Marco Asensio scored a hat-trick against former club Real Mallorca to help Real Madrid to a 6-1 win that lifted them back above Atletico Madrid at the top of LaLiga. 

Mallorca youth product Asensio added to Karim Benzema s early opener and doubled his personal tally after Lee Kang-in had pulled one back for Mallorca in a lively first half to Wednesday s contest. 

Making his first start of the season, Asensio curled in a delightful third before Benzema – who also assisted a couple of goals – and Isco rounded off a thumping victory for Los Blancos at the Santiago Bernabeu. 

Madrid have now collected 16 points from their opening six matches, making this their best start to a season at this stage since 2013-14 when Carlo Ancelotti was last in charge. 

Raphael Varane is a big-time player who will quickly prove his worth to Manchester United, according to new team-mate Anthony Martial.

The two have linked up many times on international duty for France and have now joined forces at United after Varane made the switch from Real Madrid.

Centre-back Varane commanded a fee believed to be in the region of £42.7million (€50m) and Martial expects him to take to life at Old Trafford with the ease of a man who has won the World Cup and Champions League.

Varane, I know already, of course, Martial, who is also excited by the earlier arrival of Jadon Sancho, told United s official website. And the skill set he has, I know he will bring a lot to our team, in addition to his long experience, so we are all really delig…

Nigeria confirmed their place in the knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations with a routine 3-1 win over Sudan in Group D.

First-half goals from Samuel Chukwueze and Taiwo Awoniyi put the Super Eagles on their way, before Moses Simon added a third after the break.

Nigeria shipped a consolation goal, courtesy of Walieldin Khidir s penalty, but could now be crowned Group D winners with a match to spare, depending on Egypt s result against Guinea-Bissau.

Nigeria took less than five minutes to make the breakthrough, with Chukwueze finishing coolly after a long throw was hurled into the Sudan penalty area before Union Berlin forward Awoniyi deflected in a rebound from Kelechi Iheanacho s free-kick.

Having flown out of the traps in the first half, Nige…

Gylfi Sigurdsson s double extended Iceland s stunning Euro 2016 qualifying form as the Netherlands slipped to a shock 2-0 loss in Reykjavik.

The Swansea City midfielder converted a penalty and fired home a superb volley in the first half of Monday s Group A clash in Reykjavik as Guus Hiddink s men fell to a third defeat in four games since he retook the reins.

Iceland s win maintained their place as pool leaders on goal difference having begun the campaign with 3-0 wins over Turkey and Latvia.

They remain level on points with Czech Republic, who emerged from Kazakhstan with a 4-2 triumph.

Borek Dockal, David Lafata, Ladislav Krejci and Tomas Necid found the net to render Yuriy Logvinenko s late double irrelevant as the Czechs kept up their 100 per cent re…

Qualifying for Euro 2016 swings back into view this weekend with five clashes between sides in the top two of their groups taking place over the three days.

Unbeaten England top that list after five wins from five and Roy Hodgson s side could strengthen their grip on Group E when they travel to Slovenia.

Victory for the visitors would see them move nine points clear of Slovenia with four games remaining, while also giving the chance for Switzerland to jump into second place if they can beat Lithuania.

Over in Group A, Iceland host Czech Republic in another battle for top spot that is currently occupied by the visitors.

After just missing out on the World Cup, Iceland have continued to build using their momentum and they will remain above Netherlands even…

Once every four years players from across the globe get a chance to perform on the world stage and force their way into the football zeitgeist.

Whether it is a young midfielder from Ghana who has been battling injuries the past couple of seasons, or a mercurial Dutch forward trying to push his way out of the Eredivisie, it is the perfect launchpad to alter the course of a player s career.

Stats Perform has identified four players who have lit up Qatar and, in turn, have seen their profile and transfer stock skyrocket, opening the door to a new world of possibilities come the January transfer window.

Take a look at these young leading lights

2 Cody Gakpo is only the second player to open the scoring three times in the same group stage (1st and 2nd include…

Chelsea coasted to a 3-0 away win over Leicester City as Thomas Tuchel s team powered on at the top of the Premier League on Saturday.

Brendan Rodgers home side had twice defeated Tuchel s men in 2021 already, but the Blues raced into a two-goal lead this time as Antonio Rudiger and N Golo Kante struck in the first half.

The visitors remained utterly dominant after the break and added a well-deserved third through substitute Christian Pulisic against the hapless Foxes, who did not record a single shot until the 58th minute.

Chelsea, who collected a fourth successive away league win without conceding for the first time since December 2008, at least briefly moved six points clear at the summit.

50% Exactly 50% of Antonio Rüdiger s eight Premier League go…

Fiorentina director Joe Barone insisted the club will not increase their offer to wantaway star Dusan Vlahovic as he called for respect.

Vlahovic is set to leave Fiorentina after opting against signing a new deal in Florence, with the Serbia international s current contract expiring in June 2023.

The 21-year-old – who has a league-high 15 goals this term – has been linked to Serie A champions Inter, Juventus, Premier League holders Manchester City, Manchester United, Bundesliga winners Bayern Munich, LaLiga titleholders Atletico Madrid, Tottenham and Arsenal.

Amid the growing speculation, Vlahovic has continued to flourish for Fiorentina in Serie A this season.

Vlahovic (32) is only the third player in the last 60 years to have scored more than 30 Ser…

Denzel Dumfries late equaliser maintained the Netherlands unbeaten start to their Nations League campaign as they rescued a 1-1 draw with Hungary despite Virgil van Dijk s red card.

The Oranje were staring at their first defeat in Group A3 when Roland Sallai smashed Zsolt Nagy s cross home at the back post to cap a rapid break midway through the first half.

Sallai had earlier struck the post as Hungary started impressively, while Denes Dibusz was called into action by Cody Gakpo at the other end shortly before half-time.

The visitors position was made even more tenuous with 11 minutes remaining, as Liverpool captain Van Dijk received two yellow cards in three minutes, the second for a tactical foul to prevent a Hungary counter.

But Ronald Koeman s side ma…

Maurizio Sarri feels referee Craig Pawson is not up to officiating in Europe after being left angry at the English referee s display in Lazio s 1-0 win against CFR Cluj.

Pawson sent off Lazio defender Patric 15 minutes into Thursday s Europa Conference League knockout round play-off first leg for a challenge on Ermal Krasniqi.

Patric was issued a straight red card for preventing a clear goalscoring opportunity, despite being around 15 yards from the penalty area with other Lazio players around him.

Lazio played the remainder of the match with 10 men, but they found a winner through a Ciro Immobile goal on the brink of half-time at Stadio Olimpico.

FT | 1-0

È FINITAAAAAA!
(48’ pt) |

— S.S.Lazio (@OfficialSSLazio)

Sarri was…