There might be a winter break in the English Premier League with games stretched across weekends, but there are still plenty of talking points happening in Serie A, LaLiga, Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and more.
On Saturday, we saw Bayer Leverkusen‘s fairy-tale season continue with a stoppage-time winner against RB Leipzig, Ivan Toney return to action for Brentford, and Arsenal edge Everton in the Women’s Super League. Meanwhile in Italy, Daniele De Rossi secured his first victory as manager of Roma after José Mourinho was sacked by the club earlier this week. Can the club legend turn things around in the second half of the campaign?
On Sunday, both Barcelona and Real Madrid got last-minute wins against Real Betis and Almeria, respectively, while Bayern Munich were stunned by Werder Bremen at the Allianz Arena.
Here is your look back at all the fun from this weekend so far.
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SUNDAY REVIEW
The Sunday lead: Madrid snatch late winner, despite VAR controversy
Real Madrid recovered from two goals down to beat Almería 3-2 at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Dani Carvajal scoring a 99th-minute winner in a thrilling encounter dominated by the involvement of VAR. The game swung on three big decisions all made with the assistance of the pitch-side monitor in the second half.
Referee Francisco José Hernández Maeso awarded Madrid a penalty, then ruled out an Almería strike and finally allowed a Vinicius Jr. goal converted with his upper arm to stand. Those decisions left Almería alleging robbery as LaLiga’s bottom club’s winless start to the season extended to 21 games.
Almería have shown signs of life in recent weeks. They lost 3-2 at Barcelona in December, conceding the winner in the 83rd minute, and held high-flying Girona to a goalless draw last weekend. They looked set to go one better at the Santiago Bernabéu when Edgar González‘s stunning strike gave them a 2-0 lead before the break after Largie Ramazani‘s first-minute opener.
Dani Carvajal’s winner was enough to give Real Madrid all three points in a thrilling 3-2 win over Almería. (Photo by Diego Souto/Getty Images)
However, Madrid so often turn things around, especially at home, although this comeback was loaded with controversy. Almería claimed Kaiky was fouled before the ball hit his arm, which allowed Jude Bellingham to make it 2-1. They were disappointed a Sergio Arribas goal was ruled out for a Dion Lopy foul in the build-up. They were furious Vinicius’ equaliser stood when the Brazilian had turned the ball home with his upper arm.
Defender González moaned that the “competition is not fair for everyone,” teammate Marc Pubill added “somebody decided we couldn’t win and that’s what happened,” and midfielder Gonzalo Melero claimed it was a “robbery that surpassed all limits.” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said he understood their anger but that the referee had got all three calls correct.
The win took Madrid back to the top of LaLiga provisionally before Girona’s win over Sevilla. More important, perhaps, is the fact they now have a week off before Sunday’s trip to Las Palmas. Ancelotti said the sloppy first half against Almería was down to tiredness and blamed himself for picking players who were worn out. After the Spanish Supercopa in Saudi Arabia, where they faced Atlético Madrid and Barcelona to win the competition, and an extra-time defeat to Atlético Madrid in the Copa del Rey on Thursday, a rest might well be just what they need. — Alex Kirkland
Sunday talking points around the leagues
Barca leave it late but get the win over Betis
Ferran Torres bared his teeth to score his first Barcelona hat-trick as the Spanish champions left it late to beat Real Betis 4-2 at the Benito Villamarín having surrendered a two-goal lead in the second half.
Torres has nicknamed himself the shark this season, but his performances at times have seen him compared to other less predatory fish. He has been in and out of manager Xavi Hernández’s team, too, but this was his sixth successive start and Barça will hope his performance in Seville is a result of the confidence being shown in him. He now has 11 goals in all competitions, second only to Robert Lewandowski, who has 12 and also supplied the assist for Barça’s vital third goal, scored by substitute João Félix.
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Torres’ performance took the headlines away from Isco, who dragged Betis back into this game in the second half. After Torres’ brace, Isco, who has rediscovered some of his best football back in the south of Spain, scored twice in three minutes to level the game up with half an hour to go.
With a draw and further damage to Barça’s title hopes looking likely, Torres teed up Felix, who produced a fantastic finish with the outside of his boot to seal the points in the 90th minute. Torres then added the fourth in stoppage time, chipping Rui Silva after collecting a through ball from the outstanding Lamine Yamal — one of two 16-year-olds in the Barça XI alongside defender Pau Cubarsí. The win keeps Barça within seven points of leaders Real Madrid and eases the pressure on Xavi after last week’s Spanish Supercopa humbling against Los Blancos. — Samuel Marsden