Football Tracker: Raphinha gives Barca lead over Villarreal in big LaLiga clash | Flashscore.com
It's a blockbuster weekend of football across Europe's top leagues before Christmas, with plenty of intriguing matches to look forward to, while the Africa Cup of Nations gets underway in Morocco.
Sunday, December 21st
16:55 CET - It's back-to-back wins for Torino in Serie A as they have defeated Sassuolo 1-0 away from home to lift themselves up to 12th in the standings.
Nikola Vlasic got the only goal of the game from the penalty spot.
Read the report now. (https://www.flashscore.com/match/football/sassuolo-QDdvI0zl/torino-MZFZnvX4/report/?mid=CS1kuRVO)
16:40 CET - Germany's best club is in action this evening from 17:30 CET, as Bayern Munich travels to Heidenheim. They may be the visitors but the league leaders are overwhelming favourites for the clash, with Opta giving them a 77% chance of securing all three points today.
See if they can live up to the billing here. (https://www.flashscore.com/match/football/bayern-munich-nVp0wiqd/heidenheim-KWixEVWi/?mid=QRccRnd2)
16:31 CET - First blood to the league leaders! In the crucial clash between Villarreal and Barcelona, it is the Catalan side who make the early inroads.
Raphinha, ever-reliable, gives his side the lead from the spot to silence La Ceramica.
16:30 CET - Back to Serie A, where Torino have the lead at Sassuolo.
It is Nikola Vlasic with the first goal of the contest, netting from the spot in the 66th minute.
16:26 CET - Over to Birmingham, where Aston Villa meet with Manchester United in the only Premier League fixture of the day.
The Midlands club have been in fine form in recent weeks, winning their last five games in the league, whilst Manchester United provided one of the games of the season last time out - a 4-4 draw with Bournemouth.
What can they offer today? (https://www.flashscore.com/match/football/aston-villa-W00wmLO0/manchester-utd-ppjDR086/?mid=OtdbtdHr)
16:20 CET - We have reached the interval in the Bundesliga, where relegation-threatened Mainz and St Pauli have played out a 0-0 draw in the opening 45 minutes.
Just one shot on target in the first half from either side, let's hope for more in the second. (https://www.flashscore.com/match/football/mainz-EuakNmc1/st-pauli-ILyJuN3g/?mid=SdcOE9Cd)
15:55 CET - It's been a breezy Sunday stroll for Atletico Madrid against Girona, with the side from the capital coming away with a 3-0 victory with goals from Koke, Conor Gallagher and a late strike from Antoine Griezmann securing the three points.
Check out the report now. (https://www.flashscore.com/match/football/atl-madrid-jaarqpLQ/girona-nNNpcUSL/report/?mid=dhsK6cBj)
15:50 CET - Back to Serie A, where Sassuolo and Torino head into the break goalless. The side from Turin did have a penalty claim, only to see VAR overturn the on-field decision.
Follow the second half with Flashscore. (https://www.flashscore.com/match/football/sassuolo-QDdvI0zl/torino-MZFZnvX4/?mid=CS1kuRVO)
15:18 CET - Perhaps the biggest game of the weekend sees two title chasers face off at La Ceramica in LaLiga.
Villarreal have been the surprise packages of the season, last dropping points in the league back in mid-October. They face Barcelona from 16:15 CET, with the Catalans sitting atop the table.
It could be quite the contest today, we will bring you all the latest right here. (https://www.flashscore.com/match/football/barcelona-SKbpVP5K/villarreal-lUatW5jE/?mid=lnU5U03c)
14:49 CET - Back to Catalonia, where it's turning into a miserable afternoon for Girona. They are 2-0 down to Atletico Madrid at home after goals from Koke and Conor Gallagher at half-time.
14:38 CET - Atletico Madrid are in full control against Girona as Conor Gallagher doubles their lead 10 minutes after coming off the bench for an injured Nicolas Gonzalez.
14:35 CET - Just two Bundesliga games today, with the first pitting Mainz against St Pauli in what could be a relegation six-pointer.
The hosts, Mainz, are at the bottom of the standings with just seven points from 14 games. It's not much better for their opponents today. St Pauli have 11 points so far in the campaign, but they picked up a vital win last time out against Heidenheim.
Can they pull off back-to-back wins from 15:30 CET? Find out right here. (https://www.flashscore.com/match/football/mainz-EuakNmc1/st-pauli-ILyJuN3g/?mid=SdcOE9Cd)
14:26 CET - Pisa have claimed a hard-fought point at Cagliari after Stefano Moreo's 89th-minute strike cancelled out second-half goals from Michael Folorunsho and Semih Kilicsoy for the hosts.
Read the full match report here. (https://www.flashscore.com/match/football/cagliari-SCGVmKHb/pisa-roasMsOT/report/?mid=xUVkYiIs)
14:17 CET - An early breakthrough for Atletico Madrid in Girona, with Koke picking out the top corner from range for his second goal of the season.
14:01 CET - Staying in the Italian top flight, eighth-placed Sassuolo host Torino this afternoon, as the Neroverdi look to continue their impressive recent form of just one defeat in five matches.
Keep track of that clash from 15:00 CET here. (https://www.flashscore.com/match/football/sassuolo-QDdvI0zl/torino-MZFZnvX4/?mid=CS1kuRVO)
13:18 CET - Half-time in Serie A between Cagliari and Pisa, and it's the visitors who lead 1-0 thanks to Matteo Tramoni's penalty on the stroke of the interval.
Follow the second half with Flashscore here. (https://www.flashscore.com/match/football/cagliari-SCGVmKHb/pisa-roasMsOT/?mid=xUVkYiIs)
12:49 CET - Over in LaLiga, Atletico Madrid travel to Girona this afternoon, with Diego Simeone's men looking to consolidate their spot in the top four.
Keep track of the game from 14:00 CET here. (https://www.flashscore.com/match/football/atl-madrid-jaarqpLQ/girona-nNNpcUSL/?mid=dhsK6cBj)
11:52 CET - Our first game of the day comes in Serie A, as 15th-placed Cagliari host lowly Pisa in an important clash at the bottom of the table.
Follow the match from 12:30 CET here. (https://www.flashscore.com/match/football/cagliari-SCGVmKHb/pisa-roasMsOT/?mid=xUVkYiIs)
10:40 CET - Good morning and welcome back to our Football Tracker as we look ahead to a thrilling Sunday of action!
Today marks the start of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, as hosts Morocco take on Comoros in their Group A opener at 20:00 CET.
There are also plenty of big matches around Europe's top leagues, with LaLiga leaders Barcelona travelling to third-placed Villarreal, in-form Aston Villa hosting Manchester United and Bayern Munich taking on Heidenheim.
Here are today's standout games:
Girona vs Atletico Madrid - 14:00 CET (https://www.flashscore.com/match/football/atl-madrid-jaarqpLQ/girona-nNNpcUSL/?mid=dhsK6cBj)
Villarreal vs Barcelona - 16:15 CET (https://www.flashscore.com/match/football/barcelona-SKbpVP5K/villarreal-lUatW5jE/?mid=lnU5U03c)
Aston Villa vs Manchester United - 17:30 CET (https://www.flashscore.com/match/football/aston-villa-W00wmLO0/manchester-utd-ppjDR086/?mid=OtdbtdHr)
Heidenheim vs Bayern Munich - 17:30 CET (https://www.flashscore.com/match/football/bayern-munich-nVp0wiqd/heidenheim-KWixEVWi/?mid=QRccRnd2)
Morocco vs Comoros - 20:00 CET (https://www.flashscore.com/match/football/comoros-QLUC9wv3/morocco-IDKYO3R8/?mid=YeHelIam)
Genoa vs Atalanta - 20:45 CET (https://www.flashscore.com/match/football/atalanta-8C9JjMXu/genoa-d0PJxeie/?mid=C6QESmnJ)
Saturday, December 20th
22:59 CET - We are all done for tonight across Europe, and it has been a productive evening for Real Madrid, who have efficiently seen off the threat of Sevilla with a 2-0 victory - Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe both getting on the scoresheet.
In the Premier League, as a rate matchday with two 21:00 CET games taking place comes to a close, it's a good night for Arsenal, who take back top spot in the standings from Manchester City with a 1-0 win over Everton.
Elsewhere, Leeds United have helped their chances of survival with an impressive 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace - Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting a brace for the Lilywhites.
22:49 CET - Give the ball to Kylian Mbappe from 12 yards, and you know the rest... Real Madrid now lead Sevilla 2-0 with time running out as the Frenchman nets from the spot.
22:35 CET - Roma made it interesting through a late goal from Tommaso Baldanzi but Juventus have held on to claim a big three points and move up to fifth, within a point of their opponents, who have now lost three of their last four.
22:22 CET - As was to be expected, PSG are cruising against their fifth-tier opponents, now 4-0 up thanks to a penalty from Ousmane Dembele and a brace from Goncalo Ramos.
22:16 CET - A huge win is in sight for Juventus, with Luis Openda tapping in from close range to double their lead.
21:52 CET - Arsenal lead 1-0 at the break and are poised to return to the top of the Premier League, while Leeds are somewhat surprisingly 2-0 up against Crystal Palace thanks to a brace from Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
In Spain, Real Madrid are 45 minutes away from giving Xabi Alonso a much-needed win and moving to within a point of Barcelona at the top of LaLiga, albeit having played a game more.
21:41 CET - Jude Bellingham has given Real Madrid the lead by heading in a cross from Rodrygo.
21:36 CET - We've reached the halfway point in Turin, where the hosts lead despite the fact that Roma have seen more of the ball and had more efforts.
21:29 CET - After slow starts, the floodgates have opened across Europe, with Arsenal, PSG and Juventus taking leads through Viktor Gyokeres, Desire Doue and Francisco Conceicao.
21:08 CET - Real Madrid are underway against Sevilla, with Los Blancos knowing a win would see them gain ground on at least one of their title rivals this weekend, with Barcelona and Villarreal facing one another.
20:45 CET - We're approaching the end of the day, but there are still plenty of entertainment to come, with Juventus and Roma underway and Everton vs Arsenal kicking off in 15 minutes along with a cup clash between PSG and Fontenay.
20:38 CET - Over in Germany, Bayer Leverkusen have headed into the winter break on a high, beating RB Leipzig 3-1 to move up to third in the league, level on points with tonight's opponents but ahead on goal difference.
20:32 CET - It's full-time in the English capital and Liverpool have just about secured all three points after a dramatic ending to the game.
Spurs went down to nine men when captain Cristian Romero kicked out at Ibrahim Konate, but they still dominated the game and pushed for an equaliser with the visitors completely incapable of holding onto the ball.
In the end though, the reigning champions got a win that moves them up to fifth and level on points with fourth.
20:14 CET - A lifeline for Tottenham! Richarlison has made it 2-1 with seven minutes plus stoppage time remaining to give the hosts a glimmer of hope.
20:05 CET - Lazio's mediocre season goes on, with the side from Rome failing to break Cremonese down in a drab 0-0 draw.
20:00 CET - 2-0! Hugo Ekitike has produced a lovely header to double Liverpool's lead and get his fifth goal in three games.
19:50 CET - Liverpool take the lead! After coming off the bench at half-time, Alexander Isak has fired his side ahead after The Reds' two big-money summer signings combined, with Florian Wirtz playing the Swede in on goal.
However, the striker picked up a bad injury in the process and has had to come straight off.
19:24 CET - Spurs responded well to going down to 10 men against the reigning champions, making it into the break without really looking like conceding.
Will Arne Slot's side ramp things up in the second half?
