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European roundup: Bayern crush Leverkusen, Fati rescues Barca
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Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski (L) and Thomas Mueller celebrate after scoring a goal against Bayer Leverkusen during their Bundesliga match in Leverkusen, Germany, October 17, 2021. /CFP

Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski (L) and Thomas Mueller celebrate after scoring a goal against Bayer Leverkusen during their Bundesliga match in Leverkusen, Germany, October 17, 2021. /CFP

Robert Lewandowski and Serge Gnabry both scored twice as Bayern Munich rampaged to a 5-1 win at Bayer Leverkusen to return to the top of the Bundesliga on Sunday.

After suffering a shock defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt two weeks ago and losing top spot to Borussia Dortmund overnight, Bayern bounced back in style against fellow title hopefuls Leverkusen.

Level on points in first and second before the weekend, the gulf in class between the two teams became apparent as Bayern put their hosts to the sword with a brutal and brilliant first-half performance.

"It sounds a bit strange when you've scored five goals, but we could have had six or seven in the first half today," Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann told broadcaster DAZN.

Barcelona's Ansu Fati in action during the La Liga match with Valencia CF at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, October 17, 2021. /CFP

Barcelona's Ansu Fati in action during the La Liga match with Valencia CF at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, October 17, 2021. /CFP

Sergio Aguero made his long-awaited Barcelona debut and Ansu Fati came to the rescue on Sunday by scoring a sensational goal and earning a penalty in a 3-1 victory over Valencia.

Memphis Depay slammed in the spot-kick and Philippe Coutinho, who came on for Fati on the hour, added a late third to give a comfortable complexion to a game that Valencia had led after just five minutes.

After losing their first two games to Bayern Munich and Benfica, Barca sit at the bottom of the group, meaning a victory over Kiev is all but essential.

Eighteen-year-old Ansu, who wears the number 10 shirt previously belonging to Lionel Messi, is now the symbol of what the club is promoting as the "Dream Teen."

This was the teenager's fourth game since returning from 11 months out with a knee injury. "We will try to get Ansu to his maximum as soon as possible," said Barca coach Ronald Koeman.

Sergio Aguero of Barcelona in action during the La Liga match with Valencia CF at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, October 17, 2021. /CFP

Sergio Aguero of Barcelona in action during the La Liga match with Valencia CF at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, October 17, 2021. /CFP

There were some short-term boosts too, with Sergio Aguero coming on as a substitute in the final minutes once the result was secure to make his Barcelona debut, four months after joining from Manchester City.

A calf injury has meant a slow start at Camp Nou for Aguero but the 33-year-old will be a valuable option for Koeman if he can regain form and fitness in the next few weeks.

Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur runs with the ball during the Premier League match with Newcastle United at St James' Park in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, October 17, 2021. /CFP

Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur runs with the ball during the Premier League match with Newcastle United at St James' Park in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, October 17, 2021. /CFP

Harry Kane scored his first Premier League goal of the season as Tottenham Hotspur overcame Newcastle United 3-2 at St James' Park on Sunday to prolong the hosts' winless run in a match that was briefly halted after a fan collapsed in the crowd.

Play was suspended for nearly 25 minutes just before halftime after a fan collapsed in the East Stand of the ground. Newcastle said that the supporter's condition had been stabilized and they were on their way to hospital.

Play resumed with seven minutes of stoppage time, and Spurs scored almost immediately when Son Heung-min converted from close range.

Equipment is taken across the pitch after a medical emergency in the crowd stops play shortly before half time during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur at St James' Park in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, October 17, 2021. /CFP

Equipment is taken across the pitch after a medical emergency in the crowd stops play shortly before half time during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur at St James' Park in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, October 17, 2021. /CFP

Juventus continued their march up the Serie A standings with a 1-0 win over AS Roma in Turin on Sunday, as Moise Kean's early goal sealed a fourth consecutive league win.

Rodrigo Bentancur's header ricocheted off Kean's head and into the back of the net after 16 minutes in the game's decisive moment.

But Jose Mourinho's Roma side were furious when Tammy Abraham put the ball in the net but the goal was not allowed to stand because referee Daniele Orsato had already whistled for a penalty. Jordan Veretout took it and his effort was saved by Wojciech Szczesny.

Juventus players link hands as they celebrate in front of the fans following the final whistle of the Serie A match between Juventus and AS Roma in Turin, Italy, October 17, 2021. /CFP

Juventus players link hands as they celebrate in front of the fans following the final whistle of the Serie A match between Juventus and AS Roma in Turin, Italy, October 17, 2021. /CFP

"I knew it would be complicated. Roma certainly would have fully deserved a draw because they played a great match," Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri told DAZN.

"These games are decided by episodes and they went our way tonight fortunately, but also because when you play as a team with the right spirit, things go your way."

The result marked Juve's third consecutive 1-0 win and a seventh game in a row unbeaten in all competitions.

"I do not want to comment on the penalty incident, I have not seen it. I want to isolate myself from this episode and focus on what my team did," Mourinho told DAZN.

"There was great confidence and courage, obviously it is a defeat but if I look at the overall project, it went well," Mourinho added.

"I could be wrong or have a different opinion, but the team that deserved to win lost. That is football."

(With input from agencies)

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