Premier League, Ligue 1 and Bundesliga Wrap

Goal! Weekly checks out the pick of the action from the big leagues across Europe.

ENGLAND
After an emotional one-minute applause for the late Sir Bobby Robson, Stamford Bridge was the scene of the long-awaited first kick of the 2009-10 English Premier League season, where Chelsea took on Hull City in the early kick-off.
The match was charged with the high intensity expected of season openers, with Chelsea eager to establish authority over the game and earn Carlo Ancelotti his first three points of the season.
This intensity was encapsulated in just the second minute, when Didier Drogba who should have given his side the lead from six yards out.
Hull’s debutant Stephen Hunt also illustrated the ferocity of the opening fixture, lunging studs-up on Frank Lampard in the first five minutes; an offence that could have easily seen him pick up the first red card of the season.
Hunt was warned by referee Alan Wiley, and instead of receiving his marching orders, the former Reading man netted the first goal of the season and handed the visitors a shock lead, on 27 minutes.
George Boateng unleashed a stinging drive from 20 yards out, which ricocheted off Ashley Cole and John Obi Mikel and into the path of Hunt, who buried into an empty net with Petr Cech floored by the deflections.
The home fans were furious with Hunt; they are yet to forget his challenge on Cech back in 2006 which left the keeper with a depressed skull fracture.
It was a stiffening blow for Chelsea who were starting to look worryingly like the unimaginative side that was governed by Luiz Felipe Scolari, until they earned a dubious free-kick 30 yards out on 38 minutes.
Replays suggested a Mikel dive, but despite the Hull protests, Drogba coolly stepped up and side footed a dipping rocket into the bottom corner of the Hull net, much to the relief of Ancelloti and the Stamford masses.
The second half resembled the first, with Chelsea dominating possession and chances, but Hull goalkeeper Boaz Myhill continued to pull off a string of fantastic saves to prevent, mainly Drobga, from taking the lead.
In the dying stages it seemed that Hull was destined to perform the first upset of the season, however, when referee Wiley added six minutes of stoppage time, there was a familiar feeling that Chelsea would snatch all three points.
They did just that two minutes in, when a neat one-two with Drogba and Deco sent the Ivory Coast international to the by-line, and his attempted cross dipped over Myhill into the back of the net to send the Bridge into rapturous scenes.
Meanwhile, rich-boys Manchester City wasted no time in issuing their intent on making money matter this season, with 25 million pound signing Emmanuel Adebayor smashing in their first goal of the campaign after just three minutes against Blackburn Rovers.
The multi-million dollar side used their new signings effectively, with Gareth Barry, Kolo Toure, Wayne Bridge and Adebayor ensuring that City were dominating the proceedings throughout.
Shaun Wright-Phillips was also in a fine mood, whose early one-two with Adebayor led to the opening goal, but Robinho was surprisingly quiet.
Another surprise was the decision by Mark Hughes to start Welshman Craig Bellamy in front of A$50 million man Carlos Tevez, whose endless industry was evident after he replaced the ineffectual Robinho.
After a solid performance and with stoppage time approaching, City stalwart Stephen Ireland fired in a superb effort right at the death to make it 2-0.
Burnley were given a typically inauspicious welcome to the Premier League after promotion, suffering a 2-0 loss at the hands of Stoke City.
Liam Lawrence and Stephen Jordan compounded misery on the newcomers; a feeling that the Clarets will no doubt become familiar with as the season progresses.
It was a similar outcome for fellow promotion boys, Wolverhampton Wolves, as they lost by the same score line at home to West Ham.
A Mark Noble goal and a rare Matthew Upson strike secured the away points at Molineux for Gianfranco Zola’s men.
A goal from the backside of Bobby Zamora was enough for Fulham to force Portsmouth into early season worries; many have tipped them to be embroiled in the relegation battle and this was definitely an example that this suggestion could be a reality for Pompey.
A powerful Clint Dempsey strike was deflected off Zamora’s nether region for the only goal of the match.
Arsenal shrugged off suggestions that they are no longer a top four team by thumping in six of the best against Everton.
In plain and simple terms the Gunners blew apart the Toffees, with singles from Denilson, debutant Thomas Vermaelen, William Gallas and Eduardo and a double from Cesc Fabregas doing the damage.
Fabregas dedicated his goals to late friend Daniel Jarque, the Espanyol player who died of a heart attack last week, while Louis Saha gave David Moyes a scant consolation goal.
And in the first upset of the season, a rampaging Wigan Athletic overcame Aston Villa 2-0 on their own turf, through goals from Hugo Rodallega and Jason Koumas.

FRANCE
Reigning French Ligue 1 champions Girondins Bordeaux showed their championship colours with a hard fought 3-2 win over Sochaux.
Two headers by sought after Moroccan striker Maroune Chamakh made the difference, with his goals coming from two corners, to give Laurent Blanc’s side all three points.
The 25-year-old opened the scoring and then secured the result with 10 minutes to go, despite Sochaux replying twice through striker Charlie Davies.
Olympique Lyon, a perennial title-chaser, bounced back from an opening 2-2 draw last weekend, by defeating Valenciennes courtesy of new signing Bafetimbi Gomis.
Nancy shot to the top of the table after an impressive 4-0 demolishing of Monaco, while Toulouse overcame St Etienne 3-1.

GERMANY
Last season’s first-time champions VfL Wolfsburg came back from a 1-0 deficit to beat Colonge 3-1 to stay top of the Bundesliga after two matches.
Two goals in two minutes from last season’s top scorer Edin Dzeko and Pierre Wome (own goal) reversed the advantage after Wolfsburg fell behind to a Fabrice Ehret goal.
New signing from relegated English side Newcastle United, Obafemi Martins put the game beyond doubt with three minutes remaining.
The Bundesliga’s most expensive summer signing, Bayern Munich’s Mario Gomez, payed off some of his debt by salvaging a 1-1 draw with Werder Bremen.
Bayern were stunned six minutes before half time, but Gomez, who joined the Munich ranks from VfB Stuttgart for approximately 30 million Euros, saved the home side’s blushes with a goal 18 minutes from the final whistle.