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Mikel Arteta says Arsenal allowed Emiliano Martinez to leave for Aston Villa because it was the right thing to do for a goalkeeper who had spent more than a decade in north London.

Martinez made the switch to the Midlands in the summer after failing to be given assurances by Arteta that he would be number one this season.

The Argentine keeper had stepped in for the injured Bernd Leno during the final months of the 2019-20 campaign and played a key role in Arsenal’s FA Cup success.

But, with Leno’s return to fitness in the off-season, Martinez was not guaranteed to remain first choice and at 28 years old he was determined to play regular football.

So, when Villa came knocking, he was willing to make the move and, after some lengthy negotiations, a £20 million ($26m) deal was agreed between the two clubs.

Martinez will return to Arsenal for the first time on Sunday having enjoyed an impressive start to life at Villa Park and there are many who believe Arteta sold the wrong keeper in the summer.

But the Spaniard insists he has no regrets and believes the club did the right thing by granting Martinez’s wishes and allowing him to join a rival Premier League club.

“When we sat down we believed it was the right thing to do,” said Arteta. “He was still very willing to get the No.1 shirt and play regularly – I think we had to give him the choice to decide where he wanted to play.

“He has earned a lot of respect in this country, he has been here for 10 years and with his performances for us in the last few months, he believed it was the right club for him so I was happy to let him go and make the right decision for his career.

“He has become really hungry, really competitive and was really clear about what he wanted to do in the next chapter of his career so I am sure he will be a success.”

Arsenal go into Sunday’s game, one place below Villa on goal difference in the Premier League table.

Last weekend’s away win at Manchester United got Arteta’s side back on track after successive defeats against Manchester City and Leicester, and Hector Bellerin was key to the 1-0 success at Old Trafford.

It was the Spaniard who was fouled by Paul Pogba for the penalty which resulted in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s winner and Arteta believes Arsenal are now beginning to see the best of their full-back following the cruciate ligament injury he suffered in January 2019.

“I think when you have a big injury like that it can take almost a year for your brain to reset and accept that injury and biomechanically become the same player,” said Arteta.

“After that you have to recover and rediscover those performances, that consistency in the minutes you are able to play – which is something he has struggled with in recent years – but when something starts to get more natural, you start to get the flow.

“He is more confident, he is playing regularly, he is able to do more things, he ends the game in a much better way physically and he recovers better.

“What happens, happens but his performances are getting better and better.”

Arteta added: "Hector is a player who has special feelings towards the club because he has been here a long time and he is very grateful for all the coaches, the staff, the club and the fans have done for him.

"He is always willing to pay that confidence back, that respect back and that loyalty back – it is something you need in our dressing room because at the end of the day that is the habit of this football club."

Jurgen Klopp says it will take bravery and “close-to-perfect organisation” if Liverpool are to get a positive result at Manchester City on Sunday.

The Reds travel to the Etihad knowing victory would move them eight points clear of one of their main title rivals – a significant gap even at this early stage of the campaign.

A win for City, though, would move Pep Guardiola’s side to within two points of the champions with a game in hand. 

City won 4-0 when the sides last met back in July, shortly after Liverpool had been crowned league champions, and Klopp believes that fixture is the perfect example of what can happen if your team are not completely ready for the challenge.

“If you are not 100 per cent focused on the game against City, you will lose big!” he told reporters. “I am not sure I needed that game as proof, but that is 100 per cent the case.

“It was the first time we won the league, so I had no idea how to prepare the next game to be honest. I didn’t want to overdo it like ‘boys forget what happened three days ago, now let’s show the whole world against City’ blah, blah, blah. 

“I know my boys wanted to win that game, but we were not as focused as we usually are in these games. We still played some good football that night but unfortunately we didn’t score and they scored four times. 

“But let me say it like this, it was not the most heavy defeat in my life.”

Klopp’s record generally against Guardiola is a good one. In fact, of all the managers to have faced the Catalan six times or more, the Reds boss is the only one to have won more games than he has lost – a record he will maintain if his side avoid defeat this weekend.

“We should meet much more often then, eh?” he joked before adding: “No, I’m happy that we don’t, to be honest! 

“I’m not aware of records, but I know that we met from time to time and that we didn’t lose all of the games. But I know that every game was incredibly difficult, incredibly difficult. They are very intense, and that is the only thing I am concerned about, not how we played in the last games.

“We need to be ready to compete in this game, and for that you need to have close-to-perfect organisation, and you need to be really brave, play your own football and cause them problems as well. 

“It sounds so easy, it’s not rocket science but it’s still so difficult because they put you under massive pressure. 

“But we can do that as well. It’s always an interesting game, and hopefully it will be on Sunday as well, because that will mean we have been good! That’s the first step in the right direction.”

Klopp is likely to recall Joel Matip to his starting line-up, with the Cameroon international expected to partner Joe Gomez at centre-back.

He also faces a decision in attack, with Diogo Jota pushing hard for a start after his Champions League hat-trick against Atalanta in midweek. 

Roberto Firmino was left on the bench for that game, but could be brought back in against City - either instead of, or as well as, Jota.

Thiago Alcantara will miss the game with a knee injury, joining Fabinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Virgil van Dijk on the sidelines.

Angel Di Maria made up for lost time in Ligue 1 by scoring twice in a starring role in Paris Saint-Germain's 3-0 victory over Rennes at the Parc des Princes on Saturday.

The Argentina winger was banned for four matches for spitting at Marseille defender Alvaro during an ugly Classique and last featured in France's top flight against Reims on September 27.

But it was his pressing that forced the error from which Moise Kean scored his third Ligue 1 goal and Di Maria added a second after 20 minutes with an audacious chip.

Di Maria added somewhat unfair gloss in the second half as PSG provided a good riposte to a damaging 2-1 reverse against RB Leipzig in the Champions League, although Kean was one of four enforced subs for Thomas Tuchel as the PSG coach's injury list mounted.

Rennes mixed bright play with careless passing early on and it was from one such lax interchange between goalkeeper Alfred Gomis and James Lea Siliki that Di Maria toed into the path of Kean, who drilled expertly into the bottom-left corner.

Only the post denied Di Maria's excellent long-ranger on the half-volley but the awesome Argentine doubled the lead with a sumptuous piece of skill after collecting Ander Herrera's throughball.

Steven N'Zonzi's aerial prowess caused a couple of nervy moments, while Kean put a free header over the top himself.

PSG did not show a great deal of adventure, though the fact Kean limped off in the 61st minute after Idrissa Gueye, Thilo Kehrer and Alessandro Florenzi had already been subbed perhaps explained a more measured approach.

Instead, Rennes asked more second-half questions without ever troubling the opposition, handball claims against Leandro Parades and Danilo Pereira from the same Hamari Traore cross not interesting the VAR.

But it was game over when Di Maria drifted in from the right and picked out the far corner with a deflected daisy-cutter in the 73rd minute to cap a fine outing.

Atletico Madrid moved top of the table as they extended their unbeaten run to 23 LaLiga games by thrashing Cadiz 4-0 at Wanda Metropolitano.

Diego Simeone's team – the only unbeaten side remaining in Spain's top flight – made light work of opponents who had won their last four away matches without conceding, and Joao Felix was the star.

With help from the woeful Cadiz goalkeeper Jeremias Ledesma, Atleti raced into a two-goal lead by the 22nd minute, as Joao Felix and Marcos Llorente struck.

Having teed up Luis Suarez for a third after the break, Joao Felix then doubled his tally with a thumping 90th-minute strike to cap off a resounding success ahead of Atleti's clash with Barcelona in 14 days' time.

Atleti had the lead inside eight minutes – Jeremias fumbling Koke’s free-kick to Llorente, whose cross was headed home by Joao Felix.

Jeremias' shocking start continued when he flapped at another cross, with Juan Cala subsequently going close to scoring an own goal, and Atleti did not have to wait long for their second.

Llorente elected to shoot from a tight angle and Jeremias failed to react, allowing the ball through at his near post.

Jeremias palmed a cross straight to Saul Niguez just after the half-hour mark, but the midfielder's tap-in was disallowed for offside, while Suarez twice went close.

Suarez had his goal six minutes into the second half, however – drilling in across Jeremias after latching onto Joao Felix's throughball, with the goal given after a VAR check overturned an initial offside decision.

Jan Oblak had his first save to make just before the hour, getting down to Jairo Izquierdo's deflected strike.

Another Cadiz substitute, Jon Ander Garrido, forced Oblak into a fine stop, though Cadiz's impressive away run had crumbled.

And there was still time for Joao Felix's emphatic second, which was set up wonderfully by Angel Correa.
 

What does it mean? Atleti's run rolls on

Atleti's streak without suffering a defeat dates back to a derby defeat to Real Madrid in February. It is their best-ever unbeaten stint in LaLiga and the longest current run of any team in Europe's top-five leagues.

This win put them ahead of Real Sociedad, who have played a game more and whose fixture on Sunday may well be called off due to their opponents Granada having been hit by a glut of positive coronavirus tests.

City rivals Madrid and Villarreal, who also play on Sunday, would move above Atleti with wins. 

Joao Felix on fire

It was an impressive display from Joao Felix, who scored twice and collected an assist for Suarez's goal as well as creating a game-high forur chances.

The Portugal international has scored doubles in three of his last four appearances, with his second season with Atletico proving much more impressive than his first.

Llorente is also thriving. Initially brought in as a holding player, he is now a robust, all-action attacking option and, since the start of 2020, only Lionel Messi (five) has scored and provided an assist in the same game on more occasions than the four he has managed.

Jeremias' horror show sets the tone

Cadiz's goalkeeper had conceded just once in his previous five LaLiga appearances prior to Saturday's clash, but Jeremias showed none of that form during an abysmal first-half display.

Having cost his side for Joao Felix's opener, he was a constant liability from crosses, and should have done far better with his attempt to keep out Llorente's strike. In total, he made just three saves from seven shots on target.

Key Opta Facts:

- Joao Felix has scored six goals in his last four appearances in all competitions, as many as he registered in his previous 26 matches.
- This was Joao Felix's first headed goal for Atletico in 46 outings for the club.
- Llorente has both scored and assisted in the same game for Atletico for the fourth time in all competitions, though this was the first time he had done so as a starter.
- No Atletico player has made more assists in 2020 in all competitions than Correa (seven), while Suarez has scored with five of his eight league shots on target this season.
- Atletico are unbeaten in their last 11 meetings against Cadiz in LaLiga (W7 D4), since their 2-0 defeat at Ramon de Carranza in March 1989.

What's next?

In-form Atleti welcome Ronald Koeman's Barca to Wanda Metropolitano for a huge clash on November 21 after the international break, with Cadiz in action at home against Real Sociedad a day later.

Frank Lampard praised Hakim Ziyech's start to his Chelsea career as "remarkable" after the forward's starring role in their 4-1 win over Sheffield United.

The Blues recovered after conceding for the first time in 459 minutes in all competitions through David McGoldrick's ninth-minute effort to keep pace at the top of the Premier League table.

Goals from Tammy Abraham, Ben Chilwell, Thiago Silva and Timo Werner ensured a victory that puts Chelsea a point behind leaders Southampton and second-placed Liverpool.

Ziyech had a hand in three of the goals at Stamford Bridge, supplying two assists, and creating a game-high six chances.

The former Ajax man created the most chances of any player in the league this season, and Lampard is particularly impressed with how he has adapted given the 2019-20 Eredivisie season was abandoned back in April.

"We played against [Ziyech] in the Champions League last year - he's a top-class player," Lampard told Sky Sports. "He impresses you even more when you work with him.

"The Dutch league finished a long time ago, then he had an injury so to hit the ground running like he has, he has been remarkable.

"He will be a big player for us. I need players who can come in and lift the level. That's hard. The midfield were great with their driving runs."

Speaking in his post-match press conference, Lampard added on Ziyech: "He has given us an extra edge and a different threat. He’s been out for a long time so it’s been really impressive how quickly he’s hit the ground running. He gives us a different style in terms of the left foot off the right side. It’s something we haven’t had much of in recent years.

"The ability to find the last pass or the last cross or assist to break teams down that have a low blow – we saw that today. His personality rubs off. I keep talking about personality. I think it’s a huge thing in football. The signings we’ve brought in have brought a lot on and off the pitch.

"The confidence he exudes and how much he wants to receive the ball and be the important player that makes the assist has been a big plus." 

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has singled out Thiago Silva for his "big impact" since arriving at the club. 

The veteran defender scored his first goal for the Blues on Saturday as they came from behind to defeat Sheffield United 4-1 in the Premier League. 

Despite a shaky debut, Silva has since impressed in Chelsea's defence with Lampard's side conceding just once across their past six matches in all competitions. 

Lampard always expected Silva to be a success at Stamford Bridge but he has been blown away by the 36-year-old's conduct on and off the pitch. 

"I knew the player that he was when he came here because of the career he had," Lampard said in a post-match press conference. 

"He played in the Champions League final a few weeks before coming here, but his level of performance since he’s been here, without much of a pre-season, the influence, individual performance, the way he is between games, he attacks training so diligently.

"He looks at opposition when we are having meetings, he wants to know. So I have a lot of conversations with him. He has been brilliant, I can’t say enough about him. Then he gets the goal today, a very good goal. He has made a big impact.

"I am very open to make sure we give him the best rest in between and make things easy for him. He looks fit, he is fit, he’s fresh and he is helping and rubbing off on others around him. Long may that continue."

N'Golo Kante also impressed for the Blues on Saturday as the Frenchman claimed an assist and completed a game-high three tackles. 

There was speculation Kante was close to leaving Chelsea over the summer, but Lampard has stressed his importance to the side and revealed his own efforts to ensure the 29-year-old remains fit. 

“He played about 50 per cent of the games last year and that is a big loss for half the season, a player of his level," Lampard said. 

"So I made a big, big step to try to manage his training and games and make sure that we attempt to have him fit and ready for as many games as we can.

"His attributes are incredible, he can play in many positions in the midfield. The energy and ability to win the ball back, but also his ability on the ball, which is sometimes underrated, is amazing. He can play in different roles.

"People always want to talk about that he’s the best defensive midfielder and should be in a deeper role. But he can play in lots of different roles to massive effect and I am pleased he is fit now. We will have to keep managing that to make sure he stays fit, because he is massively important.”

Former Barcelona and Arsenal midfielder Alex Song has reportedly joined Djibouti Premier League club Arta/Solar7.

According to Football237 via L’Equipe, the former Cameroon star has penned a two-year deal with the Djiboutian giants, eight months after he was released by Sion.

Song was among the four African players sacked by the Swiss Super League club in March for refusing to take a pay cut due to the coronavirus outbreak.

In addition to his playing role in Djibouti, Song will be expected to supervise their youth development after meeting with the club's president.

Arta/Solar 7 are reigning Djibouti Cup champions which automatically guarantees them a place in next season’s Caf Confederation Cup.

Last month, Song announced the completion of an international school he built in Douala - the Canadian International School and College which boasts a daycare, nursery, primary and secondary school.

The 33-year-old who started his playing career in France with Bastia, has enjoyed a nomadic career across Europe with stints at Arsenal, Charlton Athletic, Barcelona, West Ham United, Rubin Kazan and Sion.

A few months ago, the combative midfielder revealed he left Arsenal to join Spanish giants Barcelona in 2012 because of a lucrative deal despite being warned about a probable lack of playing time.

“When FC Barcelona offered me a contract and I saw how much I would earn, I didn't think twice about it," Song said.

"I thought my wife and children should have a comfortable life. I met the sporting director and he said I wouldn't play many games, but I didn't give a sh*t. I knew I was going to be a millionaire."

Wilfried Zaha has felicitated with Eberechi Eze on his first Crystal Palace goal in Saturday’s 4-1 Premier League demolition of Leeds United.

The Nigeria prospect got a goal and an assist as the Eagles returned to winning ways after bowing 2-0 to Wolverhampton Wanderers their last time out.

Scott Dann had given Roy Hodgson’s men a desirable start at Selhurst Park in the 12th minute after firing the ball past goalkeeper Illan Meslier thanks to Eze’s assist.

It was the Anglo-Nigerian’s turn to find the net after his well taken free-kick hoisted over the wall and sailed into the near top left corner – leaving Meslier with no chance.

That effort was the 22-year-old’s maiden strike for new club as well as his first strike in the English elite division. In the process, he extended his notable personal record. That was the fifth time he has scored and assisted in a single league game.

The last time he achieved this feat was against Preston North End in March during a Championship game while at Queens Park Rangers.

Although Patrick Bamford reduced the deficit for Marcelo Bielsa’s team, Helder Costa’s own goal plus a 70th minute strike from Ghana international Jordan Ayew sealed the win in the five-goal thriller.

Revelling in his team’s result, the Cote d’Ivoire star who had an assist to show for his effort took to social media to congratulate the former Wycombe Wanderers star.

“Enjoyed today’s performance. Congrats on your first Palace goal Eberechi Eze,” he tweeted.

Meanwhile, Eze acknowledged the tweet by appreciating the former Manchester United man.

“Appreciate it bro!” Eze responded.

Eze as well as Zaha were on parade from start to finish as they climbed to seventh in the English topflight log after accruing 13 points from eight games. For Leeds United, they occupy the 14th spot with 10 points from the same number of matches.

After the international break, Crystal Palace travel to Turf Moor for a date with struggling Burnley on November 21 before hosting Newcastle United seven days later.

Bielsa’s men would be eyeing redemption when they welcome Pierre-Emerick and Nicolas Pepe’s Arsenal on November 22.

Hansi Flick has urged caution amid speculation that key midfielder Joshua Kimmich suffered a knee injury during Bayern Munich’s 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.

Kimmich lost possession near the halfway line and made a desperate lunge to take the ball off Erling Haaland. 

The Germany star was unable to win the ball off Haaland and fell awkwardly, suffering what appeared to be a knee injury in the process.

Kimmich received treatment for a sustained period before being helped to his feet by team-mates and carried from the field of play by two of Bayern’s medical staff.

Bayern went on to win the game 3-2 to move to the top of the Bundesliga table, but the victory was soured by the injury to Kimmich.

Kimmich’s team-mate Leon Goretzka stated that he thought the German had overstretched his knee, but Flick will await scan results before talking about the player’s condition.

"Joshua will fly with us and then be examined,” Flick said. “I don't know yet and don't want to anticipate anything. We have to wait now. I am not participating in speculation.

"He's an important player for us in this position. In addition to his mentality, he also has outstanding quality. It'll be difficult, but we made it today against a good Dortmund team."

Any sustained period of absence for Kimmich would be a serious blow to Bayern, but the one positive is that the win over Dortmund was the final game before the international break and Goretzka is hopeful his team-mate will be able to shrug off the problem.

“He has a good healing power so we hope for the best,” Goretzka said, while Thomas Muller took to Twitter and called on the midfielder to “get well soon.”

Bayern are not in action again until November 21, when they entertain Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga, by which time the extent of Kimmich's injury will be known.

While the loss of Kimmich is a blow, Bayern dealt with his absence admirably against Dortmund.

Bayern fell behind to a goal from Marco Reus but efforts from David Alaba, Robert Lewandowski and Leroy Sane were enough to seal the win despite a late strike from Haaland.

Juventus manager Andrea Pirlo wants to see his side play with more confidence and completely dominate matches as they look to claim a third straight win in all competitions. 

While Pirlo accused his side of being egotistical after beating Ferencvaros 4-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday, the Turin boss talked up his side's progress ahead of their Serie A clash against Lazio on Sunday. 

With eight goals in their last two games, Pirlo believes Juve are close to taking a big step forward under his leadership and is hopeful they can start putting in full 90 minute performances. 

Pirlo also reserved special praise for Alvaro Morata, who has five goals in as many games for the reigning Serie A champions. 

"We had some interesting pointers in terms of performance and how we develop the attacking play from the midfield," Pirlo said. 

"We occupied the attacking spaces well and that is positive, so while we still need to improve, we are on the right track playing a different football to what this team was accustomed to in the past.

"Goals from midfielders are important and we are working to get more of them pushing forward, like Adrien Rabiot and Weston McKennie.

“I always knew Morata was a complete player and not just in his finishing, so what he's done in recent matches is not a surprise. He is always involved in the play and have always looked to him.

"What I would like to see is a team with more confidence and that is dominating the match. That could be a big step forward to take."

Juventus captain Giorgio Chiellini has been ruled out of Sunday's encounter at Lazio due to a thigh injury. The Italy centre-back did the damage in training on Saturday and will not feature at Stadio Olimpico.

Juve stated that Chiellini will be evaluated in the next few days, while midfielder Aaron Ramsey also misses out on the trip to the capital. The midfielder sustained a thigh injury in the Champions League victory over Ferencvaros in midweek and has also pulled out of his national side's latest squad.

Lazio are unbeaten in five matches in all competitions and Pirlo is expecting an entertaining encounter in the Eternal City.

"It is certainly going to be a great game, because Lazio-Juventus is an enjoyable match to play," Pirlo said. 

"It will also be difficult, as Lazio are a wonderful team and proved that in recent years, so it’s tough, but exciting. We imagined their classic 3-5-2 with a very tight defence. They are very good on the counter, especially with Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, as well as their forwards.

"This is why we must be wary of making technical errors that can spark those counters."

David Alaba has made Bundesliga history in Bayern Munich’s victory over Borussia Dortmund in Der Klassiker, with the Austrian reaching 200 wins quicker than any other player.

The versatile Austrian has required just 272 appearances to reach the double century.

He has helped Bayern to dominate the domestic scene in Germany throughout his time as a first-team star at the Allianz Arena.

Alaba already has nine title triumphs to his name, while he also helped Hansi Flicks’ side to Champions League glory as part of another historic treble in 2019-20.

Bayern have picked up where they left off this term, with arch-rivals Dortmund edged out in their latest outing.

Alaba grabbed their first goal of the game in that contest, as an immediate response was offered to falling behind.

Marco Reus had Dortmund in front on the stroke of half-time, but Bayern were able to respond before the break.

Robert Lewandowski and Leroy Sane allowed the visitors to take control at Signal Iduna Park, with Erling Haaland’s response seven minutes from time offering scant consolation for the hosts.

Alaba helped to get Bayern over the line, as they pulled two points clear at the top of the table, and now has his own entry in the record books.

While Bayern are delighted to have Alaba aiding their cause in 2020-21, it remains to be seen how long he will be sticking around.

Contract talks have broken down and the 28-year-old is due to become a free agent next summer.

Those in Munich are not impressed at seeing their latest offer shunned, with lucrative terms put on the table, but they are refusing to throw in the towel.

Club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told Sky Deutschland ahead of a meeting with Dortmund when asked for an update on Alaba’s future: “I think we all think the same thing here at the club: We all want David to stay. He's a wonderful person and a top player.

“At some point we have to start planning for the new season. We have to know: Will David stay with FC Bayern or not? A decision is important to us at this point.”

Patrick Bamford has hit out at VAR following the controversial decision to disallow his goal during Leeds United’s 4-1 loss to Crystal Palace, with the forward saying the new laws are "ruining football."

While Leeds were ultimately well beaten at Selhurst Park, the score was 1-0 in Palace’s favour when Bamford thought he had drawn his side level.

However, a VAR check ruled against Leeds - with Bamford deemed to be in an offside position when latching on to a pass from Mateusz Klich.

Pictures showed it was Bamford’s arm that was beyond the last defender, and he was ruled offside.

A change to the handball law ahead of this season, which allows players to score with the upper part of the arm, meant VAR deemed Bamford to be offside.

"I don't understand the rule,” Bamford told the BBC. “You can't score with your arm. It doesn't make sense. It's happened with me today but I've seen it on numerous occasions.

“It's ruining football. You want to see goals. To have it ruled out for something like that is daft.

"Even the referee couldn't make sense of it. When the players and the officials can't make sense of it... does it make sense?”

Whites manager Marcelo Bielsa would not be drawn to comment on the decision, as he told the BBC: “I never discuss a referee's decision.”

In what is their first campaign back in the Premier League since being relegated in 2004, Leeds made a bright start to the season but they have lost three of their last four matches and currently sit in the bottom half of the table.

The 4-1 scoreline does not make positive viewing for Leeds supporters, but Bamford felt it was a major improvement on the loss by the same scoreline to Leicester City, and feels the international break will be good for the team.

"Today the performance was better than against Leicester," he said. “Palace had a good game plan and we were a bit sloppy. We didn't move the ball quick enough. The international break has come at the right time. You can look back at the first eight games and think it's been a solid start.”

Montpellier secured a 2-0 away victory over Bordeaux in Saturday’s Ligue 1 clash, with Algeria international Andy Delort finding the net.

After bowing 4-0 at home to Reims the last time out, Michel Der Zakarian’s men returned to winning ways against the hosts who played without inspirational forward Samuel Kalu.

The keenly-contested game produced no goals in the first half as chances were few at the Matmut Atlantique.

In the second half, the hosts stepped up their game, but it was the visiting side who took the initiative four minutes into the restart through Florent Mollet.

Mollet beat goalkeeper Benoit Costil from close range after profiting from a cross from Gaetan Laborde - who darted through the left side of the Girondins’ backline.

Although that goal woke Jean Louis Gasset’s side from their slumber, albeit, they were unable to get the much-needed leveller due to poor finishing.

In the 67th minute, Delort guaranteed the win finishing off a short run in the hosts’ goal area thanks to Teji Savanier’s near perfect pass.

Even after the numerous chances that came the way of Bordeaux, finding the net was their major undoing as they looked poor in the final third.

Delort, Cameroonian defender Ambroise Oyongo and France-born Central African Republic Prospect Junior Sambia were on parade for La Paillade from start to finish, while Congolese forward Beni Makouana and South African midfielder Keagan Dolly were not dressed for action.

For the hosts, French right back of Ghanaian descent Enock Kwateng lasted all the minutes of the encounter. Algeria's Mehdi Zerkane who was handed a starter's role was replaced in the 62nd minute for French forward Nicolas de Preville. A minute earlier, Nigerian forward Josh Maja was substituted for Jimmy Briand, while Mozambique's Mexer, Senegal's Youssouf Sabaly and Togo's Loic Bessil were unused substitutes.

This defeat places Bordeaux in 12th position in the French elite division having garnered 12 points from 10 games, while Montpellier moved to sixth with 17 points from the same number of matches.

23-year-old Kalu remains out of action due to injury suffered during the Super Eagles’ 1-0 defat to reigning African champions Algeria in a recent international friendly.

Ask anyone close to Manchester City about recent performances and results, and they are likely to say the same thing: Pep Guardiola’s team are far away from their swashbuckling best in 2017/18 and a year later when they retained their Premier League crown.

Undoubtedly, the malaise that began since the start of last season went on to worsen throughout 2019/20 and ultimately ended in disappointment, with Pep’s side failing to win three league titles on the trot or challenge on the continent.

Of course, both feats were always going to be demanding but what disappointed wasn’t that the Manchester outfit couldn’t retain their crown but how it happened. They finished a staggering 18 points behind Jurgen Klopp’s side after being realistically out of the title race in December, while they exited in the Champions League in exasperating fashion against Olympique Lyonnais.

Key to their top showings last season was Kevin De Bruyne — who eventually matched Thierry Henry’s Prem assist haul — and Riyad Mahrez, who wasn’t as lauded as the Belgium attacking midfielder.

This was surprising to an extent given how decisive the African champion was in many games pre-lockdown — including a dominant UCL first-leg win over Real Madrid despite an absence of goal contributions — before falling off a bit since June.

Mahrez’s drop off can be traced to his exclusion from Guardiola’s line-ups following disappointing showings against Newcastle United and Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-final and semi-final respectively. The Algerian was tipped to be left out vs Los Blancos but he hasn’t seemed to recover since.

Admittedly, the wide attacker’s preparations were curbed by a positive coronavirus test just before the season started, meaning the former Leicester City man has been playing catch-up since September. Injuries to the team’s key attackers haven’t helped the side’s cause as the games have come in thick and fast with Mahrez starting five of City’s six league matches.

The wideman’s numbers reveal he has scored once and set up as many, both coming in the 5-2 thrashing by old side Leicester at the Etihad in late September. He’s also created one big chance so far this season, also in that defeat by the Foxes.

However, a greater dive into the Algeria star’s numbers emphasise the alarming drop off, albeit taking into account the small sample size of games.

Mahrez has so far failed to create an open-play clear-cut chance — the assist for Nathan Ake’s consolation vs Leicester was from a corner — and he’s significantly down for Expected Assists, shot-creating actions and goal-creating actions per 90.

Last season, the African's xA per 90 was 0.41 now down to 0.14 after five league starts. Only De Bruyne outdid the winger last year but he ranks joint-sixth this term along with Ilkay Gundogan and just ahead of Aymeric Laporte whose xA per 90 is 0.11.

For shot-creation and goal-creation, the ex-Leicester man’s decline has equally been noticeable. He’s posting fewer shot creation per 90 this year compared to 19/20 — 3.75 and 6.48 respectively — while his goal creation per 90 drop in both seasons has been striking — 0.21 thus far and 1.44 last term.

Indeed, Mahrez ranked highest for Goal-creating actions per 90 last season, whereas he finds himself in seventh after a quintet of Premier League appearances.

Interestingly, however, the 29-year-old’s struggles reflect in the team’s overall chance creation with Man City finding it difficult to consistently fashion out clear opportunities this season.

While this seems odd for a Guardiola side, their failure to unlock stubborn rearguards has been consistent in their opening six league matches.

After 540 minutes of action, City have fashioned out 11 big chances, behind Sunday’s opponents Liverpool (25), early-season high-flyers Aston Villa (18), new boys Leeds United (15) and even lower than Crystal Palace (12).

In fairness, the aforementioned stat doesn’t account for penalties but it’s striking for a Pep team to face questions about their expertise at creating in the final third. For context, at this stage last term, the blue half of Manchester had created 32 clear-cut opportunities and went on to create 141 in total, 32 more than champions Liverpool.

If this season’s games are an indication of what’s to come, then City not only have to deal with a creaky backline, an inability to control games effectively as they once did, intermittent issues in their pressing and the current struggles to make chances.

Last term, despite scoring bucket loads, they were frustratingly profligate too. After six outings this term, that has worryingly been replaced by an incapability to even put themselves in those promising situations in front of goal, leading to only nine goals scored for now which is very much unusual for them under Guardiola.

As for Mahrez, a major source of frustration has been in his extreme individualism. This came to a head in last week’s 1-0 win over Sheffield United as KDB appeared frustrated by the Algerian’s decision-making in either holding on to possession for too long or electing to shoot when there were better passing options.

The winger has always backed himself, still, 2.6 shots per game so far is significantly higher than previous seasons at the club and indeed in the Prem.

In each of his two years at the Etihad Stadium, Mahrez attempted 1.5 shots per match, while it was 1.5, 1.3 and 1.6 in 17/18, 16/17 and 15/16 respectively at Leicester.

Without question, a rise to 2.6 efforts at goal per game is remarkable, although the sample size of five games puts it into context.

Indeed, Pep’s City have been underwhelming so far and already find themselves five points behind Liverpool, albeit with a game in hand vs Villa to come.

They risk being eight points adrift of Klopp’s troops if they fall to a defeat on Sunday, instantly making them outsiders to regain the title, especially as their underlying numbers, for now, have been alarming.

While the Spanish manager will want a win vs the Merseyside club, you suspect he’ll hammer more on a dominant showing from Mahrez and his teammates as they look to regain the fear factor that’s seemingly been lost at both ends of the pitch in the last 12 to 14 months.

Three Hearts of Oak team members have tested positive for the coronavirus disease, the club has announced.

The identity of the persons have not been revealed but media reports claim striker Abednego Tetteh and midfielder Abdul Aziz Nurudeen are among the infected trio.

The Accra-based outfit recently underwent a mandatory testing exercise as part of safety protocols for the commencement of the 2020-21 Ghana Premier League (GPL) on November 14.

It remains uncertain if the players will recover in time ahead of the Phobians' season opener against Aduana Stars.

"Covid-19 Update: Three people out of the team that went for the corona test have tested positive, and have been referred to the appropriate quarters for isolation and treatment. We wish them well and hope to see them join us soon," Hearts announced on Twitter on Saturday.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) began a mandatory testing exercise for all 18 GPL clubs last month, starting with Dawu-based Dreams FC.

According to a publication on the GFA's official website on the testing procedure, "All registered players of the clubs, coaching staff and officials will undergo the test for the purposes of competition integrity, fairness and transparency.

"The GFA is also working hard to put forward measures to ensure that games are played under strict covid-19 protocols for a successful 2020/2021 season.

"The testing of players and officials, an alliance between the Ghana Football Association and the government's Covid-19 task force is part of efforts being made to ensure that football is played in the safest possible way."

In September, Ghana president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced on national television a nationwide ban on football has been lifted for the resumption of the GPL, possibly on October 30.

The ban came into force in March after Ghana recorded its first cases of the coronavirus, which brought all 2019-20 football competitions, including the GPL, FA Cup, Division One League and Women's Premier League, to a temporary halt.

After three months of waiting for the possible resumption of football, the GFA Executive Council decided to cancel the football season altogether.

Last month, the national football's governing body announced November 14 as the date for the commencement of a complete new season - the 2020-21 campaign. 

All match stadia will not take more than 25 per cent of their capacity. 

Bayern Munich landed the first significant blow in this season's Bundesliga title race as they rallied to beat Borussia Dortmund 3-2 away in Der Klassiker.

Last season's champions were tied with opponents Dortmund heading into the weekend but forged a three-point gap - two clear of Saturday's early second-placed winners RB Leipzig - despite trailing to an effort from Marco Reus.

Bayern had lost Joshua Kimmich to injury with the game still goalless yet soon took the game away from BVB in clinical fashion either side of half-time at Signal Iduna Park.

David Alaba - the subject of some scrutiny amid failed contract negotiations - provided a swift riposte to the breakthrough goal, before Robert Lewandowski's 19th career strike against former club Dortmund secured a lead that substitute Leroy Sane stretched 10 minutes from time.

Erling Haaland belatedly found his shooting boots to set up a tense finale and Reus blazed a glorious opportunity over, while Lewandowski saw a late second ruled out for offside in a thrilling end to the match.

Lewandowski should have had his side in front within 41 seconds, instead lashing into the side-netting, before Roman Burki made an excellent two-handed save from Leon Goretzka's close-range header.

Haaland ran onto Gio Reyna's pass but directed a delicate finish across the face of goal and then looked to have been punished for his profligacy as Lewandowski took his second opportunity, only for a VAR review to highlight a marginal offside.

After Kimmich hobbled off - hurt in a lunge on Haaland - Reus hit Dortmund's 45th-minute opener, turning a smart effort past Manuel Neuer at the near post from Raphael Guerreiro's cutback.

But there was still time for Bayern to restore parity before the break as a set-piece routine allowed Alaba to shoot from 20 yards and earn a decisive deflection off Thomas Meunier.

They then needed less than three minutes of the second half to lead as Lewandowski stooped to meet Lucas Hernandez's cross and head inside the right-hand post, although the same section of the goal frame then denied Kingsley Coman a quick third.

Ex-Schalke winger Sane arrowed in a fine low strike on the break to seemingly settle matters, but Haaland kept Hansi Flick's men on their toes as he stayed onside to round Neuer and lash into the net, a feat Reus could not repeat when he thundered his volley over.

That would prove Dortmund's last big chance, even as another VAR review robbed Lewandowski of a stoppage-time second.

What does it mean? Bayern do just enough again

This was the sides' third meeting in 2020 and the third that has gone to the wire. But as long as Dortmund's title hopes depend on taking points off Bayern, a close-fought defeat counts for little.

Kimmich struck the winning goals in the league in May and the DFL-Supercup in September, yet Flick's side got the job done in his absence here, claiming a seventh win in eight against BVB in the Bundesliga.

Lewy loves this fixture

Lewandowski looks unlikely to loosen his hold on former club Dortmund any time soon. The striker had to wait until the second half to get his goal, but that was his 13th in his past eight Bundesliga games against BVB. An assist for Sane's third was just as crucial.

Haaland hesitance costly

Haaland made the scoresheet, but he should have helped himself to more. Indeed, while a Lewandowski goal appeared inevitable, Dortmund's main man repeatedly made the wrong call in promising positions.

Quick enough to get in behind the Bayern defence time and again, Haaland too often looked for a team-mate but completed only six passes in the Bayern half, while the goal was the only one of his four shots to hit the target.

Key Opta Facts

- This was Bayern's fourth consecutive Bundesliga win over Dortmund. They have only bettered this run once with five straight victories between 1968 and 1970.
- Reus' opener was his eighth Bundesliga goal against Bayern. No other current player in the division has more.
- Alaba netted the 100th Bundesliga goal of Flick's Bayern tenure. Reaching that milestone in just his 31st match, Flick now holds the record for the fastest century of strikes.
- Lewandowski marked his 300th Bayern appearance with his 259th goal for the club in all competitions.
- Bayern have shipped 10 goals in their opening seven league games of the campaign. The last time they conceded as many at this stage of a season was 13 under Jurgen Klinsmann in 2007-08.

What's next?

The international break provides some respite after this breathless affair. Dortmund are then at Hertha Berlin in a fortnight, while Bayern host Werder Bremen.