Hat-tricks and heartache – how Englishmen playing abroad got on this weekend

All major European football leagues have now returned to action and with an ever-increasing number of English players plying their trade abroad, we take a look at how they got on this weekend.

Real Madrid continued their perfect start in La Liga with a 3-0 away win against Real Oviedo. Jude Bellingham is yet to return to action after undergoing shoulder surgery in the summer. New arrival Trent Alexander-Arnold was also absent from the lineup, with Xabi Alonso relegating him to the substitutes bench. It was a blow for the right-back who started their opening game but only made a four minute cameo in their second match.

Barcelona kept pace with their rivals, defeating Levante with an injury time winner. Marcus Rashford made his first league start since joining the Catalans on loan, but he was taken off at half-time.

Atletico Madrid’s poor start also continued. Conor Gallagher was a second half substitute as Diego Simeone’s men drew 1-1 with Elche, leaving them winless from their first two games.

Meanwhile, in Germany Harry Kane found the net three times in Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga opener. Vincent Kompany’s side demolished RB Leipzig 6-0, with England’s all-time leading goalscorer firing home a second half hat-trick.

Jobe Bellingham made his full debut for Borussia Dortmund. However, the midfielder was replaced at half-time and his team went on to draw 3-3 with St Pauli. Fellow English youngster Jarell Quansah also made his Bundesliga debut. The centre-back opened the scoring for Bayer Leverkusen after just six minutes. However Erik ten Hag’s side succumbed to a 2-1 defeat at home to Hoffenheim.

Elsewhere, in Italy AC Milan’s league campaign got off to a disappointing start this Saturday. Fikayo Tomori and Ruben Loftus-Cheek both started as Massimiliano Allegri’s side lost 2-1 at home to relegation candidates Cremonense. The English duo both started a week earlier, with Tomori picking up an assist, as the Rossoneri defeated Bari in the Coppa Italia. However, they could not continue that form into their Serie A opener.

Lloyd Kelly played 90 minutes in defence for Juventus, keeping a clean sheet in their 2-0 victory over Parma. Playing for Genoa right-back Brooke Norton-Cuffy , 21, helped his side earn a point from their 0-0 draw with Lecce.

Cesc Fabregas’ Como went top of Serie A with a 2-0 victory over Lazio. However, England midfielder Dele Alli was absent from the squad. Reports suggest he could leave the Italian side just months after joining in January, having made only a single appearance.

Over in France, Lyon went top of Ligue 1 with a 3-0 victory over Metz. Former Arsenal man Ainsley Maitland-Niles recorded an assist and midfielder Tyler Morton also impressed. Toulouse also kept pace with the league leaders, overcoming Brest to make it two wins in two. They are yet to concede a goal in Ligue 1 with England under-21 international Charlie Cresswell starring in the heart of their defence.

Monaco suffered a 1-0 defeat to Lille. A disappointment for Eric Dier , who had been man of the match with a goal on his debut last week. And Marseille got things back on track with a 5-2 win against Paris FC. Englishmen Angel Gomes and CJ Egan-Riley played the full 90 minutes, with Mason Greenwood scoring and assisting two for Roberto De Zerbi’s side.