Rasmus Højlund came off the bench to inspire Manchester United to a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Viktoria Plzen, ending Ruben Amorim’s streak of successive defeats in European competition on a cold Thursday night in the Czech Republic.

For much of the match, played under freezing conditions in Bohemia, it seemed United were destined to suffer their first European loss of the season. Early in the second half, former Burnley striker Matej Vydra capitalized on a catastrophic error by goalkeeper Andre Onana, punishing the visitors with a clinical finish in the 48th minute to put the hosts ahead.

Searching for a response, Amorim made a pivotal tactical decision, bringing on Rasmus Højlund to replace an underwhelming Marcus Rashford. The substitution proved decisive, as the Danish forward wasted no time making an impact. Just six minutes after entering the fray, Højlund showcased his striker’s instincts, pouncing on a well-placed ball from Amad Diallo to slot home the equalizer in the 62nd minute.

United, however, were not content to settle for a point. With the clock ticking down, Bruno Fernandes delivered a moment of brilliance from a set piece, disguising his free-kick to allow Højlund to spin expertly and unleash a powerful shot past Plzen goalkeeper Martin Jedlička in the 88th minute. The late strike sealed United’s comeback and lifted them to fifth place in the Europa League standings.

The victory maintains Amorim’s impressive run, with United now unbeaten in their opening six games of the campaign, including three wins. For Viktoria Plzen, the result was a bitter blow, dropping them to 15th place after their first defeat of the tournament, with other fixtures still to come later that evening.

Højlund’s timely intervention not only secured a vital three points but also reaffirmed his value as a game-changer for Manchester United, particularly in high-stakes European encounters.

Manchester City defender Kyle Walker has called for greater efforts to combat online abuse after revealing he received a “vile, racist, and threatening” message following his team’s 2-0 defeat to Juventus on Wednesday night. The loss in Turin marked a challenging period for Pep Guardiola’s side, with City suffering their seventh defeat in 10 matches.

Walker, who played the full match, took to social media on Thursday to share a screenshot of the offensive message sent to him on Instagram by an unnamed user. The shocking message read: “Bro you can **** around and die you stupid ass *****,” highlighting the extent of the abuse directed at him.

In a heartfelt statement posted to his X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram accounts, Walker condemned the abuse, stating:
“No one should ever be subjected to the sort of vile, racist and threatening abuse I have received online since last night’s match. Instagram and the authorities need to stop this happening for the sake of all who are suffering this abuse. It is never acceptable.”

Walker also addressed Manchester City supporters, urging unity and expressing the team’s determination to overcome their current struggles:
“To our fans, we will continue to work as a team to do better, to improve, and to turn the corner together.”

The England international’s call for action underscores the ongoing issue of online abuse faced by players and public figures, often amplified in moments of high pressure or defeat. Walker’s plea adds to the growing demands for social media platforms and authorities to implement stricter measures to protect users from hateful and harmful behavior online.

A youthful Chelsea side delivered an assured 3-1 victory over Astana, extending their winning streak and virtually guaranteeing a place in the UEFA Conference League’s last 16. The result showcased the growing confidence of Enzo Maresca’s squad, blending promising young talents with seasoned professionals.

As anticipated, Maresca made wholesale changes to the starting lineup, swapping out 10 players from the side that triumphed 4-3 against Tottenham in the Premier League just days earlier. This reshuffled XI included a notable milestone in Chelsea’s history: the first time the club fielded four teenagers in a European competition. Among them was 18-year-old Marc Guiu, who wasted no time making his mark. Displaying flair and composure, Guiu opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a brilliant individual effort, breezing past his marker on the right before charging into the box and slotting the ball past Mukhammedzhan Seysen at the near post.

Guiu thought he had doubled his tally just minutes later after a slick interplay involving Pedro Neto. The Portuguese winger surged to the byline and delivered a sharp cross, with Guiu appearing to bundle the ball over the line. However, the goal was ultimately credited as an own goal by Astana defender Aleksandr Marochkin, who deflected the ball into his own net.

Chelsea effectively ended the contest six minutes before halftime. Renato Veiga capitalized on poor marking, rising unchallenged to head Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s precise corner into the net, giving the visitors a commanding 3-0 lead. The long journey to Kazakhstan—spanning 16 hours and 3,479 miles—was beginning to pay off handsomely for the Blues.

Astana did manage a consolation goal just before the break, courtesy of captain Marin Tomasov. The veteran forward carved out space in a crowded penalty area and curled a precise shot past Filip Jorgensen, striking the post on its way in. However, Chelsea ensured there was no second-half drama, maintaining control and quelling any hopes of an Astana resurgence.

The victory marked Chelsea’s sixth consecutive win, a feat they hadn’t achieved since 2022. It also extended their unbeaten run across all competitions to nine matches. With a perfect record in the Conference League so far, Maresca’s side sits firmly atop the group standings, looking increasingly formidable as the competition progresses.

Bologna were given an early scare when Vangelis Pavlidis thought he had scored in the second minute, delicately chipping the goalkeeper after a through ball from Di Maria. However, the goal was ruled out for offside.

Thiijs Dallinga was next to threaten, making a promising run but ultimately failing to finish after attempting to round the goalkeeper. Anatolii Trubin was quick off his line and managed to get a hand to the ball, denying the striker.

Bologna enjoyed more possession in the first half but struggled to create clear-cut chances. Instead, it was their defense that had to step up, with Nicolò Casale making a crucial block to stop a Di Maria counter-attack. At the other end, Lukasz Skorupski was tested by a powerful volley from Di Maria after a pull-back from the by-line, forcing the goalkeeper to parry the shot away.

After the break, Dallinga was played through once again by a well-weighted Stefan Posch ball over the top, but his shot at the near post was saved by Trubin. Skorupski, though, had his own shaky moment when he flapped at a cross from the right, but he redeemed himself with an incredible reaction save, denying Pavlidis’ follow-up from point-blank range.

The match grew increasingly tense, with Bologna furious that Orkun Kökçü avoided a second yellow card for a challenge on Dan Ndoye, catching the back of his ankle. As the game intensified, Bologna’s defense held firm.

Lewis Ferguson made a crucial block with his chest to stop another Di Maria effort, and Skorupski came to the rescue once more, pulling off a fantastic save to deny Amdouni and preserve the clean sheet. The 0-0 draw ensured Bologna earned a second point in their Champions League campaign, though it was clear they had missed a few chances to grab all three.

Lille edged out Sturm Graz in a dramatic 3-2 win in the Champions League on Wednesday, with substitute Hákon Arnar Haraldsson delivering a late winner just moments after coming onto the pitch. The Icelandic midfielder, introduced in the 81st minute, made an immediate impact by curling a precise shot into the top corner to secure all three points for the hosts with nine minutes remaining.

The victory lifts Lille to sixth place in the Champions League standings with 13 points, while Sturm Graz remains 29th with just three points and no hope of progressing further in the competition.

The match began slowly, with little to separate the two sides in a subdued opening half-hour. However, Lille found their rhythm late in the first half, igniting the contest. Osame Sahraoui opened the scoring in the 37th minute, pouncing on a defensive lapse to give Lille the lead. The home side doubled their advantage just before halftime when Mitchel Bakker latched onto a cross and drilled the ball into the net, giving Lille what seemed a commanding 2-0 advantage.

Sturm Graz, however, refused to back down and struck back immediately. In the dying seconds of the first half, Otar Kiteishvili brought the visitors back into the game with a spectacular finish, lifting a bouncing ball into the roof of the net to make it 2-1.

Buoyed by their late first-half goal, Sturm came out strong after the break. Just two minutes into the second half, Mika Biereth leveled the scoreline, tapping in a low cross from close range to stun the Lille crowd and set up an intense second period.

Both sides pressed for a winner, with chances coming at either end, but it was Haraldsson who delivered the decisive blow. Unmarked in the box after a quick Lille buildup, he showed composure and precision, curling the ball past the goalkeeper and into the top corner to restore Lille’s lead in the 81st minute.

Sturm Graz pushed for an equalizer in the dying moments, but Lille’s defense held firm to secure the victory in what turned out to be a pulsating encounter.

The win keeps Lille firmly in contention in the Champions League standings and highlights their resilience in high-stakes matches. Meanwhile, Sturm Graz’s spirited fightback fell short, leaving them to reflect on missed opportunities and their struggles in this season’s campaign.

Antoine Griezmann continued his scintillating form with two goals as Atletico Madrid cruised to a 3-1 win over Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League on Wednesday. The victory marked Atletico’s 10th consecutive win across all competitions, further solidifying their impressive run of form.

The result lifts Atletico to 10th place in the 36-team Champions League standings with 12 points from six matches, while Slovan remain rooted to the bottom, having lost all six of their group games and officially eliminated from playoff contention.

Griezmann, scoring for the fifth match in a row, was the star of the show with a first-half header and a composed finish at the near post in the second half. His brace added to an early opener from strike partner Julián Álvarez, who continues to shine in his debut season for the club.

Atletico took the lead just 16 minutes into the match when Slovan’s defense allowed Álvarez too much time on the edge of the box. The Argentine forward capitalized with a superb strike into the top corner, marking his 12th goal of the season. Despite the hosts’ dominance, Slovan nearly equalized shortly after, as Tigran Barseghyan rattled the crossbar with a powerful shot during a swift counter-attack.

Diego Simeone’s side doubled their advantage three minutes before halftime with a well-worked goal. Marcos Llorente stretched to deliver a pinpoint cross to the back post, where Griezmann climbed above the Slovan defense to nod the ball home.

Slovan found a lifeline early in the second half when Clément Lenglet clipped David Strelec in the box, conceding a penalty. Strelec stepped up and converted from the spot, scoring his fourth goal of the campaign to reduce the deficit to 2-1.

However, hopes of a comeback were quickly dashed as Griezmann struck again to restore Atletico’s two-goal cushion. A clever pass found the Frenchman unmarked inside the six-yard box, and he calmly slotted the ball past goalkeeper Dominik Takáč at the near post to seal the win.

Atletico’s attacking form continues to impress, with 21 goals scored in their last five matches across all competitions. While they could have added more to their tally against Slovan, a lack of clinical finishing in the final third left the scoreline closer than their performance suggested.

With their 10th consecutive victory, Atletico Madrid remains a force to be reckoned with as they push for further success in the Champions League and beyond.

Tijjani Reijnders tested the goalkeeper early with a long-range strike, but it was a straightforward save. Moments later, Rafael Leão came much closer after sprinting onto an Álvaro Morata through ball, forcing the shot-stopper into an impressive save with his trailing leg to deflect the angled drive just wide.

Milan, however, nearly found themselves behind after 17 minutes when a series of poor defensive headers failed to clear the danger. Andrija Maksimovic pounced, smashing a powerful shot against the crossbar, and Young-Woo Seol’s follow-up effort went straight into Mike Maignan’s hands.

The Rossoneri then suffered a double blow as both Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Álvaro Morata were forced off with injuries in quick succession. Tammy Abraham came on and made an immediate impact, narrowly missing a header with his first touch. Shortly after, his free kick took a deflection and went wide, and another promising move fell apart when he failed to complete a one-two with Leão in the penalty area.

Milan finally broke the deadlock with a moment of brilliance. Youssouf Fofana lofted a perfectly weighted ball over the top, allowing Rafael Leão to beat the offside trap. The Portuguese winger controlled the ball with his right boot and calmly slotted it past the onrushing goalkeeper with his left foot from 15 yards out.

Crvena Zvezda equalized after a costly error in midfield. Former Torino winger Nemanja Radonjić dispossessed a sluggish Yunus Musah and unleashed a stunning strike from the edge of the box, leaving Maignan no chance.

Rather than rally for a quick response, Milan found themselves under increasing pressure. Ivanic came close to turning the game around for the hosts, breaking the offside trap and flashing a dangerous angled shot inches wide.

Against the run of play, Milan found a late winner. In the dying minutes, substitute Francesco Camarda rose to meet a cross with a looping header that struck the crossbar. Tammy Abraham reacted quickest to the rebound, slotting home from four yards to secure a hard-fought victory for the Rossoneri.

Barcelona took a significant step toward securing an automatic berth in the Champions League Round of 16 with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park. After a subdued first half, the match exploded into life, with Ferran Torres coming off the bench to score twice and secure Barça’s fifth consecutive League Phase win, lifting them to second in the standings with two games left.

The first half saw Barcelona dominate possession but struggle to create clear chances, with Gregor Kobel making routine saves. Dortmund, meanwhile, relied on counter-attacks through the pace of their wingers and the physicality of Serhou Guirassy, whose threat was repeatedly neutralized by Barça’s effective offside trap. Despite flashes of frustration from Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha, who were often left unrewarded for their attacking runs, the first period ended goalless.

The second half began with high drama as Dortmund thought they’d scored through Guirassy, only for the offside trap to deny them again. Moments later, Barça capitalized on a defensive lapse when Dani Olmo’s pass sent Raphinha through to blast home the opener.

The lead didn’t last long, as Pau Cubarsí fouled Guirassy in the box, leading to a penalty that the striker converted to level the game. Manager Hansi Flick responded with a triple substitution, introducing Frenkie de Jong, Fermín López, and Ferran Torres, who made an immediate impact. Torres scored from a rebound to restore Barça’s lead, but Dortmund quickly hit back when Pascal Gross set up Guirassy for his second goal of the night.

With the match wide open and the atmosphere electric, Torres sealed the victory five minutes from time, finishing off a counter-attack set up by Lamine Yamal. Dortmund pushed for a late equalizer, but Nico Schlotterbeck missed a golden chance in the dying seconds, and Barcelona held on for the win.

In a game full of twists and turns, Barça’s resilience and clinical finishing proved decisive as they inched closer to the knockout stages.

Second-half goals from Dušan Vlahović and Weston McKennie secured a 2-0 victory for Juventus over Manchester City in Turin, leaving Pep Guardiola’s side on the brink of an early Champions League exit. The result piles more pressure on City, who have now won just one of their last 10 matches in all competitions.

The visitors arrived at the Juventus Stadium desperate for a positive result to keep their fading European hopes alive. However, their struggles were evident during a cagey first half in which they controlled possession but created little in the way of clear chances. Their best opportunity came when Kevin De Bruyne’s clever through ball split the Juve defense, setting up Erling Haaland for what seemed a certain goal. Yet, the Norwegian striker saw his delicate chip expertly clawed away by goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio, keeping the score level at the break.

That missed chance proved pivotal, as Juventus took the lead just eight minutes into the second half. Kenan Yıldız delivered a teasing ball to the back post, where Vlahović rose highest to power a close-range header past Ederson, sparking wild celebrations among the home fans.

City, knowing they needed at least a draw to maintain realistic hopes of progression, responded with urgency. Bernardo Silva and İlkay Gündoğan both came close to equalizing, but their efforts failed to find the target. Then, with 15 minutes left, Juventus struck on the counter to seal the result. Timothy Weah broke down the left flank and, after his initial cross was blocked, delivered a pinpoint ball to McKennie. The American midfielder made no mistake, hammering a spectacular volley past Ederson to double the lead and effectively end City’s hopes on the night.

The defeat leaves Manchester City languishing in 22nd place in the new Champions League standings, with only two group matches remaining. To avoid a shock early exit, they must now beat Paris Saint-Germain away and Club Brugge at home while relying on other results to go their way. For Guardiola and his team, the dream of European glory looks increasingly out of reach.

Arsenal moved a step closer to securing their place in the Champions League last 16 with a commanding 3-0 victory over Monaco at the Emirates Stadium. The win leaves the Gunners needing just one more positive result to seal progression from their group.

Despite an early scare when Aleksandr Golovin’s curling effort narrowly missed David Raya’s post, Arsenal asserted their dominance from the outset. The hosts created a flurry of chances but struggled to make their early pressure count. Gabriel Jesus, who had managed just one goal in his previous 32 matches, found himself twice denied by Monaco goalkeeper Radoslaw Majecki when through on goal. However, Arsenal eventually broke the deadlock in the 34th minute. Myles Lewis-Skelly, making his first Champions League start, played a key role with a clever pass to Jesus, who set up Bukayo Saka to fire the Gunners ahead.

Arsenal could have extended their lead before halftime but lacked precision in front of goal. Martin Ødegaard and Gabriel Martinelli both squandered opportunities, firing wide of the far post and keeping Monaco within touching distance.

The visitors almost stunned Arsenal again early in the second half. Lamine Camara’s pinpoint free kick found Thilo Kehrer unmarked in the box, but the defender, formerly of West Ham, headed wide. Monaco continued to threaten, and midway through the second half, they had their best chance of the game. William Saliba’s rare mistake gifted possession to Takumi Minamino, who teed up Breel Embolo. The Swiss forward twisted past Jakub Kiwior but dragged his shot narrowly wide of the target.

Monaco’s missed opportunities proved costly as Arsenal took advantage of a defensive error to secure victory. Goalkeeper Majecki, under pressure from Ødegaard, played a loose pass directly to Saka, who coolly slotted home his second goal of the night.

Substitute Kai Havertz added a late third to cap off the evening, giving the scoreline a more comfortable look than the performance might have deserved. With the win, Arsenal climbed to third in the group standings. A victory in their next fixture at home to Dinamo Zagreb on January 22 would almost certainly guarantee their place in the knockout stages.