Top 10 Matches from World Football in September

It may still be early in the season, but September was a true feast of football. Across Europe, in South America and in continental competitions, the goals flew in and fans were treated to a host of unforgettable clashes. 

From a rain-soaked clasico in Buenos Aires to a celebrity-packed festival in Paris, football supporters hungry for action were not disappointed over the past month. But what were the most memorable clashes from the last 30 days? 

Taking into account the importance of games, the number of goals scored, the quality of play and sheer spectacle, here are the 10 matches that were unforgettable from September.

Any other recommendations for this list? Write your picks for the month's best 90 minutes in the comments section below. 

10. Boca Juniors 1-2 Racing Club

It is a scene that is rarer and rarer in pristine European football. Over in Argentina, Boca Juniors and Racing Club played out a derby in conditions more suitable for water polo than the beautiful game. 

The Xeneize took the lead in the first half of a match in which any sort of play was almost impossible due to massive puddles in the Bombonera. The game was eventually stopped after 56 minutes, meaning that Racing would have another chance to fight back in the replay. 

That is exactly what happened. La Academia came out with all guns blazing nearly two weeks later when the remaining time was played out, scoring twice through ex-River striker Gustavo Bou to pick up a vital three points. 

9. Barcelona 6-0 Granada

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The jury was out for Barcelona after a turgid 0-0 draw away to Malaga saw the Catalans drop their first points of the season. A big result was needed against Granada a few days later if the club were to reassert themselves in La Liga. 

That is exactly what Luis Enrique's men did. An outrageous performance from Lionel Messi and Neymar's hat-trick helped the Blaugrana destroy their visitors 6-0 in Camp Nou, attacking with a verve and creativity that was beautiful to watch. 

8. Roma 5-1 CSKA Moscow

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Roma have had to wait a long time for another chance at Champions League glory. So in their first appearance in the 2014/15 group stage, the club from the Eternal City were more than determined to make up for lost time. 

Juan Iturbe and Gervinho came out with all guns blazing against CSKA Moscow, leading Roma to a crushing 5-1 victory in the Stadio Olimpico. Maicon was also on target and Sergei Ignashevich contributed an own goal, as the Italians proved that their curious mix of old-timers and hungry young talent promises great things for the coming campaign. 

7. Inter 1-4 Cagliari

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After a disastrous 2013/14 campaign, Inter looked determined to make amends at the start of the Serie A season with a string of impressive performances. But the Italian giants' plans came crashing down around them as they were shocked by Cagliari. 

The side languishing at the foot of the table left the San Siro having inflicted a humiliating 4-1 defeat on the Nerazzurri in front of their own fans. Albin Ekdal was the hero of the afternoon with a hat-trick, while Dani Osvaldo's goal was Inter's only cheer of the day in what was a pitiful performance. 

6. Napoli 3-3 Palermo

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For decades, the Italian Serie A was considered a defensive, cautious league in which 1-0 was the optimum result. But games such as Napoli's thrilling six-goal tie with Palermo prove that the ideals of catenaccio have been well and truly buried. 

Rafa Benitez's men stormed into a 2-0 lead through Duvan Zapata and Kalidou Koulibaly, but they could not settle and let the Sicilians back into the game. Andrea Belotti and Franco Vazquez quickly hit back, as the first 24 minutes of play saw four goals fly in. 

Jose Callejon put the hosts back in the lead, but Palermo still had one more trick up their sleeve. Belotti stepped up for his second of the game to earn the away team a share of the points from a scintillating game of attacking football. 

5. Leicester City 5-3 Manchester United

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Louis van Gaal's Manchester United have shown that, with an attack bolstered by the likes of Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao, they have no problem whatsoever scoring goals. Keeping them out of the other end has proved more tricky, making for a number of enthralling games involving the Red Devils in September. 

Leading 3-1 with just half an hour left on the clock, United contrived to open the floodgates and let unfancied Leicester City run off with an unexpected victory. Prolific Argentine striker Leonardo Ulloa was on target twice, compatriot Esteban Cambiasso also netted while David Nugent and Jamie Vardy completed the rout for the Foxes. 

4. Bayern Munich 1-0 Manchester City

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It may not have been the highest-scoring match of the month, but it was impossible to take one's eyes off Bayern Munich's tussle with Manchester City in the Champions League. The Germans finally took the encounter 1-0, but it was a close-run thing. 

Die Roten pushed hard throughout the match, but were kept at bay by athletic City goalkeeper Joe Hart. However, even the England No. 1 had no answer to the strike that finally broke the Citizens down. 

Former City defender Jerome Boateng let loose with a fantastic volley that flew into Hart's net, grabbing the three points for Pep Guardiola's men. 

3. Deportivo 2-8 Real Madrid

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Carlo Ancelotti's spluttering Real Madrid needed a big reaction in La Liga after defeats to Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid left the giants languishing in mid-table. But when Cristiano Ronaldo is leading the line for your club, goals are never far away. 

Newly promoted Deportivo suffered the wrath of the Blancos, who smashed eight of the day's 10 strikes to take a resounding victory in La Coruna. Ronaldo pitched in with a hat-trick, while there was also joy for Chicharito Hernandez, who stepped off the bench to hit two of his own and round off a warning to La Liga that Madrid still meant business. 

2. Real Madrid 1-2 Atletico Madrid

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Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid are still rebuilding after losing the likes of Diego Costa and Filipe Luis, moves that decimated the squad that performed so admirably in 2013/14 to break the Barca-Madrid duopoly on La Liga. They may not be the same outfit, but El Cholo's charges showed that they will still be a formidable force. 

Set pieces are the Colchoneros' forte, and they used that medium once more to take the lead against their archrivals in the Bernabeu. Tiago converted a Koke corner to put Atletico up against Real, who hit back soon after through the ever-dangerous Cristiano Ronaldo. 

But Atletico did not falter. Arda Turan drove home 15 minutes from the end to seal another famous victory in the Merengues' backyard, gaining revenge for the heartbreaking Champions League final defeat. 

1. Paris Saint-Germain 3-2 Barcelona

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Some games just have everything. Attacking precision, bundles of energy and resolve, two teams desperate for the three points; Barcelona's 3-2 Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain had all that and more.

A match watched by David Beckham, Jay-Z and Beyonce from the Parc des Princes cannot fail to disappoint. 

David Luiz fired PSG ahead early on, only for Barcelona to reply instantly through a brilliant interchange between Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta. It was short-lived, however, as Marco Verratti took advantage of a brittle Barca back line to regain the initiative. 

Blaise Matuidi extended the advantage, but Neymar's brilliant individual strike made the last half-hour extremely nervous for the hosts. Barca threw everything at the French champions, who nevertheless stood firm and took the honours in September's best match.