Donyell Malen’s hat-trick got Roma off to a blistering Serie A start in a 4-0 win over Fiorentina, and Chelsea delivered a perfect Premier League opening for new coach Xabi Alonso on Monday (August 24, 2026).

Chelsea beat Fulham 3-2 with the aid of a strike from club record signing Morgan Rogers.

Both La Liga games were tied; Malaga and Deportivo A Coruna drew 1-1 and Levante and Osasuna ended goalless.

Roma tops Serie A

Malen converted three passes from Paolo Dybala to score in the 27th, 52nd and 60th minutes and make Roma one of nine clubs with full points after the Serie A opening weekend. Substitute Niccolò Pisilli completed the rout four minutes from time.

Second half substitute Davide Frattesi scored five minutes into his Lazio debut to give the capital club a 1-0 win at Bologna.

In a game that featured few chances and eight yellow cards, five in the first half, Frattesi’s cool finish from Boulaye Dia’s superb backheeled pass, ensured a winning start for new Lazio coach Gennaro Gattuso.

The win was a relief for Gattuso, coming a week after his side’s shock Italian Cup exit at the hands of Serie B club Mantova.

Rogers scores on debut 

In an entertaining London derby, Brazilian João Pedro put Chelsea ahead in just 32 seconds, only for Josh King to level midway through the first half. Rogers restored Chelsea’s lead four minutes from halftime and the impressive Cole Palmer made it 3-1 four minutes into the second period.

Gonzalo García cut the deficit five minutes later with a close-range header, and although Fulham poured forward in search of an equalizer it ended 3-2 to the visitor at Craven Cottage.

The result marked a satisfying start for Alonso but was a disappointment for his former Spain teammate Álvaro Arbeloa in the Fulham dugout.

All square in Spain

In Spain, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored for the second consecutive game but it was not enough to give Deportivo A Coruna all three points against Malaga in a contest between promoted sides.

Aubameyang, who got his name on the scoresheet in last week’s 1-1 draw against Elche, took a superb throughball from Luismi Cruz and skipped round a static goalkeeper to put the home side ahead after 21 minutes.

However, Chupete equalized from the penalty spot 13 minutes later when Rafita Garrido was brought down by Lucas Noubi.

Earlier, Osasuna drew 0-0 with Levante. Levante’s first point of the season followed an opening weekend defeat by Espanyol.

Penalties and late comebacks in Germany

In the German Cup, Wolfsburg needed penalties to avoid a shock exit at the hands of fourth-tier Altglienicke. The Bundesliga club came from behind three times to leave it 3-3 after extra time and then scraped through 6-5 on penalties.

Schalke also survived a scare at fourth-tier Hallescher. The sides were tied 2-2 after 90 minutes but Schalke, newly returned to the Bundesliga after a three-year absence, scored three times in extra time to progress to the second round.

Cologne and Hamburg both won at third tier sides, Cologne beat Würzburger Kickers thanks to a brace from Isak Johannesson and Hamburg easily overcame Verl 3-0.

Football moves on fast. The Premier League no longer has the enigmatic Pep Guardiola, nor does it have the prolific Mohamed Salah.

“A new era begins” is the operative phrase ahead of the 2026-27 season as five of the ‘Big Six’ clubs come in with a different manager compared to day one of the previous campaign.

Nineteen of 20 head coaches at the helm this season are yet to win the toughest league in the world — a fact that lends weight to Mikel Arteta and Arsenal’s cause. Counterbalancing the Gunners’ case is a daunting statistic: only three clubs have ever managed to retain the trophy in the Premier League era. 

While Bruno Guimaraes adds depth and vision to Arsenal’s midfield, Arteta will have to be wary of the fitness of William Saliba (expected to miss a couple of months), Bukayo Saka, and Declan Rice, all coming off a gruelling World Cup campaign. 

Manchester City has not only lost Guardiola, after a 10-year reign with 20 trophies, but also midfield masters Rodri and Bernardo Silva. Head coach Enzo Maresca will lean heavily on Erling Haaland’s lethal finishing to anchor the rebuild, even as the club targets midfield reinforcements to partner new signing Elliot Anderson.

Xabi Alonso arrives at Stamford Bridge with a point to prove after his unceremonious time at Real Madrid. Chelsea has already done some good business in the transfer window, the most notable being the acquisition of playmaker Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for £117 million.

Elsewhere, Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool finds itself deadlocked in a frustrating standoff with Paris Saint-Germain, yet to agree on a valuation for transfer targets Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye. The Spaniard’s primary challenge will be maintaining his signature high-intensity style while balancing Anfield’s domestic and European ambitions.

No club has won more points than Manchester United since Michael Carrick took charge of the Red Devils on January 13, 2026 (39 points in 17 games), ultimately taking the club to third on the table. Armed with some prudent midfield signings, it remains to be seen what Carrick can conjure up in his first full season.

While Roberto De Zerbi’s Tottenham Hotspur — having narrowly escaped relegation — has been spending like there’s no tomorrow, Newcastle United, now under Matthias Jaissle, is struggling to hold on to its top players.

The Premier League’s latest tactical chessboard is set. Who will make the better moves as a wave of fresh faces steps forward to dominate the new landscape?