This week witnessed title shaping shocking results in Europe to history-making nights across the Atlantic. With weekly double fixtures in Premier League shifting the momentum of league leaders, Salah’s shocking revelation, Madrid’s fall-off giving hopes to Catalans and Flamengo completing domestic and continental double – This season has truly picked up its pace in a fixture packed December with festivities right around the corner.
World Cup
2026 FIFA World Cup Draw : Football’s Biggest Tournament takes shape with 48 Teams
The FIFA World Cup 2026 draw determined the group stage configurations for football’s largest-ever tournament, featuring 48 nations competing across 16 groups of three teams at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. on December 5, 2025. The three host nations, Mexico, Canada, and the United States were automatically placed as group leaders, with President Trump selecting the USMNT to head Group D alongside Paraguay, Australia, and a European playoff winner. For a detailed review, Check out this article on the draw summary.
Premier League
Salah called Slot out after back to back disastrous draws against promoted sides
Liverpool’s Champions League form continues to haunt their domestic campaign as they drew 1-1 at home to Sunderland at Anfield on Wednesday night. Chemsdine Talbi’s deflected strike off Virgil van Dijk’s leg gave the visitors a shock 67th-minute lead, while Florian Wirtz’s second-half effort provided an equally fortuitous leveller from an own-goal deflection. Mohamed Salah’s introduction at halftime failed to salvage the situation as Liverpool’s inconsistency against promoted sides remained evident, with Wilson Isidor’s late disallowed goal denying them a chance at victory.
Liverpool’s frustrations deepened as they faced another promoted side Leeds United in a shocking 3-3 draw in their subsequent fixture, continuing their embarrassing run against lower-table opposition. The Reds showed serious defensive frailties from Konate and Van Dijk and lapses in concentration that left Salah visibly frustrated after both encounters. With Salah openly confronting Slot and management over being left out again, his time with the scousers might be at its end before his departure to AFCON. For details on Salah’s situation, Check this out.
Guardiola closes the gap on top with back to back wins amidst Foden’s pick on form
Manchester City produced a thrilling five-goal display to overcome Fulham 4-5 at Craven Cottage in a nine-goal spectacular on Tuesday evening. Erling Haaland opened the scoring in the 16th minute, becoming the quickest player in Premier League history to reach 100 goals in just 111 games, with Phil Foden scoring a brilliant brace around the interval. Jeremy Doku’s deflected finish made it 5-1, but Fulham mounted an improbable comeback as Samuel Chuckwueze struck twice to set up a nervy finale, with City narrowly holding on to narrow Arsenal’s lead to two points.
City maintained their momentum with a dominant 3-0 victory over Sunderland at the Etihad on Saturday, with Rúben Dias and Josko Gvardiol’s quickfire double before halftime setting the tone. Phil Foden wrapped up the points with his fifth goal in three games, courtesy of a sublime rabona assist from Rayan Cherki, as City eased to victory without the scare they’ve encountered in recent weeks. The comprehensive win kept Guardiola’s side hot on Arsenal’s heels, moving within two points of the leaders with crucial momentum ahead of their Champions League clash with Real Madrid.
December Curse hits again as Chelsea drops points on back to back away fixtue
Chelsea suffered a shocking 3-1 defeat at Leeds United on Friday night, with Jaka Bijol’s early header and Ao Tanaka’s stunning 25-yard strike putting the hosts in complete control at the interval. Pedro Neto’s substitute goal sparked brief hope, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s 72nd-minute finish sealed a devastating result for Maresca’s side. Chelsea’s defensive vulnerability against promoted Leeds, following their previous defeats, underlined their inability to perform away from home, with the Londoners dropping three more crucial points in their title challenge.
Chelsea’s woes continued as they were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday, failing to find the breakthrough against a weak visiting side. Despite improved second-half displays and chances created, Chelsea lacked the clinical finishing to convert their pressure into goals, with Antoine Semenyo’s disallowed opening goal for offside the closest either side came to breaking the deadlock. Two consecutive away draws have compounded Chelsea’s December curse, leaving them slipping further down the table and nine points behind leaders Arsenal.
Cuti Romero’s last minute acrobatic strike salvages a crucial away point at St. James Park
Tottenham came from behind twice to earn a dramatic 2-2 draw at Newcastle, with Cristian Romero delivering a match-saving spectacular overhead kick in the 95th minute at St James’ Park. Bruno Guimarães’ 71st-minute goal had given the hosts a deserved lead after a tentative first-half performance from both sides, with Romero’s flying header equalizing minutes later. The Spurs captain’s acrobatic finish in stoppage time rescued a point after Anthony Gordon’s penalty put Newcastle ahead, showcasing Tottenham’s resilience despite being thoroughly dominated for large periods of the contest.
Unai Emery haunts Arteta once again as the Gunner failed to extend the gap on top
Aston Villa delivered a devastating blow to Arsenal’s title aspirations with a dramatic 2-1 victory at Villa Park on Saturday, with Emiliano Buendía scoring an agonizing last-gasp winner in the fifth minute of extra time. Matty Cash opened the scoring when Arsenal’s makeshift defence with Mosquera absent proved vulnerable, but Leandro Trossard equalized to set up a tense conclusion. Unai Emery’s side, enjoying red-hot form with nine wins in their last ten league games, showed superior character and persistence to inflict Arsenal’s first defeat in 11 games, cutting the gap to just three points.
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Pressure mounts on Amorim as Red Devils fail to capitalise on Liverpool’s Draw midweek
Manchester United drew 1-1 with West Ham at Old Trafford on Thursday night in a frustrating encounter that underlined their inconsistency under Ruben Amorim. Diogo Dalot’s brilliant first-half finish gave United the advantage, but Soungoutou Magassa’s 83rd-minute rebound from a corner sent the Hammers home with an undeserved point. The defensive vulnerability from set pieces remains a growing concern for Amorim, with United’s failure to kill off vulnerable opponents once again coming back to haunt them and applying further pressure on the Portuguese manager’s credentials.
La Liga
Barcelona extends the lead on top after beating in-form Atleti and Betis in back to back fixtures
Barcelona overcame an early setback to defeat Atlético Madrid 3-1 at the Nou Camp on Monday, moving four points clear of Real Madrid at the summit. Álex Baena’s swift counterattack gave Atleti a shock 19th-minute lead, but Barcelona responded with authority through Raphinha’s equalizer following Pedri’s assist. Dani Olmo’s second-half strike and Ferran Torres’ stoppage-time clincher sealed a statement victory, though Robert Lewandowski’s missed penalty proved a minor blemish on an otherwise dominant performance by Hansi Flick’s rampant side.
Barcelona maintained their devastating form with a thrilling 5-3 victory over Real Betis in Seville on Saturday, with Ferran Torres completing a first-half hat-trick. Antony’s sixth-minute opener gave Betis hope, but Barcelona’s clinical finishing proved irresistible as Torres, Roony Bardghji, and Lamine Yamal’s penalty extended their lead to 4-1 at halftime. Late goals from Diego Llorente and Cucho Hernández’s penalty offered consolation for the hosts, but Barcelona’s relentless attacking prowess and superior quality secured a fourth consecutive victory, extending their lead over Real Madrid to four points
Madrid suffers at Bernabéu taking a huge blow to their title charge despite Mbappé’s midweek show at San Mames
Real Madrid recovered from recent draws with an impressive 3-0 victory at Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday night, powered by Kylian Mbappé’s dominant double and Eduardo Camavinga’s header. Mbappé’s stunning 7th-minute long-range finish set the tone, with the Frenchman adding a second late in the second half after Camavinga’s clinical finishing midway through the first half. Despite the clinical away performance, Real Madrid’s failure to close the gap on Barcelona left them trailing by four points heading into their crucial home fixture against Celta Vigo.
Real Madrid’s title charge received a devastating blow as they crashed to a shocking 2-0 home defeat against mid-table Celta Vigo on Sunday, finishing the match with just nine men. Williot Swedberg’s two-goal display, including a stunning backheel finish in the 53rd minute and a stoppage-time clincher, handed Celta their first victory at the Bernabéu in 19 years. Fran García’s second yellow card dismissal for consecutive fouls compounded Madrid’s misery, with the hosts unable to break down a resilient Celta defence despite their numerical disadvantage and sustained second-half pressure
Serie A
Inter thumps in-form Como to heat-up the league spot clash ahead of Liverpool fixture
Inter Milan delivered a dominant 4-0 demolition of in-form Como at the San Siro, moving to the top of Serie A with a display of clinical finishing and defensive solidity. Lautaro Martinez opened the scoring with a first-time strike in the 11th minute after superb build-up play, before Marcus Thuram doubled the lead in the 59th minute from Federico Dimarco’s corner. Hakan Çalhanoğlu added a third with a well-taken finish from outside the box, and Carlos Augusto sealed an emphatic victory to end Como’s impressive 11-match unbeaten streak. Inter’s comprehensive performance showcased their credentials as genuine title contenders ahead of their crucial Champions League encounter with struggling Liverpool.
Højlund brace takes Napoli top of the league in a crucial fixture with The Old Lady
Rasmus Højlund’s clinical double propelled Napoli to a crucial 2-1 victory over Juventus, reclaiming top spot in Serie A with a fifth consecutive home win against the Bianconeri. The Danish striker opened the scoring in the seventh minute from David Neres’ assist, before Kenan Yildiz equalized swiftly for Juventus with a low counter-attack finish. Hojlund restored Napoli’s advantage in the 78th minute with a poacher’s finish from close range, heading home after Weston McKennie’s mistimed clearance. The reigning champions now top the table by one point ahead of Inter, inflicting a significant blow to Juventus’ title aspirations with the hosts leaving them eight points behind.
Roma takes a huge blow to their title charge in an unexpected away loss
Cagliari shocked Roma with a shock 1-0 victory at the Unipol Domus, delivering a significant blow to the Giallorossi’s title ambitions in an unexpected away defeat. Gianluca Gaetano scored the decisive goal with just eight minutes remaining, capitalizing on Roma’s defensive vulnerabilities late in the contest. The hosts’ well-organized defensive display frustrated Roma throughout the 90 minutes, limiting the visitors to minimal clear-cut opportunities. Despite Roma’s dominance in possession and expected creation, they failed to convert their chances, leaving them adrift in the title race and suffering a damaging loss to a struggling Cagliari side fighting to escape the relegation zone.
Bundesliga
Kane’s Hat-trick show sees the champions comfortable stroll to yet another title unhindered
Bayern Munich demolished Stuttgart 5-0 at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in a commanding performance that showcased their dominance under rotation. Konrad Laimer opened the scoring with a delicate backheel finish in the 11th minute before Stuttgart thought they had equalized when Nikolas Nartey’s header was ruled out by VAR. Harry Kane’s introduction from the bench sparked an explosive second-half display, with the English striker completing a remarkable hat-trick within 30 minutes. Kane’s 128 km/h thunderbolt from distance equaled the fastest Bundesliga goal of the season, before he added two more including a penalty to cap a dominant performance. Josip Stanišić and Michael Olise’s contributions completed a rout that extended Bayern’s eight-point lead at the summit, with their clinical efficiency proving insurmountable despite Stuttgart’s early resistance.
Diomande’s Hat-trick keeps the Red Bull side’s pursuit of the champions intact
RB Leipzig demolished Eintracht Frankfurt 6-0 at the Red Bull Arena, with 19-year-old Yan Diomande completing a devastating second-half hat-trick to become the second-youngest player ever to achieve the feat in Bundesliga history. Conrad Harder’s clinical finish gave Leipzig the perfect start in just the fifth minute after Christoph Baumgartner’s lofted through ball, before Baumgartner added a second when Harder returned the favour with an assist. Diomande took center stage after the interval, scoring three goals between the 47th and 65th minutes as Frankfurt crumbled defensively, with David Raum converting a penalty to complete the rout. Leipzig’s eight-point deficit to Bayern remains unchanged following their emphatic away victory, yet their pursuit of the champions continues with immense momentum from this comprehensive display.
Ligue 1
Ethan Mbappé early strike ends Marseille’s six-week unbeaten run
Lille ended Marseille’s impressive six-week unbeaten streak with a 1-0 victory at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Friday night, with Ethan Mbappé’s clinical finish proving decisive. The visitors’ defensive vulnerability in the 10th minute allowed Mbappé to capitalize on a miscommunication between Marseille’s goalkeeper and backline, receiving Nabil Bentaleb’s long pass before slotting past goalkeeper Gimo. Marseille dominated large periods of possession with 56% of the ball but failed to convert their limited chances, with Mason creating the only clear-cut opportunity in the 76th minute that was expertly blocked. Lille’s third consecutive victory strengthened their European credentials with an excellent home record of 16 wins and just two losses in their last 23 Ligue 1 matches, moving them level with third-placed Marseille in the table.
PSG bounce back in form after thumping 5 past Rennes ahead of the Intercontinental Cup
Paris Saint-Germain returned to winning ways in emphatic fashion, thrashing 10-man Rennes 5-0 at the Parc des Princes to remain just one point behind leaders Lens ahead of their Intercontinental Cup final. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia opened the scoring in the 28th minute with a brilliantly worked solo goal, cutting inside and drilling low past goalkeeper Brice Samba after receiving Lucas Hernández’s assist. Senny Mayulu doubled the lead before halftime with a tidy finish from João Neves’ cutback, while Kvaratskhelia added his second after the interval from Mayulu’s assist.
Jérémy Jacquet’s red card for two bookings in the 74th minute gave PSG complete control, with substitute Ibrahim Mbaye’s long-range strike and Gonçalo Ramos’ stoppage-time clincher completing a statement victory. PSG’s dominant display showcased their form ahead of European football’s ultimate prize, with 40 consecutive home matches scoring at least once now representing a club record at the Parc des Princes.
MLS
Alba and Busquets hang their boots on a high note as Inter Miami is crowned MLS champions for the first time
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami completed a fairytale MLS odyssey by clinching the franchise’s first-ever MLS Cup with a thrilling 3-1 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps at Chase Stadium on Saturday night. Tadeo Allende’s deflected opener in the eighth minute set the tone, with goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo delivering crucial interventions throughout the first half to preserve Miami’s advantage. Vancouver mounted a resilient comeback through Ali Ahmed’s 60th-minute equalizer, threatening to derail Miami’s coronation, but Rodrigo De Paul’s composed finish in the 71st minute following Messi’s incisive through ball restored the hosts’ lead decisively. Allende sealed the trophy with a spectacular injury-time finish after Alba’s pinpoint pass to Messi, securing Miami’s fourth trophy while providing a triumphant farewell for Spanish legends Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, both named Icons of the Match in their final professional contest.
Indian Football
FC Goa captain sent off for wearing wrong colored Underwear in a historic controversy
FC Goa delivered a 2-1 victory over Mumbai City in their AIFF Super Cup semi-final at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao, though the match was overshadowed by an unprecedented off-field controversy involving their captain. Iker Guarrotxena was shown a straight red card in the tunnel before kickoff when he protested the referee’s instruction to change his inner shorts, which reportedly clashed with the colour components of both teams’ kits, marking one of football’s rarest disciplinary incidents. Despite the pre-match chaos, Goa showed remarkable composure with substitute Javier Siverio replacing their skipper and Brison Fernandes’ 20th-minute strike setting the tone, with David Timor’s 23rd-minute long-range stunner adding a second goal. Brandon Fernandes’ 59th-minute penalty conversion provided late hope for Mumbai, but Goa’s disciplined defence held firm to secure their place in Sunday’s final against East Bengal, with Guarrotxena now suspended from the championship match.
Other Leagues
Injured Neymar’s Masterclass pulls Santos out of the Relegation zone to Copa Subamericana Qualification
Neymar delivered a spectacular second-half hat-trick in just 17 minutes despite playing with a knee injury to propel Santos to a crucial 3-0 demolition of Juventude at the Estádio Alfredo Jaconi on Wednesday, December 4. The Brazilian winger opened his account in the 56th minute with a composed finish, then doubled his tally three minutes later before completing his treble from the penalty spot in the 73rd minute. Neymar’s dominant display, orchestrated from the midfield in his return from injury, showcased his technical brilliance as Santos climbed out of the relegation zone with this commanding performance.
Santos maintained their explosive form with another clinical 3-0 victory over Cruzeiro at the Estádio Urbano Caldeira on Sunday, though the match details remain incomplete in available reports. The back-to-back victories proved transformative for Santos’ season, pulling them from the precipice of relegation in Brazil’s top flight and securing Copa Sudamericana qualification for next season. Neymar’s mid-week heroics, combined with Santos’ second consecutive emphatic home victory, signaled a dramatic turnaround in form that could prove crucial in their survival quest and continental aspirations
Brasileirão Serie A
- Flamengo 1-0 Ceará : Rubro-Negro Clinch 2025 Brazilian Title Four Days After Copa Libertadores Glory
- Palmeiras 0-4 Grêmio : Verdão stumble as Grêmio run rampant in a devastating away performance
- Botafogo 2-2 Fortaleza : Defending Champions drop points in dramatic draw
Primeira Liga
- Benfica 1-1 Sporting CP : Lisbon Derby Ends in Stalemate as Porto Stays Top
- Santa Clara 1-0 Casa Pia : Islanders Ground Home Advantage in Impressive Win
Eredivisie
- Feyenoord 6-1 PEC Zwolle : Rotterdam Thrash Zwolle to Consolidate Second Place Behind PSV
- Heerenveen 0-2 PSV Eindhoven : PSV Extends Title Pursuit with Dominant Wins in Midweek fixture
Transfer Rumours
- All-Ittihad and Al-Hilal sniffs Salah amid ongoing dressing room clash at Anfield.
- Endrick’s loan move to Lyon in the final stages, no buy clause included, and final details to be sorted on salary coverage
- Galatasaray are preparing a 40M bid for Ademola Lookman
- Santiago Gimenez has been told that the club(Milan) is looking to offload him this summer
- Fenerbahce are reading a bid for Martinelli
- Wolves are preparing a move for Kalvin Phillips & McNeil.
- Sancho is looking to go to the Turkish Super League to rejuvenate his career
- Rennes duo Jacquet & Meite are on United’s radar
- Sunderland is lining up a €25m bid for Guendouzi
- City has identified Livarmento & RIED as their RB for next summer.
- Neves is linked up with Inter, Newcastle, Spurs & United
- Chiesa will be allowed to leave LFC in the January window
- Ben White is looking to find game time ahead of the WC
- Will Osula from Newcastle is looking for a move to Frankfurt
Up Ahead!!!
Champions League takes centre stage midweek, with Liverpool travelling to San Siro amid Salah controversy, Bayern hosting Sporting and Barcelona hosting Frankfurt. Domestic action resumes at the weekend, as the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A title races continue to tighten ahead of the hectic festive run-in.
