ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC continues to defy the ageing process. The Swede is now, remarkably, 39 years old but still somehow able to perform at elite level at a stage in his career when most of his peers have long since called it a day.

The Ibra Express chugs into Glasgow this week on the back of another stellar outing in the Milan derby at the weekend. Not long recovered from COVID-19 – the coronavirus caught Ibra, not the other way around – the forward didn’t take long to make up for lost time, tapping in the rebound after his penalty had been saved and then scoring again just three minutes later.

Inter did get one back through Romelu Lukaku – the first league goal Milan have conceded this season – but Stefano Pioli’s side held on to extend their perfect start to their Serie A campaign. Stretching back into the tail end of last season, they are now undefeated in 20 games across all competitions and top the table by two points.

Milan’s allure may have faded somewhat over the past decade but, in this form, they will provide Celtic with an almighty test in Thursday’s Europa League opener.

Elsewhere in Italy, there was a third consecutive start for Aaron Hickey for Bologna in a remarkable derby against Sassuolo. The former Hearts player saw his side motor in a 3-1 lead on the hour mark only to then ship three goals in the space of 13 minutes to go down 4-3. Bologna now sit in 16th place with just one win from their opening four games, only just outside the relegation zone.

In Belgium, Rangers’ Europa League opponents this week Standard Liege snatched a late, late draw in their league match against league leaders and reigning champions, Club Brugge.

Maxime Lestienne had already missed a 61st-minute penalty when Liege were awarded a second spot kick in the third minute of injury time. This time Nicolas Gavory stepped up and the defender made no mistake to grab a precious point.

Anyone daft enough to bet on the double of Barcelona and Real Madrid both losing would have found themselves an unexpectedly rich man or woman at the weekend.

Newly-promoted Cadiz’s win over Madrid was remarkable for a number of reasons, particularly given they were playing in the third tier of Spanish football just four years ago.

Anthony Lozano’s goal gave the Andalusian side their first win over the defending champions for almost 30 years.

Their opponents in this Saturday’s Clasico didn’t fare any better, going down by the same scoreline to Getafe who recorded a first home win over Barcelona in nine years. It was Ronald Koeman’s first defeat since returning to the Nou Camp as manager.

For the first time in the league’s history, a new La Liga season has now opened with a different name leading the way after every matchday.

This week it is Real Sociedad proudly sitting on top of the pile, although given the topsy-turvy start to the campaign it will surely be someone else come the weekend.

Results followed more familiar lines in Germany where Robert Lewandowski extended his stellar streak with a double in Bayern Munich’s 4-1 win over Arminia Bielefeld. The Pole’s record now stands at 102 goals in his last 100 club matches.

Borussia Dortmund kept pace with a late winner against Hoffenheim, with RB Leipzig continuing to top the table courtesy of their victory over FC Augsburg.

Less palatable was the racist abuse directed at Dortmund’s 15 year-old striker Youssofa Moukoko from Schalke fans after his hat-trick in the sides’ under-19 derby. Schalke, to their credit, moved quickly to apologise to the player.

In France, PSG warmed up for their Champions League match against Manchester United with a 4-0 thumping of Nimes, Kylian Mbappe claiming two.

The Parisians, however, are still only second in the Ligue 1 table behind leaders Lille who enjoyed victory by the same margin in the Derby du Nord against Lens.