Teen Yamal helps Barca fight back for 4-3 win at Villarreal

Barcelona, Aug. 29: Barcelona starlet Lamine Yamal shone in a thrilling 4-3 win for the Spanish champions at Villarreal on Sunday in La Liga.

The 16-year-old winger, making only his second start for the club, hit the woodwork twice and set up the opening goal for Gavi in an impressive performance which stood out amid a chaotic battle.

Veteran Polish striker Robert Lewandowski tapped home the winning goal, his first of the season, after Yamal’s drive hit the post, to send Barca provisionally third.

With coach Xavi watching on from high in the stands, serving a suspension, his charges took an early two-goal lead against the run of play. Barcelona pounced after 12 minutes when Yamal crossed to the back post to find fellow academy graduate Gavi, who headed home.

Just three minutes later Frenkie de Jong rolled home the Catalans’ second. Alfonso Pedraza tackled Lewandowski but the ball rebounded kindly into the Dutch midfielder’s path and he finished calmly.

Juan Foyth’s produced a bullet header from Alex Baena’s corner to earn the hosts a foothold at the Estadio de la Ceramica -- it was the first goal Barcelona have conceded this season.

The second soon followed with Sorloth tapping home Pedraza’s cross after a sublime pass by veteran forward Gerard Moreno helped create the chance.

Villarreal went ahead early in the second half after another impressive surge from Pedraza, who teed up Baena for a clinical finish. Substitute Ferran Torres continued his strong pre-season form by pulling Barcelona level and soon Lewandowski put the champions ahead.

Yamal was heavily involved again, with his vicious drive tipped on to the post by Villarreal goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, but Lewandowski was in the right place at the right time to turn home the rebound.

City, 10-man Liverpool secure victories 

Manchester City extended their perfect start to the Premier League season as Rodri sealed a dramatic 2-1 win against Sheffield United after Erling Haaland scored once and missed a penalty for the champions on Sunday.

Haaland drove a first half spot-kick against the post before his header put City in front after the break at Bramall Lane.

City were in danger of squandering the points when Jayden Bogle equalised against the run of play with just five minutes left.

But Rodri saved City with a blistering strike three minutes later as Pep Guardiola’s side moved to the top of the table after a third successive victory.

Darwin Nunez came off the bench to score twice in the final 10 minutes as 10-man Liverpool came from a goal down to stun Newcastle 2-1 at St. James’ Park on Sunday.

Anthony Gordon had pounced on a Trent Alexander-Arnold mistake to put the Magpies in front before Virgil van Dijk was sent off for bringing down Alexander Isak inside half an hour.

But Newcastle failed to make the man advantage count and were punished when Nunez produced two moments of rare quality so far in his Liverpool career to turn the game on its head.

Villa was thrashed 5-1 by Newcastle in the opening round but has bounced back with two wins, the latest coming at Burnley 3-1 on Sunday.

Juventus snatch 1-1 draw 

Juventus needed Dušan Vlahović’s late goal to rescue a 1-1 draw at home to Bologna in Serie A on Sunday. Lewis Ferguson had given Bologna the lead in the 24th minute and the Bianconeri were booed off the field at halftime. But Vlahović, who earlier had a goal ruled out for offside, headed in the equalizer with 10 minutes remaining.

Defending champion Napoli made it two wins out of two after beating 10-man Sassuolo 2-0. Last year’s runner-up Lazio surprisingly lost 1-0 at home to newly promoted Genoa.

After a difficult time last season, Juventus had kicked off the new campaign with a 3-0 win at Udinese. 

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia made his season debut and took just three minutes to produce a moment of magic. The Napoli winger, last season’s revelation and nicknamed “Kvaradona,” came on as a substitute in the 61st minute. Shortly afterward he sent a delightful through ball to put Giovanni Di Lorenzo clear on goal for a simple finish and Napoli’s second goal.

Kvaratskhelia missed last weekend’s win at Frosinone with a muscular problem.

It took the lead in the 16th minute when Victor Osimhen converted a penalty after Daniel Boloca fouled Matteo Politano.

Kane scores twice 

Harry Kane scored twice in the Bundesliga on Sunday as Bayern Munich eased to a 3-1 win over Augsburg in their Bavarian derby.

A penalty and first-time strike took Kane’s league tally to three goals in two games since his summer switch from Tottenham, though otherwise it was a relatively inconspicuous performance from the England captain.

Two mistakes led to two first-half goals for the 11-time defending champions.

Augsburg goalkeeper Finn Dahmen saved Leroy Sané’s shot, only for the rebound to go in off defender Felix Uduokhai for an own-goal in the 32nd minute, and Kane scored from the penalty spot in the 40th. The penalty was awarded through VAR after Joshua Kimmich’s shot brushed Augsburg defender Niklas Dorsch’s arm.

Kane grabbed his second in the 69th with one touch to Alphonso Davies’ pass after great interplay between the Canadian and Kingsley Coman on the left.

Dion Drena Beljo scored the visitors’ consolation in the 86th after Ermedin Demirović played the ball between Matthijs de Ligt’s legs.

Omar Marmoush scored in injury time to rescue a 1-1 draw for 10-man Eintracht Frankfurt at local rival Mainz. (AFP)