Japan national team striker Takuma Asano made his Spanish La Liga debut in Sunday’s match between Mallorca and European champions Real Madrid, while Crystal Palace’s Daichi Kamada played his first game in England.
The 29-year-old Asano, who has spent the past three seasons with German club Bochum, played 72 minutes at the Estadi Mallorca Son Moix to help his team secure a respectable point in their season-opening win over a Whites side featuring French superstar and new signing Kylian Mbappe.
Mallorca’s Takuma Asano (left) competes for the ball with Real Madrid’s Ferland Mendy during a Spanish La Liga match at the Estadi Mallorca Son Moix in Palma de Mallorca on August 18, 2024. (Kyodo)
Rodrigo curled a shot inside the far post to put Real ahead in the 13th minute, but Muriqui’s header from a corner put Mallorca level in the 53rd minute. Asano failed to convert a chance from an angle in the 42nd minute, but his speed and pressure tormented the Real defence.
Crystal Palace’s Daichi Kamada plays against Brentford during an English Premier League match at the G-Tech Community Stadium in Brentford, London, on August 18, 2024. (Kyodo)
Meanwhile, Kamada played 70 minutes in attacking midfield in Palace’s 2-1 defeat to Brentford in the London derby on the opening day of the Premier League season.
“Basically, I don’t think what I’m doing will change no matter which league I play in. I feel I can only get better from here,” the 28-year-old Kamada, who has previously played for Sint-Truiden, Eintracht Frankfurt and Lazio, said of his new home.
“I think I’m expected to score goals and provide assists, but that might depend on the position. I want to contribute to the team finishing as high as possible,” added Kamada, who has also been used in a deeper midfield role in pre-season.
Brentford took the lead in the 29th minute through Brian Mbeumo but it was cancelled out by an own goal in the 57th minute, but Yoann Wissa scored the winner in the 76th minute at the G-Tech Community Stadium.
In the Scottish League Cup, Celtic’s Daizen Maeda scored two goals in the first 15 minutes and then put his side ahead in the fourth minute with an assist from compatriot Reo Hatate, as the Glasgow club comfortably beat Hibernian 3-1 at home in the second round.
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