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Another weekend of sporting action saw African players in action for their clubs in Europe as the football season there gradually begins to find its way back from the damaging effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. We take a look at some of the highlights where the standout performance was undoubtedly in Austria.

AUSTRIA

Zambian striker Patson Daka scored a hat-trick as league champions RB Salzburg thrashed Hartberg 6-0 away from home. It was the 21-year-old’s third league hat-trick and 22nd league goal of the season. Daka celebrated his first goal with Malian teammate Mohamed Camara by taking a knee in solidarity with the “Black Lives Matter” protests across the United States.

Daka’s fellow countryman Enock Mwepu scored once and provided an assist while Malian forward Sekou Kolita also got his name on the score sheet. Meanwhile at the back, Cameroon defender Jerome Onguene played his part in shutting out the hosts.

In another match, Ghanaian striker Samuel Tetteh came off the bench and netted an injury-time equalizer as LASK Linz snatched a 3-3 draw away at Wolfsberger AC. Earlier in the second half, Senegal midfielder Cheikou Dieng scored for the hosts to pull them back in the game at 2-1.

DENMARK

Guinean striker Sory Kaba netted the only goal of the game as Midtjylland edged out Nordsjaelland 1-0 as the league leaders maintained their nine-point lead over second-placed FC Copenhagen.

GERMANY

Nigerian forward Anthony Ujah provided an assist for Robert Andrich’s opening goal as Union Berlin held Schalke 04 to 1-1 draw in Berlin in one of three Bundesliga games on Sunday. The draw saw Berlin restore their four-point advantage over Fortuna Dusseldorf in 16th place, the relegation playoff spot.

Cameroon midfielder Pierre Kunde Malong struck late in the second half to seal a shock 2-0 win for struggling Mainz 05 away at Eintracht Frankfurt. This was Mainz’s first league win in five matches since the league resumed.

GREECE

Morocco’s Yousseff El Arabi struck midway through the first half as Olympiacos defeated PAOK 1-0 to extend the lead over their opponents and third-placed AEK Athens atop the Greek Super League to 17 points. El Arabi could have had a brace had his effort in the 7th minute not been disallowed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

HUNGARY

Ivorian Franck Boli scored his second goal in three games as league leaders Ferencvaros thumped fourth-placed DVTK 3-0 to restore their nine-point lead at the top of the OTP Bank Liga.

PORTUGAL

Dala Gelson of Angola scored Rio Ave’s second goal but the home side slipped to a 3-2 home defeat to lowly Pacos Ferreira denting their European football aspirations. Rio Ave is in seventh place, five points off a Europa League qualification spot in fourth.

OTHER LEAGUES

In Belarus, Kiki Gabi of Cameroon was one of four scorers as Dynamo Brest came from a goal down to rout FC Minsk 6-1, while in the Czech Republic, Ghana’s Benjamin Tetteh netted an 84^th minute winner to secure a 1-0 win for Sparta Prague against Bohemians 1905.