After struggling their fourth defeat of their previous six contests throughout all competitions, Manchester United will have a good time Christmas in a method they have not carried out because the Nineteen Eighties — and no, we do not imply by blaring Wham!’s “Last Christmas” at Carrington.
In Spain, we now have new league leaders. While Real Madrid have been chasing down Barcelona in current weeks, it is Atlético Madrid who now sit prime of the desk after engineering a comeback win over the Catalans on Saturday.
And within the Bundesliga, whereas Bayern Munich have been shaky in current weeks, they dusted themselves off when RB Leipzig got here to the Allianz Arena on Friday. The Bavarians restored their self perception by demolishing their nearest title rivals.
What else did you miss round Europe this weekend? ESPN’s Sam Tighe, Alex Kirkland and Constantin Eckner recap all of the motion on this version of Weekend Review.
Top takeaway: A historic Christmas for Man United
Manchester United made historical past on Sunday — simply not for the proper causes. Their 3-0 loss at home to AFC Bournemouth condemned them to spending Christmas within the backside half of the Premier League; it is the primary time since 1989 — earlier than the inception of the Premier League — that this has occurred.
It was a horrible afternoon stuffed with all-too-familiar points: They conceded from a set piece once more, their ninth of the season (solely Wolves (14) have conceded extra from these conditions), they missed 4 huge probabilities and slipped into damaging objective distinction for the marketing campaign (-1).
The Ruben Amorim revolution has had the odd optimistic early second, however 4 losses from six — and extra alarmingly, 14 objectives conceded in six — confirms there’s copious work to be carried out to show issues round.
It’s completely essential that work begins with defensive set items. When Dean Huijsen rose to nod house the Cherries’ opener, a realizing groan swept round Old Trafford in response. It appears unlikely that United could make nice strides ahead beneath their new supervisor whereas presenting such an Achilles heel to opponents.
Best match: Tottenham Hotspur 3-6 Liverpool
When is the perfect match not on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium? A nine-goal thriller went finish to finish and again once more, with out pause, as Mohamed Salah, Luis Díaz & Co. ran riot. They took benefit of a makeshift defence and terribly daring Spurs technique to attain and rating — then needed to fend off a late flurry to make sure the factors.
1:28
Is Ange Postecoglou’s stubbornness backfiring on Tottenham?
The ESPN FC Live crew focus on Tottenham’s defensive issues following their 6-3 defeat to high-flying Liverpool.
Best objective: Morgan Rogers vs. Man City
Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s cross for Díaz’s opener in opposition to Spurs was sensational, however as sweeping crew strikes go, nothing beats Rogers’ unbelievable effort vs. Man City. He began issues off deep in his personal half, beating three males earlier than laying it off, getting it again and ending sharply off his weaker left foot.
MVP of the weekend: Alexander Isak, Newcastle United
Isak’s first-ever Premier League hat trick led Newcastle to a crushing victory over Ipswich Town that deserves no scarcity of reward. He did properly to maintain his first effort down and bounce it into the web, then his subsequent two showcased the peak of composure within the field. It capped an ideal week for the Magpies. — Sam Tighe
Top takeaway: Sørloth leads Atlético previous Barça to the highest of LaLiga
Atlético Madrid will prime the LaLiga desk at Christmas after Alexander Sørloth’s 96th-minute winner gave them a 2-1 comeback win over Barcelona at Montjuïc, in one of the vital outcomes of the season up to now. Atlético are flying, with 12 consecutive wins in all competitions; Barça, in contrast, are in disaster, with 16 factors dropped in seven league video games.
Back when that run began, Atletico have been 10 factors behind Hansi Flick’s then-leaders. Now, it is Diego Simeone’s facet who look the crew to beat.
“We’ve discovered ourselves alongside the best way,” Simeone stated after the match. “The biggest power we now have is the group, what gamers do once they come off the bench. It’s our method of competing with two monsters on the prime: Barça and Madrid.”
Nobody embodies that philosophy higher than Sørloth. He’s now scored eight objectives in LaLiga this season, however the previous 5 have come as an alternative, and 4 of these got here within the 83rd minute or later.
“He’s chilly,” Simeone stated, when requested concerning the Norway worldwide’s ending. “We talked to him [about his role] three or 4 weeks in the past. I believe he understood it in one of the best ways.”
Antoine Griezmann and Julián Álvarez up entrance, with Sørloth in reserve. It’s a recipe that is fired Atlético to the highest of the desk. Now they simply want to remain there till May.
1:55
Atlético Madrid rating a 96th-minute winner vs. Barcelona
Alexander Sørloth scores within the final minute and sends Atlético Madrid prime of LaLiga with a 2-1 win vs. Barcelona.
Best match: Leganés 2-5 Villarreal
Three penalties, two crimson playing cards and a hat trick from Villarreal’s Thierno Barry imply there’s just one contender for recreation of the weekend in LaLiga. Twice hosts Leganés went forward, however by the tip, they have been all the way down to 9 males — Óscar Rodríguez and Jorge Saenz dismissed — as Villarreal secured all three factors to remain within the hunt for a top-four spot.
Best objective: Federico Valverde vs. Sevilla
Kylian Mbappé‘s opener in opposition to Sevilla in Real Madrid’s 4-2 win on Sunday was a shocking shot from distance, an indication that Mbappé is now feeling assured and working near his finest. But Valverde’s second, scored ten minutes later, would possibly simply have been even higher — struck tougher, and from additional out. Nobody hits a ball higher than the Uruguay worldwide.
MVP of the weekend: Pablo Durán, Celta Vigo
Celta Vigo’s thrilling, unpredictable facet are filled with homegrown expertise this season. One of these children, Durán, earned Celta all three factors in opposition to Real Sociedad on Saturday, scoring twice in six minutes. They have been 23-year-old Durán’s first ever objectives for the primary crew. He’s one other participant to look at, in a crew stuffed with them. — Alex Kirkland
Top takeaway: Bayern get again on monitor by thrashing Leipzig
RB Leipzig arrived at Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena on Friday with ambitions of creating a press release, however Marco Rose’s facet retreated right into a defensive shell, providing little resistance in opposition to the Bundesliga leaders. Leipzig surrendered possession at each alternative, permitting a beforehand faltering Bayern crew to rediscover their swagger simply earlier than the league’s conventional winter break.
The Bavarians wasted no time in taking management, opening the scoring within the very first minute. By the time the ultimate whistle blew, a dominant 5-1 victory had been secured, with the final objective coming within the 78th minute. For Leipzig, it was a humbling reminder of the hole that also exists between themselves and a Bayern facet able to find prime type when it issues most.
Harry Kane made his comeback after a minor hamstring harm sustained within the Klassiker in opposition to Borussia Dortmund final month. Yet, it wasn’t the England captain stealing the present on the Allianz Arena. Instead, Jamal Musiala, who had appeared off the boil in current weeks, lit up the chilly Munich night with a stunning efficiency. Equally spectacular was Canada left-back Alphonso Davies.
For Leipzig, the weeks forward promise to be something however snug across the Red Bull Arena.
Just days in the past, sister membership RB Salzburg parted ways with manager Pep Lijnders after a disastrous UEFA Champions League marketing campaign that noticed them lose 5 out of six league-phase matches. Leipzig fared even worse, shedding all six of their video games and crashing out of the competitors altogether. While Rose’s facet salvaged some delight with two Bundesliga wins and a DFB-Pokal victory after a dismal November, Friday’s capitulation in Munich has carried out little to ease the strain. Rose’s place is beneath scrutiny, with Leipzig’s lackluster show elevating critical questions concerning the crew’s path.
Rose set his crew up in a defensive 5-3-2, abandoning the high-pressing type that was as soon as an indicator of Red Bull groups, particularly Leipzig. While harm points might supply some clarification, RBL nonetheless fielded high quality gamers, together with the likes of Benjamin Sesko and Loïs Openda main the road.
In the previous, Leipzig’s identification was outlined by their relentless urgent recreation, a system that thrived no matter particular person participant profiles or market values. High-intensity urgent does not essentially require technical brilliance from each participant, making Friday’s passive strategy all of the extra puzzling.
1:59
Bayern Munich runs rampant in huge win over RB Leipzig
Bayern Munich has 5 totally different objective scorers in a convincing 5-1 win over RB Leipzig.
Best match: Bayer Leverkusen 5-1 SC Freiburg
On a matchday with a number of lopsided outcomes — 4 video games ended with a margin of three or extra objectives — Leverkusen’s win over Freiburg might have been the excessive level of the weekend. Freiburg defended bravely throughout the first half, however they finally succumbed to the firepower of Patrik Schick and Florian Wirtz. Leverkusen secured their eighth consecutive success, underlining as soon as once more that the reigning Bundesliga champions stay the one viable challengers to Bayern this 12 months.
Best objective: Shuto Machino vs. FC Augsburg
Holstein Kiel celebrated a much-needed win earlier than the Christmas break, thrashing fellow strugglers Augsburg 5-1 at house. It appeared that nearly each one among Kiel’s photographs on objective discovered the again of the web. The most lovely strike occurred within the thirty ninth minute when Machino hit an beautiful 30-yard free kick, curling it fantastically inside Nediljko Labrovic‘s close to put up. The followers inside Holstein-Stadion erupted, realizing that their crew have been properly on their option to their second win of the season.
MVP of the weekend: Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich
The 24-year-old left-back was in scintillating type throughout the demolition of Leipzig. Davies not solely discovered the web but in addition arrange one other objective and added two essential last-ditch tackles to his standout efficiency. Speculation had linked the previous Vancouver Whitecaps standout with a transfer to Real Madrid, however reports now suggest he’s nearing a new deal with Bayern — a possible turning level in his profession. If he continues to ship shows like Friday’s, Davies might cement his place among the many Bavarian giants’ all-time greats. — Eckner
What else you missed this weekend
Genk struggle to remain prime in Belgium
Just just like the Bundesliga, the Jupiler Pro League in Belgium noticed a top-of-the-table conflict shortly earlier than Christmas, as Genk hosted Anderlecht on Sunday. While Genk, managed by former Bayern midfielder Thorsten Fink, have been going into the 18th matchday as league leaders, the Blauw-Wit actually had at the back of their heads that they did not fare that properly in earlier clashes with their title rivals. Only one week earlier, Genk had misplaced 2-0 to Club Brugge permitting Brugge to shut the hole within the standings, and some weeks earlier than that, Genk suffered a devastating 4-0 defeat to Union Saint-Gilloise.
Eyes have been on Genk goalkeeper Hendrik van Crombrugge and objective scorer Tolu Arokodare as a result of each dedicated errors throughout Genk’s earlier loss. Both carried out very properly, although, with Van Crombrugge conserving a clear sheet and Arokodare scoring the go-ahead objective within the first half as Genk not solely beat Anderlecht 2-0 however did so in decisive style. Anderlecht’s assault, that includes former Sevilla striker Kasper Dolberg, was shut down for nearly the whole thing of the sport. It was a much-needed win for Fink’s crew, who will keep atop of the league desk over Christmas.
