Barkley nets winner as Villa extend perfect start in EPL
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
London, UK - Aston Villa extended their perfect start in the English Premier League (EPL) with a dramatic 1-0 win at Leicester on Sunday.
At the King Power Stadium, Villa left it until the 90th minute to seal their fourth successive victory. Ross Barkley, on loan from Chelsea, took John McGinn's pass and fired home from the edge of the area.
Just months after avoiding relegation on the final day of last season, Villa move up to second place. They thrashed champions Liverpool 7-2 before the international break and now sit three points behind leaders Everton.
Villa have won their opening four games of a league season for the first time since 1930-31 and boss Dean Smith said: "It is a really good start. To come here and get the win, this is a really good team. "There are a lot of tired legs but they are getting into the season slowly but surely. We will savour what we are doing at the moment."
ITALIAN LEAGUE Dzeko lifts five-goal Roma
Milan, Italy - Roma staged a 5-2 comeback against promoted Benevento in Rome on Sunday.
Bosnian forward Dzeko scored twice as the capital side earned back-to-back wins despite an early scare after Gianluca Caprari put Benevento ahead after five minutes.
Former Chelsea forward Pedro got his first goal in the Stadio Olimpico off a Lorenzo Pellegrini cross after half an hour with Dzeko adding another, four minutes later. A Jordan Veretout penalty, a second Dzeko goal after 76 minutes, and an impressive solo run from Carles Perez before the whistle sealed victory.
"We always had control of the game, with little danger," insisted Roma coach Paulo Fonseca.
"Now we have a lot of games in a short space of time and need to manage our energy, but I’m confident," he added of next week's Europa League action and league trip to AC Milan.
"The result is deceiving," said Benevento coach Filippo Inzaghi.
"For a newly promoted team, playing such a match is a great satisfaction."
In Udine, Uruguayan forward Ignacio Pusetto's late winner earned a first win this season for Udinese, 3-2 over coronavirushit Parma, missing seven players.
FRENCH LEAGUE Lille thrash nine-man Lens
Paris, France - Lille grabbed top spot in Ligue 1 on Sunday by thrashing newly-promoted Lens 4-0 in France's northern derby as the ill-disciplined visitors had two players sent off.
Lens had a chance to go top in France for the first time in 16 years but their defensive frailties were ruthlessly exposed by Lille who move two points ahead of defending champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Burak Yilmaz's low shot put the home side ahead in the echoing, empty Stade Metropole after 11 minutes.
Lens hung on till the second half when Jonathan Bamba scored Lille's second before first Jonathan Gradit and then substitute Clement Michelin were shown red cards as Lens fell apart.
Jonathan Ikone and Yusuf Yazici completed the job for Lille.
"Tonight was a perfect match," said Lille striker Luiz Araujo.
"This start to the season is the result of the hard work we do every day. We are very serious and ready to do a great job but we haven't won anything yet.
"We have to keep our feet on the ground and stay focused on the next game."
SPANISH LEAGUE Real Sociedad go top with rout of Betis
Madrid, Spain - Real Sociedad continued La Liga's unpredictable start to the season by going top of the table on Sunday, after a 3-0 win away at Real Betis.
Villarreal had temporarily claimed first place earlier in the day by beating Valencia 2-1 at la Ceramica but Real Sociedad's impressive victory put them ahead on goal difference.
They are the sixth different team to lead La Liga after six rounds of fixtures so far.
Real Sociedad took advantage as Portu and Adnan Januzaj scored goals either side of Mikel Oyarzabal converting a penalty to consign Betis to a third defeat in four games under their new coach Manuel Pellegrini. They drop to sixth.
OTHER RESULTS: Sunday: Alaves 0 Elche 2, Huesca 2 Valladolid 2.
Sunday: Schalke 1 Union Berlin 1.