Sadio Mane outshone Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in a showdown between two of Africa's brightest stars on Monday, as Liverpool defeated Arsenal at Anfield, while Achraf Hakimi won many admirers on his Internazionale debut.
Three of Africa's would-be Golden Boot winners -- Mane, Aubameyang and Mohamed Salah -- were all in action on Monday as Liverpool hosted Arsenal in a rematch of the Community Shield that took place earlier in September
Auba was the hero at Wembley, where the Gunners won the first silverware of the season, but the reigning champions clinched the victory this time, running out 3-1 victors with Mane netting the first of Liverpool's goals.
Arsenal took the lead through Alexandre Lacazette's fortunate effort before Mane levelled affairs, finishing from close range after Salah's initial effort had been deflected into his path by Bernd Leno.
Salah was the livelier of Liverpool's two principle attackers in their opening victory against Leeds United, but Mane has since been the brighter -- even though he was arguably fortunate to have avoided an early dismissal for a raised elbow against Arsenal.
The Senegal international fired over early after halftime, and tested Leno on several further occasions during the second period.
He was clearly peeved at being replaced after 80 minutes, and he will have been frustrated even further when his replacement -- Diogo Jota -- missed from point-blank range after being teed up by Salah.
Jota ultimately made amends with a fine finish, while Salah was left exasperated that his increasingly frantic efforts to find the net bore no fruit.
The friendly-ish competition between Liverpool's forwards is testament to two players at the peak of their game, while Monday's clash was a night to forget for Aubameyang as his side were utterly outclassed.
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Auba was anonymous at Anfield, fuel for those who claim he can go missing in the big matches, but Egypt's Mohamed Elneny was industrious in the heart of the park as his Gunners renaissance continues.
Elsewhere in the English Premier League this weekend, Riyad Mahrez's delicious opener couldn't prevent Manchester City from falling to a shock 5-2 home defeat by a Jamie Vardy-inspired Leicester City.
Leicester were without Wilfred Ndidi -- set to be absent for 12 weeks after picking up a groin injury against Burnley -- but Nampalys Mendy was exceptional in midfield, while Daniel Amartey made his first league start in two years for the Foxes after suffering a horror ankle injury.
Former Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan, on Instagram, paid tribute to his compatriot, Amartey.
"Patience, character and positive attitude are important aspects of this in our trade called football. It's been two years. Welcome back brother, keep your head. I thank God for your life and career."
Victor Osimhen was the debuting substitute who caught the eye in the Italian Serie A the previous week, and Hakimi picked up the mantle as he stepped off the bench to make a major contribution for Inter.
There were some eyebrows raised when Antonio Conte opted to start Ashley Young ahead of the new arrival for the visit of Fiorentina, and Ivorian forward Christian Kouame opened the scoring for the visitors in the third minute.
Inter were 3-1 down by the time Conte turned to Hakimi just after the hour mark, and, with three minutes on the clock, replicating the influence Victor Moses made down the right flank last term, the Moroccan crossed for Romelu Lukaku to fire in a late equaliser.
Two minutes later, Inter had secured all three points -- and begun their campaign with all three points -- when Danilo D'Ambrosio headed home past Bartlomiej Dragowski.
Having parted with €40 million to sign Hakimi from Real Madrid during the transfer window, Inter will be delighted to get an immediate return on their investment.
Rewarded for his star turn against Parma the previous weekend, Napoli new boy Osimhen was promoted to Gennaro Gattuso's first team for their 6-0 demolition of Genoa on Sunday.
His wait for a maiden Serie A goal continues, but the Nigeria striker did weigh in with an assist for Piotr Zielinski's goal -- the Partenopei's second -- when he spotted the Pole's run and flicked the ball sumptuously into his path.
Kalidou Koulibaly, who continues to be linked with Europe's footballing royalty as deadline day draws closer, was imperious at the back during an excellent team display.
Stade Rennes finally parted ways with Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy on Thursday, when the towering stopper completed a long-anticipated move to Chelsea.
The West African had been a key figure in Rennes' superb season last time around, as they finished third in the aborted French Ligue 1 campaign, therefore sealing an unexpected berth in this season's UEFA Champions League.
Their defence, underpinned by Mendy's calm stewardship and command of his area, was the joint-second best in the top flight last term, when the keeper kept nine clean sheets in 24 league games.
Having started Rennes' first league game of the season -- a 1-1 draw at Lille -- Mendy had been sidelined in anticipation of the switch to Stamford Bridge, with Romain Salin taking his place between the sticks.
Rennes have continued to excel in Ligue 1, even without the Chelsea new boy, and their latest 3-0 victory, at Saint-Etienne, kept them in top spot on 13 points.
New signing Naif Aguerd opened the scoring for the club from Brittany, while Senegal's Sehrou Guirassy added a second early in the second half with a delightful overhead kick to hand Les Stephanois their first defeat of the season.
Guirassy -- a transfer window arrival from Amiens -- is quietly going under the radar as one of the most in-form frontmen in Europe's major leagues.
His athletic effort was his eighth goal of 2020 -- no one has more, and only Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe can match his tally -- and it will be fascinating to see how he fares in the Champions League for Rennes this season.
Senegal's Ibrahima Niane, meanwhile, opened the scoring for Metz as they held Marseille 1-1 away, while Aurelien Tchouameni and Axel Disasi were both sent off as AS Monaco defeated Ludovic Ajorque's Strasbourg 3-2 in the Principality.