S L Horsfords St. Paul’s United clinched the 2024 National Bank Group of Companies Premier League title in spectacular fashion, securing their championship with a 2-0 victory over DBSKN St. Peters FC in Game 2 of the finals at Warner Park on Thursday, August 15.

The win, coupled with their dominant 3-0 triumph in Game 1 on Sunday, August 11, solidified their status as the premier team in St. Kitts and Nevis football.

The final match was a tense affair, with St. Paul’s United taking an early lead in the fifth minute, courtesy of an own goal by St. Peter's Devion Harvey. Just five minutes later, Keithroy Freeman doubled the advantage, putting St. Paul’s firmly in control of the game. Despite St. Peter’s FC’s best efforts, they were unable to break through the St. Paul’s defense, and the match ended 2-0, handing St. Paul’s United the championship.

The 2024 season saw several standout performances across the league, with individual awards highlighting the best players and coaches.

Austin Huggins of St. Peter’s FC was named Coach of the Year, a recognition of his leadership and tactical acumen throughout the season. Despite the finals loss, Huggins' work with St. Peter’s FC did not go unnoticed.

The Golden Glove award, given to the best goalkeeper of the season, went to Zian Drew of Old Road United FC, who consistently displayed exceptional skill between the posts. His teammate, Omarion Liburd, was named Defender of the Year, acknowledging his crucial role in maintaining a solid defensive line for Old Road United FC.

St. Peter’s FC’s Tyquan Terrell had a remarkable season, earning both the Midfielder of the Year and Regular Season MVP awards. Terrell’s vision, passing accuracy, and ability to control the tempo of the game were key factors in St. Peter’s FC’s strong performances throughout the season. Kimaree Rogers of Village Superstars FC took home the Golden Boot award, recognizing him as the league’s top scorer.

In the finals, it was Omar Francis of St. Paul’s United who stood out, earning the Finals MVP award for his exceptional play and leadership on the pitch, helping to secure the championship for his team.

The SKNFA also celebrated achievements in the SKNFA Division One, where George Gilbert of Molineux FC was named Coach of the Year, and Vaughn Patrick of Mantab FC received the Best Goalkeeper award. The Most Goals award was shared between Sylvester Alexander of Mantab FC and Kurt Mills of Saddlers FC, both of whom had an impressive goal-scoring season. The MVP award for the division went to Josiah Bradshaw of Dieppe Bay Eagles FC, who was instrumental in his team’s success.

 The SKNFA extended its congratulations to all the coaches and players who delivered outstanding performances this season, marking the end of an exciting and competitive senior men’s domestic football season. However, the football action continues with the SKNFA Youth Leagues, the Elvis Star Brown Women’s League, and international fixtures scheduled for the remainder of the year.

S L Horsfords St. Paul’s United’s victory in the 2024 Premier League has not only crowned them champions but has also set a high standard for excellence in St. Kitts and Nevis football.

Manchester City opened their Premier League title defence with little trouble after sweeping aside Chelsea with a 2-0 away victory on Sunday.

Pep Guardiola's team are chasing a record-extending fifth consecutive title and opened their 2024-25 campaign with a routine three points at Stamford Bridge, in stark contrast to the remarkable 4-4 draw in this fixture last term.

Erling Haaland chipped past Robert Sanchez with a well-taken opener in the first half of his 100th appearance for City, profiting from Bernardo Silva's deft offload to send the visitors on their way to victory.

Nicolas Jackson responded for Chelsea by having an equaliser ruled out before the break, with the Blues striker caught offside after Ederson unconvincingly parried from Cole Palmer's dipping strike.

Jackson again tested Ederson after the interval with a volley from Romeo Lavia's header, but Mateo Kovacic's fine individual finish against his former club six minutes from time sealed the win.

Victory saw City – who also had a Rico Lewis goal disallowed – join seven other teams on three points, while Enzo Maresca's Chelsea are just one place above the bottom three after his first match at the helm.

Data Debrief: Haaland provides further opening-game heroics

Haaland has been directly involved in 106 goals in 100 appearances for City, and the Norway talisman has enjoyed the opening fixture in this competition as well.

The 24-year-old became the first City player to score on matchday one in three consecutive Premier League seasons, after David Silva (2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16).

He has also scored 13 times across his nine Premier League appearances in August, two more than Chelsea have managed as a team since the start of the 2022-23 season.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are winless in their last seven league meetings with Man City (D2 L5), since a 2-1 away win in May 2021, and will have to recover before their next top-flight trip to Wolves on Sunday.

St. Kitts and Nevis is set to see a significant boost in the quality of youth football coaching with the certification of 39 new coaches through the SKNFA Youth Coaches Training Program. In a ceremony held recently at the NBGC Technical Center in St. Peters, these coaches officially received their certificates, marking the completion of an intensive course designed to elevate the standard of coaching at the youth level.

SKNFA Technical Director Lenny Taylor, who played a pivotal role in the training, commended the newly certified coaches for their commitment and encouraged them to continue expanding their knowledge. "In coaching, as soon as you get cocky that you know it, that’s when you are going to hit your toe and fall on your face. It’s learning, learning, and more learning…get as much information as you can," Taylor advised. He emphasized that the ultimate beneficiaries of this education are the youth, who will now be guided not just to play the game, but to truly understand it.

The ceremony was also graced by SKNFA General Secretary Techell McClean, who spoke on behalf of SKNFA President Atiba Harris. She urged the coaches to take full advantage of the opportunities provided by the SKNFA to further their coaching education. "All coaches a part of the Concacaf region are to be certified," McClean said, noting that each league requires a certain level of coaching licenses. She reminded the coaches that the technical director remains available to assist those interested in advancing their qualifications.

The 39 newly certified coaches are a diverse group, each bringing their unique passion and skills to the field. Among them, Jhevon Hendrickson, Nequan Browne, and Jacquan Hazel were recognized for their outstanding dedication throughout the course. Tyquan Terrell and Shamaar Joseph demonstrated exceptional understanding of youth football dynamics, while Xalif Chapman and Jahmal Pitt were noted for their tactical acumen.

 Chevaun Matthew and Hakeem Huggins, along with De’Ashaan Hewlett and D’Jaun Warner, showed promise in developing strategic play among young athletes. Kaven Williams and Kassie Mardenborough, along with Yusuf Saunders and Alister Tuckett, are expected to contribute significantly to the youth football landscape with their fresh perspectives.

 Vinceroy Nelson and Kimlon Maynard, alongside Glenroy Buchanan and Ziquan Dorsett, were praised for their leadership qualities, which will be crucial in guiding young footballers. Other notable coaches include Calvert Dixon and Shakquan Hodge, who are set to make impactful contributions to their teams.

 The certification of these coaches represents a broader effort by the SKNFA to raise the standard of football in St. Kitts and Nevis, starting at the grassroots level. With the formal recognition of their skills, coaches like Clifford Brown, John Rowlands, and Sheldon Richards are now better equipped to foster the next generation of football talent in the nation.

 As the new coaches like Edward Henry, Lance Lewis, and Lydia Liburd begin their journey, they are joined by other promising individuals such as Dante Mardenborough, Shamika Caines, and Cedric Anthony. The group also includes Harold Wharton, Abasti Tyrell, and Shaquille Barzey, who are expected to lead by example in their respective communities.

 The certification ceremony was a proud moment for coaches like Julan Gordon, Deshaun Francis, and Jemari Trotman, who are eager to implement their newfound knowledge on the field. Antonius Archibald, MervonJae Pemberton, and Zajah Isaac round out the group of committed coaches ready to make a lasting impact on youth football in St. Kitts and Nevis.

 With these 39 newly certified coaches, the future of football in St. Kitts and Nevis looks brighter than ever. Their contributions are anticipated to not only improve the standard of play but also to inspire a new generation of footballers to achieve greatness on and off the pitch.

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner is not dwelling on the refereeing error that cost Eberechi Eze a goal in Sunday's 2-1 Premier League defeat at Brentford.

Goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa fired Brentford to a matchday-one victory at the Gtech Community Stadium, with Palace briefly levelling in the second half via an Ethan Pinnock own goal.

The Eagles thought they had taken a 26th-minute lead when Eze produced a brilliant effort from a wide free-kick, his ambitious shot clipping the near post and beating Mark Flekken.

However, referee Samuel Barrott blew for a foul from Will Hughes on Nathan Collins, and the VAR was unable to intervene due to the whistle sounding before Eze's shot crossed the line.

After the game, Glasner revealed Barrott had admitted his error but said he was not irritated by that conversation, telling Sky Sports: "It shows he is a great man, a good guy.

"It is over. It is what it is. We talk about what we can influence. In many situations we could have done better. 

"We are not in the rhythm we should be, that's no excuse, it is the situation. The team did okay but it was not the best performance we could show."

Palace's defeat came after they finished the 2023-24 season on a seven-match unbeaten run (six wins, one draw), with their last Premier League loss coming by a 4-2 scoreline against Manchester City in April.

They were far from the fluent best they have shown since Glasner's appointment on Sunday, with their 14 shots only tallying 1.07 expected goals (xG), compared to Brentford's 1.39 xG from nine attempts.

Eze took seven of Palace's shots and grew increasingly frustrated as the game went on, while fellow England international Marc Guehi produced a shaky performance amid reports linking him with Newcastle United.

Glasner has no concerns over Guehi's commitment, though, saying of the centre-back: "Everyone could see he was completely focused on Crystal Palace and the game today. 

"The last two days, we didn't speak about transfers because we focused on the game, so there's no news."

Raheem Sterling wants clarity on his Chelsea future after he was left out of the Blues' squad to face Manchester City.

Sterling was a surprise omission from Enzo Maresca's matchday squad for their opening Premier League fixture of the 2024-25 campaign.

The 29-year-old, who joined Chelsea from City in 2022, had featured in all of the Blues' pre-season matches.

However, after Sterling was left out of Sunday's clash against his former club, the winger's camp told Mail Sport that they were chasing clarity from the club.

"Raheem Sterling is contracted to Chelsea for the next three years," a statement read.

"He returned to England two weeks early to conduct individual training, and has had a positive pre-season under the new coach, who he has developed a good working relationship with.

"He is committed, as ever, to delivering at the highest level for Chelsea and the fans, who he holds in high regard, and given his inclusion in official club pre-match material this week, our expectation was that Raheem would be involved in this weekend’s fixture in some capacity.

"As a camp, we have always had positive dialogue with, and assurance from, Chelsea in relation to Raheem's future at the club, so we look forward to gaining clarity on the situation.

"Until then, we will continue to support Raheem's desire to start the new season positively."

Sterling was Chelsea's third-highest scorer in all competitions last season, netting 10 times in 43 games, slightly overperforming his 9.1 expected goals (xG), albeit he only converted four of 17 big chances, defined by Opta as an opportunity from which a player would reasonably be anticipated to score.

Maresca, meanwhile, brushed off the selection choice.

"It's a technical decision, nothing else to say," he told the media. "Managers are paid to make decisions and sometimes players don't like it."

Chelsea have once again been busy in the transfer market, signing nine players, with winger Pedro Neto arriving in a move worth over £50million from Wolves last week.

The Blues have a bloated squad, with coach Maresca having conceded they must focus on shipping players out, with England left-back Ben Chilwell – who was also left out of the squad on Sunday – having been told he can leave.

Conor Gallagher was also absent, as he remains in limbo over a possible move to Atletico Madrid. Forwards Armando Broja and Romelu Lukaku were among the other big names left out by Maresca, with both players expected to depart.

Chelsea's starting XI against City had an average age of just 23 years and 180 days, which is the second-youngest by any Premier League team for their opening match of a season.

Brentford made light of Ivan Toney's absence to start their 2024-25 Premier League campaign with a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace, as Yoane Wissa netted a second-half winner.

Bees talisman Toney was left out of the hosts’ squad for Sunday’s game at Gtech Community Stadium, with Thomas Frank confirming before kick-off that decision was made due to transfer interest in the striker.

But his absence was not felt as Bryan Mbeumo opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark, cutting onto his favoured left foot to stroke into the bottom-left corner.

However, Palace – who saw strikes from Eberechi Eze and Odsonne Edouard disallowed in either half – came on strong in the second period and levelled through Ethan Pinnock’s own goal.

The Eagles were caught out as the game became stretched, though, with Wissa converting from close range 14 minutes from time to seal the points for Brentford, moving them up to fifth in the early standings.

Data Debrief: Mbeumo and Wissa fill Toney-shaped hole

Frank's pre-match admission that Toney could leave in the final weeks of the transfer window will surely concern Brentford's supporters, with the England international's 36 Premier League goals for the Bees being a club-record tally.

However, the next two players in the club's Premier League scoring charts, Wissa (27) and Mbeumo (23), appeared to relish the freedom of playing in a fluid front three and stepped up in Toney's absence.

Wissa recorded a goal and an assist for the third straight Premier League game after doing do against Bournemouth and Newcastle United to end the 2023-24 season. He is the first player to achieve that feat since Riyad Mahrez did so for Manchester City in December 2021.

Mbeumo, meanwhile, maintained his knack of troubling Brentford's London rivals. Since the start of 2021-22, only Bukayo Saka (12 goals, 14 assists) has bettered Mbeumo's 17 goal involvements (11 goals, six assists) in Premier League London derbies. 

Thiago Motta is confident Juventus will be competitive at the start of the Serie A season despite having more work to do in the transfer market. 

It has been a period of change at the Allianz Stadium, with Motta replacing Massimiliano Allegri as head coach after four years without a league title for the Turin giants, which followed a run of nine straight Scudetto triumphs.

The Bianconeri have brought in midfielders Douglas Luiz and Khephren Thuram but are yet to strengthen their attack despite links with Teun Koopmeiners and Nicolas Gonzalez.

Their struggles in the transfer market could mean the likes of Weston McKennie, who looked to be on his way out at the end of 2023-24, could return to the fold for their Serie A opener against Cesc Fabregas' Como on Monday.

Motta, however, has faith in the players available to him, saying at Sunday's pre-match press conference: "First of all, McKennie is a useful and functional player for our needs.

"Tomorrow we have 19 players to face the game, only 11 can play. I have the possibility to make five substitutions, no more.

"We are in good shape, had good preparation, good training this week, with intensity, everything we want to see, and ready to face tomorrow's game."

Juventus are also likely to offload Italy forward Federico Chiesa, among others, and though former Bologna coach Motta knows there is plenty of work to be done, he is focused purely on starting his reign with a win.

"We are working hard to build a competitive squad together and today we are focused on playing a great game against Como. We will see the rest later," Motta said.

"The most important thing is that, even if you don't like to talk too much about the game, we are focused on playing well, doing our job well and getting the result we want against Como.

"All the players who come tomorrow deserve to be there, whether they play from the start or come in during the game, they do so on merit.

"Nothing is taken for granted, we have to deserve it and we have to focus on ourselves and on tomorrow's game.

"We are facing a team that has made it here from Serie B, they have won many games to get to this point, they have a lot of enthusiasm."

Sunderland made it two wins from two in the new Championship season following a 4-0 rout of Sheffield Wednesday at the Stadium of Light.

Eliezer Mayenda struck twice while Dennis Cirkin and Luke O'Nien were also on target for the Black Cats, who moved up to second in the table behind early leaders Burnley.

Sunderland failed to win any of their final seven home league games at the end of last season, but Regis Le Bris' side came flying out of the blocks and were 2-0 up inside the opening quarter of an hour.

Cirkin broke the deadlock in the 11th minute when he nodded Patrick Roberts' free-kick home, before Mayenda pounced on Josh Windass' loose pass to double the advantage four minutes later.

It was 3-0 in the 24th minute when O'Nien was quickest to react to Chris Rigg's deflected shot, diverting the ball beyond Wednesday goalkeeper James Beadle.

Any faint hopes of an Owls comeback were ended as the hosts sealed the victory within two minutes of the restart, with Jack Clarke squaring the ball for Mayenda to tuck into an empty net.

Data Debrief: Sunday stroll for Sunderland as Black Cats scratch 50-year itch

Sunderland's struggles towards the end of last season are well and truly behind them, as they continued their positive start to this term.

The Black Cats have won their opening two games of a campaign in the second tier for the first time since achieving the feat under Bob Stokoe half a century ago.

Their fast start saw them score three goals in the opening 24 minutes of a Championship game for the first time since going 3-0 up against Gillingham after just 20 minutes in September 2004.

Wednesday, meanwhile, are the first team in England's top four tiers to start a league season with a victory by a margin of four goals or more (4-0 vs Plymouth) then lose their second game by four or more goals since Blackpool in 2010-11 (4-0 vs Wigan, 0-6 vs Arsenal).

Ivan Toney has been left out of Brentford's Premier League opener against Crystal Palace due to ongoing transfer speculation surrounding the striker, Bees boss Thomas Frank confirmed.

The England forward is linked with a move away from the Brentford Community Stadium, with Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea all reportedly interested, as are Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli.

Frank initially stated Toney, who missed the first half of last season through suspension, would be available for Brentford's first game of this campaign during his pre-match press conference.

However, the Dane believes the Bees have demonstrated their ability to cope without his services.

"There's a lot of things going on with Ivan, there's some transfer interest. Because of all that, we decided not to involve him in the squad," Frank told Sky Sports.

It's the classic one - I couldn't give too much the day before. He's been a fantastic player for us, but we showed last year, especially, that we can deal without him."

When asked if Toney had played his final game in a Brentford shirt, the head coach added: "Who knows? There's interest, but there's nothing close."

Meanwhile, Marc Guehi was named in Palace's starting line-up, despite the defender being the subject of several bids from Newcastle United.

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone believes new signing Julian Alvarez shares the club's DNA and will be an immediate hit in LaLiga.

Atletico completed a deal worth up to €95million (£81.5m) for Alvarez earlier this week, bringing an end to his trophy-laden two-year spell with Manchester City.

The Argentina international, who scored 19 goals across all competitions in his final campaign with City, could make his Atleti debut on Monday, when they begin their LaLiga campaign with a trip to Villarreal.

Despite Alvarez not having much time to train with his team-mates, Simeone believes he has adapted quickly and could make a flying start to his time at the Civitas Metropolitano. 

"Julian is a player we are all looking forward to seeing and who will help us to be better. It was all very sudden, so quick," Simeone said at Sunday's pre-match press conference. 

"He just arrived a little while ago, has been training for four days but has been adapting fast.

"But I see him with a lot of enthusiasm, knowing where he is coming from and understanding where he is heading towards. His characteristics fit the Atleti DNA."

Atletico have also completed deals for Spain's Euro 2024-winning defender Robin Le Normand and Alexander Sorloth, who was one goal away from a share of LaLiga's Golden Boot last season.

However, Simeone has played down talk of Los Colchoneros rivalling Real Madrid – who completed a long-awaited move for Kylian Mbappe this off-season – and Barcelona for the title.

"Real Madrid start as the best team and will have to prove it with the wonderful players they have, while all the rest of us will be behind them," Simeone said.

"We haven't finalised the squad yet, we need to focus on tomorrow's game and see game by game how the team progresses.

"Barcelona continue to have a very good team, Real continue to grow with players who are phenomenal but it's clear that we have to think about ourselves." 

Mikel Arteta compared Bukayo Saka to Lionel Messi after the winger registered a goal and an assist in Arsenal's victory over Wolves on matchday one of the Premier League season.

Saka saw an inswinging cross headed home by Kai Havertz for Arsenal's first goal of 2024-25, then wrongfooted Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa with a clever second-half finish to cap the Gunners' 2-0 win.

The England international created a game-high five chances and attempted five shots, a tally only matched by Havertz among all players on the pitch.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Arteta said the difficulties Saka posed to defences were reminiscent of eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi.

"With good players, it's like that, with Messi I know he's going to come here and put the ball there, but he does it all the time. You can't stop him," Arteta said.

"That's the quality of the player. You have to really understand where they are, what they need, to give them some space and let them breathe."

Arteta also hailed Saka and fellow England international Declan Rice for the attitude they have shown since the Three Lions' Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain last month.

"They went through a lot and those kids have played a lot of football in the last two years," Arteta added. 

"But when you see that willingness, that energy to say, 'I'm really, really happy to be back' and you see that is genuine, it's a good sign. 

"That's their mentality. Straight after the final, they said, 'I'm going to be ready for the first game'."

Joao Palhinha says he wants "to write my own story" at Bayern Munich, as the midfielder targets silverware with his new employers.

The Portugal midfielder joined Bayern from Fulham last month in a deal reportedly worth an initial €50million (£42m), signing a four-year contract at the Allianz Arena.

Palhinha came close to signing with the Bundesliga giants last September, only for the Cottagers to pull the plug on a deadline-day transfer when they failed to sign a replacement.

The 29-year-old made the move having impressed during his two-year stint in the Premier League, completing the most tackles during the 2023-24 season with 152 (5.07 per 90 minutes).

He also averaged 8.38 ball recoveries, 5.44 completed long balls, 2.23 interceptions and 2.09 blocks per 90 minutes in the English top flight last term.

Palhinha made his competitive bow for Vincent Kompany's side in their commanding 4-0 victory over Ulm in the DFB-Pokal first round on Friday, with their Bundesliga campaign commencing against Wolfsburg next Sunday.

And following a trophyless 2023-24 campaign that culminated in Thomas Tuchel's departure, he hopes he can play his part in getting Bayern back in the winners' circle this term.

"When you represent a big club like Bayern, you've reached the very highest level," he said. "I've realised my dream, but I know I will feel completely fulfilled when I have success here.

"I want to write my own story here, and win trophies. I know last season was tough for the club and for the fans, and we need to give everything this season to try to win something.

"I expect a big challenge. I know that it's a tough league with many quality players. It's not easy here, but I'm looking forward to playing for Bayern and getting some wins under the belt. This is really important for us. Let's see how the season goes.

"I think people remember the players that win trophies, and write their name in the club's history. It's what matters. Players at big clubs that don't win things aren't remembered as much.

"We all want to win everything here. The staff, everyone. We need to fight with all the energy we have to win titles this season. That's really important for us."

On Kompany, Palhinha added: "He really understands football. He wants us to play his way, and we're learning a lot from him," the midfielder added. 

"He's a top coach, and I'm proud to be playing for him. He will improve me as a player, and I'll give everything to help him and the team be successful."

Hansi Flick expects Ilkay Gundogan to remain with Barcelona this season, despite speculation linking the midfielder with a move away from Camp Nou.

The Germany midfielder, who arrived from Manchester City in 2023, has less than 12 months remaining on his contract with the Blaugrana.

Spanish media reports suggested Gundogan may depart the club following the arrival of Dani Olmo, with Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce rumoured to be interested in acquiring his services.

The 33-year-old missed Barca's 2-1 victory over Valencia on Saturday, having suffered a head injury in their Joan Gamper Trophy defeat to Monaco earlier in the week.

Nevertheless, Flick is hopeful his compatriot's future will be at Barca.

"[He] hurt his eyebrow on Monday and that's why he stayed at home," Flick told reporters following the Valencia win.

"I appreciate what kind of player he is and what he is like as a person. I've talked to him a lot, but it's something between me and him.

"We have a good relationship. I know him well. I have the feeling that he will stay."

Mikel Merino has been left out of Real Sociedad's squad for their LaLiga opener against Rayo Vallecano, amid speculation linking him with a move to Arsenal.

Sociedad and Arsenal are reportedly in negotiations over a move for the Spain midfielder, who was part of the side that won Euro 2024 last month.

Merino has made 242 appearances for La Real since joining from Newcastle United in 2018, helping the club win the 2019-20 Copa del Rey.

And it appears he is nearing a return to the Premier League, with Sociedad head coach Imanol Alguacil confirming his absence from the 24-man matchday squad for the visit of Vallecano on Sunday.

"We worked with the idea that we would count on him, but I decided to leave him out of the squad," Alguacil told reporters at his pre-match press conference.

"He told me that he was ready to help. He wanted to be on the pitch. We are the ones who are here. There are open talks with other clubs and this decision is the best for them, for the club and for me.

"I don't know if I'm optimistic about him. I know more or less what he wants, but we don't know how those talks will end. At the moment, he's with us. [On Sunday] he'll be out of the game."

Robert Lewandowski saluted the character demonstrated by Barcelona's young side, after they came from behind to beat Valencia 2-1 in their opening match of the LaLiga season.

A depleted Barca trailed at the Mestalla to Hugo Duro's 44th-minute header, but Lewandowski struck either side of half-time to complete the turnaround in Hansi Flick's first competitive match in charge.

With the Blaugrana missing several key players including Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, Ronald Araujo and Ilkay Gundogan, Flick handed a senior debut to 20-year-old Marc Casado, who joined 17-year-olds Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi and Marc Bernal in the starting line-up.

Nevertheless, the visitors recovered from their slow start, and Lewandowski was thrilled by the youngsters' exploits. 

"It was very important to start with a win in such a difficult stadium and with the problems we faced," he told Movistar Plus.

"We didn't play well for the first 20 to 25 minutes. In the first half, we had problems getting close to their box, but then we started playing much better, and we did it with three or four very young players.

"If you can win like this with such young players, it is something special and they have shown big potential. No signs of the lack of experience, they played very well with possession and without the ball.

"We could have won by a larger margin, but it's great to start the season with a win."