Liverpool Finally Secure First Win Under Iraola
Liverpool defeate
d Ipswich Town 2–0 at Portman Road, giving manager Andoni Iraola his first Premier League victory since taking charge. Liverpool had drawn their opening two matches against Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest.
The result also extended Liverpool’s unbeaten away record against Ipswich at Portman Road to six Premier League matches, with the Reds winning four and drawing two.
Newcastle Complete Two-Goal Comeback
Newcastle United came from two goals down to draw 2–2 with Bournemouth in one of the weekend’s most dramatic matches.
Bournemouth became the first team in Premier League history to score first in each of their opening three matches of a season without winning any of them. They lost to Manchester City in their opening match before drawing with Everton and Newcastle.
For Newcastle, the comeback ended a worrying run. They had previously lost 15 consecutive Premier League matches when trailing by two or more goals. Bournemouth also recorded 13 first-half shots, the second-highest first-half total in any Premier League match.
Haaland Reaches 300 Career Club Goals
Manchester City defeated newly promoted Coventry City 1–0, with Erling Haaland scoring the only goal of the match.
The strike marked Haaland’s 300th career club goal. He also became Manchester City’s all-time Premier League leader for headed goals, reaching 20.
Manchester City dominated possession and completed 803 passes, their highest total in a match since 2023.
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Tottenham Still Searching for a Goal
Tottenham Hotspur were held to a 0–0 draw by Nottingham Forest, leaving Spurs without a Premier League goal after their first three matches.
It was the first time Tottenham had experienced such a goal drought since the 1974/75 season. They also failed to register a single shot on target against Forest.
Hull Produce Three Consecutive Clean Sheets
Hull City held Aston Villa to a 0–0 draw, becoming only the third promoted side in Premier League history to keep clean sheets in each of its first three matches.
They joined Charlton Athletic in 1998/99 and Huddersfield Town in 2017/18 in achieving the feat.
Aston Villa, meanwhile, became the first team in Premier League history to fail to score in the opening three matches of back-to-back seasons.
Everton and Manchester United Share Four Goals
Everton and Manchester United played out an entertaining 2–2 draw, with Ainsley Maitland-Niles scoring a spectacular goal in the final seconds of the match on his Everton debut.
It was only his second Premier League goal in 110 appearances and his first in almost eight years since he scored for Arsenal against Liverpool.
Arsenal Extend Dominance Over Chelsea
Arsenal defeated Chelsea 2–1 to extend their unbeaten run against their London rivals to 12 matches in all competitions.
The victory also meant Arsenal won their opening three Premier League matches while conceding fewer than two goals for the first time since their famous unbeaten 2003/04 campaign.
Chelsea made their own piece of history, becoming the first team in Premier League history to score inside the opening five minutes in each of their first three matches.
Morgan Rogers became the first Chelsea player to score or assist in each of the club’s opening three top-flight matches since Eden Hazard in 2018/19.
His goal also ended Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya’s clean-sheet run dating back to the final stages of the previous Premier League season.
Manchester City and Arsenal Lead the Table
After Matchday 3, Manchester City and Arsenal sit at the top of the Premier League table with nine points each and identical +5 goal differences.
Hull City occupy third place with seven points, followed by Chelsea on six. Brentford, Liverpool, Newcastle United, Everton and Leeds United have five points each, while Brighton & Hove Albion, Manchester United and Sunderland have four.
At the bottom, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa have just one point each, while Fulham and Coventry City remain without a point.
LaLiga: Barcelona Shine as Real Madrid Stumble
The fourth matchday of LaLiga produced several eye-catching results, including a heavy Barcelona victory, a major defeat for Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid’s first setback of the season.
Real Betis Shock Real Madrid
Real Madrid suffered a 1–0 defeat to Real Betis at the Estadio de la Cartuja in Seville.
Madrid controlled much of the match and created opportunities, but Betis defended effectively and were more clinical when their opportunity arrived. Goalkeeper Álvaro Valles played an important role in helping Betis secure all three points.
Athletic Bilbao Destroy Atlético Madrid
Athletic Club produced one of the weekend’s biggest surprises by defeating Atlético Madrid 3–0 at San Mamés.
Athletic’s performances against Celta Vigo and Atlético Madrid suggest that Edin Terzić’s tactical system is beginning to produce results.
Atlético struggled to impose themselves despite attempting to control the match early. Julián Alvarez, who had started on the bench, was introduced in the second half but could not change the outcome.
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Barcelona Humiliate Valencia 5–0
Barcelona delivered one of the strongest performances of the matchday by defeating Valencia 5–0 at Mestalla.
The result added to Valencia’s difficult start under manager Carlos Corberán, who has struggled to find consistency against Barcelona. Since taking charge of Valencia, Corberán has recorded only one victory in seven meetings against the Catalan giants.
Alavés Score Five Against Osasuna
Alavés defeated Osasuna 5–2 in a thrilling encounter at the Estadio Mendizorrotza.
The victory lifted Alavés to second place in the LaLiga standings. Lucas Boyé was the star of the match, scoring a hat-trick and receiving a perfect 10 rating from Sofascore. Boyé has now scored four goals in three appearances this season.
Barcelona Set the Early Pace
The results showed that the LaLiga title race could become highly competitive. Barcelona appear to be operating with impressive attacking efficiency, while Real Madrid were reminded that dominating possession means little without converting chances.
Meanwhile, the rise of Alavés and Athletic Club suggests that the battle for European places could also become highly competitive.
France: Monaco Lead as PSG Struggle
The latest Ligue 1 round produced several surprising results, with AS Monaco remaining perfect at the top after defeating Paris Saint-Germain 2–1 at the Parc des Princes.
The comeback victory gave Monaco nine points from three matches, while defending champions PSG dropped to 13th place with just two points.
Newly promoted Paris FC also shocked Olympique de Marseille with a 3–2 away victory. Lassine Sinayoko was the hero, scoring a hat-trick.
RC Strasbourg Alsace produced another high-scoring performance, defeating ES Troyes AC 6–2, while Olympique Lyonnais beat AJ Auxerre 3–1.
After Matchday 3, Monaco lead with nine points. Lyon, Paris FC, Lille and Rennes follow with seven points each. Strasbourg have six, while Brest have five.
At the bottom, PSG, Le Mans and Nice have two points each, while Le Havre and Toulouse have one. Auxerre remain without a point.
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Germany: Bundesliga Produces Goals and Surprises
The latest Bundesliga round also produced plenty of goals, with Bayer Leverkusen recording a 4–0 victory over Union Berlin.
Borussia Dortmund defeated Hoffenheim 3–2 away from home, while Elversberg won a seven-goal thriller against Borussia Mönchengladbach 4–3.
Werder Bremen defeated RB Leipzig 3–1, Stuttgart beat Köln 4–1, Freiburg edged Paderborn 1–0 and Mainz destroyed Hamburg 5–0.
Bayern Munich were held to a 0–0 draw by Schalke, while Augsburg defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 4–1.
Augsburg lead the standings with six points and the best goal difference, followed by Freiburg, Dortmund and Elversberg, who also have six points.
Mainz and Bayern Munich have four points each, while Leverkusen, Leipzig, Stuttgart, Werder Bremen and Köln have three.
At the bottom, Hoffenheim, Mönchengladbach and Hamburg are still searching for their first points.
Africa: CAF Competitions Deliver Decisive First Legs
The first-leg matches in the preliminary rounds of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup produced several convincing victories and closely contested encounters.
CAF Champions League
Pyramids FC defeated Gor Mahia 2–0 away from home, while TP Mazembe secured a 1–0 victory over Medeama.
Simba SC also won away, defeating Mighty Wanderers 1–0. Maghreb Association Sportive de Fès beat Rahimo 4–1, while Wiliete SC defeated Foresters Mont Fleuri 4–0. Orlando Pirates and La Cure Waves played out a goalless draw, while Vipers SC and FC Nouadhibou finished 1–1.
CAF Confederation Cup
Singida Black Stars produced the biggest victory of the round, crushing Al-Ghazal FC 7–1.
ZED FC defeated AS Ali Sabieh 4–0, while El-Kanemi Warriors beat União Desportiva Internacional de Bissau 3–0.
ES Zarzis defeated Diambars FC 3–1, while Al Ahli SC won 3–0 away against KMKM FC.
Rwanda’s Rayon Sports earned an important 1–1 draw against Panthère Sportive du Ndé in Cameroon, while Tusker FC and Al-Ahli Wad Medani finished 2–2.
Rwanda Premier League: Strong Starts for Marines and Mukura
The opening round of the Rwanda Premier League produced several impressive performances.
Marines FC defeated AS Kigali 2–0, while Mukura Victory Sports recorded an identical 2–0 victory over Gasogi United.
Amagaju FC also won 2–0 against Etoile de l’Est, while Gorilla FC secured a narrow 1–0 away victory against SC Kiyovu Sports.
Etincelles FC and Sunrise FC played to a 0–0 draw. Marines, Mukura and Amagaju lead the early standings with three points and identical goal differences, while Gorilla FC also have three points. Several teams, including APR FC, Musanze FC, Bugesera FC, Police FC, Gicumbi FC, Al-Hilal and Al Merreikh, are yet to play their opening matches.
Amavubi U-20 Squad Named for AFCON Qualifiers
FERWAFA has announced the Amavubi U-20 squad that will represent Rwanda in the CAF TotalEnergies U-20 AFCON qualifiers under head coach Andre Cassa Mbungo.
The goalkeepers selected are Kabera Bonheur, Nsengumuremyl Alla and Mugisha Claude. The defensive group consists of Ukwiyegukundwa Aloys, Igiraneza David, Gisubizo Emmanuel, Tuyishimwe Keneedy, Ishimwe Fredy, Cyusa Fiston, Sheja Djibril and Niyompano Pacifique.
The midfielders are Nkundukuri M. Leon, Mugisha Irene, Byiringiro Thierry, Taufick Manzi, Ndungutse Assouman, Nshimiyiman K. Celestin and Dushime Claude.
The forwards are Ishimwe Aimee Thierry, Uwineza Rene, Mutembe Paul, Mugunga Daniel, Nshimiyimana Olivier, Nshimiyimana Obed and Hagenimana Eric.
The squad will now begin preparations for the qualifiers as Rwanda looks to make a strong start to its campaign.
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A Weekend Full of Football Drama
From Haaland’s 300th career club goal and Newcastle’s remarkable comeback to Barcelona’s five-goal demolition of Valencia, Monaco’s victory over PSG and Singida Black Stars’ seven-goal CAF triumph, the weekend produced no shortage of drama.
In Rwanda, the Premier League got underway while the Amavubi U-20 squad began preparations for the continental qualifiers. With European competitions and more domestic fixtures ahead, the early stages of the season are already showing that there will be plenty of surprises before the major trophies are decided.
