What you missed this weekend

While Bayern Munich and Liverpool enjoyed their weekend, there was not so much for the likes of Manchester United and Roma to cheer about. Meanwhile, many fine goals were scored, but not against Chelsea’s unbeatable goalkeeper.

Here are Tom Hamilton, Sam Marsden and Mark Ogden to discuss the big stuff you need to know from around Europe.

Go to: Talking points | Top goals | Troubled teams | Weekend MVP

Four talking points

Brilliant Bayern serve ominous warning

Take notice, rest of Europe. In what was a top-of-the-table Bundesliga clash in name and position only, Bayern Munich were so dominant at Bayer Leverkusen that they led 5-0 after just 39 minutes and were able to take off Alphonso Davies — who was fantastic, but coming off World Cup qualifying exertions for Canada — before half-time for a rest.

It ended 5-1 and what is really scary for Bayern’s rivals is that, in the early stages of Julian Nagelsmann’s tenure, they look like an improved outfit on last season. The new manager has his side pushing higher up the field and, though that means there is more space in the back, the speed of centre-backs Lucas Hernandez and Dayot Upamecano mean they are less susceptible to counter-attacks.

On the left, Leroy Sane has prospered in the half-space and combines brilliantly with Davies, who is loving life as an inverted wing-back. Elsewhere, Thomas Muller plays just right of middle, but such is Bayern’s tactical fluidity that they shift seamlessly from a 3-4-3 to a 4-2-3-1 to a 4-4-1-1.

Allied with that unpredictability is ruthlessness in front of goal that has seen the German champions score 29 goals in eight league games this season. At Leverkusen, Robert Lewandowski added two more — the first a delightful back-heeled flick — while Serge Gnabry also claimed a brace and Muller’s inner thigh accounted for the other in what was a statement win. — Hamilton

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