A vintage second half display by Vladimir Weiss very nearly proved the difference in Espanyol’s meeting with Real Zaragoza this weekend, but it wasn’t to be as his side were beaten 2-1.

The Slovakian winger added a renewed vigour when he joined the action at the start of the second half, but despite setting up Javi Lopez’s equalizer, a 92nd minute Zaragoza winner condemned Weiss’ team to a frustrating loss.

It was a better weekend for Roque Santa Cruz’s Betis, however, as they maintained their 100% start to the season with a 3-2 win over Athletic Bilbao – the Paraguayan striker impressed before being replaced late in the second half.

Fellow striker John Guidetti was also celebrating as he scored from the spot during Feyenoord’s 4-0 drubbing of De Graafschap.

That win lifted them to within one point of the league summit, but at the other end of the Dutch Eredivisie, Abdi Ibrahim was absent for NEC as they were beaten 2-1 by struggling NAC Breda and in Norway, Mohammed Abu could do nothing to prevent Stromgodset’s 2-0 loss at the hands of Tromso.

Back on home soil, former Gooner Emmanuel Adebayor was making a name for himself in the White half of North London, as two goals on his home debut helped Tottenham thrash nine-man Liverpool 4-0. Meanwhile, Dedryck Boyata was in action for Bolton who now sit just one place off the bottom as they continued to stutter with a shock 2-1 loss at home to newly promoted Norwich. 

Only goal difference separates Ben Mee and Kieran Trippier from a similar fate in the Championship as their Burnley side were beaten 2-1 by Peterborough. The defensive pair will have their work cut out over the coming weeks as the Clarets have now gone 20 games without a clean sheet.

Michael Johnson missed Leicester bring an end to Brighton’s 100% start as he sat out the Foxes’ 1-0 win, while Ryan McGivern’s Bristol City continue to struggle at the bottom of the table having lost 2-1 to ten-man Leeds – an 86th minute winner robbing the Northern Irish international of even a point.

Ahmed Benali was absent for Rochdale’s epic loss at the hands of Charlton, who, having let slip a two goal lead, won the game 3-2 and it was a quiet weekend for goalkeeping duo David Gonzalez and Loris Karius who both sat out their respective sides’ fixtures.