Europe's new season is only a few weeks old but already the continent's major leagues have started to take shape ahead of the first international break of the campaign.
Heading into the first pause in the domestic season, Africa's top stars were once again at the forefront of the drama and excitement to be found across Europe's biggest leagues.
Liverpool and Chelsea came away from their 1-1 draw at Anfield in the Premier League with mixed emotions, the hosts disappointed they were unable to capitalise on their man advantage for the second half and the visitors delighted with the point earned after a resolute defensive display.
Blues goalkeeps Edouard Mendy was at fault for the opportunity that led to Reece James' sending off, as he failed to clear the ball from a corner, leading to a goalmouth melee and the England right-back's handball, but he did otherwise register a personal best against the Reds.
The Senegal No. 1 made six saves during the course of the contest -- at times appearing to be on a one-man mission to deny the Reds all three points -- which represents the most stops he's made in a single outing since signing for Chelsea.
He was beaten from the penalty spot by Salah, of course, and was arguably fortunate to have escaped punishment after lashing out at the ball in the immediate aftermath -- as Jordan Henderson attempted to pick it up -- but that episode aside he was influential as Chelsea proved their mettle.
The Blues' rearguard during the second half will do wonders for the team's belief that they can go the distance in the title race, will engender further unity among an already tightly knit group, and further promotes Mendy's credentials as one of the finest keepers in the European game.
Certainly, the contrast between the control and the heart that the Blues demonstrated in their second-half display, and their defensive malaise before Mendy's arrival from Stade Rennais in September 2020, is stark.
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Salah's afternoon ultimately ended in frustration as the Reds' forward line failed to find that additional inspiration to nab a winner, but his penalty nonetheless represented a landmark moment for the attacker.
His successful spot-kick was the 14th consecutive penalty he has dispatched in the top flight, testament to his remarkable consistency from 12 yards.
For context, in the history of the Premier League, only Southampton great Matt Le Tissier (23 consecutive converted penalties) has enjoyed a longer scoring streak from the spot.
Salah, of course, won't be happy with his failure to clinch all three points for the Anfield giants, but, already, after three games, he's had a hand in four goals -- behind only Paul Pogba and Michail Antonio.
His penalty against Chelsea was his 99th Premier League goal, and he's fast closing on Didier Drogba's African record of 104.
Elsewhere in the Premier League this weekend, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was hauled off 59 minutes into Arsenal's 5-0 humiliation at the hands of Manchester City, while in-demand Yves Bissouma was impotent as Brighton & Hove Albion lost 2-0 at home to Everton.
"I find it hard to digest this defeat," the midfielder wrote on his Instagram handle.
"We wanted to win our third game in a row for a beautiful club with incredible fans, but unfortunately, as we say in football, nothing is planned in advance.
"The best is yet to come, focus for [the] next one."
Bissouma, who continues to reject call-ups for the Mali national team, won't be the only in-form African player set to miss this week's international break.
Taiwo Awoniyi -- who signed a permanent deal with FC Union Berlin ahead of the new campaign -- continues to be overlooked by Nigeria boss Gernot Rohr ahead of the Super Eagles' double-header against Liberia and Cape Verde.
The former Liverpool striker smashed any lingering disappointment about his latest snub in some style this weekend, scoting another goal to maintain his magnificent start to the new campaign in the German Bundesliga.
Awoniyi's 41st-minute effort against Borussia Monchengladbach proved to be Union's winner as they secured a 2-1 victory at the An der Alten Forsterei on Sunday, and the 24-year-old now has three goals in his first three Bundesliga outings this term.
Considering he scored just five during the entirety of the season in 2020-21, while on loan at Union, it appears as though the chance to make a clean break from Anfield is working wonders.
Awoniyi also scored two goals in the Europa Conference League double-header against KuPS, and he is demonstrating the kind of consistency in front of goal that many doubted he could show.
Certainly, if he maintains this form, he will give Rohr a difficult decision to make as the Africa Cup of Nations approaches.
Also in the Bundesliga, RB Leipzig new boy Mohamed Simakan was unfortunate to be on the losing side as Jesse Marsch's side fell to a 1-0 defeat at Wolfsburg.
Despite only moving to Germany from Strasbourg during the summer, the 21-year-old already looks comfortable in the German top flight, and his defensive contribution against VfL Wolfsburg -- seven tackles was three interceptions -- was outstanding.
In France, Zimbabwe international Marshall Munetsi was charged with stifling Lionel Messi as Stade de Reims faced Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1.
Reims were ultimately dispatched 2-0, but Bulawayo-born Munetsi clearly relished the prospect of going up against a player considered by many to be the greatest the game has ever seen on his PSG debut.
Messi received close attention from Munetsi after his 66th-minute introduction, and the the Zimbabwean's physical approach to marking the Argentina superstar somehow went without a booking despite fouling the ex-Barcelona forward three times.
Munetsi -- who scored his first Reims goal last weekend -- went closed to eclipsing Messi on the scoresheet as well, only for his close-range effort after Keylor Navas's parry to be ruled off by VAR.
Also in France, Amine Gouiri netted twice as Nice thrashed Bordeaux 4-0 at the Allianz Riviera, Matteo Guendouzi opened Marseille's scoring in their 3-1 victory over Saint-Etienne, and Sofiane Diop's brace took AS Monaco past Troyes 2-1.
In Spain, Youssef En-Nesyri is another African hotshot enjoying a fine start to the campaign.
Following his goal and assist in the season-opener against Rayo Vallecano, the Morocco striker headed home a 40th-minute equaliser for Sevilla as they rescued a point away at Elche.
Despite being frustrated by the LaLiga minnows, Julen Lopetegui's side are joint top on seven points heading into the international break.
There was also a first goal in LaLiga for Dutch-Nigerian winger Arnaut Danjuma, who signed for Villarreal from Bournemouth for approximately €25 million on Aug. 19.
The wideman had been on the pitch less than 10 minutes after replacing Pervis Estupinan as a 63rd-minute substitute when he scored after fine work from Yeremi Pino.
Late on, another Villarreal new boy -- Aissa Mandi -- ensured the points were shared with a clumsy 95th-minute own goal to leave the score tied at 2-2.