This week witnessed football drama delivered on every front, from Europe’s grandest stage to India’s buzzing stadium. From serial giant-killings in Serie A to major setbacks in the league-phase of the Champions League, football across Europe has taken a red-hot form with fixture-packed days coming, building excitement toward the Christmas showdown.
Indian Football
Messi GOAT Tour witnessed greatness gracing Mumbai and Hyderabad despite an early Kolkata setback
Messi’s highly anticipated GOAT India Tour commenced chaotically in Kolkata on December 13, where a 70-foot statue unveiling and meet-and-greet event quickly descended into crowd chaos and security lapses. The Argentina captain spent merely 20 minutes at the Salt Lake Stadium before departing, disappointing thousands of fans who had paid premium prices expecting extended interaction with the football legend. Poor crowd management forced premature termination of Kolkata’s scheduled events, followed by outraged fans trashing the venue, marking an inauspicious beginning to India’s three-day extravaganza with the World Cup-winning superstar and his Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul.
Hyderabad’s leg saw Messi grace the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium with a 7v7 football exhibition and shared on-field moments with Telangana’s CM Revanth Reddy. Mumbai’s centerpiece proved unforgettable when Sachin Tendulkar, India’s cricket legend and fellow number 10 wearer, personally welcomed Messi at the iconic Wankhede Stadium on December 14. The two sporting titans exchanged heartfelt tributes, Tendulkar presenting Messi with a personalized signed jersey while the Argentine maestro gifted a signed football, epitomizing the convergence of cricket and football greatness on Indian soil.
Champions League
Mancunians register their first win at Bernabéu as pressure mounts on Xabi Alonso after another big fixture loss
Manchester City registered a stunning 2-1 comeback victory at the Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday night, dealing a potentially decisive blow to Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso’s credibility with a second consecutive heavy defeat. Rodrygo’s 28th-minute opener from Jude Bellingham’s assist gave Madrid the perfect start, but City responded through Nico O’Reilly’s 41st-minute scrambled finish after Courtois failed to gather Gvardiol’s corner header. Erling Haaland’s penalty conversion gave City the lead in the 44th minute after Antonio Rüdiger hauled down the Norwegian in the box, with Kylian Mbappé watching from the bench, injured and unable to salvage Madrid’s fortunes. The defeat, coming 72 hours after their home humiliation to Celta Vigo, left Real Madrid’s title hopes severely damaged and intensified speculation about Alonso’s future as questions mounted over tactical decisions and personnel selection.
Liverpool grabs a much-needed win at San Siro after a controversial penalty amid the Salah situation
Liverpool secured a crucial 1-0 Champions League victory at the San Siro on Tuesday night with Dominik Szoboszlai converting an 88th-minute penalty, providing the Reds with much-needed relief following Mohamed Salah’s extraordinary public outburst against manager Arne Slot and the club. Salah’s absence forced Slot to field just two senior strikers in Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike, combining for £200 million but offering minimal offensive threat. Inter dominated large portions of the match with an 18-match unbeaten home run in Europe on the line, yet Liverpool’s defensive resilience and tactical discipline prevailed despite their attacking impotence throughout. Szoboszlai’s penalty conversion after Alessandro Bastoni fouled Florian Wirtz in the box proved decisive, with the German substitute’s introduction sparking Liverpool’s revival in the final stages, allowing them to climb back into the top eight and improve their play-off avoidance chances considerably.
Chelsea’s top 8 push hindered by De Ketelaere’s late winner as the London Blues’ December nightmare continues
Atalanta completed a remarkable 2-1 comeback victory over Chelsea at the Stadio di Bergamo on Tuesday, inflicting another devastating defeat on Maresca’s struggling side and severely damaging their Champions League top-eight hopes. João Pedro’s 25th-minute opener gave Chelsea a deserved first-half advantage following clinical finishing from close range, but Atalanta’s superior wing play and intensity overwhelmed the visitors in the second period. Gianluca Scamacca’s 55th-minute header from De Ketelaere’s pinpoint cross equalized the contest, with the Belgian winger providing the decisive moment in the 83rd minute when he charged into the penalty area and unleashed a low drive that Robert Sanchez could only deflect past himself. Chelsea’s defensive vulnerabilities in the latter stages, combined with their inability to manage Atalanta’s swift attacking transitions, epitomized their alarming December form as they dropped crucial points in yet another away fixture, leaving them battling to finish inside the top eight.
Unai Simon’s masterclass salvages a crucial point against the treble winners
Athletic Bilbao ground out a resilient 0-0 stalemate against PSG at San Mamés on Tuesday night, with goalkeeper Unai Simón producing a series of outstanding saves to deny the European champions and secure a valuable point in their Champions League campaign. Simón’s exceptional reflexes and positioning proved decisive on multiple occasions. The draw represented PSG’s first goalless result of the season despite their treble-winning credentials, yet they maintained their direct qualification berth for the last-16 with their superior position in the league phase standings, while Athletic’s defensive discipline showcased their organisational capacity against elite opposition.
Mourinho’s men thump an in-form Napoli to end the barren home run
Benfica delivered a comprehensive 2-0 home victory over Napoli at the Estádio da Luz on Wednesday night, ending their barren European home streak and reinvigorating José Mourinho’s side’s hopes of progressing through the new league phase format. Franjo Ivanović’s composed finishing opened the scoring in the first half from Benfica’s clinical execution of their attacking opportunities, with the hosts’ superior organization and tactical discipline overwhelming Napoli’s typically potent offensive threat. Benfica’s second goal secured a commanding performance that proved devastating for the Italian visitors, who extended their unwanted home record in European competition with a fifth successive away defeat, the worst such run in club history dating back to streaks between 1994-2011. The result represented a significant morale boost for Mourinho’s project, showcasing their potential to compete against elite opposition while simultaneously exposing Napoli’s fragility when travelling abroad, leaving the Serie A side facing mounting pressure to recover their European fortunes.
Premier League
Haaland’s brace sees City avenge FA Cup Final loss against the Eagles
Manchester City delivered a commanding 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, closing the gap on leaders Arsenal to just two points. Erling Haaland’s towering 41st-minute header from Matheus Nunes’ cross broke the deadlock, before Phil Foden’s clinical finish doubled City’s advantage with a composed strike from 20 yards. Haaland sealed a dominant performance with a late penalty conversion, showcasing City’s superior quality despite Palace’s spirited resistance throughout the contest.
Palmer’s return fire Blues back to fourth as Maresca’s side find their form
Cole Palmer’s return from injury sparked Chelsea’s resurgence with a decisive 2-0 victory over Everton at Stamford Bridge. Palmer opened the scoring in the 21st minute with a clinical finish past Jordan Pickford following Malo Gusto’s well-timed assist, before Gusto doubled the lead in stoppage time. Chelsea’s emphatic performance, combined with solid second-half defending, secured their first win in four league matches and temporarily lifted them back into fourth place.
Ekitike’s double secures victory as Salah makes dramatic return
Hugo Ekitike’s clinical brace, including the fastest goal of the Premier League season, guided Liverpool to a crucial 2-0 victory over Brighton at Anfield. Mohamed Salah made an earlier-than-expected return following his public dispute with manager Arne Slot, providing the injured striker with crucial playing time to rebuild fractured relationships. Liverpool’s dominant display showcased their typical Anfield dominance, with Brighton unable to threaten David Ramsdale’s goal in an otherwise controlled performance.
Gunners steal drama-filled victory with Two Own Goals against Basement Dwellers
Arsenal survived a chaotic fixture at the Emirates to edge bottom-placed Wolverhampton 2-1, sustaining their lead at the top. Sam Johnstone’s bizarre own goal from Bukayo Saka’s deflected corner gave Arsenal the lead in fortuitous fashion, with Tolu Arokodare’s 90th-minute equalizer seemingly securing a dramatic draw for Wolves. However, Yerson Mosquera’s devastating own goal in stoppage time handed Arsenal an undeserved victory, typifying their fortune against struggling opposition this season.
Wear-Tyne Derby decided by Woltemade’s own goal in a tense encounter
Sunderland secured Wear-Tyne derby bragging rights with a slender 1-0 victory over Newcastle at the Stadium of Light, courtesy of Nick Woltemade’s second-half own goal. The match remained goalless until Woltemade’s unfortunate 46th-minute deflection gave Sunderland the decisive advantage in an otherwise tightly contested encounter. Both sides created limited clear-cut opportunities, with defensive solidity proving paramount in securing three crucial points for Sunderland in their European qualification push.
La Liga
Raphinha’s late brace extends Blaugrana’s lead at the top
Barcelona secured a commanding 2-0 victory over Osasuna at the Nou Camp, extending their La Liga lead to seven points over second-placed Real Madrid. Raphinha’s decisive double, struck late in the match after Barcelona’s patient build-up play finally penetrated Osasuna’s resolute defence, sealed an impressive performance from Flick’s rampant side. The Barcelona captain’s clinical finishing showcased the hosts’ superior technical quality, with the Catalan giants maintaining their imperious form atop the La Liga table.
Rodrygo’s Late strike salvages Los Blancos’ away day despite a controversial VAR decision
Real Madrid secured a crucial 1-2 away victory at Alaves despite controversial refereeing decisions that denied Vinícius Júnior a clear penalty in the 86th minute. Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring in the first half with clinical efficiency, before Carlos Vicente’s second-half equalizer temporarily levelled proceedings at the Mendizorroza. Rodrygo’s 76th-minute winner from Vinícius’ assist sealed the vital three points, allowing Madrid to maintain pressure on Barcelona despite their inconsistent recent form.
Serie A
Noslin’s Late Winner seals miraculous victory for Nine-men Aquile against the odds
Lazio completed one of Serie A’s most remarkable achievements by securing a 1-0 victory over Parma despite being reduced to nine men. Mattia Zaccagni and Toma Basic’s red cards left the visitors facing seemingly impossible odds, yet Tijjani Noslin’s 82nd-minute finisher proved decisive. Parma failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage, allowing Lazio to escape the Ennio Tardini with crucial points in their survival fight.
Rossoneri drops points against promoted side in a frustrating stalemate
AC Milan squandered the opportunity to consolidate their Champions League qualification position, drawing 2-2 with Sassuolo at the San Siro. The hosts’ inability to convert their dominance into victory proved costly as Sassuolo’s resilient defending frustrated Milan’s attacking ambitions throughout the encounter. The draw left Milan’s Serie A momentum stalled, leaving them vulnerable to rival sides closing the gap in the competitive title race.
Friulli Fortress frustrates title contenders in a crucial away loss
Udinese’s impressive home record continued with a slender 1-0 victory over Napoli at the Stadio Friuli, delivering a significant blow to the visitors’ title aspirations. The Partenopei’s inability to break down Udinese’s resolute defensive setup proved costly as they suffered consecutive away defeats. Napoli’s faltering form threatens their championship challenge, with this disappointing result leaving them further adrift of the summit.
Nerazzurri survive a late rally to secure a crucial away victory to claim top spot
Inter Milan overcame Genoa’s second-half comeback to secure a vital 2-1 victory at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, maintaining their championship credentials. Inter’s superior experience and clinical finishing proved decisive despite Genoa’s spirited resistance in the closing stages. The away victory kept Inter within striking distance of the league leaders as they navigate the demanding winter fixture schedule.
Bundesliga
Rock-bottom Mainz stuns Bavarians with a shock draw despite a late Kane Penalty
Bayern Munich required Harry Kane’s 87th-minute penalty conversion to salvage a 2-2 draw against basement-dwelling Mainz, showcasing unprecedented defensive vulnerability against struggling opposition. Lee Jae-sung and Kacper Potulski’s first-half goals gave the visitors an astonishing advantage before Lennart Karl’s opener threatened a complete collapse. Kane’s clinical penalty preserved Bayern’s unbeaten record, yet the result exposed significant defensive frailties that could haunt their title defence.
Capital’s Underdogs inflict damaging defeat on Leipzig’s title challenge in Berlin
Union Berlin delivered a comprehensive 3-1 victory over RB Leipzig at the An der alten Försterei, dealing a significant blow to Leipzig’s championship ambitions. Tim Skarke’s stoppage-time finish sealed the rout after Ilyas Ansah and Oliver Burke combined with earlier goals to overwhelm the visitors. Union’s upset victory demonstrated the unpredictability of the Bundesliga’s competitive middle section against elite opposition.
Höler’s Late equaliser salvages hard fought draw for Freiburg against 10-Man Dortmund
SC Freiburg fought back from a first-half deficit to secure a 1-1 draw against Borussia Dortmund at the Europa-Park-Stadion despite playing 65 minutes with numerical advantage. Ramy Bensebaini’s 31st-minute strike gave Dortmund the advantage, yet Lucas Höler’s 75th-minute equaliser after Jobe Bellingham’s dismissal forced a deserved late stalemate, denying Dortmund a crucial away win.
Ligue 1
Désiré Doué’s Late Heroics sustains PSG’s title charge, only a point behind the league leaders
Paris Saint-Germain returned to the Ligue 1 summit with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over bottom club Metz, extending their title push ahead of Lens. Gonçalo Ramos and Quentin Ndjantou’s early goals gave PSG control before Jessy Deminguet’s fierce strike threatened a dramatic upset. Désiré Doué’s crucial 63rd-minute breakaway goal proved decisive, securing three points despite late Metz resistance in a thrilling Parisian comeback.
Lille edges thrilling Seven-Goal Spectacle against impressive Auxerre to maintain Top-four spot
Lille secured a dramatic 4-3 victory over Auxerre in a seven-goal thriller at the Stade de l’Abbé-Deschamps, showcasing attacking prowess despite defensive vulnerabilities. Hamza Igamane and Hakon Arnar Haraldsson’s goals, combined with clinical finishing, proved decisive against Auxerre’s spirited counter-attacking threat. The victory maintained Lille’s top-four positioning despite the chaotic encounter’s defensive fragility, exposing both sides’ inconsistency.
Other Leagues
Copa do Brasil
- Corinthians 1-0 Cruzeiro: Timão Edge Semifinal First Leg Against Cruzeiro in Historic Rivalry
- Copa do Brasil Final Set for December 17 & 21: Vasco/Fluminense Face Cruzeiro/Corinthians Winners in Two-Legged Decider
Primeira Liga
- Sporting CP 6-0 AVS: Lions Demolish AVS with Ruthless Display in Dominant Home Victory
- Benfica 4-0 Moreirense: Aquile’s Clinical Finishing Extends Their Unbeaten Run
- Famalicão 4-0 Estoril: Home Fortress Crushes Estoril with Four-Goal Spectacle
- Rio Ave 0-1 Vitória de Guimarães: Guimarães Secure Away Victory in Tight Contest
Eredivisie
- AFC Ajax 2-0 Feyenoord: Amsterdam Giants thwart Rotterdam’s title pursuit with a dominant display
- PSV Eindhoven 4-3 Heracles: Eindhoven maintain supremacy atop Eredivisie table with a crucial win in a 7 Goal-thriller
Transfer News/Rumours
- Rodrigo de Paul permanently signs for Inter Miami after a title-filled loan spell
- Manchester United may sign Sergio Ramos as a free agent in January
- Stuttgart have identified Real Madrid striker Gonzalo García as their dream target for the January transfer window
- 17-year-old Al Ahly striker Hamza Abdelkarim is closing in on a move to Barcelona, where he will be initially registered with Barça Atlètic
- Liverpool is looking at PSG winger Bradley Barcola as an increasingly popular replacement for Salah
- Stuttgart have identified Real Madrid striker Gonzalo García as their dream target for the January transfer window
- Turkish side Beşiktaş have failed with an approach for Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jörgensen, which was rejected by both club and player.
- Tottenham have submitted a bid of £70 million for Atlético Madrid midfielder Pablo Barrios.
- AC Milan are considering a loan move for Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus
- West Ham have major concerns about a move for Chelsea centerback Axel Disasi, stemming from his lack of competitive action this season
