European football round-up: Bayern Munich open season with convincing win

Real Zaragoza claim a late win over Espanyol in Spain, while Marco Storari helps Juventus start their Serie A title defence with victory over Parma, and Ajax power to a 5-0 win over NAC Breda.

Kwadwo Asamoah celebrates Juventus's goal against Parma

Spain

Helder Postiga left it late to earn Real Zaragoza victory over 10-man Espanyol in the Primera Division.

In a bad-tempered encounter which saw eight players booked, Alvaro Vázquez lit the touchpaper by firing hosts Espanyol ahead with a powerful finish just before half-time.

Juan Albin received his marching orders for a second booking after the interval and Antonio Apono levelled from the penalty spot, before Postiga grabbed the winner 2 minutes from time.

Brazilian Leo scored his first senior goal for Rayo Vallecano as they continued their 100% start to the season with a 2-1 win at Real Betis.

The visitors went ahead within two minutes as Piti tapped in, but Betis responded immediately and Jorge Molina headed in his third goal of the campaign moments later.

Despite withstanding an early Betis onslaught at the beginning of the second period, Rayo looked the more coordinated team throughout and deservedly got the winner on the hour mark when Lass Bangoura teed up Leo to rifle low past Fabricio in the Betis goal.

Imanol Agirretxe scored twice as Real Sociedad came from behind to secure their first three points of the season, beating Celta Vigo 2-1.

Kike de Lucas had given Celta the lead against the run of play four minutes into the second half, but a fine jinking run from Antoine Griezmann set up Agirretxe to bring the Basques level just five minutes later.

The comeback was complete on the hour mark as Carlos Vela crossed for Agirretxe to prod home.

Teenage substitute Juanmi rescued a point for Malaga as they drew 1-1 with Real Mallorca.

The forward had only been on the pitch for nine minutes before he cancelled out Tomer Hemed's 67th-minute strike.

Italy

Juventus began the defence of their Serie A title with a 2-0 win over Parma, thanks to a heroic performance from goalkeeper Marco Storari.

Arturo Vidal missed a penalty in the first half but the Bianconeri took the lead through Stephan Lichtsteiner in the 54th minute.

A disputed goal from Andrea Pirlo four minutes later looked to have wrapped up victory but it took some sterling saves from Storari to prevent Parma from finding a way back into the game.

Two goals from Stevan Jovetic gave Fiorentina a 2-1 winning start to the season at the expense of Udinese.

Maicosuel did put the away side in front after 28 minutes, but the home side responded well in the second half with the Montenegrin grabbing a brace, the second coming with almost the last kick of the game.

Germany

Bayern Munich made a perfect start to the Bundesliga season with a convincing 3-0 win over local rivals Greuther Fürth.

Thomas Muller put the Bavarians in front just before half-time, with Mario Mandzukic and Arjen Robben - via a deflection - on target in the second half for Jupp Heynckes' men.

Borussia Dortmund started the season with a 1-0 home win over Werder Bremen, while Hanno Balitsch scored the only goal as Nurnberg secured their first win over Hamburg in 20 years.

Juan Arango's set-pieces held the key as Borussia Monchengladbach began with a 2-1 win over Hoffenheim.

The Venezuela midfielder delivered the free kick from which Mike Hanke headed the first-half opener and then curled in the winner direct from another with 11 minutes remaining.

Roberto Firmino had equalised in between the Foals' strikes but Hoffenheim were otherwise unable to find a way past home keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Fortuna Düsseldorf marked their return to the top flight after 15 years with a 2-0 win at Augsburg, thanks to a brace from Dani Schahin.

Elsewhere, Mainz fought back from a goal down to rescue a 1-1 draw at Freiburg.

Eintracht Frankfurt came from behind to defeat Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 on their return to the top-flight, while in the late game Bas Dost scored a last-gasp goal on his Wolfsburg debut to seal a narrow 1-0 victory at Stuttgart

France

Valenciennes and Toulouse joined Lyon at the top of Ligue 1 after respective victories over Ajaccio and Nancy.

VA picked up their first home win of the season with a 3-0 triumph over Ajaccio at the Stade du Hainaut, thanks to strikes from Mamadou Samassa and Loris Nery and a David Oberhauser own goal.

Moussa Sissoko's early strike lifted TFC to a 1-0 win over Nancy.

Nancy had their chances to cancel out Sissoko's 10th-minute strike in an open encounter, but saw their hopes hit by the 48th-minute dismissal of Andre Luiz as Toulouse held on to register back-to-back wins.

The pair moved on to seven points from three games alongside Lyon, who drew 1-1 at Evian last night.

In-demand Yann M'Vila hit a stunning late winner for Rennes to end Bastia's unbeaten start in a dramatic 3-2 victory.

Rennes, who came into the game on the back of two defeats, led through Romain Alessandrini's 21st-minute opener but were soon pegged back by Francois Marque.

The hosts led again through Jonathan Pitroipa five minutes before half-time, only for Sylvain Marchal to level again in the 74th minute, even after Bastia had had Araujo Ilan sent off.

But when M'Vila fired in an outstanding third from long range, Bastia were finally defeated.

Lille came from behind to claim a point in a 2-2 draw with Nice. The visitors led through Dimitri Payet 10 minutes before half-time but Nice quickly levelled through Nemanja Pejcinovic and then snatched the lead when Eric Bautheac volleyed home early in the second half.

Djibril Sidibe grabbed the equaliser just before the hour mark.

Lorient twice came from behind to earn a deserved 2-2 draw at Troyes, while Sloan Privat handed Reims their first victory of the season as his stoppage-time own goal inflicted a third straight defeat on 10-man Sochaux.

Scotland

Champions Celtic shipped two late goals after having swept into a convincing four-goal lead at Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Debutant Tony Watt grabbed a brace on his debut, alongside strikes from Charlie Mulgrew and Victor Wanyama, before Ross Draper scored twice late-on for the Highlanders.

Ross County won the battle of the Scottish Premier League newcomers after a 1-0 win at Dundee, Richard Brittain scoring from the penalty spot after a challenge in the box on Mark Corcoran.

Hibernian claimed a 2-0 win over St Johnstone at Easter Road, with Paul Hanlon scoring on the stroke of half time, before Eoin Doyle doubled their lead eight minutes into the second half.

And Kilmarnock scored a surprise 3-1 victory over Dundee United after Rory McKenzie hit his first goal for the Ayrshire side.

Spaniard Borja Perez slotted home a penalty before substitute Jude Winchester hammered home the third from inside the box.

Jon Daly grabbed his 50th SPL goal 12 minutes from time, but it was not enough to prevent United slipping off the top of the table.

Holland

Reigning champions Ajax powered to the summit of the Eredivisie with a 5-0 win over NAC Breda.

Siem De Jong opened the scoring for Ajax in the second minute before debutant Niklas Moisander, who signed from AZ Alkmaar earlier this week, marked his first appearance with the second on 11 minutes.

Tobias Sana made it 3-0 four minutes before the interval, while goals from Thulani Serero (49) and De Jong (90) added gloss to the scoreline in the second period.

ADO Den Haag are up to fourth place after preserving their unbeaten start to the season with a 4-2 win at VVV-Venlo.

The home side took the lead through Marcel Seip in the 10th minute, but ADO - who drew their opening two matches - responded with goals from Mike van Duinen (33), Tjaronn Chery (48) and Jens Toornstra (51).

Ismo Vorstermans pulled one back for VVV with 10 minutes remaining to set up a tense finish, but Chery's second of the match five minutes later calmed any jitters in the visitors' ranks.

And FC Utrecht were held to a 1-1 draw at home to promoted PEC Zwolle.