Football. Is. Back. After another long international break, the last one before the World Cup, we are back with the best footballing action across Europe’s best leagues.

In our Other Leagues Watch series, we take a look at the most exciting games from this weekend’s fixtures that you just cannot miss across the Bundesliga, Serie A, and Ligue 1.

Also read: The Top Defenders In Europe’s Big 5 Leagues

Bundesliga

Schalke 2-3 Augsburg

There were 3 games with the same scoreline in Bundesliga this weekend, with all of them having a storyline within themselves. But Schalke vs Augsburg was clearly the pick of the bunch.

The home side got off to the worst possible start as Augsburg’s Demirovic scored twice in the opening 21 minutes. Schalke however, with the vociferous home support egging them on, bounced back minutes later. Terrode’s delightful finish in a neatly worked move for the hosts halved the deficit.

The game was back and forth in the first half, but Schalke’s persistence on either side of the break paid off as they came from 2 goals down to level things up. Drexler bagged his second assist of the game, as Die Knappen started believing again. Just 7 minutes later, things worsened for Augsburg as they went down to 10 men.

Schalke had all the momentum in the game and sensed blood. But against the run of play, 10 men Augsburg got the winner in the 77th minute. Andre Hahn scored in his 250th Bundesliga appearance, capping off a stunning win for the visitors, who beat Schalke for just the 3rd time in their history.

There were contrasting scenes on either dugout. Augsburg were celebrating their best ever start to a Bundesliga season, while the Veltins Arena was distraught with Schalke having won just 1 game all season. Ultimately, this game was a treat for the neutrals.

Serie A

Inter Milan 1-2 Roma

Jose Mourinho is working his magic in Rome, and it’s clear for all to see. Despite the mercurial Portuguese manager serving a suspension and being absent from the touchline, his mark was left all over this game. On the field, Roma embodied Mourinho’s spirit as they came from a goal down to beat Inter 2-1, in what people would typically call the “Mourinho masterclass”.

Off the field, Mourinho’s antics with his staff in a van outside the San Siro where he was watching the game, were filmed by the man himself and posted on Instagram to send social media into a frenzy.

There were further plot lines in the tale. Dybala could’ve been playing and scoring at the San Siro in Inter’s colours this season. But instead, he scored a stunning volley for Roma, as he silenced the home supporters with his classic mask celebration, showing them what they perhaps could’ve enjoyed for themselves.

The game started with Inter dominating possession and Dimarco scoring first, continuing his fine form in the last week with club and country. Despite Roma’s quick equalizer with Dybala, the chances still continued to come for Inter.

The Nerazzurri had 15 shots on goal, but just 2 on target, which summed up their evening- a goal ruled out by VAR, a bunch of long-range curlers just wide of the posts and rattling the crossbar. Smalling headed in the winner for Roma which sealed the deal, as  I Galliorosi picked up 3 points to climb up to 6th place in an intriguing game at the top end of the Serie A table.

Ligue 1

Lorient 2-1 Lille

Lorient sit 3rd in Ligue 1, with 5 wins on the bounce, just 3 points behind leaders PSG. This stat was however under threat in this game, as Lille gave the home side a run for their money. But Les Merlus somehow clinched the victory despite being a man down for over half an hour in the game.

Lorient produced the best chances in the first half, and deservedly took the lead. The visitor’s only threat came through striker Jonathan David, as they looked to come back into the game.

Break out star of the season Ouatarra’s red card in the 62nd minute saw the hosts go down to 10 men. Lorient tried to hold on, but Lille capitalized on the numerical advantage, as their Canadian talisman David leveled the scores.

Before the start of the game, this fixture hadn’t produced a draw in the last 15 matches. The fixture lived up to its billing, as a winner was eventually found. Lorient substitute Théo Le Bris, the manager’s nephew, who had turned 20 just the day before the game, scored the winner in the 87th minute.

Lorient clung on as Stade du Moustoir erupted in joy at the final whistle to see their team maintain their amazing start to the season.