European football roundup: Newcastle inflict more misery on Man Utd, Real Madrid keep pace with Girona

Newcastle inflicted a sixth Premier League defeat of the season on Manchester United as Arsenal beat Wolves 2-1 on Saturday to extend their lead at the top to four points. Anthony Gordon scored the only goal at St James’ Park to lift Newcastle up to fifth in the table and within two points of the top four. By contrast, United slip to seventh and are still to beat any side in the top nine of the Premier League this season. Eddie Howe’s men deserved to win by a bigger margin despite missing 11 first-team players due to injury or suspension and losing goalkeeper Nick Pope late on to a shoulder problem. Kieran Trippier’s free-kick came back off the underside of the bar and Alexander Isak’s effort was deflected inches wide before the break. Gordon finally made the breakthrough 10 minutes into the second period when he was picked out by Trippier to convert at the back post. “I couldn’t be happier with the players tonight,” said Howe after his under-strength side took seven points from three games in a week against Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and United. “The performances we put in against three top teams were brilliant so that will give confidence, and when we get some players back we can push on even further.” Arsenal hold on

That Saka x Odegaard link-up 😍

Wolves highlights right this way, Gooners 👇 pic.twitter.com/Nzvj15MXZm

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 2, 2023

Arsenal were made to survive a late scare despite getting off to a flying start at the Emirates. Goals from Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard put the Gunners 2-0 up inside 13 minutes. But they failed to put the game to bed and were made to sweat when Wolves forward Matheus Cunha found the top corner in the 86th minute to set up a tense finale. Despite the wobble, Arsenal, last year’s runners-up, held on to notch their 10th win in 14 league games, which moves them four points clear of champions Manchester City, who host Tottenham on Sunday. “I can only praise the players,” said Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta. “They were excellent. We played against a really good side and generated so much and conceded almost nothing. The scoreline should have been very different. We were very unlucky because we hit the post three times I think. “At the end we made an error close to the goal – in the Premier League you get punished big time for that. Then it’s game on. Overall I’m really happy with how we performed again.” Five-star Burnley

Three important points and our first win at home 💪 pic.twitter.com/o17bNCnnwn

— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) December 2, 2023

At the other end of the table, Burnley got their first home win of the season in style with a 5-0 thrashing of Sheffield United. Jay Rodriguez fired the home side ahead with just 15 seconds on the clock – the fastest goal of the season so far. Jacob Bruun Larsen extended their lead and the Blades’ task was made almost impossible when Oli McBurnie received a second yellow card shortly before the break. Zeki Amdouni, Luca Koleosho and Josh Brownhill all struck in the final 17 minutes as the floodgates opened. Paul Heckingbottom’s men have now conceded five goals or more goals on three occasions this season and sink to the bottom of the table. Burnley close to within two points of safety after only their second win of the season – and Vincent Kompany said he hoped the three points would be a launch pad. “I think the guys have deserved it,” he told the BBC. “They have performed well for a while. This league is brutal.” Luton, just outside the drop zone, sank to a 3-1 defeat at Brentford, with Neal Maupay, Ben Mee and Shandon Baptiste on target for the Bees. Everton boosted their survival hopes despite being hit by a swingeing 10-point deduction with a 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest. Dwight McNeil scored the only goal midway through the second half, smashing the ball into the top corner, as Everton secured a third consecutive away win. “It’s a restart. It’s a step in the right direction, but there are plenty more steps to go,” said Everton manager Sean Dyche. La Liga: Rodrygo helps Real Madrid keep pace with Girona in title race [caption id=“attachment_13457932” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Real Madrid’s Rodrygo celebrates after scoring against Granada in La Liga. AP[/caption] Rodrygo continued his fine goalscoring form to help Real Madrid ease to a 2-0 win over Granada on Saturday and reclaim the lead in La Liga. After Catalan minnows Girona snatched a 2-1 win over Valencia they moved temporarily top, but Madrid slid back above them on goal difference on a tranquil evening in the capital. Brahim Diaz opened the scoring midway through the first half and Rodrygo doubled the lead after 57 minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Brazilian forward has scored seven goals in his last five games across all competitions, appearing at the perfect time to keep Madrid’s strong start to the season going despite various absences. Madrid are missing several key figures through injury, from goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to winger Vinicius Junior. However Los Blancos had more than enough to sweep past the Andalucians, 19th and battling against relegation. “(Rodrygo) has returned to his best level, scoring a lot of goals,” Ancelotti told reporters. The coach reserved some praise for midfielder Toni Kroos, who set up Diaz’s opener with a clever pass. “He doesn’t give balls away, he always chooses the best option, he’s a midfielder who wants the ball,” added Ancelotti. “He is not afraid and he positions himself very well, it’s his biggest virtue, his control too … when he doesn’t play, he’s irreplaceable.” Without creating an excess of chances, Madrid quickly took control of the game. After 26 minutes Kroos’ superb pass sent Diaz in on goal and he stayed cool to gently nudge home and put Madrid ahead. It was the former Manchester City playmaker’s second goal in four matches, with Diaz showing he can help the red-hot Rodrygo fill the gap left by Vinicius’ injury. “We played the football that we know, it was a nearly perfect game, we dominated the match and they created very few chances against us,” Diaz told Real Madrid TV. Controlled performance Jude Bellingham, La Liga’s top goalscorer with 11 strikes, could have added another just before half-time but scuffed his shot across goal, the ball bobbling wide.

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Madrid’s second arrived after a neat team move, with Joselu and Diaz combining to tee up Bellingham. Granada goalkeeper Andre Ferreira denied the midfielder but Rodrygo galloped onto the rebound and smashed home before the hour mark – he has now netted in five consecutive matches. Atletico Madrid, third, visit champions Barcelona, fourth, on Sunday, both looking to cut down the seven-point gap on the top two.

37-year-old Cristhian Stuani subbed on in the 82nd minute when Girona were down 1-0 and scored a six-minute brace to win the game.

Girona are serious LALIGA title contenders 😤 pic.twitter.com/35XDNdZoWP

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 2, 2023

Earlier Girona fought back brilliantly to ensure they would not drop further points in the title race after a draw against Athletic Bilbao on Monday. Trailing to Hugo Duro’s 56th-minute strike with under 10 minutes remaining, Girona finally broke down Valencia’s walls through veteran striker Cristhian Stuani’s brace. Stuani levelled after 82 minutes and bundled home another with two minutes to go, with both goals set up by Yan Couto crosses as fans at Girona’s tiny Montilivi stadium went wild. After dropping two points in a draw with Athletic Bilbao to start the week, Girona seemed poised to fall to only their second defeat of the season. “It’s good to recognise that we are making history, it can’t be something normal that we’ve taken 12 wins from 15 games,” Girona coach Michel told reporters. “I only ask that in the bad moments we are united, I keep thinking that – Madrid, Barca, Atleti, is not our league – we will not keep up this rhythm, and we should all be sure about that.” Valencia set out to frustrate but substitutes Stuani and Couto made an impressive impact off the bench. “I’m very happy for the team, for the fight that we had with the scoreline against us,” Stuani told DAZN. “The team did not let themselves surrender – (Valencia) set up very well. “We did not stop trying, we locked them in their box and in the end the goals arrived.” In only their fourth season in the top flight in their history, Girona keep finding ways to surprise. “Girona move you around, they play with you, they are a magnificent team and there’s a reason why they are first,” Duro told DAZN. Athletic Bilbao thrashed Rayo Vallecano 4-0 to consolidate their position in fifth, with Osasuna holding sixth-place Real Sociedad 1-1. Serie A: AC Milan beat Frosinone to close gap on leaders Juventus [caption id=“attachment_13457952” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] AC Milan’s Fikayo Tomori celebrates with Luka Jovic after scoring his side’s third goal during a Serie A match between AC Milan and Frosinone at the San Siro stadium. AP[/caption] AC Milan bounced back from Champions League disappointment with Saturday’s 3-1 win over Frosinone which moved them to within four points of Serie A leaders Juventus. Goals either side of half-time from Luka Jovic and Christian Pulisic, and Fikayo Tomori’s close-range finish in the 74th minute gave injury-hit Milan the three points to relieve some pressure after being beaten by Borussia Dortmund midweek. Milan are unlikely to reach the last 16 of Europe’s top competition following Tuesday’s loss but are in decent shape at home despite wobbly form and nine first-team absences. Key attackers Olivier Giroud and Rafael Leao were among those unavailable, while the situation in defence was so desperate that France full-back Theo Hernandez played alongside Tomori in the centre of Milan’s defence. “It was also his idea. He told me that if needed, he can play that position,” said coach Stefano Pioli to Sky. Milan are third, trailing Juve and three points behind second-placed Inter Milan, who will reclaim the summit in Italy’s top flight as long as they don’t lose at fourth-placed Napoli in Sunday’s big match. “It’s a little step forward, but there is a long way to go and we need to be more consistent if we’re going to challenge for the top spots,” added Pioli. “The sooner we can get players back, the more options we’ll have, meaning we can rotate more or turn to the bench to change things when needed.” Under-fire Pioli was boosted both by the return of Algeria midfielder Ismael Bennacer and Jovic scoring his first goal for Milan since arriving in the summer, the Serbian lashing the hosts ahead in the 43rd minute just after Marvin Cuni wasted a glorious chance to give Frosinone the lead. Milan bounce back

𝗙𝗧@acmilan grab all three points at San Siro after a 3-1 win over Frosinone 3️⃣✅#MilanFrosinone pic.twitter.com/A6l4sqHeXe

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) December 2, 2023

Pulisic doubled Milan’s lead four minutes after the break with a sumptuous piece of play, brilliantly controlling goalkeeper Mike Maignan’s boot upfield before carefully dinking home his fifth goal of the season. And Tomori ended the match as a contest when he poked home Jovic’s knockdown, making Marco Brescianini’s late free-kick no more than a consolation goal. Frosinone dropped down to 11th following their sixth defeat of the campaign, two points and places behind Lazio whose 1-0 win over 10-man Cagliari was greeted by loud disapproval from frustrated supporters. Lazio, who finished second last season, are ninth after veteran Pedro’s eighth-minute winner but the manner of their slender victory enraged the home crowd who unleashed a volley of boos and whistles at the end of the match. Cagliari were a man down from the 27th minute when Antoine Makoumbou was sent off for pulling back Matteo Guendouzi as the Lazio man raced through on goal. But the away side went close to equalising twice in stoppage time as Ivan Provedel pulled off a magnificent save to deny Leonardo Pavoletti’s powerful header. And just before the final whistle Manuel Lazzari nearly handed Gaetano Oristanio the leveller, leading to a barrage of boos for a team who on Tuesday reached the knockout stages of the Champions League for just the third time in the club’s history by beating Celtic. “We won a difficult match, we’re more pleased with the result than we are with the performance, but the game with Celtic took a lot out of us,” said Lazio assistant manager Giovanni Martusciello. Defeat left Cagliari just inside the relegation zone after Empoli earned a 1-1 draw at Genoa in the day’s early match and moved out of the bottom three. Bundesliga: Serhou Guirassy scores again as Stuttgart beat Werder Bremen [caption id=“attachment_13457962” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Stuttgart’s Serhou Guirassy scores with a penalty kick during a Bundesliga match between Werder Bremen and VfB Stuttgart. AP[/caption] Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy continued his remarkable Bundesliga scoring form this season, scoring a second-half penalty in a 2-0 home win over Werder Bremen on Saturday. Guirassy, making his first start since mid-October after injury, was brought down in the box by Bremen defender Niklas Stark. The striker chipped his spot-kick down the middle to chalk up his 16th goal of the season in just 11 games. Brighton loanee Deniz Undav had given Stuttgart the lead after 17 minutes, tapping in from close range for his eighth goal in his past eight games. Stuttgart needed to win a two-legged relegation playoff to stay in the top division last season but now sit third after 13 matches, two points behind second-placed Bayern Munich. Leipzig win at home Leipzig won 2-1 over promoted Heidenheim, goals from Lois Openda and Yussuf Poulsen sending the home side past Borussia Dortmund to fourth in the table. Leipzig took the lead from the penalty spot, Openda winning and converting for his 10th goal in 13 league matches this season. Poulsen doubled up for the hosts shortly before half-time taking advantage after wing-back David Raum beat two defenders. “In the first half we were like a rabbit in front of a snake,” admitted Heidenheim manager Frank Schmidt. His side hit back immediately after, Benedikt Gimber steering in through a crowded penalty area after a corner. The goal would have raised some bad memories for the home side, who gave away a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 at European champions Manchester City in midweek. But Marco Rose’s side dug deep against the energetic promoted side, securing a fifth home win of the season. “We had so many chances to score, we should have killed the game earlier today,” said Poulsen. Borussia Moenchengladbach needed a late winner to beat Hoffenheim 2-1 at home, left-back Luca Netz setting up Nathan Ngoumou for the winner with 10 minutes remaining. Brought down in the box by former Liverpool centre-back Ozan Kabak midway through the second half, Gladbach’s Alassane Plea converted a penalty to give the home side the lead. The visitors equalised just 90 seconds later however, with one-time Manchester United striker Wout Weghorst heading in from close range. Elsewhere, Bochum won just their second match of the season, beating a disappointing Wolfsburg 3-1 at home to open a welcome gap from the relegation places. Bochum ran out to a two-goal lead thanks to goals from Patrick Osterhage and Bernardo, but Wolfsburg pulled a goal back later in the first half through Mattias Svanberg. Christopher Antwi-Adjei scored the winner with three minutes remaining, continuing Wolfsburg’s horrid away form, with just one win from seven games. “Our away form this season has been a catastrophe,” said Wolfsburg midfielder Yannick Gerhardt. “I’m sorry for the fans who travelled to see it”. Bayern’s home game against Union Berlin was postponed earlier Saturday due to heavy snowfall in the Bavarian capital. Bayer Leverkusen can go five clear atop the table with a win at home against Dortmund on Sunday. Ligue 1: Nice lose unbeaten record as Lens inflict more pain on Lyon

Nice lose for the first time this season, going down 1-0 against Nantes.

It was the first time they had even trailed under Francesco Farioli. https://t.co/pAXUPENrLc

— Robin Bairner (@RBairner) December 2, 2023

Nice slumped to their first defeat of the season on Saturday as they lost 1-0 at Nantes and missed the chance to reclaim top spot in Ligue 1. Florent Mollet’s first-half strike was enough to get new coach Jocelyn Gourvennec off to a winning start at the Stade de la Beaujoire, where he took over from Pierre Aristouy this week. Nice had gone eight games without conceding since their 3-2 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in mid-September, but the visitors saw their unbeaten start ended after they fell behind in a match for the first time this season. “It’s a logical defeat,” said Nice coach Francesco Farioli. “We need to move on from it. This loss definitely hurts. But, like with our wins, we need to forget about this defeat. “We had chances to take the lead or equalise. We came up against a goalkeeper on top form,” he added. Nice’s defeat will allow leaders PSG to pull four points clear if they win at Le Havre on Sunday. Lens shook off their midweek Champions League humiliation by Arsenal to condemn crisis-hit Lyon to a 3-2 defeat in the club’s first match since the exit of coach Fabio Grosso. Irish defender Jake O’Brien volleyed Lyon in front from a corner at Stade Bollaert in northern France, but last season’s Ligue 1 runners-up levelled midway through the first half courtesy of Wesley Said. Przemyslaw Frankowski put Lens ahead with a penalty early in the second half before O’Brien poked home a flick-on at another corner to equalise. Frankowski grabbed the winner on 74 minutes as Lens closed out a fourth win in five league games and extended their unbeaten run in the top flight to nine despite losing Florian Sotoca to a late red card. Lens made a dreadful start to the season and picked up one point from their first five fixtures. Franck Haise’s side have righted the ship domestically but were dumped out of the Champions League on Wednesday following a crushing 6-0 loss away to Arsenal. Lyon slid to an eighth defeat in 13 matches and remain rooted to the bottom of the table, five points from safety and on the hunt for a new coach after Grosso was stood down from his position on Thursday. The 46-year-old Italian, a World Cup winner in 2006, lasted just over two months in the hot seat after he replaced Laurent Blanc on September 16. It was an unhappy time in the dugout for Grosso, who oversaw just one win in seven matches and was left requiring stitches to his face in October after the Lyon team bus was attacked on its way to a game at Marseille.