European overview: Lewandowski and Barça frustrated by Rayo Vallecano | European club football

by Robert Lewandowski Barcelona his debut ended in a draw at home against Rayo Vallecano at the Camp Nou in their first La Liga game of the season.

It was a disappointing night for Barca as fans showed up to a nearly sold-out stadium to see their new team led by Poland striker Lewandowski, two-time Fifa Player of the Year, and Brazil winger Raphinha.

Barcelona dominated the game with nearly 70 per cent possession and 18 attempts on goal against Rayo’s two. But the two best chances fell on the visitors, with Álvaro García thwarted by a brilliant save from Marc Andre ter Stegen and Sergio Camello firing wide. As frustration mounted for Barca, their captain, Sergio Busquets, lost his temper and was sent off for an elbow to the face of Radamel Falcao in stoppage time.

In Italy, the champions Milano turned an early one-goal deficit into a 4-2 win against Udinese at the San Siro, securing a winning start to the campaign in an electrifying Serie A opener.

Two goals from Croatian international Ante Rebic and strikes from Theo Hernandez and Brahim Díaz helped the Rossoneri recover from their first clash after Udinese defender Rodrigo Becão gave the visitors the lead after 90 seconds of play. Game.

The Brazilian defender, who nodded in a corner from a tight angle, scored for the fifth time in Serie A at the start of his third season in Italy.

“What didn’t we like? The fact that we conceded a goal in such a short time, surely we have to start the games better,” said Milan coach Stefano Pioli. “Then we played half an hour of great football.”

Milan equalized in the 11th minute through a Hernandez penalty, after the referee pointed the spot following a VAR review when captain Davide Calabria was fouled by the Udinese defender Brandon Soppy.

Four minutes later, Rebic made it 2-1 with a powerful first shot, but Udinese defender Adam Masina equalized with a diving header to stun the home crowd just before half-time.

A minute into the second half, midfielder Díaz put Milan ahead again after an error by the Udinese defence. Díaz fired the ball from close range after Hernandez sent a cross into the box and it bounced off Masina. The goal ignited Udinese but Rebic smashed another shot past goalkeeper Marco Silvestri into the top left corner in the 68th minute to give the hosts a break and equal their tally of two goals from last season.

Neymar scored twice Paris Saint Germain struck Montpellier 5-2 in Ligue 1 at the Parc des Princes at 10 monaco had to settle for a point at home against reindeer.

Kylian Mbappé and debutant Renato Sanches were also on course for PSG, set off by an own goal from Montpellier defender Falaye Sacko as the home side picked up two wins from two early in their defense. title.

Mbappé had a penalty saved by a dive from Jonas Omlin in the Montpellier goal after a Jordan Ferri handball midway through the first half, but that proved a temporary reprieve for the visitors.

Sacko conceded another penalty after handling the ball in the box. Neymar stepped in for PSG and made no mistakes with the kick to give his side a 2-0 half-time lead.

Neymar added a second shortly after the break, heading home with a rebound. Montpellier found hope when Khazri pulled a goal back just before the hour mark, but when Mbappé finally entered the scoresheet 10 minutes later, it was game over.

PSG extended their advantage through Sanches on his debut following his move from Lille. Enzo Tchato netted another goal for Montpellier with virtually the last kick of the game, but it was a comfortable win for the home side.

Earlier, Monaco came from behind to claim a point in a 1-1 home draw with Rennes, a game in which they were down to 10 men from the start and missed a penalty. Youssouf Fofana received a red card within 15 minutes for a stamp on the Martin Terrier of Rennes. Monaco won a first-half kick that was missed by Axel Disasi as Rennes keeper Steve Mandanda made the save.

Gaetan Laborde opened the scoring for Rennes at the start of the second period, but a catastrophic error from substitute goalkeeper Dogan Alemdar, in place of Mandanda at half-time and who lingered on the ball to allow Breel Embolo to snatching him and scoring his first Monaco goal, meant the points were shared.