Leicester City missed a chance to return to the summit of the Premier League after an entertaining yet scoreless draw against title contenders Manchester City. Both sides went all guns blazing from the word go and Kasper Schmeichel and Joe Hart were forced into making brilliant saves. Jamie Vardy had the best chance of the evening, when he dispossessed Fernandinho and was played in on goal but the striker sent his shot over the crossbar from the edge of the penalty box. Marc Albrighton failed make contact with Christian Fuchs’s superb cross from distance, while Sergio Aguero blew hot and cold with a few half chances. Several opportunities were created by both outfits but the finishing was generally poor as the first-half ended 0-0.
After a slump of sorts against Liverpool, Leicester bounced back in emphatic fashion against the Citizens, as there was urgency to their game, and the often overlooked N’Golo Kante dominated the centre of the park. The two giant defenders Wes Morgan and Robert Huth kept City’s embarrassment of riches at bay, while Fuchs was a constant threat at left-back and came close to scoring when his thunderous effort from a free-kick was saved by Hart. Although City have recorded impressive victories at home, their away form is dodgy to say the least, given the fact that their last win was against Crystal Palace on 12 September. Manuel Pellegrini will be worried man and despite a point against a side on top form, his men will have to start mustering points on their travels, if they are to mount a serious title challenge. After the stalemate, Leicester will end the year on 2nd place, behind Arsenal only on goal difference, while Manchester City are 3rd with 36 points, trailed closely by Tottenham in 4th with 35 points.
Liverpool visited Sunderland on the back of a win against Leicester, while the Black Cats were searching for a win to narrow the gap with rivals Newcastle at 18th place. It was end-to-end stuff in the opening stages of the game and Simon Mignolet was called into action by Jermain Defoe. Vito Mannone somehow managed to tip Roberto Firmino’s shot onto the post, before denying the Brazilian’s headed effort. Jermain Defoe forced Mignolet into another brilliant save, before former Liverpool man Fabio Borini came close to scoring with a near effort, as the opening 45 minutes finished goalless.
22 seconds into the second half, Nathaniel Clyne slipped in a ball from the right-flank and Adam Lallana’s clip deceived the Sunderland defenders, as Christian Benteke ran on to the Englishman’s pass to finish past Mannone. As the half progressed and the hosts attacked frantically for an equaliser, Liverpool constantly threatened on the counter-attack but balls in the final third were incredibly poor. In the dying stages of the game, in a situation almost identical to the one against Leicester, Benteke found through on goal with only the ‘keeper to beat but had his effort brilliantly saved by Mannone. Liverpool held on to win three points and are now in 7th place, a point behind Crystal Palace in 5th and equal on points with Manchester United in 6th. Meanwhile, Sunderland are at 19th place with 12 points and must win their next encounter against rock bottom Aston Villa.
Lionel Messi capped off his 500th Barcelona appearance and a brilliant calendar year with a match winning performance in a 4-0 win against Real Betis. After Messi was fouled in the penalty box, Neymar missed spot-kick was turned into his own net by Heiko Westermann. Messi got his goal in the 33rd minute, before Luis Suarez scored a second-half brace, as the Catalans are the summit of La Liga, equal on points with Atletico Madrid but with a game in hand. Barcelona won 5 trophies in 2015, with the Club World Cup being the latest addition after the UEFA Super Cup in the summer and a historic treble in the 2014-15 season.
Cristiano Ronaldo missed an early penalty but amends for his error with a brace in a 3-1 win at the Bernabeu over Real Sociedad. Lucas Vazquez scored a late third for Real, while Bruma scored for the visitors and although this win closes the gap on Barcelona and Atletico on the top, Rafa Benitez is under immense pressure and was booed before, during and after the game.
