Real Madrid secured a crucial 2–1 win against Barcelona at home on Sunday, strengthening their position at the summit of La Liga.

The decisive moment came through Jude Bellingham’s strike in the 43rd minute, which ultimately separated the two sides despite Fermín López’s earlier equalizer for the visitors.

Kylian Mbappé had given the hosts an early advantage in the opening period.

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Madrid took the lead approaching the half-hour when Mbappé found the net with a driven effort from distance that beat the Barcelona keeper.

The visitors drew level in the 38th minute as Fermín took advantage of a mistake at the back to restore parity, though Madrid reclaimed their lead before the interval when Bellingham converted from close quarters following persistent attacking play.

The match’s second period delivered several dramatic incidents and contentious moments.

César Soto Grado pointed to the spot just past the hour after an incident inside Barcelona’s area, yet Wojciech Szczesny produced an outstanding stop to keep out Mbappé’s effort and maintain his team’s chances.

Subsequently, Madrid believed they had extended their advantage through a Brahim–Bellingham link-up, only for VAR intervention to disallow the effort due to an offside infringement.

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Tensions escalated during added time as Barcelona’s Pedri collected his second caution for a heavy challenge on Tchouameni, resulting in his dismissal and leaving the visitors a man down for the closing stages.

As the match entered its final moments, Rodrygo delivered a free-kick toward goal, but Szczesny responded with another fine save to maintain Madrid’s narrow margin.

The victory breaks Barcelona’s recent dominance in fixtures at this venue. For the home side, it also ends a sequence of four consecutive defeats against their historic adversaries.

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Eberechi Eze’s first-half finish inflicted a damaging defeat on Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, as Crystal Palace pulled off a smash-and-grab victory that halts the league leaders’ momentum.

The England international produced the match’s only moment of clinical finishing in the 39th minute, steering his effort from inside the box into the right side of the net to stun the home crowd and hand Palace all three points against the run of play.

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Arsenal had looked the more threatening side throughout, with Leandro Trossard forcing Dean Henderson into action on 33 minutes before Eze’s sucker punch.

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The Gunners continued to press after the interval, with Declan Rice testing the Palace goalkeeper six minutes into the second half, while Gabriel Magalhães saw two headed efforts from set pieces drift off target as Arsenal sought an equalizer that never came.

Mikel Arteta’s side dominated the territorial battle, edging the corner count 4-3 and registering three shots on target, but found Palace’s defensive organization impenetrable. Despite controlling possession and creating the better chances, Arsenal couldn’t translate their superiority into goals on an increasingly frustrating afternoon.

Crystal Palace, by contrast, defended resolutely but offered little attacking threat beyond Eze’s decisive strike. Oliver Glasner’s side failed to register a single shot on target across the 90 minutes, with Ismaila Sarr and Adam Wharton both missing the target in the first half.

Late opportunities for Jean-Philippe Mateta (whose effort was deflected), Marc Guéhi (header over), and Maxence Lacroix (over) never troubled Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.

Palace’s substitutions—Eddie Nketiah on 59 minutes and Will Hughes on 74—couldn’t alter the pattern of Arsenal pressure, while the hosts’ own changes, including a half-time introduction of Cristhian Mosquera for William Saliba and late additions Piero Hincapié and Mikel Merino, proved insufficient to break the deadlock. Remarkably, the match was played without a single booking.

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The result is particularly damaging for Arsenal given their league-leading defensive record—just three goals conceded in their opening eight matches. While they add another clean sheet in a losing cause, the failure to capitalize on home advantage and extended periods of dominance will concern Arteta as rivals close in.

For Palace, this narrow, backs-to-the-wall triumph stands in stark contrast to recent high-scoring encounters between these sides (3-2, 5-1, 2-2) and represents a vital three points that could prove pivotal in their season. Glasner will care little about the performance statistics—his side came, defended with discipline, took their chance, and left with maximum points.

Matty Cash’s sublime first-half finish proved the difference as Aston Villa recorded a third consecutive victory over Manchester City, dealing a blow to the champions’ title ambitions at Villa Park.

The full-back produced the decisive moment in the 20th minute, collecting Emiliano Buendia’s assist before curling a left-footed effort from distance inside the right post—a goal of genuine quality that would ultimately separate two sides heading in opposite directions.

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Villa had signaled their intent from the opening whistle, with Buendia and Lucas Digne testing City early before Cash’s moment of brilliance. Though the influential Buendia was forced off just nine minutes later, his creative spark had already left its mark on the contest.

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The second half told a different story as Pep Guardiola’s side laid siege to the Villa goal. City dominated possession and territory, winning six corners to Villa’s five and registering four attempts on target.

Erling Haaland, who entered the match with 11 league goals this season, saw efforts denied in the 22nd, 71st, and twice deep into stoppage time, but found Villa’s defense—marshaled expertly by Ezri Konsa and Pau Torres—in uncompromising form.

Phil Foden and Savinho both saw strikes deflected away, while Mateo Kovacic headed over when well-placed. Late substitutes Nico Gonzalez, Rayan Cherki, and Matheus Nunes all fashioned half-chances, but Villa’s organization never wavered. Jadon Sancho provided a rare second-half threat for the hosts with a 70th-minute effort on target.

The match also had an edge, with City collecting four yellow cards for serious foul play compared to Villa’s solitary booking—a disciplinary imbalance that underscored the visitors’ mounting frustration.

For Unai Emery’s side, this was more than three points. Keeping a clean sheet against an attack that had plundered 17 goals in their opening eight league fixtures represents a statement of defensive resolve. It extends Villa’s impressive run following recent victories over Tottenham, Burnley, and Fulham, and remarkably marks a third straight win over City, following two 2–1 victories in their previous encounters.

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For Manchester City, it’s a setback in their pursuit of the early pacesetters and a rare afternoon when their attacking riches couldn’t unlock a determined opponent. Villa, meanwhile, continue to build momentum as genuine top-four contenders.