Euro Leagues round up:

Athletic Bilbao trash Barcelona as Bayern pound Hamburg

Barcelona is typically the team to post dominant results, but Friday, the club took a licking of its own vs. Athletic Bilbao.

Bilbao dominated the 2015-16 Liga BBVA champion in the Spanish Super Cup, posting a 4-0 victory as Aritz Aduriz netted a second-half hat-trick.

Barcelona has been active in the offseason, and three days ago, it beat Sevilla in the 2015 UEFA Super Cup after extra time. However, Bilbao pounced on the exhausted Barcelona side.

Mikel San Jose gave Bilbao the lead in the 13th minute with an extraordinary strike from midfield, and the club wouldn’t look back. Goalkeeper Marc-Ander ter Stegen was caught out of net after he had just cleared a pass, and San Jose drilled an effort over the head of ter Stegen and into the back of the net, sending the crowd into a thunderous roar.

And while Barcelona, especially Pedro, had ample opportunities to score, Aduriz and Bilbao finished the game off in the second half, scoring three to put the game to bed.

Bayern Munich Pounds Hamburg In Bundesliga Opener

Bundesliga champion Bayern Munich had no trouble starting its quest for a another domestic title as it cruised in its 2015-16 league opener.

Hamburg stood no chance on the day, as German international Thomas Muller netted a brace to lead Bayern sprint to a 5-0 victory Friday.

Robert Lewandowski, Douglas Costa and Medhi Benatia all added a goal to the scoreline as well, while Xabi Alonso, the Polish forward and Costa also provided an assist. Hamburg was outshot five to 23 on the day, and with the statement win, Bayern shows that it is ready to fight for its fourth consecutive Bundesliga crown.

 

Manchester United edges Aston Villa

Manchester United does not usually lose to Aston Villa at Villa Park, and Friday was no exception.

MUFC cruised to a 1-0 win, dominating much of the possession.

Just into the 29th minute, Juan Mata slipped a through ball in behind the Villa backline, leaving Adnan Januzaj one-on-one with American international Brad Guzan. Januzaj took his time with his shot, beating a desperate sliding challenge before passing the ball into the far-right corner.

The lone goal gave Manchester United another win at Villa Park, a home away from home for MUFC because it hasn’t lost there since Aug. 1995.

Read also: Messi, Cristiano, Suarez for UEFA Best Player award

Villarreal signs Soldado after departing Tottenham

After not living up to expectations, Roberto Soldado is leaving the English Priemer League and heading back home.

After two years with Tottenham, the Spanish striker signed a three-year deal with Villarreal Friday.

Soldado didn’t do quite as well as many at White Hart Lane hoped, especially since the club smashed its transfer record in acquiring him 2013. He had scored 82 goals in just 114 appearances for Valencia, but with Tottenham, he only mustered seven goals in 52 English Premier League matches.

“These two years have been difficult for me,” Soldado said of his move, “but I wouldn’t change this experience for nothing in the world.

“I’m sorry for not being able to meet the expectations that Tottenham had put on me.”

However, there is no doubt the Spanish striker was lethal in Liga BBVA, and a move back to the league may prove to be the remedy he wants.

Lyon adds Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa for half a decade

After bouncing from England to Italy in the previous two seasons, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa is about to ply his trade in France for the next five years.

Lyon announced it had signed the French international and will pay A.S. Roma up to $11.1 million for his services, according to the club’s announcement.

The 26-year-old was expected to lose his integral role with Roma to Leandro Castan, even though Yanga-Mbiwa made 28 appearances in the 2014-15 Serie A season, so a move to his native country suited his interests.

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