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Vinicius shines as talk cruise

Vinicius Junior scored twice as Real Madrid got their Champions League campaign back on track with a commanding 5-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk.

Having suffered a shock defeat by Sheriff last time out in Group D, Carlo Ancelotti’s men endured no such difficulties at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev.

Sergey Krivtsov’s own goal got the ball rolling for the visitors seven minutes before half-time, while Vinicius’ quickfire double put them in control after the break.

Further strikes from Rodrygo and Karim Benzema completed the rout as coach Ancelotti claimed his fifth straight victory over Donetsk in this competition.

Despite a bright start at the scene of their 2018 Champions League final triumph over Liverpool, Madrid had a scare in the 23rd minute.

Indeed, Ferland Mendy was forced to clear Ismaily’s dangerous cross with Mateus Tete lurking for a tap-in.

But it was the 13-time European champions who hit the front in extremely fortuitous circumstances after 37 minutes, as Lucas Vazquez’s hopeful ball towards Benzema was sliced beyond his own goalkeeper by skipper Krivtsov.

Benzema was involved again as Madrid doubled their lead within six minutes of the start of the second half. After Donetsk were caught in possession from a throw-in, the skipper found Luka Modric, whose perfectly weighted first-time ball was delicately finished by Vinicius.

The Brazilian grabbed his second in emphatic fashion just five minutes later.

Receiving the ball from Benzema on the left flank, he embarked on a jinking run into the heart of the hosts’ defence before sweeping the ball past Anatolii Trubin.

Vinicius then turned provider in the 65th minute, demonstrating tremendous vision to cut the ball back for Rodrygo to thump into the roof of the net. Benzema completed the scoring with a neat finish in the dying moments of the contest.

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Palmer nets as slick visitors win big

Teenage midfielder Cole Palmer scored his first Champions League goal as Manchester City produced a slick performance to secure a 5-1 win over Club Brugge in Belgium.

Full-backs Joao Cancelo and Kyle Walker both found themselves on the scoresheet, the former scoring the first on the half-hour mark with a composed finish from Phil Foden’s pass.

Riyad Mahrez calmly tucked a penalty away before half-time and, soon after the restart, Walker got in on the action, drilling into the bottom-left corner after Kevin De Bruyne – playing in his home country – set him up.

Palmer struck within three minutes of coming off the bench, taking a neat touch before rifling a left-footed effort past Simon Mignolet from just inside the area.

While captain Hans Vanaken grabbed a late consolation for Brugge, a controlled outing for City was capped by Mahrez scoring his second of the night.

City started with plenty of intent, seeing two goals ruled out before full-back Cancelo opened the scoring with a centre-forward’s finish, taking Foden’s ball over the top on his chest and prodding through the legs of Mignolet.

There were ugly scenes as the Portugal international celebrated by the corner flag, with projectiles thrown towards him and his City team-mates by Club Brugge fans.

Stanley N’Soki tripped Mahrez just inside the box and the Algeria winger dusted himself off to take the spot-kick, which he slotted coolly into the bottom-left corner, sending Mignolet the wrong way to give the visitors a deserved 2-0 lead shortly before the break.

The third came eight minutes into the second half as City’s other full-back, Walker, made a smart run into the box and lashed a low effort across goal to finish off a neat team move.

Vanaken found the bottom-right corner to deny Ederson a clean sheet with nine minutes of normal time remaining, but Mahrez responded with City’s fifth just three minutes later, racing in behind and steering the ball into the top-right corner to round off the scoring, with Fernandinho getting the assist.

City suffered a blow in their quest to finish top when they lost 2-0 to Paris Saint-Germain on matchday two. However, last season’s Champions League finalists clicked into gear tonight and looked very impressive, despite losing their clean sheet towards the end.

This is the 19th time a Pep Guardiola side has scored five or more goals in a Champions League match, more than twice as many times as any other managers’ sides have done so (Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson, eight).

Mahrez’s composed penalty and late strike mean that the winger now has five goals in just three Champions League appearances against Club Brugge – his best record against a single opponent in the competition.

It is also a continuation of the Algerian’s excellent form in the Champions League, taking him to seven goals in his last seven appearances in the tournament.

Palmer has become only the third teenager to score in the Champions League for Manchester City after Foden and Kelechi Iheanacho.

Aged 19 years and 166 days, Palmer is the 10th youngest Englishman to score in the competition.

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OSHOALA LISTED IN FIFA’S TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUP

Nigeria and FC Barcelona Femeni forward, Asisat Oshoala, was yesterday listed in FIFA’s Technical Advisory Group on women’s football.

The Super Falcons Captain is the only current African player in the TAG headed by Jill Ellis, a former FIFA World Women’s Coach of the Year recipient. Ellis is also the only two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup winning manager and current President of the San Diego NWSL club.

Also in the team is South Africa’s Banyana Banyana Head Coach, Desiree Ellis, Chelsea Coach, Emma Hayes and USA star, Alex Morgan.

Some of the topics on the agenda of the TAG include; Competitive balance, increased opportunities for underserved nations, a FIFA Women’s Club World Cup, increased visibility and participation, FIFA international windows, prize money and the possibility of staging a biennial FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The TAG, which comprises players, coaches, referees, administrators, sports scientists and executives, features representation from each of the six continental confederations, held its second meeting on Friday 15 October.

Speaking on the TAG project, Jill Ellis said; “I’m honoured to be chosen by FIFA to lead this project.

“The growth of women’s football is a key objective for FIFA. Like any initiative, the first step is to gather all of the information and start to make next steps for how this advisory group can be impactful for tangible change for the growth and advancement of the women’s game.”

“It’s time for women’s football to definitely assume the importance it has at all levels and create its own path of growth and advancement, notwithstanding the obviously necessary coordination with the men’s game namely to avoid calendar overlaps.

Ellis highlighted further, “We will take the information gathered from the Technical Advisory Group and a wider consultation group to take informed ideas to a broader audience,”she concluded.

Women’s TAG Participants

Deyna Castellanos (VEN) – Current player

Desiree Ellis (RSA) – National team coach

Laura Georges (FRA) – Administrator / former player

Emma Hayes (ENG) – Club coach

Lindsey Horan (USA) – Current player

Karina LeBlanc (CAN) – Former player

Kristine Lilly (USA) – Former player

Alex Morgan (USA) – Current player

Doreen Nabwire (KEN) – Administrator

Asisat Oshoala (NGA) – Current player

Mark Parsons (ENG) – Club coach

Ricardo Rambo (BRA) – National team coach

Wendie Renard (FRA) – Current player

Ali Riley (NZL) – Current player

Lotta Schelin (SWE) – Former player

Dawn Scott (ENG) – Sports scientist

Kelly Smith (ENG) – Former player

Bibiana Steinhaus-Webb (GER) – Referee

Pia Sundhage (SWE) – National team coach

Jorge Vilda (ESP) – National team coach

Sun Wen (CHN) – Former player

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ARSENAL NET LATE EQUALISER AGAINST CRYSTAL PALACE IN PATRICK VIERA’S RETURN TO THE EMIRATES

Alexandre Lacazette fired home from close range as Arsenal earned a last-gasp 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace as Gunners legend Patrick Vieira returned to the Emirates as a manager on Monday night.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang put Arsenal in front after just eight minutes. Nicolas Pepe collected a wayward corner kick on the right flank, then whipped in a cross that Vicente Guaita was able to get a hand to, but could only deflect into the path of the onrushing Aubameyang, who smashed home from close range.

Bukayo Saka was substituted at the break for Arsenal after he was the subject of a harsh foul by Crystal Palace’s James McArthur, who saw yellow for the challenge.

“The main thing was to avoid a loss,” Lacazette told Sky Sports. “We wanted to win, we started well but then we stopped playing. I think this is something we have to work on in the future.

“We showed we have character. Even when we are down we don’t give up.”

The visitors levelled soon after half-time when sloppy play in the back from Arsenal allowed Christian Benteke to collect the ball, charge into the area and fire a low shot past Aaron Ramsdale to make it 1-1.

Arsenal had chances after conceding the equaliser, but were soon behind when Odsonne Edouard blasted a shot into the roof of the net past Ramsdale from a rapid-fire Crystal Palace counter-attack.

Palace seemed home and dry after Arsenal left back Kieran Tierney blasted a shot from a tight angle into the woodwork but were punished for some sloppy defending deep into stoppage time.

A long throw-in produced a corner for Arsenal and after Palace failed to clear it and an ensuing goal-mouth scramble, Lacazette kept his wits and drilled in the equaliser past Guaita from close range.

Vieira, who won three league titles and four FA cups with Arsenal as a player, said Palace needed to stop conceding late goals in order to turn draws into wins.

“It was so close but we have been saying that a little bit too often,” he told Sky Sports. “We have to learn from the games we played previously. I am really disappointed because the way the team came back in the second half, they deserved to win.

“I am frustrated for them, they were brave and showed character. We have to put our sleeves up and put our bodies on the line. We were really unlucky today, it is the way it is but I believe there is more to come.

“The players were really frustrated because we threw away two points. To concede a goal like that is really difficult to accept but these games will make us stronger.”

Palace midfielder Conor Gallagher was thoroughly disappointed.

“Honestly, it’s so horrible,” he said. “It feels worse than a defeat, if that’s possible. Nothing is worse than thinking that you’ve got the three points and have it taken away from you.”

The result stretched Arsenal’s unbeaten league run to five games and left them 12th in the standings on 11 points from eight games while Palace are 14th three points behind them.

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AHEAD UCL: DEFENSIVE BOOST FOR CHELSEA AS THIAGO SILVA AND ANTONIO RUDIGER RETURN

Thiago Silva and Antonio Rudiger have bolstered Chelsea’s defensive options ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Malmo.

The centre-back pair missed Saturday’s 1-0 Premier League win at Brentford, but were both back in training on Monday.

Experienced centre-back Silva only returned from Brazil duty on Friday afternoon, leaving the 37-year-old short of preparation time for the Brentford trip.

Germany defender Rudiger picked up a minor back issue on national team duty and was forced to sit out the Blues’ gritty win on the road.

Senegal stopper Edouard Mendy pulled off a string of five saves against the Bees in a pivotal showing that helped push Chelsea back to the top of the league.

And now defender Andreas Christensen has lauded the Blues keeper’s stellar form.

“He showed on Saturday he is one of the top keepers in the world, not just the Premier League,” Christensen told Chelsea’s official club website.

“He is a top goalkeeper. You can see how important he is to us, to the team. Yet again we are lucky we have him.

“People can see and recognise what he can do and the quality he has.

“It is hard when you watch him every day because you don’t see the process.

“We just enjoy having him here. He was always a confident goalkeeper when he came in.

“He is very loud on the pitch and a really nice, confident guy off the pitch. He is trying to just help us every time.”

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NEWCASTLE LAUNCH INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGED RACIST GESTURE AT TOTTENHAM GAME

Newcastle have vowed to take “the strongest possible action” against anyone involved in discriminatory behaviour following an allegation of a racist gesture made towards Tottenham fans.

The club and Northumbria Police are investigating a complaint in the wake of Sunday’s Premier League fixture at St James’ Park, which the visitors won 3-2.

A statement from Newcastle read: “Newcastle United is aware of an alleged racist gesture made by an individual towards Tottenham Hotspur supporters inside St James’ Park during Sunday’s match. An investigation is under way and the police have been made aware.

“Our message is clear — football is for everyone. Discrimination has absolutely no place in football, in the street, online or in wider society, and we will not tolerate it under any circumstances.

“Newcastle United will pursue the strongest possible action against anyone involved in discriminatory behaviour and will support any efforts by the authorities to secure a criminal conviction.

“The club is adhering to the Premier League commitment regarding abusive and discriminatory conduct, which facilitates the banning of any fan found to have been involved in abusive and/or discriminatory conduct from all Premier League stadia.

“For this alleged incident to take place at a time when all Premier League clubs are visibly supporting the No Room For Racism campaign shows the work we all have ahead of us, to which we remain absolutely committed.

“If you see discrimination, challenge it, report it, change it. There is no place for abusive or discriminatory conduct anywhere in football; we are United as One.”

Northumbria Police have warned they will take “swift and robust action” against those found guilty of discriminatory offences.

A spokesperson said: “We can confirm we are investigating an alleged racist incident during Newcastle United’s home fixture with Tottenham at St James’ Park on Sunday.

“Enquiries are ongoing with the club to identify anyone involved and ascertain whether criminal offences have been committed.

“As a force, we do not tolerate hate crime of any kind within our communities and are committed to taking swift and robust action against perpetrators.”

The alleged incident happened during an eventful afternoon at St James’ in the club’s first game under their new Saudi-backed owners, with play being suspended for 20 minutes during the first half because of a medical emergency in the stands.

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NEWCASTLE’S NEW DAWN OVERSHADOWED BY DEFEAT AND MEDICAL EMERGENCY

What started as a party ended in sombre mood as events on and off the pitch cast a pall over Newcastle’s new dawn.

Excited fans turned up to St James’ Park on Sunday afternoon ready to celebrate a rebirth of the club under ambitious, fabulously wealthy owners, but left with undeniable problems on the pitch having been put into perspective by a serious medical emergency in the crowd.

Hours before kick-off, director Amanda Staveley’s husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi tweeted: “So excited and hopefully 3pts. But remember, today is bigger than that, today is about a new beginning, a new hope and a brighter future. Let’s enjoy it and celebrate a UNITED NEWCASTLE.”

Non-executive chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan was greeted by rapturous applause when he was announced to the crowd as a banner proclaiming the message, “’cause this is a mighty town built upon solid ground and everything they’ve tried so hard to to kill, we will rebuild” – a line from the Jimmy Nail song Big River – was unfurled ahead of kick-off.

He left having seen at close hand that the rebuilding job Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund – of which he is governor – has taken on as the majority shareholder in the consortium which bought out Mike Ashley last week, has on its hands simply to stabilise the club let alone transform it into one which can compete for silverware.

Foremost in the new owners’ thoughts will be the future of head coach Steve Bruce, whose 1,000th game as a manager after his widely-predicted departure failed to materialise quickly turned sour.

The city had been buzzing since it emerged on October 6 that a deal might finally be done, and conformation the following days sparked ongoing celebrations despite general discomfort over the debate about Saudi human rights issues the takeover has sparked.

Joy at the end of Ashley’s contentious reign, which brought self-sufficiency and austerity rather that the riches supporters had anticipated from a billionaire owner, was unbounded and a packed house, many wearing traditional Arab dress – or at least a nod towards it – gathered inside the cathedral on the hill overlooking the city to herald a new beginning.

Skipper Jamaal Lascelles captured the mood in is programme notes, writing: “For so long now – for so many years – I know the fans have dreamt of seeing Newcastle play at the very highest level and challenging for trophies.

“This is what you’ve been after and now there is a belief that it can be achieved. And for Newcastle as a city, I think this can bring nothing but good.”

Callum Wilson’s second-minute header simply increased the temperature, although strikes from Tanguy Ndombele and Harry Kane before a stoppage for treatment to a spectator and Son Heung-min after the resumption quickly dispelled the sense of optimism despite Eric Dier’s late own goal.

Such is the state of disrepair into which the club has been allowed to fall, its rehabilitation is likely to be a lengthy process, and a comprehensive 3-2 defeat by Spurs provided a stark reminder of the work which lies ahead.

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WESTHAM END EVERTON BOSS BENITEZ’S PERFECT HOME RECORD

West Ham defender Angelo Ogbonna’s header ended Everton manager Rafael Benitez’s 100 per cent home record as David Moyes got the better of his old Merseyside adversary in a 1-0 Premier League victory at Goodison Park.

The pair had previously met 15 times – 12 of those as managers on opposing sides of Stanley Park with the Spaniard then Liverpool boss – and Moyes had won just twice.

So this was a satisfying return to his old stomping ground for the Scot with Ogbonna’s 74th-minute goal denying Benitez the chance to record Everton’s best start to a season since 1978-79.

The nature of the goal was somewhat familiar to all inside the ground as, much like during his 11 years with the Toffees, it came from a set-piece.

Since his first game back in charge at West Ham, his side have earned a reputation as dead-ball specialists – and they have scored more (29), excluding penalties – than any other Premier League side.

There was a whiff of controversy as referee Stuart Atwell ruled Michail Antonio’s awkward challenge on goalkeeper Jordan Pickford had earned a corner despite protests from the home team.

Having wasted a good start to the game, Moyes would have been relieved to have left with three points, which lifted West Ham back into the top six.

Everton, still without their two biggest attacking threats Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison due to injury, barely had a kick for 20 minutes.

They were pinned back by the visitors’ flying start, propelled forward by Pablo Fornals and Said Benrahma with England midfielder Declan Rice knitting things together from deep.

But, bizarrely, it was Benitez’s side who squandered the best opportunity of the half when Demarai Gray beat Ogbonna by the corner flag and crossed the ball to the near post.

The proximity of Salomon Rondon may have put off team-mate Alex Iwobi at the near post, but his swing and a miss from six yards was inexcusable.

Abdoulaye Doucoure headed another good chance wide, this time from an Andros Townsend cross, while a Tomas Soucek goal at the other end was chalked out for offside after he converted a rebound from Jarrod Bowen’s shot.

Moyes would have gone in at half-time wondering how his side were not ahead, Benitez would have been grateful they were not.

The Spaniard’s tactical switching of Gray to the left and Iwobi centrally – late in the first half – had the two-fold effect of giving the former more freedom to attack 21-year-old right-back Ben Johnson, standing in for the injured Vladimir Coufal, while also reducing Rice’s influence in the centre.

Everton enjoyed more control after the break with Iwobi’s shot on the turn deflected behind and Rondon glancing a header just wide from Townsend’s inswinging cross as West Ham started to lose their way.

However, the match turned on Antonio’s challenge on England’s number one: Ogbonna glanced home Rice’s cross and with it went Benitez’s unbeaten home record.

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FIRMINO HATRICK, SALAH, MANE ON TARGET AS LIVERPOOL WHIP WATFORD IN RANIERI’S FIRST GAME

Roberto Firmino struck a hat-trick and Mohamed Salah scored for the eighth consecutive game as Liverpool delivered a masterclass in a 5-0 demolition of Watford on Claudio Ranieri’s Premier League return.

Jurgen Klopp’s side dominated from the outset to extend their unbeaten league run to 18 games, with Sadio Mane opening the scoring with his 100th Premier League goal.

Firmino doubled Liverpool’s lead just before half-time with a tap-in before adding his second from close range seven minutes after the break, capitalising on a parry from goalkeeper Ben Foster.

Salah provided Liverpool’s fourth with another moment of individual brilliance in the box before curling the ball in to the far corner and Firmino completed his treble in added time.

It was not the welcome return to the Premier League that former Chelsea and Leicester boss Ranieri would have hoped for, after replacing the sacked Xisco Munoz, with the full scale of Watford’s bid to stay in the top flight evident.

Liverpool started the game brightly and deservedly went ahead after nine minutes. Salah had already rattled the crossbar only to be flagged for offside before Mane’s first-time finish from the Egyptian’s exquisite pass brought up his personal milestone.

Foster had cleared the ball, but Salah won it back before shrugging off Danny Rose to send Mane through with the outside of his boot. The Senegal international timed his run to get ahead of his marker and then slotted the ball past the goalkeeper when one-on-one.

Salah had two more chances to add to Liverpool’s tally before the half-hour mark, but the first was blocked by a defender and the second Foster was able to come off his line and gather after a rare poor touch from the forward.

After the early exchanges, Watford had just 11 percent possession and Liverpool’s second looked inevitable.

The ball made its way across the pitch from Mane to James Milner on the overlap and the former England international put in a low cross for Firmino to tap home from close range completely unmarked in the 37th minute.

Watford continued to struggle in the second half, and it did not take long for Foster to be forced into another save, when Salah found space in the box to get a curled strike in, which the Watford goalkeeper was just able to turn over the bar.

Firmino put the game to bed in the 52nd minute. Andy Robertson attempted to find Salah at the far post when Craig Cathcart intercepted, forcing Foster into a save, but he could only parry and it was another tap-in for the Brazilian.

The visitors only had to wait two more minutes for their fourth of the afternoon with Salah, whose goal grabbed the headlines against Manchester City last time out, producing another stunning finish.

Salah showed impressive footwork to leave multiple defenders behind him as he crafted an opening for a curled strike into the far corner.

It looked as if the game would end 4-0 before Firmino turned home a ball across the box from substitute Neco Williams at the death.

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JUVENTUS SNATCH NARROW WIN FROM ROMA IN FOURTH STRAIGHT SERIE A WIN

Juventus continued their march up the Serie A standings with a 1-0 win over AS Roma in Turin on Sunday, as Moise Kean’s unorthodox early goal sealed a fourth consecutive league win for the Turin club.

Rodrigo Bentancur’s header ricocheted off Kean’s head and into the back of the net after 16 minutes in the game’s decisive moment.

But Jose Mourinho’s side were furious when Tammy Abraham put the ball in the net but the goal was not allowed to stand because referee Daniele Orsato had already whistled for a penalty. Jordan Veretout took the ensuing spot kick and his effort was saved by Wojciech Szczesny.

Juve are now seventh with 14 points, level with Lazio, and Atalanta above them and one point behind fourth-placed Roma.