Tottenham players in frustration after West Ham United's equalizer during their Premier League clash at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, England, October 18, 2020. /CFP
West Ham ruined Gareth Bale's Tottenham return with a stunning late fightback from three goals down to rescue a thrilling 3-3 draw, while Aston Villa extended their perfect start with a dramatic 1-0 win at Leicester on Sunday.
Tottenham was leading 3-0 after goals from Son Heung-min and Harry Kane when Bale came on as a 72nd-minute substitute for his first appearance since joining on a season-long loan from Real Madrid, but he suffered a debut to forget as Tottenham capitulated in astonishing fashion.
The Wales star was one of the main Tottenham culprits as he missed a golden opportunity to wrap up the points before West Ham's Manuel Lanzini snatched a stoppage-time equalizer.
"The game was under control. We had Harry Kane to score the fourth when he hit the post, then Gareth Bale to kill the game. This is a game that was in the pocket and we lost two points," Tottenham's boss Jose Mourinho said.
"We should be stronger. They were lucky but maybe they deserved that luck. We were unlucky but maybe we deserved that," he added.
West Ham United's Manuel Lanzini (R) celebrates scoring his side's third goal against Tottenham during their Premier League clash at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, England, October 18, 2020. /CFP
At the King Power Stadium, Villa left it until the 90th minute to seal its fourth successive victory. Ross Barkley, on loan from Chelsea, took John McGinn's pass and fired home from the edge of the area.
Just months after avoiding relegation on the final day of last season, Villa moved up to second place.
They thrashed champions Liverpool 7-2 before the international break and now sit three points behind leaders Everton.
Villa has won its opening four games of a league season for the first time since 1930-31.
"It is a really good start. To come here and get the win, this is a really good team. There are a lot of tired legs but they are getting into the season slowly but surely. We will savor what we are doing at the moment," said Villa Coach Dean Smith.
At Bramall Lane, Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic endured a penalty nightmare in a 1-1 draw with Sheffield United.
Matty Cash (L) of Aston Villa and Harvey Barnes of Leicester City during their Premier League match at The King Power Stadium, Leicester, England, October 18, 2020. /CFP
In Spain, Real Sociedad beat Real Betis 3-0 away to go top of La Liga, winning a fiery encounter marked by three VAR interventions, which went their way.
Sociedad leads the standings on 11 points after six games, level with second-placed Villarreal, which beat Valencia 2-1 earlier on.
Real Madrid are third on 10 points after its shocking 1-0 home defeat to Cadiz on Saturday, while Barcelona is ninth after the team was beaten 1-0 at Getafe.
In France, Lille grabbed top spot in Ligue 1 by thrashing newly-promoted Lens 4-0 in the country's northern derby as the ill-disciplined visitors had two players sent off.
Lens had a chance to go top in France for the first time in 16 years but its defensive frailties were ruthlessly exposed by Lille, which moved two points ahead of defending champions Paris Saint-Germain.
In Italy, Sassuolo moved second in Serie A behind leader AC Milan after a thrilling 4-3 win at Bologna as Roma also staged a 5-2 comeback against promoted Benevento.
Roberto de Zerbi's Sassuolo had been trailing 3-1 after an hour, but three substitutions, including a first start for French midfielder Maxime Lopez, rescued three points for the visitors.
In Udine, Uruguayan forward Ignacio Pusetto's late winner earned a first win this season for Udinese, 3-2 over coronavirus-hit Parma, missing seven players.
Fiorentina threw away a two-goal lead, going two goals up after four minutes through German Pezzella and Cristiano Biraghi before settling for a 2-2 draw at promoted Spezia.