Pep Guardiola’s bold squad rotation backfired spectacularly on Tuesday night as an under-strength Manchester City suffered a shock 2–0 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League at the Etihad Stadium.

The City boss opted to rest several key players — including Erling Haaland, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva and Gianluigi Donnarumma — but the decision proved costly as Leverkusen punished a lacklustre City display. The result ends City’s 24-game unbeaten home run in the Champions League group stage, a record dating back to 2018.

Leverkusen Strike in Both Halves

Leverkusen took the lead in the 23rd minute. After City failed to clear their lines, Malik Tillman and Christian Kofane combined to set up Alex Grimaldo, who drilled a precise low shot past James Trafford.

Despite dominating possession, City lacked cutting edge in the final third. Oscar Bobb nearly forced an equaliser with a deflected cross, and Tijjani Reijnders squandered a golden chance just before half-time when he fired straight at Mark Flekken.

City’s defensive instability was punished again in the 54th minute when Ibrahim Maza delivered a teasing cross that Patrik Schick headed home, overpowering Nathan Ake to secure Leverkusen’s second.

Guardiola’s Changes Fail to Rescue City

Guardiola introduced Jeremy Doku, Phil Foden and Nico O’Reilly at the break, and later Haaland, but none could alter the momentum. O’Reilly tested Flekken from distance, while Haaland — still searching for rhythm after missing big chances at Newcastle — failed to convert a one-on-one opportunity.

City have now suffered back-to-back defeats following Saturday’s 2–1 loss to Newcastle and have already lost four Premier League matches this season, leaving them seven points off leaders Arsenal.

The loss, Guardiola’s 100th Champions League match in charge of City, raises concerns over squad depth as they enter a packed December schedule that includes a trip to Real Madrid.

Guardiola recently admitted feeling “embarrassed and ashamed” after a heated post-match incident at Newcastle; following this subdued performance, his players may share some of that sentiment.

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Arsenal delivered a statement performance in the North London derby on Sunday, sweeping aside Tottenham Hotspur 4–1 at the Emirates Stadium, with Eberechi Eze stealing the spotlight after scoring the first-ever Premier League hat-trick in the historic rivalry.

Leandro Trossard opened the scoring early on, setting the tone before Eze struck his first in the 41st minute. The Arsenal star returned from halftime in explosive fashion, scoring again just 38 seconds into the second half to extend the lead. He completed his treble in the 76th minute, cementing his name in derby history.

Tottenham briefly sparked hope when Richarlison produced a stunning 40-yard lob, but it wasn’t enough to derail Arsenal’s dominance.

The victory pushes the Gunners six points clear at the top of the Premier League table, with 29 points from 13 games. Eze signed for £60 million from Crystal Palace after Tottenham had shown interest said the moment felt “perfect” and described Arsenal fans as “family,” praising the atmosphere that fueled his career-defining performance.

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Al-Nassr secured their ninth consecutive win of the 2025–26 Saudi Pro League season with a commanding 4–1 victory over Al-Khaleej at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh on Sunday, capped by a spectacular 96th-minute bicycle kick from Cristiano Ronaldo.

The home side took control in the 39th minute when João Félix opened the scoring, before Wesley and Sadio Mané added their names to the scoresheet to extend Al-Nassr’s dominance. Ronaldo’s acrobatic late strike ignited the stadium, reaffirming his status as one of the league’s biggest attractions.

Beyond the goals, a lighthearted post-match moment between Félix and an enthusiastic fan went viral, underscoring the close bond between Al-Nassr players and their supporters a connection that continues to define Saudi football culture as the league grows in global visibility.

Al-Nassr’s latest win further solidifies their strong title push, with the team displaying both form and flair as the season intensifies.

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Liverpool’s turbulent season descended further into disarray on Saturday as Nottingham Forest stunned the champions with a comprehensive 3–0 victory at Anfield, intensifying pressure on manager Arne Slot.

The defeat Liverpool’s sixth in seven Premier League matches leaves them 11th on the table, eight points behind leaders Arsenal, and in the midst of their worst league run in decades.

Forest Strike First Amid VAR Frustration

Murillo broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute, drilling home after Liverpool failed to clear Elliot Anderson’s corner.
Slot protested that Forest forward Dan Ndoye impeded goalkeeper Alisson Becker an infringement similar to the one that saw Virgil van Dijk’s equaliser ruled out in their 3–0 loss to Manchester City before the international break.

Defensive Meltdown Continues

Forest doubled their advantage barely a minute into the second half when Nicolo Savona converted Neco Williams’ cut-back.
Liverpool’s collapse deepened in the 78th minute as Morgan Gibbs-White pounced on a rebound after Omari Hutchinson’s shot was saved.

The back-to-back three-goal defeats mark the first time since 1965 that Liverpool have suffered consecutive league losses by such a margin.

Reds in Freefall

Forest’s win was their second straight victory at Anfield, while Liverpool have now lost eight of their past 11 games in all competitions, despite a summer transfer spend of more than £400 million.

Slot recently admitted the squad is still reeling from the tragic July death of Diogo Jota in a car crash in Spain.
On Saturday, the team again looked drained and directionless.

Record signing Alexander Isak was withdrawn in the second half after another ineffective outing. The Sweden striker remains without a Premier League goal for Liverpool.

The Reds now face mounting pressure to arrest a slump that is rapidly turning their title defence into a crisis.

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Chelsea tightened their Premier League title push with a solid 2-0 victory over struggling Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday.

Pedro Neto opened the scoring just before half-time, and Enzo Fernández sealed the win late on to move Enzo Maresca’s side within three points of league leaders Arsenal, who face Tottenham on Sunday.

The result lifts Chelsea into second place and extends their impressive run to eight wins in their last 10 matches across all competitions. It also marks Maresca’s 50th Premier League match in charge.

With crucial home games against Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday and Arsenal in the league on November 30, the win provided the perfect momentum for the Blues heading into a decisive week.

Chelsea could drop back to third place if Manchester City avoid defeat against Newcastle later on Saturday, but their gritty performance in freezing Lancashire further strengthened their title credentials.

“It’s tough after the international break — 12:30 kick-off, Burnley away — it’s always a hard game,” Maresca said. “But the way we competed, I’m very happy. To come here and not concede is very difficult. It was important to keep the momentum from before the break.”

Burnley Struggle Continues

Burnley’s woes deepened as the defeat leaves them with five losses in their last seven league outings.

Chelsea were without Cole Palmer, who fractured his toe after stubbing it on a door, just as he was preparing to return from a two-month groin injury. Midfielder Moisés Caicedo was benched due to fatigue after returning late from international duty.

A mix-up early in the match between goalkeeper Robert Sánchez and Fernández — when Sánchez accidentally kicked the ball into the midfielder’s head — briefly halted play for a concussion check, but Fernández later recovered and finished the match strongly.

How the Match Unfolded

Chelsea gradually took control after a shaky start. Neto was lively, with early efforts testing the Burnley defence before ultimately delivering the breakthrough.

In the 37th minute, Marc Cucurella masterfully controlled a high ball in the Burnley box and played it back to Jamie Gittens, whose cross picked out Neto for a brilliant diving header into the far corner — his fourth goal of the season.

Chelsea pushed for more, with Neto hitting the post and Delap forcing Martin Dubravka into a strong save. Burnley’s best chance fell to Zian Flemming, who blazed over from inside the box.

The Blues wrapped up the points in the 88th minute when Fernández finished off a sweeping team move, slotting home Marc Guiu’s pass from close range.

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