That’s it for today’s blog. I’ll leave you with Jamie Jackson’s report from the Etihad, and if you want more you can join Scott Murray for West Ham United v Manchester United. Bye!
These are the final scores in our featured games
Premier League
Burnley 1-1 Everton
Manchester City 2-0 Fulham
WSL
Aston Villa 0-2 Man Utd
La Liga
Sevilla 0-1 Real Madrid
Bundesliga
Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Borussia Dortmund
Championship
Reading 2-0 Nottm Forest
Norwich 2-1 Sheff Wed
Watford 0-1 Cardiff
League Two
Cheltenham 5-3 Exeter
Full time: Sevilla 0-1 Real Madrid
Peep peep! Real Madrid move up to third thanks to a comedy own goal from the Sevilla keeper Bono. Next up: Monchengladbach in a pivotal Champions League match on Wednesday.
Sevilla 0-1 Real Madrid They’re into injury time at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium. Bono’s own goal looks set to give Zinedine Zidane a stay of execution.
Full time: Cheltenham 5-3 Exeter
Cheltenham win an eight-goal thriller at the ground apparently known as the Jonny-Rocks Stadium for sponsorship reasons.
“Dundee United won’t be going fifth, Rob,” weeps Simon McMahon. “Rangers at Tannadice next week, assuming of course our non-isolating squad members aren’t planning a Christmas shopping trip to New York...”
Sevilla 0-1 Real Madrid The Madrid goal has now been credited to the Sevilla keeper Bono. Which explains this email from Matthew Carpenter-Arevalo.
“Last time Bono scored an own goal, Apple made everyone download the new U2 album on iTunes,” he says. “Sorry, had to do it.”
Updated
Full time: Watford 0-1 Cardiff
A fine win for Cardiff, which should take them into the top half of the table.
Full time: Norwich 2-1 Sheff Wed
Norwich go top of the Championship after scoring twice in the last 10 minutes against Sheffield Wednesday.
Full time: Manchester City 2-0 Fulham
Peep peep! City go fourth with a comfortable victory at the Etihad. Raheem Sterling and a Kevin De Bruyne penalty did the job.
GOALS! Cheltenham 5-3 Exeter (Boyle 90+2; Law 88)
Despite a few scares, Cheltenham have won a thriller in League Two.
Updated
West Ham v Manchester United is the Premier League’s 5.30pm. Scott Murray has some slightly surprising team news.
Championship It’s been an eventful afternoon at the Brentford Community Stadium, and now Jacob Davenport has scored a late equaliser for 10-man Blackburn.
Man City 2-0 Fulham The match is petering out. Fulham have had a decent share of the second half, even if City have had all the chances.
A notable scoreline from League Two Bolton 3-6 Port Vale.
GOAL! Norwich 2-1 Sheff Wed (Aarons 84)
Two goals in three minutes for Norwich! Max Aarons has given them the lead with a beautiful goal. He played a one-two with Vrancic, whose elegant backheel put him through on goal, and he finished emphatically. If it stays like this, Norwich will be top of the league tonight.
Updated
GOAL! Cheltenham 4-2 Exeter (Williams 77)
Andy Williams has given all Cheltenham fans a happy heart.
GOAL! Norwich 1-1 Sheff Wed (Martin 81)
Norwich are level! Mario Vrancic plays a devastating through pass to the teenager Josh Martin, who pokes home from close range.
GOAL! Sevilla 0-1 Real Madrid (Vinicius Jr 56)
Vinicius Jr has scored a priceless goal - for Real Madrid, for Zinedine Zidane and for the bald community.
Updated
“Kamara is on,” says Fulham fan Richard Hirst. “2008 here we come!”
Manchester City 2-0 Fulham It’s odd to say, given they are facing defeat, but this is turning into a decent day for Fulham. They have kept the score at 2-0 since the 26th minute.
Sevilla 0-0 Real Madrid It’s still very tight in Seville. The home side haven’t had a shot on target in the first 53 minutes, it says here.
Updated
Championship A spectacular individual goal from Sergi Canos has put Brentford 2-1 up against ten-man Blackburn. As things stand, they are in third place.
Updated
Full time: Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Borussia Dortmund
Peep peep! Another frustrating afternoon for Borussia Dortmund, who have been held by the draw specialists Eintracht Frankfurt. It feels like their title hopes are already starting to recede.
The latest scores in our featured games
Premier League
Burnley 1-1 Everton (FT)
Manchester City 2-0 Fulham
WSL
Aston Villa 0-2 Man Utd (FT)
La Liga
Sevilla 0-0 Real Madrid (3.15pm)
Bundesliga
Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Borussia Dortmund (2.30pm)
Championship
Reading 2-0 Nottm Forest (FT)
Norwich 0-1 Sheff Wed
Watford 0-1 Cardiff
League Two
Cheltenham 3-2 Exeter
All 3pm kick-offs unless stated
GOAL! Cheltenham 3-2 Exeter (Jay 56)
Matt Jay has brought Exeter back into the match at Cheltenham.
Man City 2-0 Fulham Alphonse Areola is preserving Fulham’s dignity. He’s just made a fine one-on-one save from Kevin De Bruyne; that’s his third excellent stop of the game.
GOAL! Norwich 0-1 Sheff Wed (Windass 60)
Another potential shock in the Championship. Josh Windass has given Sheffield Wednesday the lead at Carrow Road!
“Morning Rob,” says Angelo. “Watching City-Fulham in California. As a youth referee out here, I appreciate Jon Moss playing the advantage on both of City’s goals. He’s on a hat trick. What a man.”
If he gets his third, I hope he celebrates in style.
Here’s more on that miserable nonsense at the Den
Man City 2-0 Fulham Kevin De Bruyne hits the bar from 10 yards after being teed up by Gabriel Jesus. It was on his left foot, which makes the concept of De Bruyne missing from 10 yards slightly less confusing.
Frankfurt 1-1 Dortmund Lucien Favre’s side have ten minutes to find a winner. They’ve dominated the second half completely.
Updated
The Championship table is so tight. As things stand, only three points separate the top eight. Watford, who started the day in third, are on course to finish it in eighth.
Peep peep! The second halves are underway in the 3pm games.
Frankurt 1-1 Dortmund Jude Bellingham has come on for Dortmund, whose team now has an average age of 21.4 months.
“That would be Liam Sercombe, product of the Exeter City Youth Academy and almost 250 appearances for the club, who has put Cheltenham 3-1 up,” says Mike Reddaway. “Not that I’m bitter...”
Apparently Millwall’s fans booed their players when they took a knee before the Championship match against Derby. I am Jack’s flabbered gast.
Updated
Peep peep! It’s half-time in the 3pm kick-offs, and these are the latest scores.
Premier League
Burnley 1-1 Everton (FT)
Manchester City 2-0 Fulham
WSL
Aston Villa 0-2 Man Utd (FT)
La Liga
Sevilla 0-0 Real Madrid (3.15pm)
Bundesliga
Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Borussia Dortmund (2.30pm)
Championship
Reading 2-0 Nottm Forest (FT)
Norwich 0-0 Sheff Wed
Watford 0-1 Cardiff
League Two
Cheltenham 3-1 Exeter
All 3pm kick-offs unless stated
GOAL! Cheltenham 3-1 Exeter (Sercombe 45+3 pen)
Liam Sercombe’s penalty has doubled Cheltenham’s lead in the League Two top-of-the-table clash.
GOAL! Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Borussia Dortmund (Reyna 56)
The veteran Gio Reyna, 18, has equalised for Dortmund, who brought on the 16-year-old Youssoufa Moukoko at half-time.
“I accept that it isn’t easy,” says Gary Naylor, “but do you think, after a week to work something out and with videos and coaches aplenty, Fulham should have a better idea how to attack the press? It’s a bit like corners and free kicks - evidence of preparation and practice is the exception rather than the rule.”
I think that’s pretty harsh. When Pep Guardiola’s teams play well – and they’ve been excellent today – they smother teams. The 2011 Champions League final is a good example. Manchester United could not have prepared better, but they were overwhelmed to the point that they didn’t win a single corner and their only shot on target should have been given offside.
GOAL! Watford 0-1 Cardiff (Moore 43)
Cardiff have taken a surprise lead at Vicarage Road. A left-wing corner hit somebody on the six-yard line and dropped nicely for Kieffer Moore, who rammed it past Ben Foster with his left foot.
“Afternoon Rob,” says Stephen Carr. “Three observations from the Sevilla Madrid game; firstly, Sevilla don’t look like a team who were on the wrong end of a midweek shellacking; secondly, Madrid look determined to get themselves back on track; and finally, Lopetegui looks like a bad waxwork of Chris de Burgh.”
It’s still 0-0.
“Hi again Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “The Highland League is up and running again, though without founder member club Forres Mechanics, who took the difficult decision to withdraw from this season’s competition due to the pandemic, having played every year since the league’s inception in 1893. After one round of fixtures, only the games at Brora and Huntly go ahead today, the other six fixtures postponed due to waterlogged and snowbound pitches, and the Nairn team having to self-isolate. Gotta love the Highland League! No goals in the SPFL yet, but some dancing could be in the post as Raith have taken the lead at home to Dunfermline.”
“Hiya Rob,” says Dominic Burgess. “From that City Fulham match report you linked to: ‘Sven-Goran Eriksson played the best backs at his disposal, Michael Ball and Vedran Corluka, in the centre, the reserve right-back Sun Jihai at left-back and the creative midfielder Elano at right-back.’ Elano at right back! I might find a recording of that match and watch it instead of the current one.”
Crikey, I don’t remember that at all. Life, Kaiser, we’re celebrating life.
Manchester City 2-0 Fulham “Fulham need half-time,” says the BT Sport commentator Ian Darke. He’s half right: they need full-time.
Man City 2-0 Fulham Alphonse Areola makes a flying save from Raheem Sterling’s sidefoot volley. He was put clear by a lovely scoop over the defence by Riyad Mahrez. City are playing delightfully.
Manchester City 2-0 Fulham John Stones almost scores a comedy own goal. He played the ball back towards Ederson, oblivious to the fact that Ederson was about a yard away from him, but it went just wide of the near post.
“Any idea why Manchester City have put covers over the seats saying, ‘We’re not really here?’” asks Adam Kline-Schoder. “An allusion to lack of crowds, perhaps?”
It’s a long story. You can read the shorter version here.
GOAL! Manchester City 2-0 Fulham (De Bruyne 26 pen)
Kevin De Bruyne scores with ease. Manchester City, who started the day in 11th place, are heading into the top four. Unless...
Updated
PENALTY TO MAN CITY Raheem Sterling has been clipped by Joachim Andersen, a clear penalty.
Manchester City 1-0 Fulham City are in complete control at the Etihad. The last time I checked they’d had 74 per cent of the possession.
The latest scores in our featured games
Premier League
Burnley 1-1 Everton (FT)
Manchester City 1-0 Fulham
WSL
Aston Villa 0-2 Man Utd (FT)
La Liga
Sevilla 0-0 Real Madrid (3.15pm)
Bundesliga
Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0 Borussia Dortmund (HT)
Championship
Reading 2-0 Nottm Forest (FT)
Norwich 0-0 Sheff Wed
Watford 0-0 Cardiff
League Two
Cheltenham 2-1 Exeter
All 3pm kick-offs unless stated
Updated
GOAL! Cheltenham 2-1 Exeter (May 13)
Cheltenham have come from behind to lead, and the game is only 13 minutes old. Alfie May scored the second goal, and I’ve no idea what happened because I’m not there and it’s not on TV.
GOAL! Cheltenham 1-1 Exeter (Lloyd 7)
George Lloyd has equalised immediately for Cheltenham. You probably discerned that from the goalflash, but I have to write something here, so here it is.
GOAL! Manchester City 1-0 Fulham (Sterling 5)
Manchester City have finally broken through against Fulham. Raheem Sterling got the goal, finishing neatly after a fine through pass from Kevin De Bruyne.
Updated
GOAL! Cheltenham 0-1 Exeter (Collins 4)
Archie Collins has given free-scoring Exeter an early lead in the big League Two clash. Exeter will move above second-placed Cheltenham if they win today.
“C’mon Fulham, channel the spirit of 2008 against City,” says Richard Hirst. “Kamara to come on as substitute and play the ... Kamara role, relegation averted and the Europa League final two seasons later. It’s in the stars (I can always dream)!”
Peep peep! The 3pm games are underway.
GOAL! Frankfurt 1-0 Dortmund (Kamada 9)
Daichi Kamada has given Eintracht Frankurt an early lead against Borussia Dortmund, who are having a dog of a week. It was a really good finish - he made a good run behind the defence, killed the ball on the stretch and knocked it past the outrushing Roman Burki.
Updated
Cheltenham v Exeter team news
Cheltenham (3-5-2) Griffiths; Raglan, Tozer, Boyle; Blair, Sercombe, Azaz, Clements, Hussey; May, Lloyd.
Substitutes: Bowry, Chapman, Flinders, Freestone, Reid, Sang, Williams.
Exeter (4-4-1-1) Maxted; Key, Sweeney, Parkes, Sparkes; Williams, Taylor, Collins, Randall; Jay; Bowman.
Substitutes: Atangana, Fisher, Hartridge, Law, Lee, McArdle, Seymour.
Watford v Cardiff team news
Watford (4-4-2) Foster; Ngakia, Kabasele, Troost-Ekong, Wilmot; Sarr, Garner, Cleverley, Sema; Deeney, Pedro.
Substitutes: Bachmann, Capoue, Kiko, Hughes, Navarro, Perica, Philips, Quina, Sierralta.
Cardiff (4-4-2) Smithies; Bacuna, Morrison, Nelson, Bennett; Ojo, Ralls, Vaulks, Harris; Wilson, Moore.
Substitutes: Bamba, Benkovic, Cunningham, Glatzel, Hoilett, Murphy, Pack, Phillips, Whyte.
Norwich v Sheffield Wednesday team news
Norwich (4-2-3-1) McGovern; Aarons, Hanley, Gibson, Sorensen; Skipp, Vrancic; Buendia, Stiepermann, Placheta; Pukki.
Substitutes: Barden, Dickson-Peters, Martin, McAlear, Omobamidele, Omotoye, Tettey, Zimmermann.
Sheff Wed (4-4-2) Wildsmith; Iorfa, Lees, Borner, van Aken; Harris, Paterson, Bannan, Reach; Windass, Odubajo.
Substitutes: Brown, Dawson, Dele-Bashiru, Hunt, Kachunga, Palmer, Pelupessy, Penney, Rhodes.
“Afternoon Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “In Scotland, Dundee United travel to Livingston minus manager Micky Mellon and nine of their playing squad, who are required to self-isolate after some bright spark decided that it would be a good idea for the entire United coaching staff and players to stand shoulder to shoulder and pose for a team photo. Jesus wept.
“Hope springs eternal though, eh, and a win today could see United go fifth, depending on results between Hamilton v Kilmarnock and Motherwell v Hibs. Today’s other SPFL fixture is St. Mirren v Aberdeen. Crisis club Celtic play St. Johnstone tomorrow in Neil Lennon’s last match in charge. In the Scottish Championship there’s a tasty looking Fife derby as third placed Raith Rovers host table toppers Dunfermline.”
Full time: Reading 2-0 Nottingham Forest
A comfortable win for Reading against a Forest team that had ten men for 75 minutes.
Full time: Burnley 1-1 Everton
An honourable draw at Turf Moor. Robbie Brady gave Burnley an early lead; Dominic Calvert-Lewin equalised in first-half injury-time.
Full time: Aston Villa 0-2 Man Utd
Peep peep! United were on top throughout but hard to work hard for their victory. Two cool finishes from Leah Galton and Ella Toone were enough to give them another victory and put them four points clear of Arsenal, who play Birmingham tomorrow.
Updated
Sevilla v Real Madrid team news
Sevilla (4-3-3) Bono; Jesus Navas, Kounde, Diego Carlos, Vidal; Fernando, Jordan, Rakitic; Munir, de Jong, Ocampos.
Substitutes: Javi Diaz, Vacas, Rekik, Gudelj, Suso, Oscar, En-Nesyri, Torres, F Vazquez, Idrissi, Fernandez.
Real Madrid (4-3-3) Courtois; Lucas Vazquez, Varane, Nacho, Mendy; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Rodrygo, Benzema, Vinicius.
Substitutes: Odegaard, Marcelo, Lunin, Arribas, Altube, Eder Militao, Isco, Odriozola, Asensio.
GOAL! Aston Villa 0-2 Manchester United (Toone 89)
Manchester United are going four points clear at the top of the WSL. Ella Toone has put them 2-0 up at Banks’s Stadium, chipping calmly into an empty net from 30 yards after Lisa Weiss unsuccessfully played sweeper-keeper. She made a good interception but the ball went straight to Toone, who floated it into the net.
‘Woe betide’ department
Updated
Aston Villa 0-1 Man Utd There are just under 15 minutes remaining at Banks’s Stadium. Manchester United have been much the better team but they still only lead 1-0.
Manchester City v Fulham team news
Manchester City (4-2-3-1) Ederson; Cancelo, Dias, Stones, Mendy; Rodri, Gundogan; Mahrez, De Bruyne, Sterling; Jesus.
Substitutes: Steffen, Laporte, Garcia, Silva, Fernandinho, Foden, Torres.
Fulham (4-2-3-1) Areola; Aina, Andersen, Adarabioyo, Robinson; Anguissa, Reed; De Cordova-Reid, Loftus-Cheek, Lookman; Cavaleiro.
Substitutes: Rodak, Ream, Bryan, Cairney, Lemina, Mitrovic, Kamara.
It’s still Burnley 1-1 Everton at Turf Moor. Scott Murray is watching that one.
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Dortmund team news
Eintracht Frankfurt (3-4-2-1) Trapp; Abraham, Hinteregger, N’Dicka; Durm, Sow, Rode, Kostic; Kamada, Barkok; Silva.
Substitutes: Schubert, Ilsanker, Hrustic, Dost, Hasebe, Chandler, da Costa, Kohr, Tuta.
Borussia Dortmund (3-4-3) Burki; Can, Hummels, Zagadou; Morey, Dahoud, Witsel, Schulz; Sancho, Brandt, Reyna.
Substitutes: Hitz, Drljaca, Hazard, Reus, Moukoko, Bellingham, Piszczek, Passlack.
Updated
Aston Villa 0-1 Man Utd Still 1-0 to the leaders at Banks’s Stadium, though Lauren James almost made it two with a blistering drive that hit the crossbar.
Updated
GOAL! Reading 2-0 Nottingham Forest (Morrison 53)
Nottingham Forest are one man and two goals down at the Madejski Stadium. Michael Morrison’s flicked header from a corner has made it 2-0 to Reading, who seem to be over their November blip. The first goal killed the game, pretty much: Ryan Yates was sent off for handball on the line, and Lucas Joao scored the resulting penalty.
Brass tacks
Manchester City will soar into the top half of the Premier League - perhaps as high as fourth - if they beat Fulham. City are in the Saturday 3pm slot for the second consecutive Saturday, which can’t have happened for a while.
Manchester United can go four points clear in the WSL, at least until tomorrow, with victory at Aston Villa. They lead 1-0 at half-time thanks to a cool finish from Leah Galton.
Pick that out! 🔍
— Manchester United Women (@ManUtdWomen) December 5, 2020
👏 @Leah_Galton21 👏#MUWomen #BarclaysFAWSL
pic.twitter.com/CPQA6e6mbz
Real Madrid are away to Sevilla, with Zinedine Zidane in P45 territory.
Norwich will go top of the Championship if they beat Sheffield Wednesday.
Updated
Preamble
Hello and welcome to another bumper Saturday-afternoon clockwatch. There are literally thousands of games taking place across Europe, but at this juncture I am only in possession of two eyes, two hands and one keyboard, so we’ll have to focus on a select few. Here they are:
Premier League
WSL
Aston Villa 0-1 Man Utd (12.30pm)
La Liga
Sevilla v Real Madrid (3.15pm)
Bundesliga
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Dortmund (2.30pm)
Championship
Reading 1-0 Nottm Forest (12.30pm)
Norwich v Sheff Wed
Watford v Cardiff
League Two
Cheltenham v Exeter
All 3pm kick-offs unless stated
Updated
