Aston Villa has a strong debut performance in their first Premier League match against Sheffield United, scoring two goals and holding their opponents to a third-filled Bramall Lane. Newcomer Rogers shows potential for Villa, but Archer stumbles on a key shot and Ahmedhodzic saves the Blade's chances with a double save.
With just 11 days left in the January transfer window, Premier League teams are scrambling to secure their squads for the second half of the season. One player who may be on the move is Manchester United's Marcus Rashford, who has expressed a desire to leave the club. Meanwhile, Liverpool faces the challenge of resolving contract issues with key players such as Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk, while Chelsea and Arsenal look to bolster their squads with new signings. Keep up with all the latest transfer news and gossip on Mirror Football.
Despite a 2-1 loss to Atletico Madrid, FC Barcelona coach Hansi Flick urges his team to move on and come back stronger after the winter break. The team's poor run of form has seen them slip off the top of La Liga and suffer defeats in their previous two home games. They are now three points behind Atletico having played a game more.
Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa has spoken out on an arrest warrant issued against him in relation to an alleged fraud involving EPF deposits. Clarifying his position, Uthappa stated that he had no active executive role in the companies involved in the case and was not involved in their day-to-day operations. He also revealed that these companies had failed to repay funds he had lent them, leading to his resignation from their directorships. Uthappa's legal proceedings against them are ongoing.
In a dramatic and hard-fought match, Atletico Madrid overcame an early deficit to defeat Barcelona 2-1 and claim the top spot in La Liga. Goals from Rodrigo De Paul and Alexander Sorloth secured a 12th consecutive victory for Atletico, while suffering a blow to Barcelona's title hopes with their third consecutive home league defeat. This was also Atletico manager Diego Simeone's first away victory against Barcelona in La Liga.
Bayer Leverkusen produces a dominant performance, led by Patrik Schick's four goals, to defeat Freiburg 5-1 and close the gap on Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich. The game was played under a somber atmosphere with players and fans paying tribute to the victims of the recent car attack in Magdeburg. Florian Wirtz, who missed a penalty earlier in the game, also played a crucial role in Leverkusen's victory with two assists. Schick's clinical finishing and Wirtz's creativity proved to be too much for Freiburg's keeper, Noah Atubolo, who had a good game despite conceding five goals.
Despite Manchester City's struggles in recent matches, manager Pep Guardiola remains optimistic about their chances of regaining their confidence and climbing the league table. A late goal from Phil Foden was not enough for City to avoid a 2-1 loss to Aston Villa, managed by former Arsenal boss Unai Emery. This defeat has also brought attention to the decrease in goal-scoring form of striker Erling Haaland, who believes he and the team need to do better. However, Haaland remains confident in Guardiola to lead them to success.
Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa has been issued an arrest warrant by a regional PF commissioner in connection with an alleged PF scam. Uthappa, who was reportedly overseeing the management of a lifestyle brand, has been accused of deducting PF contributions from employee salaries but failing to deposit the funds. However, Uthappa has denied any executive involvement in the operations and clarified that his role was limited.
Atletico Madrid came back from a goal down to defeat Barcelona 2-1 and claim top spot in La Liga on Saturday. Barcelona, who have been struggling in recent weeks, once again stumbled and suffered their third consecutive home league defeat. Atletico, on the other hand, claimed their 12th consecutive victory across all competitions under the leadership of Diego Simeone. With Real Madrid set to face Sevilla on Sunday, the title race in Spain is heating up.
Bayer Leverkusen ended 2024 on a high note, with a resounding 5-1 win against SC Freiburg. Striker Patrik Schick was the star of the match, scoring four goals to lead his team to their eighth consecutive victory. The win keeps Leverkusen in second place in the Bundesliga standings, only four points behind leaders Bayern Munich. Meanwhile, Freiburg remains in the middle of the table as they head into the winter break.
After a disappointing performance against Atlético Madrid, the pressure is on for Barcelona's veteran striker Robert Lewandowski. Fans are now calling on head coach Hansi Flick to bench the Polish international for the team's upcoming matches to try and revive their form. Will Flick listen to the pleas of the fans and make a change to the first-choice XI? Only time will tell.