From Mourinho's ugliness to Barcelona's magic and Liverpool's stumble: Europe opens its season with surprises

You cannot judge an entire project on a single match, but what Liverpool produced against Newcastle United on Sunday was an early warning bell. 

Andoni Iraola's side looked fragile and disjointed. They bore no resemblance whatsoever to the identity of the manager we came to know at Bournemouth. 

Harmony, intensity and relentless attacking commitment defined Iraola's previous sides almost automatically. Those qualities were entirely absent from Liverpool's players.

The problem runs deeper than mere bad luck at a difficult venue like St James' Park. Names of the calibre of Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak delivered below-par performances and looked ill-suited to the Spanish manager's ideas. 

With Hugo Ekitike absent until the new year, Iraola finds himself forced to adapt his approach to tools that do not fit his philosophy. That dilemma will take a long time to solve.

Do not let the point Liverpool returned to Anfield with deceive you. They escaped defeat thanks to a naive error from Lewis Hall, who gifted a stoppage-time penalty that Dominik Szoboszlai converted, and to the recklessness of Yoane Wissa, who squandered two clear chances. 

Iraola cited statistics such as 36 touches inside the penalty area. His body language after the match told a different story. He was not satisfied at all.

In England, the two Manchester clubs experienced two completely contrasting days. Manchester City, masters of the crisis, trailed at home to Bournemouth. But as ever, they refused to give up, scoring twice in the final five minutes to turn the tables and win 2-1. 

Don't let the result fool you. City looked shaky at the back, the Marc Guehi trick in midfield won't work every week, and Erling Haaland was well below his best.

Over at Old Trafford, the picture could not have been more different. Michael Carrick's reign as permanent Manchester United manager began with a humiliating 2-0 defeat to newly promoted Hull City. 

Carrick spoke positively after the match, but the problems were plain to see. His chosen 4-2-3-1 demands midfielders who close down spaces quickly, and neither Youri Tielemans nor Andre Santos offers that. The result? A team ripped apart on the counter-attack.

You can discuss the topics and news in greater depth in the "Kooora" forums

Leaning on Matheus Cunha up front rather than building the attack around Benjamin Sesko raises further question marks, as does a glaring weakness at set pieces. 

Champions League football looms too, leaving Carrick even less time on the training ground. Signing Carlos Baleba alone won't fix that.

Jose Mourinho's return to Real Madrid after 13 years was neither dreamy nor enjoyable. It was realistic and ugly, just the way the Portuguese likes it. A difficult 2-1 win over Espanyol in the opening match of La Liga, yet a result that reveals a great deal about the shape of the new Madrid: a team that is physically imposing, boasting names such as Denzel Dumfries, Dean Huijsen, Ibrahima Konate and Jude Bellingham.

Mourinho applied a constant law in football. When you want to win, look for the tall man. That is exactly what he did, throwing on Carlos Espi, the 193cm forward who arrived this summer for 25 million euros, 11 minutes before the end to snatch the winner. 

The goal was no mere header. It showed nimble feet and great balance, confirming that the Espi deal, despite him being the least talented attacking option, may prove the most important. He gives the team what no one else possesses: size.

Win or not, Madrid looked talented but short on harmony, which is natural for a side that has not trained together for long. The defending for Alex Calatrava's goal was poor in a way that will certainly anger Mourinho, and Vinicius and Mbappe appeared and then disappeared, exactly as their nature dictates and as Mourinho knows well. 

Then there is the midfield. The pairing of Bernardo Silva and Valverde cannot carry out the true role of Tchouameni, leaving the big questions. How will Diomande blend with the attacking trio? And where is Arda Guler's place?

Real Madrid may have laboured to their win, but Barcelona left no room for doubt. They thrashed Elche 5-0, a result that once again underlined the genius of Hansi Flick as he chases a third title in three years. 

What astonishes is how they did it: a rotated side shorn of Pedri, Rodri, Koundé, Cubarsí and Dani Olmo.

Flick found his answer in verticality and tactical flexibility. Raphinha played deep in front of Fermín López, with Karim Adeyemi and Lamine Yamal darting towards goal. 

Marc Bernal and Gavi anchored a young midfield, and Barcelona showed they can go without a traditional striker when they have a player as dynamic as Raphinha, who looked hungry after missing out on the World Cup.

Modest as Elche were, this dominance cannot be brushed aside. The message is clear. Barcelona have a system that transcends names, and Flick can find solutions with ease no matter who is missing.

Inter Milan began the season in style, thrashing Monza 4-1. The hero? Francesco Pio Esposito. The 21-year-old marked his afternoon with an elegant backheel finish and an assist. 

His size and tenacity make Esposito look ready to slot into an attacking quartet alongside Lautaro, Thuram and Bonny under Cristian Chivu, though Akanji and Bastoni betrayed some defensive rustiness.

Over at Milan, new coach Ruben Amorim showed real courage by handing 19-year-old attacking midfielder Alfadjo Cissé his chance against Torino. Cissé repaid him with a goal and boundless energy in a 2-1 win. 

The decision confirms Amorim is marching to his own rhythm, even as Rafael Leao remains frozen out and hunts for a new club.

You can discuss topics and news in more depth on the "Kooora" forums

In France, a 55 million euro signing dug Paris Saint-Germain out of the Rennes trap. Ferran Torres was the man. After a sluggish first half left them two goals down, Luis Enrique rolled the dice, hauling off Kvaratskhelia and Dembélé for Gonçalo Ramos and Torres. The Spaniard answered with a proper striker's header and a perfect run to earn a 2-2 draw.

Over in Germany, the "Swiss Army knife" Nathaniel Brown drove Bayern Munich to a 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund in the Super Cup. 

Deployed at left-back, at right-back and now as a number 10 in place of the injured Jamal Musiala, Brown opened the scoring and stood out remarkably. 

The match exposed the folly of pigeonholing players by position. Bayern, driven on by the unstoppable Michael Olise, dominated the first half and deserved more than two goals.

Tottenham suffered a heavy blow with a 3-0 defeat to Roberto De Zerbi's side. The Spurs manager was candid after the match: "We are not ready and we lack spirit." 

Bergvall, Gallagher and Tonali overran the midfield. With a lengthy injury list and deals for the likes of Savinho and Marmoush still hanging in the balance, De Zerbi needs to raise the level several notches before it is too late.

Chelsea's defensive crisis has rumbled on since last season. The Blues conceded twice against Fulham in their opening match of the new 2026-2027 Premier League campaign, a game they won 3-2 on Monday evening.

Squawka's statistics tell the story: "Chelsea have failed to keep a clean sheet for the 17th consecutive match in the Premier League." It's a negative run that lays bare the team's struggles at the back.