Before Tuesday’s crucial match against Atletico Madrid, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick expressed his relief at seeing some injured players recover from injury.
With a 3-1 defeat of Alaves on Saturday, Barca moved to the top of La Liga, while Atletico is only three points clear.
After missing more than a month with a hamstring issue, Pedri made his first appearance for the team on Saturday as a substitute.
Frenkie de Jong, who missed the Alaves game due to family reasons, and he and Diego Simeone are in line to start against Diego Simeone’s rugged outfit.
READ MORE: Arsenal Strikes Hard to Refuse Point From Resilient 10-Man Chelsea
“I’m really happy,” he declared. We are returning, so maybe we can raise our game. Flick acknowledged that Uruguayan center-back Ronald Araujo is out, but he said that this was the most crucial factor on Monday.
The German has been criticized for a number of abominable displays, not least of which came in the Catalans’ most famous games, including 3-0 defeat to Chelsea and 2-1 reverses against Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.
Flick acknowledged that Barca needs to improve despite being the top club.
He admitted, “I am aware that we are not in top form like we were last season.” However, we have potential. And we must raise our bar.”
Italy’s tennis federation announced on Monday that Nicola Pietrangeli, a two-time champion of the French Open, had passed away at the age of 92.
Italian tennis is mingling a legendary player. The FITP announced that Nicola Pietrangeli, the only Italian to be inducted into the world tennis hall of fame, had passed away.
Prior to the arrival of current world number two Jannik Sinner, Pietrangeli was widely regarded as the country’s greatest tennis player. He was born in Tunis in 1933, raised in an Italian family and raised in Russia.
Sinner also explains how “Amazing” ATP Finals triumphed over Alcaraz.
In addition to his two victories at Roland Garros in 1959 and 1960, Pietrangeli has won 44 other singles titles throughout his career.
During the Davis Cup Finals between Italy and Spain, Italian tennis player Nicola Pietrangeli returns to face Spain’s Gimeno on July 25, 1959, in Milan. (Photo By AFP)
In 1961 and 1964, he also lost to Manuel Santana in the final of the French Open, and he also won his second French Open title in the process.
The Organizers of the Italian Open tournament, which he won twice, said, “We say goodbye to Nicola Pietrangeli, a true legend of Italian tennis.
Pietrangeli also won the Davis Cup twice, playing 164 games for Italy and leading his nation to its first title in 1976 as the captain.
At the conclusion of their quarter-final match at the French Tennis Open in Paris on May 21, 1956, Italian tennis player Nicola Pietrangeli (right) shakes hands with Australian tennis player Lewis Hoad. (Photo by AFP)
In a heavyweight title fight between Chelsea and Arsenal, Mike Merino saved the team.
Moises Caicedo, a Chelsea midfielder, was sent off in the 38th minute at Stamford Bridge after being caught by a crude foul on Merino.
Trevoh Chalobah headed Chelsea in the 48th minute from Reece James’ corner despite Caicedo being sent off.
The opening goal was scored by Chelsea’s English defender #23 Trevoh Chalobah (2L) at the London game of Stamford Bridge on November 30, 2025, with the team celebrating with teammates after the celebration. (Photo by Justin TALLIS/AFP)
However, Arsenal escaped a bruising encounter between the title rivals with Merino’s close-range header from Bukayo Saka’s cross in the 59th minute.
Read more about Isak’s first Premier League goal as Liverpool sink West Ham HERE.
Arsenal are five points clear of Manchester City, who defeated Newcastle on Saturday, and are six points ahead of Chelsea, who are third.
Chelsea and Arsenal’s English Premier League football team, #23 Mikel Merino (R), celebrates after scoring their first goal at Stamford Bridge in London on November 30, 2025. (Photo by Justin TALLIS/AFP)
The Gunners are still the favorites to win their first Premier League title since 2004, but Chelsea’s aggressive display suggested they might pose the greatest threat to the team’s title ambitions.
Chelsea have won their first seven games without losing in all competitions, while Arsenal have won all 17 of those games, winning 14 of those.
In a crucifying 2-0 victory over West Ham on Sunday, Alexander Isak finally scored his first Premier League goal for troubled Liverpool.
Since making a record-breaking £125 million ($165 million) move from Newcastle in September, Isak had not scored in his five top-flight appearances.
With just his second goal in 11 games for the Reds, the Sweden forward’s maiden goal came in a League Cup win over second-tier Southampton, ending that drought at the London Stadium.
No foul was committed during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Liverpool at the London Stadium on November 30, 2025 when Liverpool’s French defender #05 Ibrahima Konate (L) squares off against Senegalise defender #12 El Hadji Malick Diouf (R). (Photo by Ben Stansall / AFP)
In stoppage time, Cody Gakpo scored Liverpool’s second goal to earn their first win of the season overall.
“There is definitely a sense of relief because winning is crucial if you have lost so many times.” Reds manager Arne Slot praised how few chances were given and how many were created by us.
“It helps if you don’t go down by one point after five because you’re more receptive.” We engaged in the game that I had planned. Both our players and our supporters were profoundly affected by what I saw.
“This is a good first step for us,” he said. We won and the sheet was clean.
READ MORE: Foden Scores Late Winner In Man City’s 3-0 victory over Leeds.
After missing the pre-season due to his protracted transfer saga and injuries, Isak hit the league for the first time since scoring for Newcastle against Brighton in May, but injuries and a lack of match fitness prevented him from scoring.
On November 30, 2025, West Ham United and Liverpool play at the London Stadium’s Dutch defender #04 Virgil van Dijk (R) as a pass is played. (Photo by Ben Stansall / AFP)
In the midst of a disappointing campaign, Liverpool’s 26-year-old’s 10-game goal drought for the club and nation was a sigh of relief.
According to Slot, “I think it does feel significant.”
Liverpool’s third successive defeat by three goals or more following 3-0 defeats against Nottingham Forest and Manchester City in the Champions League came in midweek with a 4-1 humiliation against PSV Eindhoven.
Liverpool’s worst run since 1953-54 saw them lose nine of their previous 12 games, including six defeats in seven league games.
This sluggish victory helped Liverpool move up to eighth place as the pressure began to mount on Slot.
Slot insists that despite losing the support of his players, Mohamed Salah has struggled to get the best out of him since the season’s final months.
Salah has scored just five goals overall this year, but Slot responded by benching the Egypt forward for the third time this year.
On November 30, 2025, West Ham United and Liverpool’s Dutch striker #18 Cody Gakpo celebrates after scoring their second goal at the London Stadium. (Photo by Ben Stansall / AFP)
Isak delivers  .
Billy Bonds, a legendary former team captain and manager, passed away on Sunday at the age of 79, was the subject of a minute’s worth of applause in West Ham’s emotional tribute.
West Ham’s energetic start would have impressed Bonds, but Liverpool eventually took control.
When Isak woefully crossed from the edge of the field in the opening minutes, he looked like he was on to another frustrating afternoon.
Alphonse Areola’s superb save, which kept out his close-range bicycle kick, then thwarted him.
Isak’s second league goal this season was only his second.
On the hour mark, Isak finally scored his long-awaited goal.
Gakpo brought Isak back after cutting the ball past Areola inside West Ham, and he then brought the celebration to his knees.
When Isak was substituted, Slot greeted him on the touchline with a handshake before the day was over.
When Lucas Paqueta was unnecessarily sent off in the 84th minute, West Ham’s frustration increased.
After Niclas Fullkrug’s foul on Dominik Szoboszlai, Paqueta argued with referee Darren England, who later issued a second yellow card, and he was then forced to accept a second yellow card after refusing to leave the official.
In the final moments, Gakpo swiveld to smash the ball past Areola from 12 yards after West Ham made a hash of clearing the area, before putting the outcome beyond question.
Before Mason Mount’s stunning winner as Manchester United defeated Crystal Palace 2-1 on Sunday, Joseph Zirkzee scored his first Premier League goal in almost a year.
At Selhurst Park, Jean-Philippe Mateta’s first-half penalty gave the hosts a lead, but Zirkzee and Mount scored the winning goal after the break for United.
Zirkzee scored his first Premier League goal since he scored against Everton in December 2024, helping United recover from a poor start.
The widely denounced Dutch striker had started 24 league games without scoring, which made him think that his £36 million ($47.7 million) move from Bologna in 2024 was a bad one.
In his eight previous appearances dating back to April, Zirkzee, 24, had not scored.
On November 30, 2025, during Crystal Palace vs. Manchester United’s English Premier League game at Selhurst Park in south London, Dutch forward #1 Joshua Zirkzee celebrates scoring the winning goal. (Photo by Glyn KIRK/AFP) /
Mount has struggled with injuries since joining United from Chelsea, and this was only his second goal this season.
United’s first victory at Old Trafford since October was a much-needed boost for Amorim after being defeated by Everton’s ten men on Monday at Old Trafford.
The challenge presented by United’s gritty fightback in icy south London was underscored by Palace’s first defeat at Selhurst Park since February 15.
After last season’s difficulties, Amorim had stated this week that there were “no excuses” for United’s sputtering start to the season.
READ MORE: Bayern Reclaims Arsenal’s Cup Success With a win over St Pauli.
He will be relieved to see United defend the FA Cup winners, who have become a thorn in the Premier League elite since Oliver Glasner took over.
After a long throw caused chaos in the Palace defense, Casemiro should have taken the lead inside the opening 60 seconds, but Dean Henderson parried his close-range effort.
United Revival
Mateta’s second-half culpability was equally apparent, with only Senne Lammens to beat in the United goal as the France striker held off Leny Yoro.
Before Yoro blocked Yeremy Pino’s goal-bound strike, Lammens was called into action to save Daichi Kamada’s low drive from the edge of the area.
When Palace took the lead in the 36th minute, United was already in trouble.
Mateta scored from the spot, but Yoro’s penalty was voided when he lunged crudely at him, who was then denied entry to the second-place goal due to his double kick.
Accidental double-touch penalties are now permitted if the first kick was successful as a result of a new rule being implemented this season.
Following the clarification, Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez received a penalty for kick-in two against Real Madrid last year.
Mateta confidently fired past Lammens once more after receiving a reprieve.
Zirkzee scored the 54th minute equalizer to make Amorim’s unlikely savior completely anonymous in the first half.
Zirkzee smashed a brilliant strike into Henderson’s far corner from a nearly impossible angle after grabbing Bruno Fernandes’ free kick.
Zirkzee unintentionally deflected the ball into Lammens’ net before scrambling it into safety, almost finding the back of the net at the other end moments later.
However, in the 63rd minute, Mount put United ahead with some momentum.
Fernandes headed a free-kick past Henderson from 20 yards past Henderson before firing a low drive past the Palace wall.
In a 3-1 comeback home victory over St Pauli on Saturday, Luis Diaz scored in stoppage time to help Bayern Munich recover from their Champions League defeat to Arsenal on Wednesday.
In the third minute of injury time, Diaz headed in a Harry Kane cross after being suspended for the defeat suffered by Bayern, which is Bayern’s first of any kind this season.
Bayern’s goal came four minutes after Nicolas Jackson had already scored to make it 2-0 for the second successive Bundesliga season without conceding any points.
On November 29, 2025, Bayern Munich’s Senegalese forward #11 Nicolas Jackson (R) beat St Pauli’s German goalkeeper #01 Ben Voll in the first-division German football match between FC Bayern Munich and FC St Pauli in Munich, southern Germany. (Photo by Alexandra BEIER/AFP)
Before half-time, Diaz had given Raphael Guerreiro the equalizer of the match, and after Andreas Hountondji had given Pauli a surprise lead six minutes in, Diaz had given Bayern.
Bayern will move into the top eight points after RB Leipzig’s goalless draw against Borussia Moenchengladbach on Friday.
Manuel Neuer, a veteran Bayern goalkeeper, credited his team with “belief.”
After falling behind and having no luck in hitting the post three times, we kept going. The late goals were a relief, Neuer claimed.
Pauli took the lead early after a club-record eight straight Bundesliga defeats before arriving in Munich.
Read more about Chelsea’s “Deserve” To Be Considered Title Rivals – Arteta.
German midfielder #06 Joshua Kimmich reacts during the German Bundesliga match between FC Bayern Munich and FC St. Pauli on November 29, 2025, in Munich, southern Germany. (Photo by Alexandra BEIER/AFP)
Hountondji outmuscled Kim Min-jae in midfield before scoring past Manuel Neuer at the near post after the visitors had forced Joshua Kimmich of Bayern into a mistake.
Before Diaz acrobatically created the leveller, Bayern youngsters Lennart Karl and Tom Bischof took turns hitting the post.
Kim chipped a long pass into Diaz’s box to make amends for his early error. The Colombian fell, but Guerreiro somehow managed to get the ball and fired in from close range.
During the German first division Bundesliga game between FC Bayern Munich and FC St Pauli in Munich, southern Germany, on November 29, 2025, English international #09 Harry Kane (R) kicks the ball past St Pauli’s #08 Eric Smith. (Photo by Alexandra BEIER/AFP)
With 10 minutes left, Kane hit the woodwork, but Diaz’s late strike, which lofted a ball goalwards for the former Liverpool forward, was crucial, before Chelsea loanee Jackson added a third with the match’s final kick.
In another area, Heidenheim scored twice in the 90th minute to win 2-1 away at Union Berlin and top the table.
Said El Mala, a star of Germany, gave Cologne a 1-1 draw away at Werder Bremen with a stoppage-time equalizer.
With a 3-0 victory at home against struggling Augsburg, who haven’t won since early October, Hoffenheim moved up to fourth place in the table.
With victory, Bayer Leverkusen will face Borussia Dortmund at home later that Saturday, and they will be able to match up with RB Leipzig in terms of points later.
