Mat Ryan was kept busy in goal with a series of good saves but couldn’t prevent Levante going down 3-1 to Atletico Madrid in the Spanish La Liga on Saturday.
Atletico had 10 shots on target for the game, with Ryan making eight saves. The Aussie did well early to make a low save to deny Pablo Barrios.
In the 12th minute, Ryan parried Barrios’ powerful cutback into the body of teammate Dela for an own goal.
Ryan made a diving save to deny Giuliano Simeone in the 24th minute, as well as Alex Baena in the 40th minute.
But Antoine Griezmann netted a second-half double to pull away with the game. For the second, Ryan did well to thwart Julian Alvarez’s initial effort but the Frenchman tapped home the rebound.
Connor Metcalfe claimed an assist as St Pauli’s losing streak continued with a 2-1 defeat away to SC Freiburg in the German Bundesliga on Sunday.
Metcalfe provided the pass for Louis Oppie’s 69th minute goal to make it 2-1, stretching to flick wide to his teammate after a cross was partially cleared.
Metcalfe put in a full shift, while Jackson Irvine was a 68th minute substitute.
The result leaves St Pauli in 16th following seven straight losses in the league.
Alessandro Circati missed Parma’s 2-2 draw with AC Milan in Italy’s Serie A due to a raptured tendon in his ankle sustained last weekend, ruling him out of Socceroos duty.
Cristian Volpato was absent for Sassuolo’s away clash to Atalanta on Sunday due to a quad injury.
Ajdin Hrustic got an assist in Heracles’ 2-1 win away to Excelsior in the Dutch Eredivisie. Hrustic, who was overlooked for Socceroos selection this week, laid off the pass for Luka Kulenovic’s goal from a corner to make it 2-1.
The Aussie midfielder has found form lately, with three assists and a goal from his past three games.
Max Balard put in a full shift as nine-man NAC Breda went down 2-1 away to FC Volendam.
Cam Peupion netted ADO Den Haag’s fourth goal in a 4-0 win over Roda JC in the Dutch Eerste Divisie.
Only minutes before his goal, he spurned a gilt-edged opportunity, skying a volley over the crossbar with the goal at his mercy.
He made amends with an excellent low left-foot finish after darting just inside the box.
The goal was Peupion’s second in two games and took his season tally to five.
Gianni Stensness played the full 90 for the first time in months in Viking’s 3-0 home win over HamKam. Nick D’Agostino was a 79th minute substitute.
New Socceroos call-up Jack Iredale played a full game and earned a 7/10 rating in Hibernian’s 3-0 win at St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership.
Edinburgh Evening News wrote: “Got involved in the build-up play as Hibs looked to get Nicky Cadden free down the left wing, with the centre-half often overlapping to provide another option.”
Martin Boyle played 69 minutes and was rated 7/10: “Skipper continually stretched the game with his pace, but also showed enough smarts to drop short and link play when required. Replaced by Klidje with just over 20 to go.”
Patrick Yazbek started but was replaced at half-time after Lionel Messi banged in a first-half double as Nashville lost 4-0 to Inter Miami who progressed in the MLS playoffs.
Aiden O’Neill put in a full shift as New York City progressed with a 3-1 win at Charlotte to clinch their series.
New Socceroos call-up Callum Elder got an assist from a corner in in-form Derby County’s 2-1 road win over Blackburn Rovers in the English Championship. Lewis Miller put in a full shift for Rovers.
Riley McGree made his first start since returning from long-term injury, helping Middlesbrough rise to second with a 2-1 win over Birmingham City.
McGree played 61 minutes and was rated 7/10 by Teesside Live who wrote: “Really bright throughout.
“Found the hole in between midfield and attack and provided an excellent connection between the two, looking to make things happen throughout. Bright and tidy.”
Nestory Irankunda started and played an hour on Friday in Watford’s 1-1 draw with Bristol City.
Cam Burgess had a horror game, scoring two own goals against his former side in Swansea’s 4-1 home loss to Ipswich Town.
