MADRID -- Three quick thoughts from the Santiago Bernabeu as Real Madrid beat Barcelona 2-0 for a 5-1 aggregate victory in the Spanish Super Cup.

1. Asensio stars as Madrid stroll to another trophy

Real Madrid strolled to the 2017 Super Cup with a 2-0 victory over Barcelona at the Bernabeu on Wednesday, sealing a thumping 5-1 aggregate win over their rivals to start the Spanish season in the best possible way.

Suspended Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo was barely missed as a Marco Asensio screamer...

SINSHEIM, Germany -- Three quick thoughts from Liverpool's 2-1 win over Hoffenheim in the first leg of their Champions League playoff on Tuesday.

1. Liverpool have one foot in the Champions League

In many ways, this was classic Liverpool away from home in the Champions League. It has been some time since the Merseyside club were a regular in Europe's premier club competition, but their successful era in the tournament under previous Reds manager Rafael Benitez was built on displays away from...

NEWCASTLE -- Three quick points from Newcastle 0-2 Tottenham at St James' Park in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

1. Tottenham prevail, Newcastle's indiscipline 

There was an air of high enthusiasm about Newcastle on Sunday. Thousands of Geordies in their barcode replica shirts giddily made their way up the hill from the city centre to St James' Park, thrilled that Premier League football was back. By mid-afternoon, that enthusiasm had waned: the problem with being among the elite is...

LONDON -- At Cobham on Friday, Antonio Conte was asked whether the Premier League would have to wait until Eden Hazard and Tiemoue Bakayoko returned to full fitness to see the real Chelsea. "I hope and want to see the real Chelsea tomorrow," he replied. "Now the season is starting and we must be ready, even with many players missing."

The real Chelsea took 45 minutes to appear at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, but the Premier League doesn't wait for any team, champions or not. Burnley's second...

BRIGHTON, England -- Three thoughts from Manchester City's 2-0 win away at Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League. 

1. City hold nerve at Brighton  

After their title rivals lost their heads, Manchester City kept theirs. Victory at Brighton did not come easy to the Premier League title favourites, but at least they did not concede three goals like each of Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea have done on opening weekend. 

Sergio Aguero's 70th-minute opening goal, set up for...

LIVERPOOL, England -- Three quick thoughts from Everton's 1-0 season-opening win over Stoke City in the Premier League:

1. Rooney makes perfect homecoming

All summer long Everton fans have, privately or publicly, harboured their little doubts about Wayne Rooney. Some have never wavered, but for most there has been pointed talk of his "influence in the dressing room" and his "experience at the highest level," those intangible qualities that would surely compensate for his fading powers. But on...