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SHU 1-2 : LEI: VARDY SNATCHES LATE WIN TO WORSEN THE BLADES’ START TO THE SEASON.

Jamie Vardy’s 90th minute strike earned Leicester City a 2-1 victory at Sheffield United.

Vardy thumped an early effort against a post before Leicester took the lead on 24 minutes through Ayoze Perez, who reacted quickest when Marc Albrighton’s shot was blocked.

That advantage only lasted two minutes, with Oli McBurnie heading in from John Lundstram’s corner.

James Maddison hit the same post as Vardy shortly before half-time.

McBurnie came close to scoring another header on 66 minutes and then Kelechi Iheanacho was thwarted by Ramsdale.

Vardy claimed the three points late on when he slotted in from Maddison’s through-ball.

The result moves Leicester up to third, with Liverpool behind them on goal difference before their home match against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday night.

Sheffield United remain bottom with one point.

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WBA 1-5 CRY: ZAHA AND BENTEKE INSPIRE PALACE RECORD WIN.

Crystal Palace scored five goals in a top-flight away match for the first time as they claimed a 5-1 victory over 10-man West Bromwich Albion.

Palace took an eighth-minute lead courtesy of a Darnell Furlong own goal but Conor Gallagher’s second goal in as many matches drew West Brom level.

The hosts were reduced to 10 men with 11 first-half minutes to play, with Matheus Pereira dismissed for violent conduct after an incident involving Patrick van Aanholt.

Wilfried Zaha restored Palace’s lead on 55 minutes before Christian Benteke headed in his first goal of the season shortly after.

Zaha added his second on 68 minutes and Benteke complete a brace of his own when he turned and finished with eight minutes remaining.

The result, which ends a run of two straight defeats, moves Palace up to 11th with 16 points.

West Brom drop to 19th, two points from safety.

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LA LIGA: BARCELONA SLUMP TO SHOCKING DEFEAT AT CADIZ.

Barcelona conceded two embarrassing goals as they suffered a shock 2-1 defeat away to Cadiz in La Liga on Saturday.

The Catalans fell behind in the eighth minute when centre back Oscar Mingueza headed the ball towards his own goal and although keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen got a hand to the ball, Cadiz forward Alvaro Gimenez helped it over the line.

Barca drew level with a fortuitous goal of their own in the 57th when Cadiz defender Pedro Alcala diverted a Jordi Alba cross into the net, flummoxing his impressive goalkeeper Jeremias Ledesma who had been keeping Barca at bay.

Cadiz restored their lead six minutes later, however, when Alvaro Negredo capitalised on a calamitous mix-up between Barca defenders Alba and Clement Lenglet following a throw-in.

Alba aimed the throw towards Lenglet but the Frenchman could not control the ball and Negredo, on the pitch for less than a minute, ran to press Ter Stegen, blocked his kick out and dribbled the ball past the diving Frenkie de Jong and into the unguarded net.

Barca’s fourth defeat of the season left them seventh in the standings on 14 points after 10 games, 12 points behind leaders Atletico, and Ronald Koeman’s side have failed to win their last four away matches.

The Dutch coach criticised the attitude of his players.

“It’s incredible that we lost because of a goal like that, it’s an error you do not expect this team to make. It shows we were not concentrating,” he said.

“The attitude was not good tonight. I’m very disappointed.”

Barca midfielder Sergio Busquets said individual errors had cost them a lot of points this season.

“You cannot question the team’s attitude or commitment, but when you start like we did today it makes the game very difficult,” he said.

Cadiz, who recorded their first home win since returning to the top flight, moved above them into fifth place on 18 points. The Andalusians also beat champions Real Madrid 1-0 away from home earlier in the campaign.

Barca captain Lionel Messi had a frustrating night despite being rested for the Champions League win at Ferencvaros in midweek and was repeatedly thwarted by fellow Argentine and Rosario native Ledesma in the Cadiz goal.

Ledesma also kept out a stinging shot from Miralem Pjanic late on and a close-range effort from Antoine Griezmann.

Cadiz should have put the game out of Barca’s reach when Bobby Adekanye raced towards goal unchallenged but failed to beat Ter Stegen.

However, their defence stood tall and they pulled off another huge win in their first season back in the top flight for 14 years.

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FANS BOO AS MILLWALL, DERBY BEND THE KNEE IN SUPPORT OF ANTI-RACISM MESSAGE.

Fans at Millwall’s home game against Derby booed when players took a knee before the game to support the league’s anti-racism message on Saturday.

It is the first time since March that the Den has hosted fans after crowds were banned as a precaution during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Derby forward Colin Kazim-Richards, who is Black, described the booing as an “absolute disgrace” in a tweet after the match where he expressed pride in taking a stand against racism.

“Having to say this is a pain,” Kazim-Richards said. “But I’ll say it every single damn time this is why I STAND and STAND PROUD and I have to say every single person involved with [Derby] did too.”

He added that it “made me proud to wear this shirt with the boys today!!!”

The English Football Association condemned the actions of the fans in a statement.

“The FA supports all players and staff that wish to take a stand against discrimination in a respectful manner, which includes taking of the knee, and strongly condemns the behaviours of any spectators that actively voice their opposition to such activities,” the statement said.

Some fans had called for the players not to take a knee before the game but Millwall had released a statement on Friday affirming their commitment to fighting racism.

As a squad we are fully supportive of the entire football family’s efforts in ridding the sport, and society generally, of all forms of discrimination,” the statement said.

“The gesture of taking the knee before matches provides an opportunity for us to do exactly that and continues to allow all those playing to publicly showcase their support — on behalf of the whole squad — for the fight against discrimination.

“We wish to make clear that taking the knee, for us, is in no way representative of any agreement with political messaging or ideology. It is purely about tackling discrimination, as has been the case throughout.

“We will continue to do this until the start of the New Year when a new and comprehensive anti-discrimination strategy will be announced by the club.”

Coronavirus regulations in England mean that only 2,000 local fans are allowed to attend games with no away fans permitted to travel.

Footballers in England have been taking a knee before games since football returned in June following protests in the United States over the death of George Floyd in police custody.

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LIGUE 1 ROUND UP: MBAPPE’S 100TH GOAL HELP CLUB BEAT MONTPELLIER, RENNES LOSE AGAIN.

Striker Kylian Mbappe came off the bench to score his 100th goal for Paris Saint-Germain as the French league leader secured a hard-fought 3-1 win at Montpellier on Saturday.

Mbappe’s century of PSG goals — in 137 games — was completed when the 21-year-old turned in a cross from Layvin Kurzawa from close range in the 90th minute.

Up until then, it was uncertain for PSG after English striker Stephy Mavididi equalized for Montpellier in the 40th and the home side pushed strongly for a winner after the break.

PSG striker Moise Kean broke away and netted with a fine finish in the 76th to put the visitors ahead. Mbappe then stroked the ball home from Kurzawa’s quick pass to embellish a win which moves PSG four points ahead of second-place Marseille, and five ahead of third-place Lille.

Marseille have played two games fewer than PSG, while Lille can remain two points behind PSG with a home win against Monaco on Sunday.

PSG coach Thomas Tuchel rested Neymar and Marco Verratti ahead of their Champions League game against Istanbul Basaksehir on Tuesday. But Montpellier’s best striker Andy Delort was also missing, having tested positive for the coronavirus .

It deprived Montpellier of a player who has six goals, assisted on three and has formed a strong partnership with Gaetan Laborde. It also spared a shaky PSG defense, which has conceded five goals in two games, from coping against one of the league’s most physical and awkward strikers.

Tuchel’s gamble to rest his best forwards worked.

In Saturday’s other game, Rennes lost 2-0 at home to Lens, which climbed to seventh place while Rennes dropped to eighth and have won just one game in their last 13 overall.

Lens took the lead in the 27th minute through 18-year-old forward Arnaud Kalimuendo, who joined from PSG in the recent transfer window and netted his third goal of the season.

He went close early in the second half when his shot was saved by the foot of goalkeeper Romain Salin. Striker Ignatius Ganago returned from injury and grabbed the second goal late on.

In the pick of Sunday’s matches, Lille’s lunchtime kickoff frustrated coach Christophe Galtier considering his side played in the Europa League on Thursday night.

Former champion Lyon look to make it 10 games unbeaten when they visits Metz.

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LOSS TO CADIZ IS HUGE SET BACK – KOEMAN

Ronald Koeman says Barcelona were not good enough as their title ambitions took a “huge step back” in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat away at Cadiz.

Goals from Alvaro Gimenez and Alvaro Negredo sentenced Barca to their fourth defeat of the season and their worst start to a campaign since 1987-88.

With just 14 points from their opening 10 games, the Blaugrana are already 12 behind leaders Atletico Madrid, who beat Real Valladolid 2-0 earlier on Saturday.

It’s a huge step back in terms of winning La Liga,” Koeman lamented in his postmatch news conference. “It’s disappointing but we must accept it, even though being 12 points back from a strong team like Atletico is a lot.

“The result today is difficult to explain. We concede the first goal and weren’t good in attack, with too many players in the middle of the pitch.

“That’s not the level I expect from my team. We must improve. We must be more focused. In general, the attitude without the ball was not good.”

Cadiz went ahead in the eighth minute when Gimenez bundled the ball over the line after Marc-Andre ter Stegen had saved Barca defender Oscar Mingueza’s poor header.

Pedro Alcala’s own goal drew Barca level in the second half, but Cadiz restored their lead through Negredo five minutes later after Clement Lenglet’s error from Jordi Alba’s throw in.

“Our throw-in ends up in a goal for them,” added an angry Koeman. “It’s our mistake. It’s incredible and you don’t expect it from our team. You cannot concede a goal like that.

“I think it’s a lack of concentration. We lack aggression without the ball. That could be why. It’s not easy to explain how we concede that second goal. It’s very disappointing.”

Barca have now fallen behind in six of their 10 league games this season and have failed to win any of them, drawing two and losing the other four.

“It’s worrying to lose so many games,” midfielder Sergio Busquets told reporters. “The more we slip up, the further we are away from the top, which is where we want to be.

“I think individual mistakes have cost us a lot of points and we can’t keep giving the opposition that early advantage.

“Once we’re behind, it enables teams to shut up at the back and deny us space. It’s not a question of attitude or commitment, but starting games like this makes it much more difficult.”

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ATL 2-0 VALLADOLID: ATLETICO MADRID GO TOP OF LA LIGA TABLE AFTER SEVEN STRAIGHT WINS.

Atletico Madrid overcame a rusty first-half display to beat Real Valladolid 2-0 at home on Saturday with goals from Thomas Lemar and Marcos Llorente, sending them clear at the top of La Liga.

France international Lemar struck his first goal since April 2019 to break the deadlock in the 56th minute, appearing at the back post to guide in a cross from Kieran Trippier and complete a sweeping counter-attack.

Llorente sealed the victory in the 72nd minute, latching on to a header from Trippier and showing remarkable pace and power to race past a defender and confidently dispatch his shot into the bottom corner.

Winger Lemar, who has been somewhat lacklustre since joining in from Monaco June 2018, put in an impressive showing against Valladolid after netting his first goal of the season.

“Lemar’s performance makes me really happy, he’s been working for a long time wanting to show the player he is,” said Atletico boss Diego Simeone.

“He hasn’t had the consistency he would have wanted, to have the place he should have in the team. Now let’s hope these performances give him confidence and security and composure. We need all the players to get to the objectives the club has.”

A seventh straight league victory took Atletico top of the table on 26 points after 10 games, two ahead of second-placed Real Sociedad who have played 11. Their next league match is away to city rivals and reigning La Liga champions Real Madrid.

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LA LIGA: REAL MADRID BEAT SEVILLA TO EASE PRESSURE ON ZIDANE.

Real Madrid beat Sevilla 1-0 in La Liga to alleviate some pressure on manager Zinedine Zidane.

An own goal by Sevilla keeper Yassine Bounou secured all three points for Los Blancos.

Madrid, who rise to third in the La Liga table, are four points away from league leaders Real Sociedad, while Julen Lopetegui’s Sevilla are fifth in the division.

Zidane went into the match under pressure following two successive defeats, to Shakhtar Donestk in the Champions League and Sevilla in La Liga.

Zidane’s side almost took the lead inside a minute after Vinicius Jr. was played through on goal by Rodrygo, but the winger shot wide from a tight angle.

Sevilla missed their chance to go ahead in the 33rd minute after Jesus Navas’s cross found the head of defender Jules Kounde, but the defender missed the target and couldn’t guide it past goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

But after the break Vinicius Jr.’s shot was turned in by Bounou to send Real into the lead.

Bounou is the first goalkeeper to score an own goal in La Liga this season and the first Sevilla goalkeeper to score an own goal in the competition in the 21st Century.

After the match Vinicius Jr. claimed that the goal should be awarded to him and not for Bounou.

“It’s mine, of course! I took the shot,” he said. “The win today is really important for our confidence.

“It’s a difficult place to play against a good team. We had some games where we played well but didn’t win, and today we won… We didn’t have any doubts today.”

Meanwhile, manager Zidane said that his team deserved to win and praised the performance.

“They’re three really important points. But beyond that, it’s the game we played, from the first minute to the last. We suffered a bit in the second half but our first half was really good. We deserved it, against a really good opponent who can cause you problems,” he said.

“It’s important for the next game. It’s been a complicated moment lately, today we have to enjoy it and be happy. They’re three points, now we have to rest well and think about what comes next.”

Zidane spoke about the criticism both he and his team have received despite claiming victory against Sevilla.

“It’s like that. It won’t change much. When you lose, there’ll be criticism. Today we have to think positive. We have to keep looking for consistency. The rest won’t change.”

Real next face Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League on Wednesday before hosting city rivals Atletico Madrid on Saturday.

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CHELSEA 3-1 LEEDS: BLUES GO TOP AFTER IMPRESSIVE FIGHT BACK.

Chelsea struck twice in the second half as they came from behind to beat Leeds United 3-1 in front of 2,000 returning home fans.

Leeds took the lead in the fourth minute when Patrick Bamford rounded Edouard Mendy to score against his former side.

Timo Werner then missed a glorious chance to equalise, somehow firing over from point-blank range.

However, Olivier Giroud made it 1-1 on 27 minutes when he slid in at the near post to convert Reece James’s cross.

Chelsea pushed for a second goal and it came on 61 minutes, Kurt Zouma rising highest to head in a Mason Mount corner.

Christian Pulisic wrapped up the win from close range in stoppage time after being played in by Werner.

Frank Lampard’s side go top on 22 points after extending their unbeaten Premier League run to nine matches.

Leeds lie 13th with 14 points.

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WESTHAM 1-3 MAN UNITED: RED DEVILS FIGHT BACK SPOILS HAMMERS FANS’ RETURN.

Manchester United came from behind for the fifth time in a row this season to beat West Ham United and deny the Hammers fans a perfect return to their stadium.

In front of home support for the first time since 29 February, West Ham started brightly and the pressure paid off on 38 minutes.

Three minutes after Pablo Fornals had struck a post, Tomas Soucek poked in Declan Rice’s flick.

The half-time introduction of Bruno Fernandes turned the match, as he passed to Paul Pogba who struck a superb equaliser on 65 minutes.

Three minutes later, Mason Greenwood rifled Man Utd ahead, before another half-time substitute, Marcus Rashford sealed a ninth successive away PL win.

Man Utd rise to fourth on 19 points, while West Ham drop to seventh on 17 points.