Here are the notable highlights from the first week and a half of action.
FEATURED SERIES: LIVERPOOL VS BARCELONA
An early season battle of two favorites in the Europa League.
Game 1: Allison Becker holds Barcelona scoreless over 8 innings, racking up eight strikeouts. Cody Gakpo's solo HR in the 2nd is all the offense Liverpool needs.
Game 2: Liverpool pitching holds Barcelona scoreless for a second straight game. Trent Alexander-Arnold throws 8 scoreless inning with 8 Ks and Van Dijk follows up with two scoreless innings. Szoboszlai wins it with a walkoff double in the bottom of the 10th
Game 3: Barcelona finally gets their first runs of the season in the 6th inning. Joao Cancello throws 8 scoreless with 8 Ks. Araujo comes in for the save but gives up a tying 2 run HR to Diogo Jota. Cody Gakpo hits a walkoff HR off Araujo in the 11th and Liverpool has an opening weekend sweep of Barcelona.
GAME ACHIEVEMENTS
Other Notable
• Rick Karsdorp (ROM) starts opening day with a bang, hits for the cycle against AC Milan!
• Martin Dubravka (NEW) shutout vs PSG (5 H, 1 BB, 10Ks)
• Emerson Royal (TOT) throws shutout against Atletico Madrid (4H, 1BB, 5K)
• Giovanni Di Lorenzo (NAP) shutout vs Newcastle (7H, 2BB, 9K)
Casemiro (MU) goes 5-5 against GAL, with a HR and 3 RBIs
NOTABLE INJURIES- Bayern loses star pitcher Matthis de Ligt for three months with a triceps injury. They've also lost relievers Ulreich and Sarr to injuries and the thinness of their pitching staff bears watching.
- Bad news for fans of PSV and the USMNT as Sergino Dest is out for four months with a rotator cuff injury
LEADERBOARDS
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
STANDINGS
FINAL THOUGHTS
Keep an eye on Atletico Madrid. They start 6-3 and have one of the best run differentials despite playing Real Madrid, Liverpool, and Tottenham. Inter Milan also looks like a contender. They start 7-2 and have a strong pitching staff with three starting pitchers rated 65 overall; Allesandro Bastoni, Emil Audero, and Yann Aurel. Chelsea have a young squad with a lot of promise but their inexperience is showing so far as they stumble out of the gates. Meanwhile Man City has no apparent weaknesses and start 5-1 before losing a series to Real Madrid. It will be interesting to see if anyone can keep up with them. Overall an exciting start to the season!