The opening goal materialized when Joselu expertly finished a sublime pass from Bellingham, with Aurelien Tchouameni nodding in the second for the visitors. Bellingham put the icing on the cake with a clever finish in the second half.

This victory propelled Madrid ahead of both Girona and Barcelona, the latter having defeated Sevilla earlier in the week.

Girona, the leaders at the start of the latest round of La Liga fixtures, began with great energy and created two prime opportunities to take the lead.

Yangel Herrera narrowly missed with a header from a central position in the box, while Viktor Tsygankov struck the outside of the post with a free header.

Gradually, Madrid found their rhythm and took the lead courtesy of a fantastic piece of skill from Bellingham, who skilfully set up Joselu with the outside of his right foot, allowing the former Stoke and Newcastle striker to finish with ease.

Tchouameni added Madrid’s second just four minutes later, capitalizing on a lack of marking from Toni Kroos’ in-swinging corner.

The home side came close to reducing the deficit early in the second half, but Kepa Arrizabalaga made a crucial save from David Lopez’s header, and Eric Garcia couldn’t convert the rebound.

Bellingham completed his brace with 20 minutes left on the clock, finding the far corner after Paulo Gazzaniga parried Joselu’s initial effort. Impressively, the 20-year-old became only the second player in the 21st century to score at least six goals in his first seven La Liga matches for Madrid, following in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009.

The match ended on a sour note for the visitors as Nacho was sent off in added time for a reckless challenge on Portu, who had to leave the field on a stretcher.

Carlo Ancelotti’s squad will travel to Napoli for their second Champions League group match on Tuesday.

Ramos, who had returned to Spain following a two-year spell with Paris St-Germain, marked his 34th La Liga clash against Barcelona with an unfortunate own goal.

In a critical moment, the 37-year-old inadvertently redirected Lamine Yamal’s header into his own net.

Barcelona earned their victory in impressive fashion, with Joao Felix narrowly missing a scoring opportunity as he struck the underside of the crossbar during an exhilarating first half.

However, their triumph was marred by the early departure of Raphinha due to a hamstring injury in the first half, the sole drawback to a result that propelled them to the summit of La Liga, surpassing their neighbouring rivals, Girona.

Sevilla opted not to have any representatives in the VIP box as a protest against the ongoing corruption case involving Barcelona.

Alongside Negreira and his son, Javier Enríquez Romero, former Barça presidents Josep Maria Bartomeu and Sandro Rosell are also facing similar charges.

Previously, Barcelona had been accused of corruption in sports, corruption in business, false administration, and the falsification of commercial documents.

Concurrently, Spanish police conducted a search at the offices of the refereeing committee within the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) in Madrid.

No arrests were reported, with the police acting on the orders of Judge Joaquin Aguirre, who is overseeing the investigation.

This legal saga began when a complaint against Barcelona, its former presidents, and the Negreiras was accepted by a Spanish court in March, leading to the initiation of the investigation.

The introduction of bribery charges could potentially accelerate a process that has been ongoing since February, when the payments first came to light.

Under Spanish law, a bribery offense can be established if there is evidence that a public official or authority solicited money or compensation to influence a decision within their jurisdiction.

Barcelona made payments exceeding €7 million to Negreira’s companies between 2001 and 2018 while he held the position of vice president of the refereeing committee. Negreira had previously worked as a referee in the Spanish top-flight football league.

Barcelona President Joan Laporta has defended these payments, asserting that they were made for “technical reports about referees” and denying any allegations of buying referees or attempting to influence their decisions.

However, prosecutors have accused Rosell and Bartomeu of having a prearranged agreement with Negreira, wherein he would take actions to favour Barcelona in referees’ decision-making during the club’s matches and thereby affect the outcomes of competitions.

Rosell served as Barcelona’s president from 2010 to 2014, followed by Bartomeu, who held the position until his resignation in 2020, paving the way for Laporta’s election as his successor in 2021.

With just fifteen minutes remaining, Xavi Hernandes’s squad found themselves trailing 2-0, as Celta Vigo displayed outstanding form. The visitors were causing numerous headaches for the home team with their potent counterattacks, often creating more significant scoring opportunities.

Iago Aspas had already forced a remarkable save from Ter Stegen when, not entirely against the run of play, Celta Vigo took the lead in the 19th minute.

Jorgen Strand Larsen skillfully evaded the offside trap and placed his shot with precision, leaving Ter Stegen with no chance. It marked the first goal conceded by Barcelona at the Estadi Olimpic this Liga season.

Celta Vigo had a golden opportunity to double their lead when the same sequence of play generated three clear-cut chances in quick succession. The first two were brilliantly blocked, and De la Torre’s wayward attempt sailed over the crossbar.

Andreas Christensen and Oriol Romeu made crucial tackles to keep Barcelona in the game, but with just fifteen minutes left on the clock, nobody could prevent Tasos Douvikas from making it 2-0 in favor of the visitors.

Then, everything changed. Buoyed by a crowd of 43,272, Barcelona scored three goals in seven electrifying minutes to completely turn the tide of the match.

The turnaround began when Robert Lewandowski, who had been relatively quiet until then, pounced on a high ball launched forward by Joao Felix.

The Polish striker’s audacious outstretched foot met the ball in mid-air, sending it crashing into the net off the crossbar, sparking a sudden glimmer of hope.

Moments later, Lewandowski struck again, capitalizing on a clever pass delivered from the byline by Raphinha. His composed finish drew Barcelona level in spectacular fashion.

Gavi then set up João Cancelo, who scored his first goal for the club at a pivotal moment, sealing the thrilling 3-2 victory for Barcelona.

Xavi’s return to the club as the first team coach was a significant moment for Barcelona fans, given his legendary status as a player for the club.

The signing of the contract extension took place at the Spotify Camp Nou offices and was attended by key figures, including President Joan Laporta, First Vice President Rafa Yusta, Economic Vice President Eduard Romeu, and the Director of the Area of Football, Anderson Luis de Souza.

Xavi became the coach of FC Barcelona in November 2021, returning to the club where he had a highly successful playing career.

He brought with him a commitment to playing football the “Barça way,” which is in line with the club’s identity and style of play.

Xavi faced the challenge of building a team with a mix of experienced and young players. Over time, he gradually achieved this objective.

The former midfielder showed flexibility in adapting the team’s system based on the available players and the challenges encountered.

Initially, a 4-3-3 system was used, but later, innovations like a 4-4-2 with Gavi in a “false winger” role were introduced.

Xavi has given debuts to 12 players from La Masia, Barcelona’s youth academy, since becoming the coach.

He has been in charge of 96 games, with 60 wins, 17 draws, and 19 losses. Under his leadership, Barcelona won the Spanish Super Cup with a 3-1 victory over Real Madrid in the final and the La Liga title in the 2022/23 season.

West Ham 3 TSC Baaka Topola 1
West Ham faced tough opposition from TSC Baaka Topola but managed to secure a 3-1 victory. Petar Stanic scored for the Serbian side, taking the lead early in the second half. West Ham equalized when Nemanja Petrovic scored an own goal. James Ward-Prowse played a significant role in setting up goals for Mohammed Kudus and Tomas Soucek.

Glasgow Rangers 1 Real Betis 0
Rangers earned a narrow 1-0 victory against Real Betis. Abdallah Sima scored the winning goal for Rangers midway through the second half. This victory marked Rangers’ first win against Spanish opponents in 15 matches.

Brighton & Hove Albion 2 AEK Athens 3
Brighton & Hove Albion, making their European debut, narrowly lost 2-3 to AEK Athens. Joao Pedro scored twice for Brighton from penalty kicks, but Ezequiel Ponce’s late goal secured the win for AEK Athens. James Milner made history by becoming the first player to represent five English teams in European competition.

Ajax Amsterdam 3 Marseille 3
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice as Marseille came from behind to draw 3-3 with ten-man Ajax Amsterdam. Both teams displayed strong attacking play, resulting in a thrilling match.

Olympiacos 2 Freiburg 3
Freiburg secured a 3-2 victory over Olympiacos in Group A. Ayoub El Kaabi scored twice for Olympiacos, but Maximilian Philipp’s late goal sealed the win for Freiburg. Olympiacos had not beaten a German club on home soil in 12 years.

Real Madrid struggled to break down the resilient defence of Union Berlin, who had been promoted to the Bundesliga just four years ago.

Bellingham’s goal was his sixth in six games for Real Madrid in all competitions, highlighting his impressive start with the club.

The home side had difficulty finding the back of the net throughout the match, with Union Berlin’s goalkeeper, Frederik Ronnow, making key saves and the Madrid attackers hitting the woodwork.

The absence of injured forward Vinicius Junior affected Real Madrid’s attacking dynamics in recent weeks, but Bellingham’s goals had helped maintain a perfect record in La Liga.

Bellingham made his Champions League debut for Real Madrid after transferring from Borussia Dortmund in the summer.

Union Berlin displayed a well-organized and disciplined defensive performance against the formidable Real Madrid side.

The match saw veteran Italian defender Leonardo Bonucci making his debut for Union Berlin.
Real Madrid had several opportunities to score, with Joselu missing a header and Ronnow making important saves.

Bellingham’s decisive goal came in the form of a deflected strike that fell to him in the box, and he scored from close range.

Overall, it was a hard-fought match, and Bellingham’s late goal proved to be the difference-maker for Real Madrid against a resilient Union Berlin team.

Lazio drew 1-1 against Atlético de Madrid with goalkeeper, Ivan Provedel, scoring a dramatic last-minute header to secure a draw for his team. Despite dominating possession, Lazio initially fell behind when a shot deflected past Provedel. However, his late equalizer salvaged a point for the home side.

Feyenoord beat Glasgow Celtic 2-0 at home in a match filled with drama. Celtic received two red cards, saved a penalty, and conceded a second goal. Calvin Stengs’ free-kick put Feyenoord ahead before Alireza Jahanbakhsh sealed the win with a goal.

Paris St Germain beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 with a strong second-half display. Kylian Mbappé scored from the penalty spot, and Achraf Hakimi added another goal to secure the victory.

Newcastle United earned a hard-fought point in their first Champions League appearance since 2002/03 against AC Milan. Goalkeeper Nick Pope made crucial saves early in the match, and Marco Sportiello denied them a late winner.

The reigning champions, Manchester City, had to come from behind but secured a 3-1 win with a classy second-half performance against Crvena zvezda. Erling Haaland and Julián Álvarez were among the goal-scorers for City.

RB Leipzig secured a win against Young Boys, with Xaver Schlager scoring the decisive goal. The match saw early goals from Mohamed Simakan and Meschack Elia before Schlager’s late strike secured the victory.

Barcelona dominated in their 5-0 win against group stage debutants Antwerp. João Félix and Robert Lewandowski were among the goal-scorers in a dominant display by Barcelona.

FC Porto got off to a strong start in their 3-1 against Shakhtar Donetsk, with Galeno scoring early in the match. Despite briefly being pegged back, Porto regained the lead and secured a comfortable win with goals from Mehdi Taremi and Galeno.hy

These matches provided an exciting start to the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League group stage, with several teams showcasing their quality and determination to perform on the big stage.

Everton 0
Arsenal 1

Spain LaLiga
Getafe 3
Osasuna 2

Villarreal 2
Almeria 1

Sevilla 1
Las Palmas 0

Real Madrid 2
Real Sociedad 1

Italy Serie A
Cagliari 0
Udinese 0

Frosinone 4
Sassuolo 2

Monza 1
Lecce 1

Fiorentina 3
Atalanta 2

Roma 7
Empoli 0

Germany Bundesliga
FC Heidenheim 4
Werder Bremen 2

Darmstadt 3
Borussia Monchengladbach 3

France Ligue 1
Lorient 2
Monaco 2

Clermont Foot 0
Nantes 1

Reims 1
Brest 2

Strasbourg 2
Montpellier 2

Marseille 0
Toulouse 0

Lyon 0
Le Havre 0

Netherlands Eredivisie
PEC Zwolle 1
Go Ahead Eagles 1

Excelsior 0
Almere City FC 0

FC Twente 3
Ajax Amsterdam 1

AZ Alkmaar 2
Sparta Rotterdam 0

Turkish Super Lig
Fenerbahce 3
Antalyaspor 2

Istanbulspor 0
Istanbul Basaksehir 2

Alanyaspor 3
Kasimpasa 3

Trabzonspor 3
Besiktas 0

Portugal Primeira Liga
Arouca 0
Casa Pia AC 1

Gil Vicente 5
Estoril 3

Vitoria de Guimaraes 2
Portimonense 1

Sporting CP 3
Moreirense 0

Belgium Pro League
Eupen 1
Standard Liege 3

Kortrijk 2
Anderlecht 2

Oud-Heverlee Leuven 1
Gent 1

St.Truiden 2
KV Mechelen 0

USA MLS
CF Montreal 0
Chicago Fire 0

Charlotte 0
DC United 0

Orlando City 4
Columbus Crew 3

Philadelphia Union 2
FC Cincinnati 2

Toronto FC 1
Vancouver Whitecaps 2

FC Dallas 1
Seattle Sounders FC 1

Houston Dynamo 1
St. Louis City 1

Minnesota United 0
Sporting Kansas City 1

Colorado Rapids 2
New England Revolution 1

Los Angeles FC 4
LA Galaxy 2

San Jose Earthquakes 2
Real Salt Lake 1

Netherlands Eerste Divisie
Cambuur 1
Willem II 0

Brazil Serie A
Atletico MG 1
Botafogo FR 0

Mexico Liga MX: Apertura
Necaxa 1
FC Juarez 1

Monterrey 3
Leon 1

CF America 4
CD Guadalajara 0

Pumas 3
Atletico de San Luis 2

Sweden Allsvenskan
Hammarby IF 1
Malmo FF 3

BK Haecken 3
Halmstads BK 2

Elfsborg 0
Kalmar FF 3

Denmark Superliga
Vejle Boldklub 1
Randers FC 2

Hvidovre 0
Lyngby 1

AGF 0
Brondby IF 3

Greece Super League
Asteras Tripolis 2
PAS Giannina 2

Kifisia FC 4
Panserraikos FC 4

PAOK FC 0
Aris 0

AEK Athens 1
Olympiacos 1

Romania Liga 1
Hermannstadt 3
FC Voluntari 1

Otelul Galati 0
FC Rapid 1923 0

FCV Farul Constanta 0
FCSB 1

Africa CAF Champions League
APR FC 0
Pyramids FC 0

Big Bullets 0
TP Mazembe 1

Jwaneng Galaxy 1
Orlando Pirates 0

UD Do Songo 1
Petro Atletico 2

Medeama SC 3
Horoya AC 1

Primeiro de Agosto 0
Al Hilal Omdurman 0

AS Douanes Ouagadougou 0
Esperance 1

Bo Rangers FC 1
CR Belouizdad 3

Hafia FC 1
Wydad Casablanca 1

Africa Confederation Cup
Al-Merrikh (Juba) 0
Petroleos Do Lobito 0

Bahir Dar City FC 2
Club Africain 0

FC MUZA 1
Diables Noirs de Combani 2

Singida Big Stars 1
Future FC 0

Abu Salim 3
KCCA FC 1

Stade Malien de Bamako 2
Aigle Noir 0

Etoile filante de Ouagadougou 0
Rivers United FC 0

The visitors took an early lead in the fifth minute when Ander Barrenetxea scored, taking advantage of a rebound after Chelsea loanee Kepa Arrizabalaga had initially saved his shot.

Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde equalized shortly after the start of the second half with a powerful shot from outside the area.

Joselu, a former Newcastle United striker, became the unlikely hero for Real Madrid, scoring the winning goal by heading in Fran Garcia’s cross in the 60th minute.

Jude Bellingham, who had been in excellent goal-scoring form for Real Madrid, was unable to continue his scoring streak in this match. He had a chance to score in stoppage time, but his header was saved by Real Sociedad’s goalkeeper, Alex Ramiro.

The match was an open contest, with both teams having chances to score. Real Sociedad had opportunities to extend their lead, but Kepa Arrizabalaga made important saves for Real Madrid.

The victory allowed Real Madrid to maintain their 100% start to the season, with five wins in a row. They also maintained a two-point lead over arch-rivals Barcelona at the top of the table.

Real Madrid are set to begin their quest for a 15th Champions League crown against Union Berlin, while Real Sociedad was going to face last season’s runners-up, Inter Milan, in their next fixture.