Strikers, wingers and even a goalkeeper recorded hat-tricks of one form or another across Europe’s elite last weekend.
From the port of Naples to the peaks of the Basque Country, the continent’s best delivered an engrossing slate of fixtures punctuated by individual brilliance. The Bundesliga’s two favourites – Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen – were both held to high-scoring draws, Barcelona continued their charge at La Liga’s summit and Juventus even conceded a league goal for the first time this season.
Here are the standout players from a thrilling weekend of action before an ill-timed international break.
“Scott is a player who has goals in his blood,” Antonio Conte declared ahead of Napoli’s clash with Cesc Fabregas’ Como on Friday night, “a footballer who has goals in his DNA.”
Within 30 seconds of kick-off, Scott McTominay had lived up to his manager’s big billing. Sweeping Romelu Lukaku’s pass into his path while holding off three sets of feet snapping at his heels, the former Manchester United midfielder rifled in the opener in a 3-1 triumph for Serie A’s early leaders.
Eintracht Frankfurt emerged from Bayern Munich’s visit on Sunday with a point thanks almost entirely to Omar Marmoush’s unrivalled efficiency.
The Bundesliga‘s leading scorer found the net with his only two shots of the match, the last of which was a 94th-minute equaliser to conclude a 3-3 draw. The only chance that Marmoush created was also converted by Hugo Ekitike on a night which saw Bayern squander most of their 24 efforts on goal. “We didn’t have many chances,” Marmoush accurately pointed out, “but we put away almost all of them.”
This time last year, the only contemporary footage of David de Gea which existed was coming out of his own social media channels. But amid the endless reels of training videos, the free agent who left Manchester United didn’t dare post a clip as impressive as his display for Fiorentina against AC Milan on Sunday.
De Gea couldn’t get a glove on Christian Pulisic’s wonderfully lofted volley, but stopped almost everything else, leaping at full stretch to deny penalties from both Theo Hernandez and Tammy Abraham.
“Trust me,” Fiorentina manager Raffaele Palladino gushed in the wake of a 2-1 win, “he’s still a monster. He’s a top, world class player.”
HAT. 🎩
TRICK. ⚽️
DAVITASHVILI. 🇬🇪 pic.twitter.com/TFIbXUFh4D— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) October 5, 2024
After completing the first hat-trick of his senior career, Saint-Etienne’s Zuriko Davitashvili sunk to his knees and buried his head in the turf. The ecstatic fans in the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard charged towards their new hero, a green wave crashing against the pitch barrier.
There hasn’t been much for the fallen giants to cheer upon their return to the French top flight this summer, sinking to the nadir of an 8-0 reverse a fortnight ago. Davitashvili’s heroics ensured that Saint-Etienne, however briefly, could enjoy being back in Ligue 1.
Barcelona’s visit to Alaves was barely half an hour old by the time Robert Lewandowski wheeled away with three outstretched fingers. The prolific Pole has rediscovered his best scoring form under his manager at Bayern Munich, Hansi Flick.
“This is the Robert I know, the only Robert I have known,” Flick beamed post-game. “In the area, he is the best.” Outside the area, Raphinha has outperformed pretty much everyone else in La Liga, setting up Lewandowski’s first two goals after a summer filled with rumours of his potential exit.
There was a gaping hole in the middle of Torino’s backline which Marcus Thuram not only filled but also created. Inter‘s flexible French forward was on the end of a brutal chop from Guillermo Maripan inside the opening 20 minutes of Saturday’s contest at San Siro, earning the opposition centre-back a red card at the expense of a few stud marks.
Thuram twice found himself unmarked in a depleted backline to deliver a pair of headers before sealing a night to remember with a scuffed volley in the second half. “We came all this way to see Thuram score,” the boisterous home crowd bellowed throughout.
“When you’re a goalkeeper facing a penalty you always expect to save it.” Paulo Gazzaniga’s confidence is justified after rebuffing three spot-kicks from as many different players during a 2-1 victory for Girona against an inaccurate Athletic Club.
Alex Berenguer, Inaki Williams and Ander Herrera all had feeble efforts from 12 yards beaten away by the former Tottenham Hotspur shot-stopper. After Athletic were ordered to retake their second penalty, the Girona crowd chanted: “Referee, give another.” Gazzaniga saved that as well.
