Romelu Lukaku came off the bench to score his first Premier League goal for 107 days, as the Belgium international defiantly dismantled Aston Villa’s backline once again during an eventful second-half ensuring they didn’t lose further ground in their title charge after defending champions Manchester City won a nine-goal thriller against Leicester elsewhere on Boxing Day.
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Category: Match coverage
Athletic Bilbao 1-2 Real Madrid: Benzema’s quick-fire brace sees Los Blancos prevail
Karim Benzema’s 14th and 15th goals of the La Liga season, bullish but devastating, ensured Carlo Ancelotti’s men returned to winning ways – leaving San Mames with a hard-fought three points vs. Athletic Bilbao, who created more chances but crucially lacked incisive execution against the league leaders. Heading into 2022, Real are eight points clear of Sevilla in second. Continue reading
Everton 2-1 Arsenal: Richarlison and Gray help Toffees turn the tide late on
Demarai Gray’s 20-yard screamer ensured Rafa Benitez’s Everton rallied from a goal down late to snatch all three points against a passive Arsenal side – snapping an unwanted eight-match winless streak in the process. Richarlison had two strikes disallowed for marginal offsides after VAR review, but eventually netted their equaliser on an evening packed with twists and turns.
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Bayer Leverkusen 3-2 Celtic: Diaby’s bullet volley ensures Seoane’s men top Group G
Although it looked like another thrashing was on the cards early on, this match quickly proved far from one-sided. Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen scored first and crucially finished strong under duress – overturning a 2-1 deficit late on – to sting a spirited Celtic showing, qualifying for next year’s Europa League knockout rounds as Group G winners with a game to spare.
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Match Preview: Derry City vs Bohemians – European hopefuls collide at Brandywell
After slender Irish Premier Division defeats for both last time out, European hopefuls Derry City and Bohemians look to start the Halloween weekend with a well-earned treat from their 7.45pm kick-off tonight. With two points separating them, who will leave Friday night happier? Continue reading
Spain 1-2 France: Les Bleus seal Nations League title the hard way after nailbiting finish
World champions France recovered from another deficit, for the second time in four days, to be crowned the 2021 UEFA Nations League champions with a 2-1 win over Euro 2020 semi-finalists Spain. Just like their comeback win over Belgium, goals from Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe saw them storm ahead in a frenetic second-half packed with chances for both sides. Continue reading
Belgium 2-3 France: Benzema, Mbappe key as Les Bleus earn second-half comeback win
In a week where he addressed the Real Madrid rumours and mother Fayza provided an update on her son’s future, Kylian Mbappe produced his best display since May to help propel France into the UEFA Nations League Final, where they play Euro 2020 semi-finalists Spain on Sunday.
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Liverpool 2-2 Manchester City: de Bruyne douses Reds’ hearts in thrilling second-half
Despite Manchester City’s initial dominance in the early exchanges, this game lived up to the billing: contentious officiating, big moments, goals aplenty before a goal-saving block in a second-half frenzy – finely poised and still could’ve swung either way until the final whistle. Continue reading
Juventus 1-0 Chelsea: Chiesa the catalyst as ponderous Blues stifled in Turin
Federico Chiesa’s winner, 11 seconds into the second-half, felt inevitable after multiple warning signs were ignored but typified just how Chelsea – with their 73% possession and half-chances galore – laboured through proceedings in Turin. If Thomas Tuchel’s men are going to successfully defend their Champions League crown, they can’t afford more displays like these. Continue reading
Liverpool 3-2 Milan: Henderson’s half-volley settles shaky Champions League opener
It wasn’t perfect, but Liverpool got their Group B campaign underway with a narrow victory. Goals from Mohamed Salah and Jordan Henderson’s thunderous half-volley helped the Reds recover from an abrupt 2-1 half-time deficit, squeezing past Milan’s best efforts as the Italians acquitted themselves well on their Champions League return after a seven-year absence.
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Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea: Havertz, Salah ensure points are shared in tense affair
Liverpool and Chelsea’s unbeaten start to the new Premier League season continued on Saturday night with a 1-1 draw at Anfield, but this latest meeting wasn’t without controversy and tempers flaring on both sides after Reece James’ contentious dismissal in first-half stoppage-time, changing the complexion of an entertaining clash between two title hopefuls.
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Brentford 2-0 Swansea City: Toney, Marcondes goals end Bees’ Premier League wait
Ivan Toney’s penalty and Emiliano Marcondes’ finish on the counter-attack ten minutes later, helped Brentford race to a two-goal cushion after 20 minutes – one they wouldn’t relinquish against a frustrating Swansea display, as the Bees finally banished their playoff hoodoo at the tenth time of asking – earning a top-flight berth for the first time since the 1946-1947 season. Continue reading
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