Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

European football PHOTOS: Cardiff upset City

August 26, 2013 14:15 IST
Cardiff City scorers Fraizer Campbell (left) and teammates lead the celebrations after the third Cardiff goal against Manchester City at Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, on Sunday

Cardiff City celebrated their promotion to the Premier League by defeating Manchester City 3-2 in the biggest upset of the English season so far.

In Spain, champions Barcelona maintained their perfect start to the season with a 1-0 win at Malaga while Carlos Tevez scored in his first Serie A game to give titleholders Juventus a 1-0 win at Sampdoria on the opening weekend of the Italian league.

ENGLAND

Two goals from Fraizer Campbell handed Cardiff City a shock 3-2 victory over Manchester City on Sunday as the Premier League newcomers celebrated a memorable win in their first top flight match at home in 51 years.

At White Hart Lane, a second Roberto Soldado penalty in as many weeks was enough to give Spurs a 1-0 win over SwanseaCity.

On Saturday, Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud gave food for thought to Arsenal fans craving a new striker by scoring in a 3-1 win at Fulham while Liverpool made it two victories from two games at Aston Villa.

Neymar gets head-butted as Messi-less Barca struggle past Malaga

August 26, 2013 14:15 IST
Neymar (right) of FC Barcelona reacts after being head butted by Jesus Gamez of Malaga CF during the La Liga match in Malaga, on Sunday

Barcelona survived a couple of second-half scares to secure a nervous 1-0 win at Malaga on Sunday and maintain their perfect start to their title defence.

The champions were missing the injured Lionel Messi and struggled to create chances until fullback Adriano cut in from the right and curled a low, long-range shot into the corner moments before halftime.

Malaga's teenage forward Fabrice Olinga scuffed a shot against the post and Victor Valdes produced a brilliant save to deny Seba Fernandez late on as Barca held on to make it two wins in two matches.

They top the table on goal difference from Atletico Madrid, who thrashed city rivals Rayo Vallecano 5-0 in Sunday's earlier kickoff. Real Madrid, who won their opening game at home to Real Betis last weekend, play at Granada on Monday.

Tevez scores on Juve debut

August 26, 2013 14:15 IST
Carlos Tevez of Juventus (right) celebrates scoring the first goal against UC Sampdoria at Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Genoa on Saturday

Carlos Tevez scored in his first Serie A game to give titleholders Juventus a 1-0 win at Sampdoria on the opening weekend of the league season.

Napoli beat Bologna 3-0 on coach Rafael Benitez's debut and there were also winning starts for Rudi Garcia at AS Roma, who won 2-0 at Livorno, and Walter Mazzarri, whose Inter Milan beat Genoa 2-0.

AC Milan were less fortunate as they slumped to a 2-1 defeat at promoted Hellas Verona, with veteran Luca Toni scoring both goals for the hosts.

Bayern script easy win over Nuremberg

August 26, 2013 14:15 IST
Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery (left) celebrates with teammates

Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben struck as Bayern Munich eased past Nuremberg 2-0 to maintain their perfect start to the season and join Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen and Mainz 05 with maximum points from three games at the top of the table.

Borussia Dortmund beat Werder Bremen 1-0, Leverkusen beat Borussia Moenchengladbach 4-2 and Mainz 05 beat VfL Wolfsburg 2-0.

Schalke 04, fourth last season, are among the six teams without a win after they were beaten 2-1 at Hanover 96.

Eintracht Frankfurt got off the mark with a 2-0 win at pointless Eintracht Braunschweig and Augsburg opened their account by beating VfB Stuttgart 2-1.

PSG finally register a win

August 26, 2013 14:15 IST
Paris Saint-Germain's Ezequiel Lavezzi celebrates with teammate Edinson Cavani (right) after scoring against FC Nantes at the Beaujoire stadium in Nantes on Sunday

Goals from Paris St Germain's South American duo Edinson Cavani and Ezequiel Lavezzi led the French champions to a 2-1 victory at promoted Nantes on Sunday.

PSG, who drew their opening two games, have five points from three matches, and are four points behind arch rivals Olympique Marseille who continued their perfect start to the season with a 1-0 win at Valenciennes on Saturday.