Senegalese Papiss Cisse was among the scorers as African goal poachers wasted no time making their mark when the French and German league seasons kicked off at the weekend.
Cisse, who struck 22 goals in 32 matches last season for Freiburg, was on target just after half-time and Congolese Cedrick Makiadi added a second before promoted Augsburg hit back at home to force a 2-2 draw.
FRANCE
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (St Etienne)
Bordeaux's French international goalkeeper Cedric Carrasso was reduced to the role of spectator when an apparently innocuous shot from the right by Gabon striker Aubameyang dropped under the crossbar and in as St Etienne came away 2-1 winners.
Younes Belhanda (Montpellier), Alain Traore (Auxerre)
Moroccan midfielder Belhanda opened the scoring for Montpellier after 36 minutes in a 3-1 win over Auxerre with his free kick slipping through the gloves of rookie Burgundy goalkeeper Donovan Leon. Burkina Faso playmaker Alain Traore equalised for Auxerre just before half-time with a stunning shot, only for the visitors to concede two late goals.
Abdoulrazak Boukari/Kader Mangane (Rennes)
Togolese midfielder Abdoulrazak Boukari scored the third goal in Rennes' 5-1 rout of newcomers Dijon which put the Brittany side top of the early table. Boukari, who netted after 50 minutes, also helped set up the opening goal when his cross allowed Colombian Victor Hugo Montano to score after 34 minutes. Franco-Senegalese defender Kader Mangane struck Rennes' fourth with a 75th-minute header.
GERMANY
Papiss Cisse and Cedrick Makiadi (Freiburg)
Senegal striker Cisse picked up where he left off last season with the opening goal as Freiburg drew 2-2 at Augsburg. The 26-year-old, who scored 22 goals in 32 games last season, opened the scoring on 48 minutes and Democratic Republic of Congo midfielder Makiadi added the second on 55 minutes with a header.
Sami Allagui (Mainz 05)
Tunisia striker Allagui scored the first goal in his side's 2-0 win over last season's runners-up Bayer Leverkusen by capitalising on a huge blunder in the Leverkusen defence on 32 minutes. Leverkusen defender Stefan Reinartz back-passed to goalkeeper Fabian Giefer, who completely mistimed his clearance, only succeeding in rolling the ball towards Allagui, who smashed home from a tight angle.
Isaac Vorsah and Chinedu Obasi (Hoffenheim)
Ghana centre-back Vorsah and Nigerian right-winger Obasi played the full 90 minutes as Hoffenheim lost their opening game 2-1 at Hanover 96. Obasi picked up a yellow card for a foul on Sergio Pinto as goals by ex-Germany striker Jan Schlaudraff and Norway's Mohammed Abdellaoue gave Hanover victory.
ITALY
Kevin-Prince Boateng (AC Milan)
Ghana midfielder Boateng scored the winner in faraway Beijing as AC Milan came from behind to defeat city rivals Inter 2-1 and win a record sixth Italian Super Cup. Alexandre Pato raced on to a through ball and when his shot struck a post, Boateng slid to score off the rebound.
Source: AFP
