Leeds crushes Newcastle, Betis run continues in Spain; Roma and Inter tied atop Serie A

MADRID (AP) — Leeds hammered woeful Newcastle 4-1 to go third in the Premier League on Monday while Real Betis won 2-1 at Villarreal to move equal on points with second-place Real Madrid in La Liga.

The top two in Italy, Roma and Inter Milan, won comfortably to maintain their 100% records and Como beat Parma 2-1 to climb into third spot.

Betis’ strong start to the Spanish season continued with victory over Villarreal.

The win, courtesy of goals from Cucho Hernández and Natan, came 10 days after it beat Real Madrid 1-0 in La Liga, and less than a week after it overcame Lille 3-2 in its first Champions League group match since 2005.

The result at Estadio de la Ceramica lifts Betis into second place, tied with Madrid on 12 points. Barcelona is top on 15.

It was another disappointing night for the home side, which is still to win this season and sits third-bottom with two points from five matches.

In Italy, Roma continued its superb start to the season with a 2-0 win over Torino. It was joined at the top of the table by the only other team with maximum points, Inter Milan, which came from behind to beat Udinese 5-3.

Both teams have 12 points from four games, although Roma is first on goal difference after what was its ninth consecutive victory.

In-form striker Donyell Malen scored his sixth goal in four games to put Roma ahead and Niccolò Pisilli got a deserved second in stoppage time.

Inter struggled to get going against Udinese, which looked set to continue its good run of away form by scoring twice without reply in the opening 16 minutes.

James Abankwah rose unmarked to head Udinese ahead in the ninth minute and Jurgen Ekkelenkamp doubled its lead seven minutes later.

However, Carlos Augusto got a goal back for the reigning champion after 26 minutes with a 30-yard strike and Nicolo Barella equalized 10 minutes before half time.

In Como, the home side moved into the top three with a 2-1 win over Parma.

Jacobo Ramon turned Nico Paz’s shot in for the opener midway through the first half and Kaiki made it 2-0 seven minutes from time after a goalmouth scramble. Jose David Romero got Parma’s consolation in stoppage time.

Como is third on 10 points along with Lazio.

In England, Dominic Calvert-Lewin was the star as Leeds overran a flimsy Newcastle side.

The home team turned it on during a sparkling first half and took the lead in the 32nd minute when Ao Tanaka’s shot from the edge of the box took a double deflection to bamboozle Newcastle keeper Lukas Hornicek.

Three minutes later, sloppy defending led to Calvert-Lewin making a second with a trademark header, the goal being marked down to Jayden Bogle after the ball went in off his head.

Calvert-Lewin then grabbed his fourth goal in four games on the stroke of halftime. Noah Okafor rounded off the scoring for Leeds with a half volley after another weak clearance early in the second period.

Newcastle’s consolation goal came in the final minute from substitute Bazoumana Touré.

The result lifts Leeds into third place in the Premier League, equal with Hull on eight points, four behind joint leaders Arsenal and Manchester City. Newcastle is 12th.

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

Como's Nico Paz plays the ball during the Serie A soccer match between Como Calcio and Parma Calcio 1913 in Como, Italy, Monday, Sept. 14, 2026. (Tiziano Ballabio/LaPresse via AP)

Newcastle United's Aladji Bamba, left, and Leeds United's Sean Longstaff battle for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Leeds United and Newcastle United in Leeds, England, Monday, Sept. 14, 2026. (Annabel Lee-Ellis/PA via AP)

Roma's Marten De Roon, right, and Torino's Duvan Zapata challenge for the ball during the Serie A soccer match between FC Torino and AS Roma in Turin, Italy, Monday, Sept. 14, 2026. (Marco Alpozzi/LaPresse via AP)

Inter Milan's Francesco Pio Esposito celebrates after scoring his sides fourth goal during the Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Udinese in Milan, Italy, Monday, Sept. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Inter Milan's Ange-Yoan Bonny shoots to score his sides fifth goal during the Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Udinese in Milan, Italy, Monday, Sept. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

LEEDS, England (AP) — Three goals in a 13-minute spell before half time — two featuring the commanding Dominic Calvert-Lewin — set Leeds on the way to a comprehensive 4-1 win over Newcastle to move into third place in the Premier League on Monday.

Ao Tanaka’s deflected shot put Leeds ahead after 32 minutes and then man of the match Calvert-Lewin moved into top gear.

The big striker has a great record of scoring against Newcastle and had also hit the net in all of Leeds' last five home matches.

Calvert-Lewin was unlucky to see a 34th-minute header marked down as an own goal after brushing the head of teammate Jayden Bogle on the way in. But there was no mistaking his authorship of the third, which squirmed under the keeper after he poked it goalward under pressure from defenders.

“He is in outstanding shape and plays with confidence,” Leeds coach Daniel Farke said of his No. 9. "I expect him to lead the group and he has taken that responsibility. I never doubt his goals but it isn’t just his goals, it is the way he plays for us. It is outstanding and he’s one of the standout strikers in this league.”

The Leeds forward line was helped by Newcastle’s atrocious defending and another weak clearance led to a fourth goal after 59 minutes, Noah Okafor slapping his low strike through a sea of legs into the far corner.

The only bright spot for the visitor came in the final minute when substitute Bazoumana Touré scored a consolation goal.

“That is football, that is the Premier League," said Newcastle coach Matthias Jaissle. “You have to bring the fundamentals on the pitch, especially against a physical and intense team like Leeds. We couldn’t match that physicality in the first half and that was a key element. I don’t want to search for excuses now, we need to learn out of it and do better.”

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

Newcastle United's Aladji Bamba, left, and Leeds United's Sean Longstaff battle for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Leeds United and Newcastle United in Leeds, England, Monday, Sept. 14, 2026. (Annabel Lee-Ellis/PA via AP)

Leeds United's Noah Okafor, right, celebrates scoring their side's fourth goal with Dominic Calvert-Lewin during the English Premier League soccer match between Leeds United and Newcastle United in Leeds, England, Monday, Sept. 14, 2026. (Annabel Lee-Ellis/PA via AP)

Leeds United's Dominic Calvert-Lewin, top, scores during the English Premier League soccer match between Leeds United and Newcastle United in Leeds, England, Monday Sept. 14, 2026. (Annabel Lee-Ellis/PA via AP)

Leeds United's Dominic Calvert-Lewin celebrates scoring during the English Premier League soccer match between Leeds United and Newcastle United in Leeds, England, Monday Sept. 14, 2026. (Annabel Lee-Ellis/PA via AP)