■ Netherlands
Alkmaar thrashes Breda
A hat-trick from Simon Cziommer inspired AZ Alkmaar to an 8-1 hammering of NAC Breda in their opening Dutch first division game of the season on Saturday. Danny Koevermans began the goal spree in the 33rd minute before Cziommer netted a free kick seven minutes later. Ronnie Stam pulled one back early in the second half after a blunder from Alkmaar goalkeeper Joey Didulica. But bemused Breda were buried by four goals in 10 minutes from Joris Mathijsen, Cziommer, Stijn Schaars and Tim de Cler. Koevermans grabbed his second to make it 7-1 before Cziommer completed his treble with 10 minutes left.
■ Sweden
Larsson under scrutiny
Former Barcelona striker Henrik Larsson, playing for Helsingborgs, was involved in controversy on Saturday when television cameras caught him delivering what looked like a punch to an opponent's stomach. The incident happened during the first half of a quarter-final cup match against Elfsborg which Helsingborgs won on penalties after the game ended 4-4 after extra time. Television showed Larsson, who spent seven seasons at Celtic before joining Barcelona in 2004, being held by Elfsborg player Jon Jonsson then delivering a jab to his opponent's stomach. Jonsson had to leave the field. "He was holding me and I just tried to push him away," Larsson told the TV4 channel, which broadcast the match. He also said it had not been such a serious blow.
■ Spain
Villarreal suffer blow
Villarreal's Argentine international center back Gonzalo Rodriguez will miss most of the season after tearing the cruciate ligaments in his right knee in a pre-season game against Real Madrid. "Gonzalo has sustained a very serious injury," club president Fernando Roig told reporters after his side's 1-0 win in the Ramon de Carranza tournament in Cadiz. "We will have to do without him for the next seven months. It is a very heavy blow." The Primera Liga team said Rodriguez would undergo further tests today to assess the full extent of the injury.
■ Italy
Juve off to winning start
Juventus began the season with a 3-0 win over third division Martina Franca in the first round of the Italian Cup on Saturday. Goals by Pavel Nedved and new signings Marco Marchionni and Valeri Bojinov gave the Turin giants a victory in their first competitive outing since they were relegated to the second division following a match-fixing trial. Playing in the first round was a novelty for Juventus. Italy's top clubs get a bye through the first three rounds before joining the competition at the last-16 stage.
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