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European roundup: Man Utd crash out of League Cup, Real Madrid score six to reclaim top spot
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Anthony Martial of Manchester United looks dejected during their League Cup clash with West Ham United at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, September 22, 2021. /CFP

Anthony Martial of Manchester United looks dejected during their League Cup clash with West Ham United at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, September 22, 2021. /CFP

Manchester United crashed out of the English League Cup as West Ham avenged their painful loss to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side with a 1-0 win at Old Trafford, while Chelsea and Tottenham survived penalty shoot-outs to reach the fourth round on Wednesday.

The Hammers suffered a gut-wrenching 2-1 defeat against United in the Premier League on Sunday when David De Gea saved Mark Noble's stoppage-time penalty after Jesse Lingard's late winner.

But David Moyes' men got a measure of revenge three days later as Manuel Lanzini's first half goal dumped United out in the third round.

Solskjaer made 11 changes and Moyes opted for 10 alterations, with West Ham's understudies making the most of their moment in the spotlight. Ryan Fredericks ghosted past Alex Telles and cut back for Lanzini to sweep past United goalkeeper Dean Henderson in the ninth minute.

That was enough for Moyes to secure a first win over United since they sacked the Scot after less than a season in charge in 2014. It was also West Ham's first victory at Old Trafford since 2007, earning them a home tie against holders Manchester City in the last 16.

At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea won 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa. Harry Kane ended his goal drought as Tottenham boss Nuno Espirito Santo knocked out his former club Wolves 3-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw at Molineux. Arsenal eased to a 3-0 win against third tier AFC Wimbledon at the Emirates Stadium, setting up a last 16 clash with Leeds.

Karim Benzema of Real Madrid celebrates a goal during their La Liga clash with Mallorca at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, September 22, 2021. /CFP

Karim Benzema of Real Madrid celebrates a goal during their La Liga clash with Mallorca at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, September 22, 2021. /CFP

In Spain, Marco Asensio scored his first hat-trick for Real Madrid on Wednesday against Mallorca, his boyhood club, as Madrid cruised to a 6-1 win to go top of La Liga.

Karim Benzema capitalized on an early Mallorca mistake at the Santiago Bernabeu before three goals in five minutes put Madrid 3-1 ahead, two Asensio strikes coming either side of a curling effort from Mallorca's Lee Kang-in.

Asensio completed his treble with a bending shot of his own in the second half and went off to a standing ovation, leaving Benzema to add his second and Isco to tap in Madrid's sixth late on.

Benzema's second goal was his 200th in La Liga, making him only the 10th player to reach the milestone.

Victory lifts Real Madrid two points clear of Atletico at the top of La Liga, with Sevilla up to third after they had earlier eased past Valencia 3-1.

Asensio was born in Palma and began playing for Mallorca aged 10, only to join Real Madrid in 2016.

He declined to celebrate any of his three goals but will have made an impression on Ancelotti, who was giving the 25-year-old his first start of the season.

Juventus players produce a second-half fightback to earn their first Serie A victory of the season against Spezia, Italy, September 22, 2021. /CFP

Juventus players produce a second-half fightback to earn their first Serie A victory of the season against Spezia, Italy, September 22, 2021. /CFP

In Italy, AC Milan moved level with Serie A leaders Inter Milan on Wednesday thanks to a Theo Hernandez-inspired 2-0 win over Venezia, while Juventus won their first match of the season at the fifth attempt, 3-2 at Spezia.

Milan are a point ahead of Napoli who travel to Sampdoria on Thursday looking to maintain their 100 percent record, while Atalanta and Roma lurk behind in fourth and fifth, respectively.

Way back in 13th are Juventus, the 36-time Italian champions some eight points behind their Milan rivals following a hard-fought win at Spezia which at one point was looking like an embarrassing defeat.

It was a far from convincing performance though and Spezia could have leveled late on, with Wojciech Szczesny at his best to push away Giulio Maggiore's volley with five minutes remaining.

In France, Achraf Hakimi's dramatic injury-time winner rescued Paris Saint-Germain with a 2-1 victory at bottom club Metz on Wednesday as the capital giants maintained their 100 percent start to the Ligue 1 season despite the absence of the injured Lionel Messi. 

The former Barcelona icon was absent with a knee injury and Pochettino's men struggled against winless Metz. But PSG extended their early advantage at the top of the table to seven points over rivals Marseille – who drew 0-0 at third-placed Angers – after a seventh victory from as many league games.

Source(s): AFP

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