The festive football calendar delivered a mix of joy and heartbreak over the weekend and especially on Boxing Day, with key matches across Europe giving fans plenty to talk about. While Arsenal found a way to keep pace at the top, Manchester United’s and City’s woes deepened and Inter Milan stayed hot on Atalanta’s heels in Serie A.
Serie A: Inter Keep Pressure on Leaders Atalanta
Italy’s top flight saw the title race tighten over the week, with Inter showcasing their quality and Atalanta holding on to top spot.
Monday, December 23
- Inter 2–0 Como: Carlos Augusto and Marcus Thuram delivered for Inter as they secured a vital win to remain second in the standings.
- Udinese 2–1 Fiorentina: Udinese climbed to 9th after a spirited performance, showcasing why they remain a tough mid-table competitor.
Saturday, December 28
- Atalanta 1–1 Lazio: Atalanta needed an 88th-minute equalizer from Baresianni to salvage a point, keeping them narrowly ahead of Inter.
- Inter 3–0 Cagliari: Goals from Bastoni, Lautaro Martínez and Calhanoglu capped a dominant display for Inter, who now sit just a few points behind the leaders.
Premier League: Festive Football Brings Joy and Despair
The Boxing Day fixtures delivered all the drama fans could ask for, with plenty of surprises and standout moments.
Thursday, December 26
- Manchester City 1–1 Everton: Bernardo Silva gave City the lead, but Ndiaye’s equalizer extended City’s dismal run to one win in 13 games. Now in 7th place, Pep Guardiola’s side is a shadow of their usual selves.
- Liverpool 3–1 Leicester: A Mohamed Salah-inspired Liverpool overturned an early Ayew strike to claim three points, with Gakpo and Jones also on the scoresheet. Liverpool remain six points clear at the top.
- Chelsea 1–2 Fulham: Fulham made history with their first win at Stamford Bridge since 1979. Late goals from Wilson and Muniz erased Cole Palmer’s opener, dropping Chelsea to third in the table.
- Wolves 2–0 Manchester United: A disastrous showing from United saw them slump to another defeat. Bruno Fernandes was sent off and goals from Cunha (direct from a corner) and Hwang Hee-chan sealed their fate. United’s form under Reuben Amorim continues to unravel, leaving them in 14th place.
Friday, December 27
- Arsenal 1–0 Ipswich: In a challenging week that saw Bukayo Saka ruled out until February, Arsenal relied on Kai Havertz’s strike to secure a gritty win. The Gunners now sit second, one point above Chelsea but six behind Liverpool.
Key Talking Points
Manchester United: Crisis in Full Swing
Reuben Amorim’s side continues to flounder, with their Boxing Day loss to Wolves exposing a lack of discipline and creativity. Fernandes’ red card added to their misery, while conceding another goal from a corner underscored their defensive frailty. Can United turn things around, or is their season already a lost cause?
Manchester City: Guardiola Under Fire
City’s alarming form has left fans questioning their title hopes. With just one win in 13 games, is it time for Guardiola to rethink his approach, or does the squad need reinforcements in January?
Arsenal: Grit and Determination
Despite the blow of losing Saka to injury, Arsenal’s Boxing Day win over Ipswich demonstrated their resilience. Can they maintain this momentum and challenge Liverpool for the title?
Serie A: Atalanta vs. Inter vs. Napoli
Atalanta remain at the top, but Inter’s dominant performances this week show they are ready to pounce. Napoli are also hot on their heels, and a win for them today against 19th-placed Venezia would see them level on points with Atalanta. The title race in Serie A looks set to go down to the wire.
Fan Debate
- Manchester United: Is it time for drastic changes, or can Amorim turn things around?
- Manchester City: Should Guardiola make changes in January, or is this just a blip?
- Arsenal: Can the Gunners cope without Saka and keep up the pressure on Liverpool?
- Serie A: Will Atalanta hold on to the top spot or can Inter or Napoli overtake them in the coming weeks?
With more exciting games lined up throughout the week, including on New Year’s Day, the footballing drama shows no signs of slowing down.