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Manchester United set all-time English football record with Wolves win

Manchester United’s victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers this afternoon has seen them set a new mark for the longest away unbeaten record in English football history.

The Red Devils have now gone 28 matches without losing on their travels, a run which includes 18 wins and 10 draws.

Liverpool were the last home team to beat Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side back in January 2020, more than 19 months ago.

Man United’s long run looked in doubt at stages of their trip to Molineux, with David de Gea pulling off a sensational double save to keep the scores level at 0-0.

Mason Greenwood then scored the only goal of the game with 10 minutes remaining, maintain his record of finding the back of the net in every Premier League game so far this season.

The 1-0 triumph sees Man United overtake the record previously held by Arsenal’s Invincibles, who went 27 away games unbeaten between 2003 and 2004 before seeing that run ended by the Red Devils themselves.

The victory takes Solskjaer’s men up to seven points from their three games this season – one of five teams who trail leaders Tottenham Hotspur by two points.

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Olivier Giroud scores 2 as AC Milan routs Cagliari

It was a second win in as many games for Milan, which is still without Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The veteran forward remains out after injuring his knee in May and needing surgery.

Olivier Giroud scored his first two league goals for AC Milan as the Rossoneri beat Cagliari 4-1 in Serie A.

All the goals came in the first half with Giroud scoring Milan’s last two after early strikes from Sandro Tonali and

Rafael Leao. Alessandro Deiola briefly made it 1-1 for Cagliari on Sunday.

It was a second win in as many games for Milan, which is still without Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The veteran forward remains out after injuring his knee in May and needing surgery.

Jose Mourinho’s Roma also scored four goals as it won 4-0 at newly promoted Salernitana.

In Milan, the home side opened the scoring when Tonali curled a free kick into the top near corner in the 12th minute.

It was also his first goal for Milan and only a second in Serie A for the former Brescia midfielder.

Cagliari leveled three minutes later as Deiola headed in a delightful lofted pass from Joao Pedro but Milan restored its lead almost immediately when Leao’s effort was deflected in.

Giroud joined Milan from Chelsea in the offseason and the 34-year-old scored his first goal in the 24th. Brahim Diaz raced forward from the center of midfield and sent a ball through to Giroud, who fired it into the far side of the net.

Giroud also converted a penalty two minutes from halftime after Cagliari midfielder Kevin Strootmann handled the ball just inside the penalty area.

ROMA ROUT

Salernitana had narrowly lost its first match back in the top flight for more than 20 years as it was defeated 3-2 by Bologna last week.

It was a lot more humiliating in its first home match following a second-half capitulation.

Lorenzo Pellegrini broke the deadlock three minutes into the second half and also scored Roma’s fourth.

New forward Tammy Abraham opened his Roma account in the 69th following a goal from Jordan Veretout.

The 23-year-old Abraham is enjoying a fantastic start to life in Serie A after setting up both his side’s goals and hitting the crossbar in a 3-1 win over Fiorentina last week.

Abraham recently joined Roma from Chelsea for 40 million euros ($47 million).

PERFECT RECORD

Substitute Andrea Petagna scored two minutes after coming off the bench as Napoli also made it two wins out of two with a 2-1 victory at Genoa.

Petagna’s goal came with six minutes remaining after Genoa midfielder Andrea Cambiaso had canceled out Fabian Ruiz’s opener.

Sassuolo drew 0-0 with Sampdoria.

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Lionel Messi era begins as PSG beat Reims; Mbappe scores 2

Messi made his debut for PSG on Sunday after coming off the bench midway through the second half in a 2-0 win at Reims in the French league.

The Lionel Messi era has begun at Paris Saint-Germain, without a goal for the Argentine superstar but plenty of adulation and fanfare.

Messi made his debut for PSG on Sunday after coming off the bench midway through the second half in a 2-0 win at Reims in the French league.

Messi replaced his friend and former Barcelona teammate Neymar in the 66th minute and they shared a hug.

After years of glory for Messi at the 99,000-capacity Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, the record six-time Ballon d’Or winner and four-time Champions League victor made his first PSG appearance at the modest 20,000-seater Stade Auguste Delaune.

Such is Messi’s star factor that the home fans chanted “Messi, Messi” while a smiling Reims goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic took a photo of Messi holding a child after the game.

PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino was touched by the reception for Messi, pointing out that supporters of both teams were delighted to see him play.

“The welcome he got was something beautiful to see and hear, on the part of our fans but also the Reims fans,” Pochettino said.

“Messi was very happy about it. His presence generates more enthusiasm, everyone can feel it and it has an effect on the other players.”

Before the match, hundreds of fans gathered for a glimpse of Messi as he descended the team bus and he waved back at them.

They wanted to see one of the all-time greats, along with Pele and the late Diego Maradona, who Messi adored.
Messi’s incredible skill, close control, grace, vision, dancing feet, astute passing, speed of thought and execution have thrilled fans for years.

He netted 672 goals for Barca and won 35 trophies for the Spanish giant, including the 2015 Champions League alongside Neymar.

That was the last time Messi won Europe’s elite trophy and, somewhat ironically, his last goal for Barca in the Champions League was a brilliant strike away to PSG last season in the round of 16.

The 34-year-old Messi, who led his nation to the Copa America title last month, joined PSG three weeks ago after his new contract with Barcelona fell through.

Striker Kylian Mbappe was named in the starting lineup as Real Madrid tries to sign him before the end of the summer transfer window.

Mbappe had already scored both goals before Messi came on.

He headed in Angel Di Maria’s cross in the 15th minute and then turned in Achraf Hakimi’s cross in the 63rd for his 135th goal since joining PSG in 2017.

“No, I wasn’t surprised by his enthusiasm,” said Pochettino, who did not comment on Mbappe’s immediate future.
For it remains to be seen whether it’s his last for PSG, which has started the season with four straight wins and has 12 points.

OTHER MATCHES

French champion Lille and Monaco finally won their first games of the season.

Yusuf Yazici and Jonathan David scored as Lille beat Montpellier 2-1, and Sofiane Diop grabbed both goals as Monaco bounced back with a 2-1 win at Troyes.

Angers remains unbeaten and has 10 points after beating Rennes 2-0 at home.

Also, it was: Lens 2, Lorient 2; Strasbourg 3, Brest 1; Clermont 2, Metz 2.

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Tammy Abraham opens Roma account as Jose Mourinho’s side continue strong start

Tammy Abraham scored his first Serie A goal for Roma as they cruised to a 4-0 win at Salernitana.

The England international, who linked up with Jose Mourinho when he made a £34million switch from Chelsea earlier this month, scored Roma’s third goal with a fine finish after Lorenzo Pellegrini and Jordan Veretout had put them in control.

Pellegrini’s second goal of the game wrapped up a routine win.

Another former Chelsea striker, Olivier Giroud, scored twice for AC Milan as they claimed a convincing 4-1 victory over Cagliari. Napoli won 2-1 at Genoa and Sassuolo played out a goalless draw with Sampdoria.

Barcelona handed teenager Gavi his competitive debut in their 2-1 win against Getafe.

The 17-year-old midfielder impressed as first-half goals from Sergi Roberto and Memphis Depay ensured Barca made it two wins from two at the Nou Camp this season.

Luis Suarez was on the scoresheet as a stoppage-time own goal from Aissa Mandi ensured Atletico Madrid secured a point in a hard-fought 2-2 draw with Villarreal.

The former Liverpool man cancelled out Manu Trigueros’ opener, only for ex-Bournemouth winger Arnaut Danjuma to retake the lead for the visitors.

It looked as if Villarreal would put an end to Atletico’s unbeaten start to the season, but Mandi’s own goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time earned Atletico the draw.

Rayo Vallecano had four goalscorers – Alvaro Garcia, Oscar Trejo, Randy Nteka and Santi Comesana – in a 4-0 thrashing of Granada, who have yet to win a LaLiga game this season.

And stoppage-time goals from Roberto Torres – a penalty – and David Garcia stunned Cadiz as Osasuna snatched a 3-2 win.

Lionel Messi had to settle for a substitute appearance as Kylian Mbappe stole the headlines with both goals in Paris St Germain’s 2-0 win at Reims.

Entering the action in the 66th minute to replace Neymar, the Argentinian’s first touch was greeted with screams and cheers from the 6,000 travelling fans.

But it was reported Real Madrid target Mbappe who stole the show, opening the scoring after 15 minutes and wrapping up the points just after the hour.

Elsewhere in Ligue 1, last season’s title winners Lille beat 10-man Montpellier 2-1.

Yusuf Yazici had opened the scoring for Lille in stoppage time at the end of the first half, but there was still enough time for Gaetan Laborde to equalise before the half-time whistle.

Jonathan David scored the winner before Montpellier’s Junior Sambia was shown a straight red card with just over 15 minutes remaining.

A goalkeeping howler from Rennes’ Alfred Gomis gifted Angers their opening goal in a 2-0 win that moved them third, while Clermont drew 2-2 with Metz and Lens played out the same result against Lorient.

Strasbourg beat Brest 3-1 and Sofiane Diop scored twice as Monaco won 2-1 at Troyes.

In the Bundesliga, table-topping Wolfsburg maintained their perfect start to the season with a narrow 1-0 win over RB Leipzig.

Jerome Roussillon scored the only goal of the game just after half-time. Union Berlin also secured a 2-1 win over Borussia Monchengladbach.

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Memphis Depay leads Barcelona to narrow victory over Getafe

Memphis Depay, who scored the winner in Barcelona’s 2-1 win over Getafe, had also scored in his team’s 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao last weekend.

Memphis Depay continued his good run with Barcelona, scoring the winner in a 2-1 victory over Getafe in the Spanish league on Sunday.

It was Depay’s second league goal for Barcelona, which has won two of its first three matches in its first season without Lionel Messi in nearly two decades.

Messi was expected to make his debut with Paris Saint-Germain later Sunday after the Catalan club failed to give him a new contract because of its financial struggles.

Depay, Barcelona’s biggest offseason signing, had also scored in the team’s 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao last weekend. He found the net Sunday after a neat move in front of a defender inside the area, sending a low shot inside the near post in the 30th minute.

Sergi Roberto had opened the scoring two minutes into the match at the Camp Nou Stadium after a cross by Jordi Alba.

“We were coming off a draw so we needed the win no matter what ahead of the international break,” said Roberto, who had also scored in Barcelona’s 4-2 win against Real Sociedad in the opener. “It was a difficult match but we came through with the victory.”

Getafe, which has lost three straight to start the league, equalized with a shot from Sandro Ramírez in the 18th. It was Getafe’s first league goal of the season.

“It’s been a tough start to the season for us but we have to keep working hard to try to recover,” said Ramírez, a former Barcelona player.

Barcelona forward Martin Braithwaite, who scored twice in the opener against Sociedad, had a goal disallowed for offside near the end of the match.

Depay nearly added his second from close range in the 85th, but sent the ball over the crossbar.

More than 26,000 fans were allowed at the Camp Nou.

Barcelona was without veteran defender Gerard Piqué because of a muscle injury.

The Catalan club has seven points, the same as rival Real Madrid which won 1-0 at Real Betis on Saturday. Sevilla, Valencia and Mallorca also have seven points.

Defending champion Atlético Madrid can become the only team with three straight victories to start the league if it defeats Villarreal at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium later Sunday.

Sevilla also entered the weekend with two wins but was held to a 1-1 draw at Elche on Saturday.

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admits Daniel James could leave Manchester United

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has refused to rule out the possibility of Daniel James leaving the club in the final two days of the summer transfer window.

The 23-year-old found first-team chances hard to come by last season, making just 15 Premier League appearances, but he has started two of Man United’s three outings so far in 2021-22.

However, the imminent arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo to Old Trafford is expected to knock James further down the pecking order, and Solskjaer has acknowledged that the return of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner could have a knock-on effect on other players’ futures.

“I’m not going to discuss individual players and names,” Solskjaer told reporters when asked about James’s future.

“There have been a couple of enquiries for some of our players and with the signing of Cristiano we may give less playing time to a few. Dan is a Man United player at the moment.”

Everton, Brighton & Hove Albion, Leeds United and Crystal Palace have all been credited with an interest in the Welsh winger, although Man United would only be willing to sanction a loan exit.

The future of Jesse Lingard is also up in the air, with West Ham United rumoured to be lining up a late £15m bid for their former loanee.

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Lautaro Martinez accepts new Inter Milan contract

Serie A champions Inter Milan have reportedly reached an agreement with Lautaro Martinez to extend the striker’s contract this summer.

The 24-year-old scored his first goal of the new season as the Nerazzurri came from behind to beat Hellas Verona 3-1 away from home last weekend.

Following the departure of Romelu Lukaku to Chelsea, Inter have been desperate to keep hold of the Argentine, who was set to see his contract expire in 2023.

According to Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Martinez has now agreed to extend his contract by four or five years, worth around £6m per season plus bonuses.

The report states that there is a full agreement between both parties and only the player’s signature is missing for the deal to be finalised.

Martinez has been linked with a move to the Premier League this summer, with North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal believed to have expressed their interest, but he is now set to commit his future with the San Siro giants.

The former Racing Club striker enjoyed an impressive 2020-21 campaign for the Scudetto champions, scoring 19 goals and providing 11 assists in 48 appearances in all competitions.

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Mason Greenwood makes Wolves pay for missed chances

Mason Greenwood continued his electric start to the season as his late strike snatched Manchester United a 1-0 victory at Wolves.

Greenwood’s third goal in three games made the hosts pay for a string of missed chances and also saw United set a new all-time English football record by extending their unbeaten away record to 28 matches.

But United needed David De Gea’s sensational second-half stop from Romain Saiss to give them the platform for victory.

It capped a dramatic week at Old Trafford after United agreed a deal with Juventus to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back to the club, 12 years after he left for Real Madrid.

They rode their luck at Molineux as Wolves – who have now had 57 shots in the Premier League without scoring this season – suffered Groundhog Day.

Bruno Lage’s side lost their opening two games 1-0 to Leicester and Tottenham and were left empty handed again.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka cleared Francisco Trincao’s shot off the line, Raul Jimenez was denied by De Gea and Trincao missed a fine second-half chance.

But United carved out victory against the run of play as they prepare to mark Ronaldo’s return.

Wolves’ rapid start began when Adama Traore burst forward after intercepting Fred’s loose pass and found Jimenez, only for De Gea to save with his legs.

Fred’s nightmare start continued when he failed to cut out Ruben Neves’ pass on the break and then could not stop Trincao muscling past him into the area.

The Barcelona loanee beat De Gea and only Wan-Bissaka’s brilliant recovery denied him a first Premier League goal.

Wolves’ rapid start – inspired by Traore – was only aided by United’s mistakes and Jadon Sancho’s miscued header presented Joao Moutinho with a chance which he volleyed over.

The hosts had failed to score in their opening two games, despite having 42 shots, and their profligacy underlined why they had moved for striker Hee Chan Hwang.

The South Korea international watched from the stands after joining on loan, with a £13million option to buy, from RB Leipzig.

Debutant Raphael Varane endured a busy introduction to the Premier League but stood firm against the ferocity of Wolves’ tempo, underlining why United shelled out £34million for the former Real Madrid man.

At the front United lacked ingenuity and ideas and, while Bruno Fernandes smashed past Jose Sa six minutes before the break he was comfortably offside.

It was a rare moment of respite for the visitors but Greenwood still drilled wide to warn Wolves, despite their dominance, United were ready to punish them.

Another blank would have been a worry for Lage at the break and United underlined their own attacking riches by bringing on Edinson Cavani for Daniel James early in the second half.

Solskjaer’s side stabilised and Fred fired at Sa but Wolves missed another guilt-edged chance after 63 minutes.

Traore was found by Jimenez and he teed up Trincao, only for the forward – unmarked 15 yards out – to miscue his effort and it trickled wide.

Wolves appeared to be edging closer and it took a wonder-save from De Gea to stop them from opening the scoring with 21 minutes left.

Saiss rose to meet Moutinho’s corner and De Gea parried his header but the defender looked certain to score the follow up, only for the goalkeeper to brilliantly parry his shot from point blank range.

It proved pivotal as Greenwood snatched victory with 10 minutes left, to leave Wolves fuming.

Pogba and Neves went in for a 50-50 tackle with the ball running to Varane and he found Greenwood who cut inside on the right and beat Sa from the angle.

Wolves’ protests that Pogba fouled Neves were rejected by Mike Dean as they slipped to another defeat.

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Red Bull’s Max Verstappen declared winner of aborted Belgian Grand Prix

Max Verstappen was proclaimed as the winner of a farcical Belgian Grand Prix after only two laps were completed behind a safety car.

The 12th round of the Formula One campaign at a rain-soaked Spa-Francorchamps circuit finished three hours and 44 minutes after it was due to begin when the clock finally stopped on an embarrassing afternoon for the sport.

George Russell took second, with Lewis Hamilton third and half-points awarded.

Hamilton’s championship advantage over Verstappen has been reduced to three points.

Seventy-five thousand fans stood in the persistent drizzle for a race due to start at 3pm, pushed back to 3:10pm, 3:15pm and 3:25pm. The safety car took the field away on a formation lap but after eight minutes the race was stopped.

Following two hours and 47 minutes without any action, the FIA’s race director Michael Masi then gave the green light for the race to resume.

The sodden spectators, those who remained in the hope of a race, pumped their fists in delight, with Verstappen’s fans lighting orange flares on the Kemmel Straight.

But after just two laps completed of the rain-drenched 4.35-mile circuit, the race was red-flagged. The sport’s bosses were facing accusations of a cynical manoeuvre with two laps ensuring a classification could be granted.

“I feel really sorry for the fans,” Hamilton said. “They have been incredible to stick with us and hold out for a potential race.

“They knew when they sent us out at the end there that the track wasn’t any better and they did it just so that we could have two laps behind the safety car which is the minimum requirement for a race.

“I hope the fans get their money back.”

Hamilton added: “You couldn’t really see five metres in front of you, and you could not go flat out. It is a shame because it could have been a a good race if it didn’t rain as much.”

Verstappen, who declared the conditions as “fine to race” after it was stopped the first time around, added: “I said at 3:30, ‘Let’s go’.

“The conditions were decent but the visibility was low. If we started at 3, we stood a better chance. It is a win but it is not how you want to win.”

It is the first time in F1’s 71-year history when such few laps have been completed for a classified result. Indeed, it is only the sixth time half-points have been awarded.

The abandoned affair came just 24 hours after British driver Lando Norris was fortunate to emerge unscathed from a terrifying 185mph crash at Eau Rouge in qualifying.

The Spa-Francorchamps venue is considered to be one of the most dangerous tracks on the F1 calendar, with 23 drivers perishing here. Two years ago, French Formula Two driver Anthoine Hubert lost his life after a multi-car collision.

Damon Hill, the 1996 world champion, tweeted: “Brave decision by Michael Masi. If the race had gone ahead and there had been a serious accident, we’d be asking why he started the race. Tough. But ultimately a mature thing to do. Spa has claimed a lot of drivers.”

The remainder of the grid finished where they started with Daniel Ricciardo fourth for McLaren ahead of Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel and the AlphaTauri driver of Pierre Gasly.

Sergio Perez crashed on the way to the grid but took part in the second restart from the pit lane after Red Bull fixed his damaged machine.

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Adama Traore determined to push for Tottenham Hotspur move

Nottingham Forest v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Carabao Cup Second Round Adama Traore of Wolverhampton Wanderers warms up ahead of kick-off during the Carabao Cup match between Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers at the City Ground, Nottingham, UK on 24th August 2021. Nottingham England United Kingdom fletcher-nottingh210824_np4pZ PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRA Copyright: xMIxNewsx

Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Adama Traore has reportedly urged his agent to push through a move to Tottenham Hotspur in the closing stages of this summer’s transfer window.

The 25-year-old has been on Tottenham’s list of potential targets this summer since Nuno Espirito Santo – his manager at Wolves – took over in North London.

Wolves’ asking price of at least £40m has so far proved to be a major sticking point in any negotiations, and new boss Bruno Lage recently insisted that no key players would be allowed to leave the club before Tuesday’s 11pm deadline.

However, Spanish outlet Cadena SER claims that Traore has instructed his agent Jorge Mendes to secure a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium so that he can reunite with Nuno.

Wolves remain reluctant to lose their star man, and are unlikely to lower their demands for a player who still has two years remaining on his contract at Molineux.

Traore has been one of the team’s standout performers in their three Premier League games so far this season, despite Wolves still searching for their first point and first goal of the new campaign.

The Spain international has previously been linked with Liverpool, Chelsea and Leeds United, but Spurs are now considered the clear front-runners for his signature should he leave Wolves.

Wolves, meanwhile, are understood to be considering a move for Valencia forward Goncalo Guedes as a replacement for Traore.