By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: 22:57 BST, 28 August 2026 | Updated: 22:57 BST, 28 August 2026
Bayern Munich got the Bundesliga off to a devastating start with a 5-1 win over Stuttgart on Friday, while defending Ligue 1 champion Paris Saint-Germain needed two goals in stoppage time to rescue a point at Lille.
Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki both bagged a brace as Manchester City overran Crystal Palace 4-1 in the Premier League and AC Milan beat Venezia 2-0 in Serie A.
In La Liga, Alaves and Racing Santander both won by a single goal, over Villarreal and Elche respectively.
Reigning champion Bayern Munich made a typically dominant start to the league with a 5-1 victory at home against Stuttgart.
Dayot Upamecano put Bayern in front when he headed home a Joshua Kimmich corner after 21 minutes.
Josha Vagnoman equalized for the visitor in the 52nd. But after Michael Olise put Bayern ahead again three minutes later, Vagnoman conceded an own goal to give Bayern a 3-1 lead.
Bayern's Aleksandar Pavlovic, top, celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal with Ismael Saibari during the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart in Munich, Germany, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Aleksandar Pavlovi´c made it 4-1 with eight minutes left on the clock and Luis Díaz added the fifth in stoppage time.
Bayern has not lost its first Bundesliga game of the season for 15 consecutive years.
Paris Saint-Germain scored two goals in stoppage time to draw at Lille 2-2 and record its second consecutive Ligue 1 draw.
The French and European champion came from behind to draw 2-2 at Rennes last week but looked certain to leave Lille empty-handed. A spectacular first half strike from Hakon Arnar Haraldsson and an 84th-minute goal from Dilane Bakwa put the home side in command.
However, Vitinha after 91 minutes and Marquinhos four minutes later guaranteed a remarkable recovery for Luis Henrique´s side.
Haaland opened the scoring with a header in the 17th minute and rounded it off with a left-foot strike six minutes from time.
Cherki scored in the 54th and 59th minutes, achieving his first Premier League brace in his 181st appearance.
Palace´s goal came in between the two Cherki strikes; Yeremy Pino´s fantastic free kick rebounded off the bar and into the net of goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Serie A leader AC Milan snapped a four-game losing run at home by beating newly promoted Venezia 2-0 at the San Siro.
Goncalo Ramos after 69 minutes and then an own goal from Redouane Halhal a minute before time gave the home side a comfortable win.
The result means Ruben Amorim´s side are two for two so far as it seeks to halt the dominance of champion and city rival Inter Milan.
It was a welcome win for a side that lost its last three home games last season and another early warning for Venezia, which lost its league opener away at Lecce 2-0.
Alaves went to the top of La Liga when it beat Villarreal 1-0 to maintain its unbeaten start.
Argentine Lucas Boye got the only goal after 31 minutes. Alaves has seven points from its first three games.
Earlier, Yassir Zabiri scored a first half hat trick to put Racing Santander on the road to a 3-2 victory against Elche.
Elche hit back with late goals from Buba Sangare and Fer Nino but the home side held on to take all three points and leave Elche looking for its first win.
Elche has one point from nine, while Racing has four.
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Bayern's Harry Kane, centre, passes the ball during the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart in Munich, Germany, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Manchester City's Rayan Cherki, right, celebrates with Erling Haaland after scoring his side's third goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Crystal Palace and Manchester City in London, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Lille's Dilane Bakwa, right, scores his side's second goal during the French League One soccer match between Lille and Paris Saint-Germain, in Lille, France, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
AC Milan's Ardon Jashari, left, scores his side's second goal pst Venezia's goalkeeper Filip Stankovic during a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Venezia, in Milan, Italy, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)