We kick off February with another weekend of Europe’s best football. While there has been some attention focused on the latter stages of the Africa Cup of Nations and the Asian Cup, this isn’t to take away from the drama we saw all across the continent. In Germany, Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen got crucial wins as they continue to battle for the Bundesliga title. In Spain, Barcelona snatched a victory against Alavés while surprise package Girona failed to win for the first time in nearly a month as the LaLiga race heats up. In France, PSG triumphed against Strasbourg as they prepare for the return of the UEFA Champions League.

On Sunday, Chelsea reached yet another rock bottom as the Stamford Bridge faithful booed the Blues off the pitch following a 4-2 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers. In Spain, Real Madrid looked primed to take advantage of Girona’s dropped points by leading Atlético Madrid in second-half stoppage time, only for Los Blancos academy graduate Marcos Llorente to equalise for Los Rojiblancos in the 93rd minute and keep LaLiga’s title fight rumbling on.

Here’s what else you missed in European soccer this weekend.

– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga & more (U.S.)

SUNDAY REVIEW

The lead: Chelsea find a new nadir

Stamford Bridge hasn’t been home to many pleasant memories for the Chelsea faithful since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital took over the club in May 2022. And yet, amid 20 months of turmoil, Sunday’s 4-2 defeat to Chelsea and City at the top of the table as West Ham take a step away from the drop zone.— Sophie Lawson

Americans abroad: De la Torre powers Celta past Osasuna

Premier League as Aston Villa as the Villans scored five past the promoted side, who look more unlikely to escape the abyss that is the last place spot of the table, with relegation to the Championship looking more likely than ever. — Roberto Rojas

News of the day

  • PSG’s Kylian Mbappé has decided to join Real Madrid once his contract with the Ligue 1 club expires this summer, according to ESPN sources. The news was first reported by Le Parisien but ESPN also reported last month that Mbappé had been offered a contract by Los Blancos and is expected to announce his decision to join the Spanish club next week.

  • Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti says he “won’t sink to the level” of Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández and president Joan Laporta after both accused Madrid of “influencing the competition” with the criticism of LaLiga referees. “I’m a professional, and as a professional, I don’t want to sink to that level, out of respect to Spanish football,” Ancelotti said “Don’t ask me about that anymore. I don’t want to sink [to that]. It isn’t a level for professionals.”

And finally, on Saturday …

We saw an eight-goal thriller in the northeast of England as Newcastle United hosted Luton Town, with both teams coming off huge wins against Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove AlbionSean Longstaff was able to give Eddie Howe’s a 2-1 lead after 23 minutes with his brace but by the time Elijah Adebayo scored his fourth goal in two matches, the Hatters were 4-2 up at St. James’ Park. Nevertheless, Newcastle didn’t give up with Kieran Trippier and the recently returned Harvey Barnes scoring as a quick response to Adebayo’s goal to give both teams a point in a 4-4 draw.

It’s safe to say that was certainly the most entertaining game within Europe’s top five leagues but it also painted a bigger picture of how both teams can respond from this result. For Newcastle, it’s a case of them trying to build momentum after failing to do any business in the winter transfer window which also includes not trying to drop points at home as they aspire to qualify for a European competition next season after being eliminated from all of it this season. For Luton, it’s a case of them feeling that their chances of escaping relegation are in a good position but that the journey is still long with the race to not go down from the Premier League still getting tighter than ever.