Europe’s Soccer Giants Stumble as Chelsea Shine Bright
As the holiday season approaches, it seems some of Europe’s biggest soccer clubs might already have their minds on Christmas festivities rather than the pitch. How else can we explain the shocking results this weekend? Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Bayern Munich all dropped points, leaving fans scratching their heads and rivals celebrating.
From stunning comebacks to jaw-dropping goals, this weekend had it all. If you missed the action, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. Here’s a breakdown of the weekend’s biggest moments across Europe’s top leagues, courtesy of ESPN’s Julien Laurens, Sam Marsden, and Constantin Eckner.
Premier League
Top Takeaway: Chelsea Are the Weekend’s Big Winners
Christmas came early for Enzo Maresca and his Chelsea squad. The Blues enjoyed a perfect weekend, securing a 2-1 victory over Brentford at Stamford Bridge while watching their closest rivals—Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, and Aston Villa—all drop points.
Here’s what that means for the Premier League table: Chelsea are now just two points behind league leaders Liverpool (who still have a game in hand against Everton). They’re also four points clear of Arsenal in third, six ahead of Nottingham Forest in fourth, and seven ahead of Manchester City in fifth. Talk about a shake-up!
Sunday’s performance against Brentford was classic Chelsea this season. They created plenty of chances but failed to convert many of them. Despite their inefficiency, they managed to score twice and held on for their 10th win of the season. For context, they had just 19 points at this stage last season. Now, they sit on 34 points after 16 games. What a turnaround!
Best Match: Southampton 0-5 Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham fans were treated to a first-half masterclass as their team demolished Southampton. Ange Postecoglou’s side were relentless, scoring after just 36 seconds and adding two more goals within the first 14 minutes. By halftime, the scoreline read 5-0, leaving Southampton shell-shocked. It was a performance to remember for Spurs, who desperately needed a boost after a rough patch of form.
Best Goal: Rodrigo Muniz vs. Liverpool
Rodrigo Muniz’s backheel goal for Fulham against Liverpool was nothing short of magical. The Brazilian forward connected beautifully with a brilliant cross from Antonee Robinson, who was the man of the match. While Diogo Jota’s equalizer for Liverpool denied Fulham the win, Muniz’s moment of brilliance will be remembered as one of the weekend’s highlights.
MVP of the Weekend: Amad, Manchester United
Amad Diallo stole the show in Sunday’s Manchester Derby, leading United to a famous win over City. The Ivory Coast international was instrumental, earning a penalty and scoring a last-minute winner at the Etihad. It’s performances like these that make you wonder why Erik Ten Hag didn’t give him more opportunities during his tenure. Ruben Amorim, however, is getting the best out of United’s No. 16.
LaLiga
Top Takeaway: Barcelona’s Crisis Deepens
Barcelona’s struggles continued as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Leganés at the Olympic Stadium. The Catalan giants have now won just one of their last six LaLiga matches, a shocking decline for a team that was nine points clear at the top in October. They’re now level on points with Atlético Madrid and just one point ahead of Real Madrid, having played a game more than both. Next weekend’s clash with Atlético is shaping up to be a season-defining match.
One major issue for Barça has been their inability to convert chances. Despite being the league’s top scorers with 50 goals in 18 games, they’ve struggled in recent matches. Against Leganés, they managed 20 shots but couldn’t find the back of the net, thanks in part to an inspired performance from goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic and a wasteful Robert Lewandowski.
Best Match: Rayo Vallecano 3-3 Real Madrid
Real Madrid’s six-goal thriller against Rayo Vallecano had everything: drama, comebacks, and controversy. Los Blancos trailed 2-0, took a 3-2 lead, and ultimately settled for a draw after a late equalizer from Rayo. Jude Bellingham scored for the sixth consecutive league game, while Federico Valverde and Rodrygo also found the net. The match ended with Madrid fuming over a non-awarded penalty for a challenge on Vinícius Junior.
Best Goal: Federico Valverde vs. Rayo Vallecano
Valverde’s long-range strike was a thing of beauty. The Uruguayan midfielder controlled the ball, set himself up, and unleashed a rocket from nearly 30 yards out. It was his fourth LaLiga goal of the season, and all four have come from outside the box. Talk about a specialist!
MVP of the Weekend: Jesús Navas, Sevilla
It was an emotional weekend for Sevilla fans as Jesús Navas played his final home game for the club. The 38-year-old winger, who has made over 700 appearances for Sevilla, received a hero’s send-off in their 1-0 win over Celta Vigo. A fitting farewell for a club legend.
Bundesliga
Top Takeaway: Controversy in Berlin
The Bundesliga’s reputation for passionate crowds took a hit this weekend after an ugly incident in Berlin. A Union Berlin fan threw a lighter at Bochum goalkeeper Patrick Drewes, forcing him to leave the game. The match was delayed for nearly 30 minutes, and Bochum had to finish with striker Philipp Hofmann in goal. The game ended 1-1, but Bochum plan to lodge a protest, arguing they were unfairly disadvantaged.
Best Match: Mainz 2-1 Bayern Munich
Mainz pulled off a stunning upset, handing Bayern Munich their first league defeat of the season. The hosts executed their game plan perfectly, isolating Jamal Musiala and taking advantage of Harry Kane’s absence. Lee Jae-Sung was the hero, scoring twice to secure a memorable victory.
Best Goal: Armin Gigovic vs. Borussia Monchengladbach
Gigovic’s 25-yard screamer for Holstein Kiel was a rare bright spot in their 4-1 loss to Gladbach. The strike had an expected-goals value of just 0.03, making it one of the most improbable goals of the weekend.
MVP of the Weekend: Lee Jae-Sung, Mainz
Lee’s two goals against Bayern Munich were enough to earn him MVP honors. The South Korean midfielder has a knack for delivering in big moments, and this weekend was no exception.
What Else You Missed
- Juventus remain unbeaten in Serie A but continue to frustrate fans with a 2-2 draw against Venezia.
- Celtic edged Rangers in a thrilling Scottish League Cup final, winning on penalties after a 3-3 draw.
Originally Written by: Julien Laurens
