Aston Villa’s Tyrone Mings was sent off just before halftime with his side nursing a one-goal lead against Crystal Palace. Then Villa really showed how good it is.
Despite playing the entire second half down a man, Aston Villa throttled Crystal Palace 3-0 on Saturday. Remarkably, it was Villa’s fifth 3-0 victory of the season, which begs the question: Can this club actually compete for a spot in Europe?
LEICESTER, England — Leicester City came back twice to end Manchester United's away winning streak in the Premier League with a 2-2 draw at the King Power stadium on Saturday.
A Jamie Vardy shot which deflected off United defender Axel Tuanzebe, five minutes from the end, secured a point for Brendan Rodgers' side after Bruno Fernandes appeared to have secured another victory on the road for United.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side, who had won their last ten away games in the Premier League, stay third on 27 points, a point behind second-placed Leicester.
Barcelona found accommodating opponents on Tuesday in relegation-threatened Valladolid, allowing Ronald Koeman to experiment with his formation and personnel and Lionel Messi to overtake Pelé for the most goals ever for a single club.
Leading 2-0 in the 65th-minute, Pedri produced a gorgeous ball for Messi to score his 644th goal Barça. Pelé scored 643 for Brazil’s Santos.
Emphasis on the assist from the 18-year-old Spaniard.
Fiorentina handed Juventus its first defeat of the season on Tuesday by entering Turin — where they previously hadn’t won in over 12 years — and walking out with a comfortable 3-0 victory.
Let’s face it: Arsenal is not a good soccer team right now. The Gunners will celebrate Christmas in 15th place in the Premier League, four points out of the relegation zone and 11 points behind rivals Chelsea and Tottenham, which are tied for fifth. To make matters worse, the Grinch came early with a pathetic Arsenal howler that perfectly encapsulates how the club is playing right now.
Since losing 2-0 to Shakhtar Donetsk on Dec. 1, Real Madrid has won five straight matches over a 15-day period — including Sunday’s 2-1 win over Eibar — to finish top of Champions League Group B and climb to second in LaLiga.
The quality of the previous four opponents is worth mentioning (Sevilla, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Atlético Madrid and Athletic Bilbao), as is the fact that the 35-year-old Luka Modrić has started each of those matches while playing at his 2018 Ballon d'Or level.
Scott McTominay and Bruno Fernandes scored two each as Manchester United turned on the style, thumping Leeds United 6-2 at Old Trafford on Sunday to move up to third in the Premier League.
United are now on 26 points, above Everton on goal difference and trail leaders Liverpool by five points, having played a game less. It was the best display this season from United who responded to Leeds' well known pressing game and relentless running by playing through the press with crisp, swift passing and matching Marcelo Bielsa's side for work-rate.
Major League Soccer's Los Angeles FC and Mexican side Tigres will meet in the final of the CONCACAF Champions League on Tuesday in Orlando, Fla., after both sides were victorious in their semifinal matches on Saturday night.
Carlos Vela scored goals in the 46th and 47th minutes to rally his LAFC to a 3-1 win over Mexican side Club América.
Manchester United, top of the FA WSL, hammered Bristol City, bottom of the division, 6-1 on Sunday with Tobin Heath scoring a late brace.
Millie Turner, Jessica Sigsworth and a Leah Galton double had given United a 4-0 lead by the 63rd-minute, but Ebony Salmon pulled one back for City in the 72nd. Heath restored the four-goal advantage seven minutes from time by curling one into the top corner from nearly 25 yards out.