The Week that was (in Football (Soccer)): Review of the top Leagues in Europe-part 18 (Week of August 7-August 13, 2018)

Note:

The purpose of this section is to summarize the week in question, it is not meant to give a full statistical analysis of the matches.

We live in a viral age and all that information can be accessed.

I welcome all contributions from anyone, even for the Leagues that I did not cover.

I.  England

Diary:

Tuesday, August 7, 2018:

-Burnely have signed goalkeeper Joe Hart from Manchester City. (Source BBC Football Online)

-Brighton have signed Ecuador winger Billy Arce from Independiente del Vale. They immediately loaned him to Extremadura.  (Source Sky Sports Online)

-Brighton have signed Anders Dreyer from Esbjerg.  (Source Sky Sports Online)

-Manchester United have rejected Barcelona’s offer for Paul Pogba that included  £45 Million plus Yerry Mina and Andre Gomes.  (Source Sky Sports Online)

-Thibaut Courtois, Chelsea’s Belgian goalkeeper has once again missed training to force a transfer to Real Madrid. He is likely to be fined by the club. (Source Get L’Equipe online)

-Stan Kroenke is to be take control of Arsenal by buying the shares of Alisher Usmanov. (Source Reuters UK Online)

-Liverpool’s Marko Grujic has rejected the chance to return to Cardiff City on loan.  (Source Transfer Market Web Online)

-If Thibaut Courtois leaves, Chelsea are set to activate the release clause of Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Kepa.  (Source Daily Mail online)

-Jay Rodriguez pleaded to WBA to allow him to transfer to Burnely before the deadline.  (Source Daily Mail online)

-Fulham have signed on loan defender Calum Chambers from Arsenal. (Source L’Equipe Online)

-Birmingham City have signed on loan striker Omar Bogle from Cardiff. (Source The Guardian Online)

-Birmingham City have signed on loan Connor Mahoney from Bournemouth. (Source The Guardian Online)

-Preston NE have signed on loan Brandon Barker from Manchester City. (Source The Guardian online)

-Burnely have signed striker Matej Vydra from Derby County. (Source The Guardian online)

Wednesday, August 8, 2018:

- Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Kepa has paid his release clause and is set to join Chelsea. (Source BBC Football Online)

-Chelsea are set to sign on loan Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic from Real Madrid. (Source BBC Football Online)

-Wolverhampton Wanderers have signed Adama Traore from Middlesbrough. (Source BBC Football Online)

-Aston Villa are set to sign Scottish midfielder John McGinn from Hibernian. (Source BBC Football Online)

-Shrewsbury Town have signed on loan midfielder Greg Docherty from Rangers. (Source BBC Football Online)

-Burnley have extended the contract of defender Ben Mee until 2021. (Source BBC Football Online)

-Bournemouth have signed Colombian midfielder Jefferson Lerma from Levante. (Source BBC Football Online)

-WBA have rejected a bid from Watford for Craig Dawson (Source Sky Sports Online)

-Birmingham City have signed on loan goalkeeper Lee Camp from Cardiff City. (Source The Guardian Online)

- Bournemouth have loaned defender Brad Smith to Seatle Sounders. (Source The Guardian Online)

-Middlesbrough have signed on loan striker Jordan Hugill from West Ham. (Source The Guardian Online)

-Chelsea have signed Spanish goalkeeper Kepa from Bilbao.  (Source BBC Football online)

-Barnsley have signed defender Jordan Williams from Huddersfield. (Source The Guardian online)

-Derby County have signed defender Scott Malone from Huddersfield. (Source The Guardian online)

-Brighton have signed defender Leo Skiri Ostigard from Molde. (Source The Guardian online)

Thursday, August 9, 2018:

-Leicester have signed Croatian defender Filip Benkovic from Dinamo Zagreb.  (Source BBC Football online)

-Manchester City have signed Australian midfielder Daniel Arzani from Melbourne City.  (Source BBC Football online)

-Stoke City have signed midfielder Sam Clucas Kepa from Swansea.  (Source BBC Football online)

-Atletico Madrid’s Diego Godin have rejected an offer from Manchetser United. (Source Sky Sports Online)

-Wolverhampton Wanderers have signed on loan Belgian midfielder Leander Dendoncker from Anderlecht. (Source Sky Sports online)

-Newcastle have signed defender Federico Fernandez from Swansea. (Source Sky Sports online)

-Everton have signed Barcelona pair of Colombian defender Yerry Mina and Portuguese defender Andre Gomes (on loan). (Source Sky Sports online)

-Cardiff City have signed on loan Harry Arter from Bournemouth. (Source Sky Sports online)

-Leicester have loaned striker Islam Slimani to Fenerbahce. (Source Sky Sports online)

-Crystal Palace have signed on loan Ghanaian forward Jordan Ayew from Swansea. (Source Sky Sports online)

-Cardiff City have signed on loan Spanish midfielder Victor Camarasa from Betis. (Source Sky Sports online)

-Wolverhampton Wanderers’ attempt to sign Olksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City has been called off. (Source Sky Sports online)

-Swansea have signed defender Declan John from Rangers. (Source Sky Sports online)

-West Ham have signed forward Lucas Perez from Arsenal. (Source Sky Sports online)

-Preston NE have signed on loan Lukas Nmecha from Manchester City. (Source Sky Sports online)

-Everton have extended the contracts of Kieran Dowell and Callum Connolly by three years. (Source Sky Sports online)

-Brighton have signed defender Dan Burn from Wigan. He is to be loaned back to the club. (Source Sky Sports online)

-Leicester have signed Turkey defender Caglar Soyuncu from Freiburg. (Source Sky Sports online)

-Nottingham Forest have signed German defender Michael Hefele from Huddersfield on permanent basis. (Source Sky Sports online)

-Peterborough have signed striker Ivan Toney from Newcastle. (Source Sky Sports online)

-Everton have signed on loan French defender Kurt Zouma from Chelsea. (Source Sky Sports online)

-Huddersfield have signed on loan striker Isaac Mbenza from Montpellier. (Source Footnews.be online)

-Bristol Rovers have signed on loan striker Alex Jakubiak from Watford. (Source The Guardian online)

-Wolverhampton Wanderers have signed defender John Kitolano from Odds BK. (Source The Guardian online)

-Tottenham have given up their attemot to sign Aston Villa’s Jack Greaslish. (Source Daily Mail online)

-Everton have signed Brazilian player Bernard from Shakhtar Donetsk. (Source vi.nl Online)

-Wigan have signed Josh Windass from Rangers. (Source Scottish Sun Online)

-Fulham have signed on loan goalkeeper Sergio Rico from Sevilla. (Source The Guardian online)

-Fulham have signed Andre-Frank Anguissa from Olympique Marseille. (Source Football Transfers online)

-Fulham have signed on loan striker Luciano Vietto Anguissa from Atletico Madrid. (Source FTN online)

-Brighton have signed Martin Montoya from Valencia, after he turned down Fulham’s offer. (Source Mailonline Sport online)

-Watford have signed Domingos Quina from West Ham. (Source Squawka News online)

-Southampton have signed on loan Danny Ings from Liverpool. (Source FTN online)

-Fulham have signed on loan Timothy Fosu-Mensah from Manchester United. (Source Football Transfers online)

-Brighton have signed midfielder Peter Gwaris from Jonkopings Sodra. (Source The Guardian online)

-West ham have signed midfielder Colombian Carlos Sanchez from Fiorentina. (Source The Guardian online)

-Walsall have signed forward Josh Gordon from Leicester. (Source The Guardian online)

-Bristol City have signed on loan defender Jay Dasilva from Chelsea. (Source The Guardian online)

-Leicester have extended the contract of striker Jamie Vardy until 2022. (Source @LCFC Online)

-Fulham have signed defender Joe Bryan from Bristol City. (Source FTN online)

Friday, August 10, 2018:

-The 2018/19 Premier League season kicked off with Manchester United defeating Leicster City (2-1).

-Crystal Palace have extended the contract of Manager Roy Hodgson until 2020. (Source BBC Football Online)

-Crystal Palace Manager Roy Hogson stated that he wanted to keep Ruben Loftus-Cheek but that proposal was rejected by Chelsea. (Source Sky Sports Online)

-Huddersfield have extended the contract of German defender Christopher Schindler until 2021. (Source Sky Sports online)

-Manchester City’s Douglas Luiz has been refused a work permit. He will most likely be loaned to Girona according to Manager Pep Guardiola. (Source The Guardian Online)

Saturday, August 11, 2018:

-Unai Emery has named Laurent Koscielny as Arsenal Captain with Mesut Ozil, Petr Cech, Aaron Ramsey and Granit Xhaka as vice-captains. (Source Sky Sports Online)

-Nottingham Forest have signed on loan defender Sam Byram from West Ham. (Source Sky Sports online)

-Everton have loaned Nikola Vlasic to CSKA Moscow.  (Source The Guardian online)

- Brighton have accepted Sheffield United’s offer for Oliver Norwood. (Source Sky Sports online)

-Former England Manager Sam Allardyce stated that he would have been criticized had he played defensively vs. Croatia during the World Cup. (Source Sky Sports online)

Sunday, August 12, 2018:

-Manchester United’s Paul Pogba stated that he would not be discussing his future as he is affraid to be pinished foe saying the wrog thing. (Source Reuters UK online)

Monday, August 13, 2018:

-Leonardo Ulloa has left Leicester and joined Mexican Club Pachuca. (Source Sky Sports Online)

-Swansea have signed midfielder Simon Paulet from Club Brugge. (Source Footnews.be online)

-Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren is injured amd will be out at least three weeks. (Source Daily Mail online)

-Watford have extended the contract of defender Adrian Mariappa until 2020. (Source L’Equipe online)

English Premier League Matchday (August 10-12, 2018):

Friday, August 10, 2018:

Manchester United 2-Leicester 1 (Paul Pogba 3 pen, Luke Shaw 83 / Jamie Vardy 90)

Saturday, August 11, 2018:

Newcastle 1-Tottenham 2 (Joselu 11 / Jan Vertonghen 8, Dele Alli 18)

Bournemouth 2-Cardiff 0 (Ryan Fraser 24, Callum Wilsn 90)

Fulham 0-Crystal Palace 2 (Jeffrey Schlupp 41, Wilfried Zaha 80)

Huddersfield 0-Chelsea 3 (N’Golo Kante 34, Jorginho 45 pen, Pedro 80)

Watford 2-Brighton 0 (Roberto Pereyra 35, 54)

Wolverhampton 2-Everton 2 (Ruben Neves 44, Raul Jimenez 80 / Richarlison 17, 67)

Sunday, August 12, 2018:

Liverpool 4-West Ham 0 (Mohamed Salah 19, Sadio Mane 45, 63, Daniel Sturridge 88)

Southampton 0-Burnley 0

Arsenal 0-Manchester City 2 (Raheem Sterling 14, Bernardo Silva 64)

Top Goalscorer:

Sadio Mane (Liverpool) 2 goals

Richarlison (Everton) 2 goals

Roberto Pereyra (Watford) 2 goals

Table	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Liverpool	1	1	0	0	4	0	4	3
2	Chelsea	1	1	0	0	3	0	3	3
3	Bournemouth	1	1	0	0	2	0	2	3
4	Crystal Palace	1	1	0	0	2	0	2	3
5	Manchester City	1	1	0	0	2	0	2	3
6	Watford	1	1	0	0	2	0	2	3

P-Played, W-Win, D-Draw, L-Loss, GF-Goals For, GA-Goals Against, GD-Goal Difference, Pts-Point

Photo From: L’Equipe, August 11, 2018

(Paul Pogba scoring from the spot, August 10, 2018, Manchester United 2-Leicester 1)

II.  Italy

Diary:

Tuesday, August 7, 2018:

-Parma have signed three players from Inter: Jinathan Bibiany, Federic Dimarco (on loan) and Alessandro Bastoni (on loan). (Source L’Equipe online)

-Cesena have signed on midfielder Davide Biondini from Sassuolo (Source The Guardian online)

-Empoli have signed Argentina defender Matias Silvestre from Sampdoria. (Source The Guardian online)

-Fiorentina have officially signed on loan Croatian winger Marko Pjaca from Juventus. (Source The Guardian Online)

-Frosinone have signed goalkeeper Alessandro Iacobucci from Virtus Entella. (Source The Guardian online)

Wednesday, August 8, 2018:

-Genoa have signed defender Lisandro Ezequiel Lopez from Benfica. (Source L’Equipe online)

-Napoli have signed French defender Kevin Malcuit from Lille. (Source L’Equipe online)

-Chievo have signed on loan defeLuca Rossettini from Genoa. (Source The Guardian online)

-Crotone have signed midfielder Salvatore Molina from Atalanta. (Source The Guardian online)

-Josh Perez has left Fiorentina to join Los Angeles FC. (Source The Guardian online)

Thursday, August 9, 2018:

-French defender Bacary Sagna (released by Benevento) has joined MLS’s Montreal Impact. (Source L’Equipe online)

-Moussa Kone has left Frosinone to join Erzurusmpor.  (Source The Guardian online)

-Chieveo have signed defender Bartosz Salamon from SPAL. (Source The Guardian online)

-Juventus have rejcted Watford’s offer for Stafano Sturaro as well as Chelsea’s off for Daniele Rugani. (Source Football Italia online)

-Cosenza have signed on loan midfielder Andre Schetino and winger Jaime Baez (both from Fiorentina). (Source The Guardian online)

Friday, August 10, 2018:

-Cristiano Ronaldo’s fine by the Spanish Tax authorities has been reduced by two Million Euros. (Source RTBF.be online)

-Cagliari’s Andrea Cossu has announced his retirement. (Source Football Italia online)

-Joao Mario has denied a claim that he refused to join Chelsea because Maurizio Sarri was Italian. (Source Football Italia online)

-Parma have had their point reduction penalty revoked and Emanuele Calaio’s ban has been reduced to four months. (Source Football Italia online)

Saturday, August 11, 2018:

-Empoli have signed defender Luca Antonelli from AC Milan . (Source Football Italia online)

-Genoa have signed on loan defender Andrea Favilli from Juventus. (Source L’Equipe online)

-Fiorentina have signed on loan Swiss midfielder Edimilson Fernandes from West Ham. (Source Calciomercato online)

-Torino have rejected Napoli’s offer for Andrea Belotti, that included money plus Roberto Inglese.  (Source Football Italia online)

-Frosinone are to sign on loan Francesco Zampano from Pescara. (Source Football Italia online)

-AC Milan have signed on loan Tiemoue Bakayoko from Chelsea. (Source Calciomercato online)

-AC Milan have extended the contract of striker Patrick Cutrone until 2023. (Source Calciomercato online)

Sunday, August 12, 2018:

-Empoli are on the verge of signing midfielder Afriyie Acquah from Torino. (Source Football Italia online)

- Torino have signed on loan defender Ola Aina from Chelsea. (Source Football Italia online)

-Chievo have signed midfielder Joel Obi from Torino. (Source The Guardian online)

Monday, August 13, 2018:

-Sassuolo have signed on loan midfielder Manuel Locatelli from AC Milan. (Source L’Equipe online)

-Palermo have signed on loan midfielder Cesar Falletti from Bologna. (Source The Guardian online)

-According to ‘A Bola’, AC Milan’s Carlos Bacca is to be transferred to Sporting CP, but the player is holding out to go back to Villareal. (Source Football Italia online)

-AC Milan have offered Carlos Bacca plus money to sign Villareal striker Samu Castillejo. (Source Football Italia online)

-Inter have signed on loan Keita Balde from Monaco. (Source Football Italia online)

Coppa Italia (August 11-12, 2018):

Saturday, August 11, 2018:

Udinese 1-Benevento 1 (???)

Genoa 4-Lecce 0 (??)

Sunday, August 12, 2018:

Chievo 1-Pescara 0 (???)

Spezia 0-SPAL 1 (??)

Catania 2-Verona 0 (???)

Livorno 0-Crotone 1 (??)

Brescia 2-Novara 2 (???)

Cagliari 2-Palermo 1 (??)

Empoli 0-Cittadella 3 (???)

Frosinone 0-Sudtirol 2 (??)

Parma 0-Pisa 1 (???)

Sampdoria 1-Viterbese Castrense 0 (??)

Sassuolo 5-Ternana 1 (???)

Virtus Entella 2-Sportiva Salernitana 0 (??)

Torino 4-Cosenza 0 (???)

Bologna 2-Padova 0 (??)

III.  Spain

Diary:

Tuesday, August 7, 2018:

-Levante have signed Ghana striker Raphael Dwamena from FC Zurich. (Source L’Equipe online)

-Real Madrid are to report Internazionale Milano to UEFA for their attempts to sign and ‘unsettle’ Luka Modric.  (Source Calciomercato Online)

-Lugo have signed on loan Jose Carlos Lazo from Getafe. (Source The Guardian online)

-Huesca have signed Serdar Gurlar from Osmanlispor. (Source The Guardian online)

-Malga have signed on loan defender Pau Torres from Villareal.  (Source The Guardian online)

-Malga have signed on loan midfielder Sead Haskabanovic from West Ham.  (Source The Guardian online)

-Tenerife have signed on loan striker Nano from Eibar.  (Source The Guardian online)

-Las Palmas have signed midfielder Inigo Ruiz from Barcelona. (Source The Guardian online)

Wednesday, August 8, 2018:

-Sporting Gijon have signed midfielder Isaac Cofie from Genoa. (Source The Guardian online)

-Valladolid have signed on loan Daniele Verde from Roma. (Source Football Italia online)

-Real Madrid have signed 16-year-old Andri Lucas Gudjohnsen (son of Eidur) (Source Sport Bild Online)

-Celta have signed midfielder Mathias Jensen from Nordsjaelland. (Source The Guardian Online)

Thursday, August 9, 2018:

-Real Madrid have signed Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois from Chelsea. (Source BBC Football online)

-Alaves have signed defender Adrian Martin from Villareal. (Source L’Equipe online)

-Atletico Madrid have officially signed Croatian striker Nikola Kalinic from AC Milan. (Source The Guardian online)

-Levante have signed midfielder Nikola Vukcevic from Braga. (Source The Guardian online)

-Rayo Vallecano have signed defender Jordi Amat from Swansea. (Source The Guardian online)

Friday, August 10, 2018:

-Lionel Messi has been named as the new Official captain of Barcelona. Sergio Busquets will be vive captain followed by Gerard Pique and Sergi Roberto. (Source BBC Football online)

-Sociedad have signed on loan French defender Theo Hernandez from Real Madrid. (Source L’Equipe online)

-Malaga have signed Senegal midfielder Alfred N’Diaye from Villareal. (Source L’Equipe online)

-Valencia have signed on loan Belgian striker Michy Batshuayi from Chelsea. (Source L’Equipe online)

-According to the agent of Malcolm, the new Barcelona signing did his last minute change of mind as a punishment to Roma, who had treated hom badly during the negotiations. (Source Football Italia online)

-Andrea Pirlo stated that he would not be taking a role with the National team . (Source Football Italia online)

-Bayern Munich’s Thiago Alcantara has been linked with Real Madrid.  (Source vi.nl online)

 Saturday, August 11, 2018:

-Barcelona’s Brazilian player Phillipe Coutinho has obtained a Portuguese passport and will not be considered a non-EU player. (Source Footnews.be online)

-Sevilla have signed on loan Portuguese striker Andre Silva from AC Milan. (Source Bleacher report online)

-Former Barcelona Captain Andres Iniesta scored for the fisrt time for Vissel Kobe in the Japanese League (2-1 vs. Jubilo Iwata).  (Source Walfoot.be online)

-Gimnastic de Tarragona have signed on loan winger Sebas Coris from Girona.  (Source The Guardian online)

-According to some reports, Luka Modric has decided to stay at Real Madrid and not join Inter. He will also have a salary increase. (Source AS.com online)

-Lleida Esportiu have signed on loan Mink Peeters from Real Madrid. (Source vi.nl online)

-Barcelona’s Gerard Pique has announced his International retirement. (Source Onze-Mondial online)

Sunday, August 12, 2018:

-Sevilla officials have threatened to withdraw from the Super Cup today if Barcelona name more than three non-EU players. However, the Spanish Federation stated that there are no restrictions as it is not clased a non-professional game. (Source BBC Football online)

-It was disclosed that Chelsea had met Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak’s release clasue, but the player rejected the offer. (Source Dail Mail online)

-By winning in today’s Spanish Super Cup, Lionel Messi became Barcelona’s most titled player by winning his 33^rd title (overtaking Iniesta). (Source Daily Mail online)

Monday, August 13, 2018:

-Alaves have signed midfielder Tomas Pina from Club Brugge on permanent basis. (Source RTBF.be online)

-Betis has rejected Besiktas’ offer for Algerian player Ryad Boudebouz. (Source Transfer Market Web online)

-Real Madrid defender Alvaro Odriozola is injured and will miss the UEFA Super Cup match vs. Atletico Madrid . (Source AS.com online)

-Atletico Madrid have extended the contract of Diego Godin until 2021. (Source Kicker.de online)

-David Silva has announced his retirement from the Spanish National Team. (Source Bleacher Report online)

-Valencia have signed French striker Kevin Gameiro from Atletico Madrid. (Source Reuters UK online)

-Rayo Vallecano have signed on loan Alvaro Medran from Valencia.  (Source The Guardian online)

-Leganes have signed Jose Arnaiz from Barcelona.  (Source L’Equipe online)

Spain Super Cup:

Sunday, August 12, 2018:

Barcelona 2-Sevilla 1 (Gerard Pique 42, Ousmane Demebele 78 / Pablo Sarabia 9)

Photo From: L’Equipe, August 12, 2018

(Gerard Pique)

IV.  Germany

Diary:

Tuesday, August 7, 2018:

-Leverkusen have signed on loan Swedish International Isaac Kiese Thelin from Anderlecht. (Source L’Equipe online)

Wednesday, August 8, 2018:

-Jerome Boateng has decided against a move to Manchester United and has informed Jose Mourinho. It is believed that he refused because he does not think they can win the Champions League. (Source Sky Sports Online)

-Leverkusen have extended the contract of Finland striker Joel Pohjanpalo until 2022. (Source L’Equipe online)

- Axel, Witsel’s agent has disclosed that the player had turned down an offer Manchetser United before joining Dortmund. (Source Footnews.be online)

-Max Kruse has been appointed as the Captain of Werder Bremen. (Source Sport Bild Online)

-Holstein Kiel have signed on loan Aaron Seydel from Mainz.  (Source Sport Bild Online)

-SV Hamburg have signed on loan midfielder Orela Mangala from Stuttgart. (Source The Guardian Online)

Thursday, August 9, 2018:

-Philipp Ochs has left Hoffenheim to join Aalborg.  (Source The Guardian online)

-Stuttgart have extended the contract of midfielder Santiago Ascacibar until 2023. (Source Sport Bild online)

-St Pauli  have signed striker Henk Veerman from SC Heerenveen.  (Source Sport Bild online)

-Eintracht Frankfurt have offered professional contracts to Patrice Kabuya and Tobias Stirl. (Source Sport Bild online)

Friday, August 10, 2018:

-SV Hamburg have signed on loan defender Leo Lacroix from Saint Etienne. (Source L’Equipe online)

-Eintracht Frankfurt have extended the contract of Croatian Ante Rebic until 2022. (Source L’Equipe online)

-Hoffenheim have extended the contract of Czech defender Pavel Kaderabek until 2021. (Source Sport Bild online)

Saturday, August 11, 2018:

-Hannover have extended the contract of Manager Andre Breitenreiter until 2021. (Source Sport Bild online)

-Schalke have extended the contract of Manager Domenico Tedesco until 2022. (Source L’Equipe online)

-Werder Bremen have extended the contract of goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka. (Source Sport Bild online)

Sunday, August 12, 2018:

-

Monday, August 13, 2018:

-Former German star Stefan Effenberg has advised Jerome Boateng to join PSG if Bayern Munich do not want him.   (Source AS.com online)

German Super Cup:

Sunday, August 12, 2018:

Eintracht Frankfurt 0-Bayern Munich 5 (Robert Lewandowski 21, 26, 54, Kingsley Coman 63, Thiago Alcantara 85)

V.  France

Diary:

Tuesday, August 7, 2018:

-Nantes have signed on loan Ghana striker Majeed Waris from Porto. (Source L’Equipe online)

-Nantes have signed on loan Brazilian striker Gabriel Boschilia from Monaco. (Source Footnews.be online)

-Lorient have signed French defender Mathieu Saunier from Granada. (Source L’Equipe online)

-Bordeaux have signed Croatian midfielder Toma Basic from Hajduk Split. (Source L’Equipe online)

-Amiens have signed Polish midfielder Rafal Kurzawa (from Gornik Zabrze) and Swedish defender Emil Krafth (from Bologna). (Source L’Equipe online)

Wednesday, August 8, 2018:

-Guingamp have extended the contract of midfielder Ludovic Blas until 2021. (Source L’Equipe online)

-Lille have loaned Albanian midfielder Agim Zeka to Leixoes. (Source L’Equipe online)

-Villefranche Saint-Jean Beautieu (National 3) have signed Cedric Varrault from Dijon. (Source L’Equipe online)

-Lille have signed striker Rafael Leao from Sporting CP. (Source L’Equipe online)

-Auxerre have are set to sign Julien Feret on a free (formerly from Caen). (Source L’Equipe online)

-Rennes have offered a professional contract to Georginio Rutter. (Source L’Equipe online)

-Reims have signed South Korean striker Hyun-Jun Suk from Troyes. (Source L’Equipe online)

Thursday, August 9, 2018:

-Monaco defender Almamy Toure has rejected an offer from Fulham. (Source Sky Sports online)

-Angers have signed Algerian Farid El Melali from Paradou AC. (Source L’Equipe online)

-Bordeaux have loaned Brazilian Jonathan Cafu to Red Star Belgrade. (Source L’Equipe online)

Friday, August 10, 2018:

-PSG have offered a professional contract to striker Samuel Essende. (Source L’Equipe online)

-Bordeaux have offered a professional contract to goalkeeper Gaetan Poussin. (Source L’Equipe online)

-Toulouse have signed defender Steven Moreira from Lorient.  (Source L’Equipe online)

-Bordeaux have signed striker Jimmy Briand from Guingamp.  (Source L’Equipe online)

-Prejuce Nakoulma has ended his contract with Nantes by mutual consent. (Source L’Equipe Online)

Saturday, August 11, 2018:

-VAR was used for the first time in the L1 as OM were given awarded a penalty kick in their win over Toulouse in the League opener.  (Source BBC Football online)

Sunday, August 12, 2018:

-PSG is set to sign German defender Thilo Kehrer from Schalke. (Source Sky Sports online)

-PSG’s Andre Rabiot has refused a contract extension and could potentially miss the entire season. (Source AS.com online)

Monday, August 13, 2018:

-Stade Brestois have signed midfielder Ibrahima Diallo from Monaco. (Source L’Equipe online)

-OGC Nice have signed striker Myziane Maolida from Lyon. (Source L’Equipe online)

-PSG have extended the contract of defender Presnel Kimpembe until 2023. (Source L’Equipe online)

French Ligue 1 Matchday (August 10-12, 2018):

Friday, August 10, 2018:

Marseille 4-Toulouse 0 (Dimitri Payet 45pen, 62, Valere Germain 89, Florian Thauvin 90)

Saturday, August 11, 2018:

Nantes 1-Monaco 3 (Emiliano Sola 90 / Rony Lopes 69, Stevan Jovetic 80, Radamel Falcao 83)

Saint Etienne 2-Guingamp 1 (Wahbi Khazri 45, Lois Diony 80 / Marcus Thuram 56 pen)

Lille 3-Rennes 1 (Lebo Mothiba 45, Nicolas Pepe 54, Jonathan Bamba 68 / Clement Grenier 43)

Montpellier 1-Dijon 2 (Pedro Mendes 5 / Julio Tavares 51, Senou Coulibaly 90)

Nice 0-Reims 1 (Moussa Doumbia 2)

Angers 3-Nimes 4 (Pierrick Capelle 33, Angelo Fulgini 51, Ismael Traore 56 / Sada Thioub 4, Clement Depres 76, 88, Renaud Ripart 85)

Sunday, August 12, 2018:

Lyon 2-Amiens 0 (Bertrand Traore 24, Memphis Depay 75)

Bordeaux 0-Strasbourg 2 (Ibrahima Sissoko 68, Nuno Da Costa 78)

PSG 3-Caen 0 (Neymar 10, Adrien Rabiot 35, Timothy Weah 89)

Top Goalscorer:

Clement Depres (Nimes) 2 goals

Dimitri Payet (Marseille) 2 goals

Table	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Marseille	1	1	0	0	4	0	4	3
2	PSG	1	1	0	0	3	0	3	3
3	Monaco	1	1	0	0	3	1	2	3
4	Lille	1	1	0	0	3	1	2	3
5	Strasbourg	1	1	0	0	2	0	2	3
6	Lyon	1	1	0	0	2	0	2	3

P-Played, W-Win, D-Draw, L-Loss, GF-Goals For, GA-Goals Against, GD-Goal Difference, Pts-Point

Photo From: L’Equipe, August 11, 2018

(Dimitri Payet scoring from the spot, after the VAR decision, August 10, 2018, OM 4-Toulouse 0)

VI.  Holland

Diary:

Tuesday, August 7, 2018:

-PSV Eindhoven have signed Australian defender Trent Sainsbury from Chinese side Jiangsu Suning. (Source Reuters UK online)

-NEC have signed goalkeeper Norbert Albias from Ajax. (Source vi.nl online)

-PSV Eindhoven have extended the contract of Luuk de Jong until 2021. (Source vi.nl online)

-Den Bosch have signed Imrane Oulad Omar from AS Trencin. (Source vi.nl online)

-Bilal Ould-Chikh has mutually ended his contract with Utrecht. (Source vi.nl online)

Wednesday, August 8, 2018:

-Roda JC Kerkrade have signed Ba-Muaka Simakala from Moenchengladbach. (Source Kicker.de online)

Thursday, August 9, 2018:

-Emmen have signed striker Nicklas Pedersen from Mechelen. (Source vi.nl online)

-Former Dutch International Hewdiges Maduro has announced his retirement. (Source vi.nl Online)

Friday, August 10, 2018:

-Excelsior have signed Icelandic Elias Mar Omarsson. (Source vi.nl online)

-Fredrik Holst has left Sparta to join IF Elsborg. (Source vi.nl online)

-PSV Eindhoven have signed midfielder Ryan Thomas from PEC Zwolle. (Source vi.nl online)

Saturday, August 11, 2018:

-Ruben Jensen has left Groningen to join SK Brann. (Source vi.nl online)

-NEC have signed Brahim Darri from Heracles Almelo. (Source vi.nl online)

-Fortuna Sittard have signed midfielder Amadou Ciss from FC Pau. (Source vi.nl online)

-PSV Eindhoven have signed Hungarian winger Oliver Horvath from Ajax. (Source vi.nl online)

-Go Ahead Eagles have signed midfielder Paco van Moorsel from Sparta. (Source vi.nl online)

Sunday, August 12, 2018:

-

Monday, August 13, 2018:

-Belgian defender Benis Belesi has ended his contract with Utrecht . (Source Walfoot.be online)

-Excelsior have signed on loan Belgian defender Siebe Horemans from Gent. (Source vi.nl online)

-AZ have signed Icelandic Albert Gudmundsson from PSV Eindhoven. (Source vi.nl online)

Dutch Eredivisie Matchday (August 10-12, 2018):

Friday, August 10, 2018:

PEC Zwolle 2-Heerenveen 3 (Mike van Duinen 28 pen, 56 / Morten Thorsby 32, 39, Arber Zeneli 43)

Saturday, August 11, 2018:

Ajax 1-Heracles 1 (Matthijs De Ligt 88 / Kristoffer Peterson 84)

Willem II 0-VVV Venlo 1 (Danny Post 21)

PSV Eindhoven 4-Utrecht 0 (Gaston Pereiro 16, Steven Bergwijn 57, Hirving Lozano 77, Denzel Domfries 80)

Excelsior 1-Fortuna Sittard 1 (Jurgen Mattheij 33 / Jorrit Smeets 54)

Sunday, August 12, 2018:

Den Haag 1-Emmen 2 (Sheraldo Becker 62 / Glenn Bijl 37, Anco Jansen 42 pen)

De Graafschap 2-Feyenoord 0 (Fabian Serrarens 31, Stefan Nijland 90)

Vitesse 5-Groningen 1 (Bryan Linssen 22, Matus Bero 44, Roy Beerens 62, Jake Clarke-Salter 66, Tim Matavz 71 / Ritsu Doan 38)

AZ 5-NAC 0 (Jonas Svensson 26, Pantelis Hatzidiakos 30, Myron Boadu 42, Teun Koopmeiners 79, Bjorn Johnsen 85)

Top Goalscorer:

Mike van Duinen (PEC Zwolle) 2 goals

Morten Thorsby (SC Heerenveen) 2 goals

Table	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	AZ	1	1	0	0	5	0	5	3
2	Vitesse	1	1	0	0	5	1	4	3
3	PSV Eindhoven	1	1	0	0	4	0	4	3
4	De Graafschap	1	1	0	0	2	0	2	3
5	Heerenveen	1	1	0	0	3	2	1	3
6	Emmen	1	1	0	0	2	1	1	3

P-Played, W-Win, D-Draw, L-Loss, GF-Goals For, GA-Goals Against, GD-Goal Difference, Pts-Point

VII.  Scotland

Diary:

Tuesday, August 7, 2018:

-Rangers have signed Croatian defender Borna Barisic from Osijek. (Source BBC Football online)

-Celtic have rejected Fulham’s bid fro Belgian defender Dedryck Boyata. (Source BBC Football online)

-Hamilton have signed Congolese midfielder Delphin Tshiembe from AC Horsens. (Source BBC Football online)

-Rangers have appealed the red card received by Alfredo Morelos in their weekend match vs. Aberdeen. (Source BBC Football online)

Wednesday, August 8, 2018:

-Celtic have signed Honduran defender Emilio Izaquirre from Saudi Arabia’s Al-Fayha. He returns to his former club. (Source BBC Football online)

-After appeal, the red card of Rangers’ Alfredo Morelos has been rescinded. (Source BBC Football Online)

-Aberdeen’s Scott McKenna is expected to be out a minimum of six weeks due to injury. (Source BBC Football Online)

-Hibernian have signed on loan Ghana winger Thomas Agyepong from Manchester City. (Source BBC Football Online)

-Kilmarnock have signed on loan goakeeper Daniel Bachmann from Watford. (Source Sky Sports Online)

-Hibernian have signed on loan midfielder Emerson Hyndman from Bournemouth. (Source The Guardian Online)

Thursday, August 9, 2018:

-St Mirren have signed on loan (for 6 months) Danish striker Nicolai Brock-Madsen from Birmingham City.  (Source BBC Football online)

Friday, August 10, 2018:

-Lee Erwin is to leave Kilmarnock and join Iran’s Tractor Sazi.  (Source BBC Football online)

-Motherwell have signed defender Christian Mbulu from Milwall. (Source BBC Football online)

Saturday, August 11, 2018:

-Hibernian have signed Republic of Ireland winger Daryl Horgan from Preston NE. (Source BBC Football Online)

Sunday, August 12, 2018:

-

Monday, August 13, 2018:

-Aberdeen have signed on loan James Wilson from Manchester United. (Source BBC Football online)

League Matchday (August 11-5, 2018):

Scottish Premier League

Saturday, August 11, 2018:

Hearts 1-Celtic 0 (Kyle Lafferty 57)

Dundee 0-Aberdeen 1 (Gary Mackay-Steven 75 pen)

Livingston 0-Kilmarnock 0

Motherwell 0-Hamilton 1 (Steven Boyd 67)

Sunday, August 12, 2018:

Rangers 2-St Mirren 0 (Alfredo Morelos 14,Connor Goldson 24)

St Johnstone 1-Hibernian 1(Stephen Mallan (own goal) 22 / Oliver Shaw 51)

Top Goalscorer:

Daniel Mullen (St Mirren) 2 goals

Peter Haring (Hearts) 2 goals

Oli Shaw (Hibernian) 2 goals

Table	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Hearts	2	2	0	0	5	1	4	6
2	Hibernian	1	1	1	0	4	1	3	4
3	Rangers	2	1	1	0	3	1	2	4
4	Kilmarnock	2	1	1	0	2	0	2	4
5	Aberdeen	2	1	1	0	2	1	1	4
6	Celtic	1	1	0	1	3	2	1	3

P-Played, W-Win, D-Draw, L-Loss, GF-Goals For, GA-Goals Against, GD-Goal Difference, Pts-Point

VIII.  Portugal

Diary:

Tuesday, August 7, 2018:

-

Wednesday, August 8, 2018:

-Porto have signed Eder Militao from Sao Paulo. (Source L’Equipe online)

Thursday, August 9, 2018:

-Benfica have offered a professional contract to Antonio Ribeiro. (Source Maisfutbol online)

Friday, August 10, 2018:

-Sporting CP is set to sign Abdoulay Diaby from Club Brugge. (Source Footnews.be Online)

-Sporting CP have rejected Fiorentina’s offer for Marcos Acuna (Source Transfer Market Web online)

Saturday, August 11, 2018:

-Utrecht have signed on loan Oussama Tannane from Saint Etienne. (Source L’Equipe online)

Sunday, August 12, 2018:

-Sporting CP have signed on loan midfielder Stefano Sturaro from Juventus.  (Source L’Equipe Online)

Monday, August 13, 2018:

-

Portugal Primeira Liga League Matchday (August 10-12, 2018):

Friday, August 10, 2018:

Benfica 3-Guimaraes 2 (Pizzi 10, 30, 38 / Adre Andre 76, Guillermo Celis 81)

Saturday, August 11, 2018:

Setubal 2-Aves 0 (Costinha 3, Jhonder Cadiz 61)

Tondela 0-Belenensses 1 (Fredy 54)

Porto 5-Chaves 0 (Vincent Aboubakar 14, 20, Yacine Brahimi 45, Jesus Corona 71, M. Mouandilmadji 88)

Sunday, August 12, 2018:

Feirense 2-Rio Ave 0 (Tiago Silva 20, Edinho 33 )

Maritimo 1-Santa Clara 0 (Rodrigo Pinho 90 pen)

Moreirense 1-Sporting CP 3 (Heriberto Tavares 6 / Bruno Fernandes 16, Bas Dost 74 pen, 90)

Braga 4-Nacional 2 (Dyego Sousa 4, 32, Ricardo Horta 48, 72 / Bryan Rochez 23 pen, 38)

Monday, August 13, 2018:

Portimonense 0-Boavista 2 (David Simao 47, Andre Claro 90 )

Top Goalscorer:

Benfica (Pizzi) 3 goals

Table	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Porto	1	1	0	0	5	0	5	3
2	Braga	1	1	0	0	4	2	2	3
3	Sporting CP	1	1	0	0	3	1	2	3
4	Boavista	1	1	0	0	2	0	2	3
5	Feirense	1	1	0	0	2	0	2	3
6	Setubal	1	1	0	0	2	0	2	3

P-Played, W-Win, D-Draw, L-Loss, GF-Goals For, GA-Goals Against, GD-Goal Difference, Pts-Point

IX.  Belgium

Diary:

Tuesday, August 7, 2018:

-Belgium’s disciplinary commission has susoended Club Brugeg striker Wesley Moraes to six matches for his sending off over the weekend (he had kicked Mouscron’s Katranic on the face). (Source Walfoot.be online)

-Cercle Brugge have extended the contract of Benjamin Delacourt for one more season.  (Source Walfoot.be online)

-Lokeren have signed Israeli defender Omri Ben Harush from Maccabi Haifa.  (Source Walfoot.be online)

Wednesday, August 8, 2018:

-St Truiden have signed Sierra Leone striker Mohamed Buya Turay from Dalkurd.  (Source Walfoot.be online)

Thursday, August 9, 2018:

-Chaleroi have extended the contract of Iranian striker Kaveh Rezaei by four years.  (Source RTBF.be online)

-Danish defender Alexander Scholz has left Club Brugge and joined FC Midtjylland.  (Source RTBF.be online)

Friday, August 10, 2018:

-

Saturday, August 11, 2018:

-Kortrijk have signed Nigerian striker Imoh Ezekiel on a free (formerly Las Palmas). (Source RTBF.be online)

-Gent have signed on loan Senegal’s Mamadou Sylla from Zulte Waregem. (Source Walfoot.be online)

- Standard Liege Manager Michel Preud’homme denied rumors that Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa is to join Napoli. (Source Footbal Italia online)

Sunday, August 12, 2018:

-

Monday, August 13, 2018:

-Charleroi have signed French goalkeeper Remy Riou from Alanyaspor. (Source L’Equipe online)

-Zulte-Waregem have signed on loan Ivory Coast striker Chris Bedia from Charleroi. (Source Footnews.be online)

First Division A League Matchday (August 10-12, 2018):

Friday, August 10, 2018:

Club Brugge 3-Kortrijk 0 (A.D.Groeneveld 3, 8, Siebe Schrijvers 57)

Saturday, August 11, 2018:

Standard Liege 0-Cercle Brugge 0

Zulte-Waregem 3-Eupen 0 (Thomas Buffel 35, 38, Hicham Faik 56)

St Truiden 1-Lokeren 1 (M.Buya Turay 84 / Guus Hupperts 78)

Mouscron 0-Antwerp 1 (William Owusu 81)

Sunday, August 12, 2018:

Ostend 0-Genk 2 (Leandro Trossard 75 pen, Ruslan Malinkovskyi 82)

Charleroi 1-Anderlecht 2 (Ali Gholizadeh 41 / Nany Dimata 45 pen, Iva Santini 64)

Gent 4-Waasland-Beveren 1 (Roman Yarmechuk 36, Birger Verstraete 77 pen, Jonathan David 83, 90 / Aleksandar Vukotic 82)

Top Goalscorer:

Ivan Santini (Anderlecht) 7 goals

Table	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Anderlecht	3	3	0	0	11	4	7	9
2	Club Brugge	3	3	0	0	9	2	7	9
3	Genk	3	2	1	0	7	1	6	7
4	Antwerp	3	2	1	0	2	0	2	7
5	Zulte-Waregem	3	1	2	0	7	3	4	5
6	Cercle Brugge	3	1	2	0	3	2	1	5

P-Played, W-Win, D-Draw, L-Loss, GF-Goals For, GA-Goals Against, GD-Goal Difference, Pts-Point

Diary (extra):

Tuesday, August 7, 2018:

-Gelson Fernnades has announced his retirement from the Switzerland National Team. (Source L’Equipe online)

-45 year-old Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary has announced his retirement from the Egyptian National Team. (Source RTBF.be online)

Wednesday, August 8, 2018:

-Swedish Manager Erik Hamren has been named as the National Team Manager of Iceland. (Source L’Equipe online)

- Jordi Cruyff has been named as the new Manager of Chinese side Chongqing Lifan (Source L’Equipe online)

Thursday, August 9, 2018:

-Peru Federation have extended the contract of Manager Ricardo Gareca util 2021. (Source L’Equipe online)

-Zambia’s Kalusha Bwalya, member of (CAF), has been banned for two years from FIFA due to his links with banned Qatari Official Mohamed Bin Hammam. (Source BBC Football online)

Friday, August 10, 2018:

-

Saturday, August 11, 2018:

-

Sunday, August 12, 2018:

-Former Brazilian star Ronaldo was admitted to intensive care unit in Ibiza after suffering from pneumonia.  (Source BBC Football online)

Monday, August 13, 2018:

-Internacional have signed Peru striker Paolo Guerrero from Flamengo. (Source Reuters UK online)