Ten Hag hails United’s character after Villa win

Manchester United displayed great character and mentality to score a late winner in their 2-1 Premier League victory over Aston Villa despite being fatigued towards the end of the high-intensity match, manager Erik ten Hag said.

Rasmus Hojlund’s 17th-minute opener was cancelled out by Douglas Luiz’s second-half strike before substitute Scott McTominay scored in the 86th minute to move sixth-placed United up to 41 points after their third consecutive victory.

“I liked especially the first 20 minutes. When we are dictating the game, after I think we are dropping a little bit too much,” Ten Hag told reporters on Sunday.

“We had our moments in the counter attacks, but yeah, I think then at 1-1, to fight back, we are really happy for today… I think it was really high intensity and you could see how many players were so, so fatigued by the end.

“It was so open and it could go two ways. But then finally, I think we found the mentality, the character to win this game. And I think also the subs, they have had an impact.”

United travel to 17th-placed Luton Town for a league clash on Sunday.

Mueller says Bayern lacked courage in Leverkusen defeat

Bayern Munich stalwart Thomas Mueller has criticised his side for lacking the courage to play freely after the record 32-times Bundesliga champions were stunned 3-0 by Bayer Leverkusen in Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash.

Bayern, chasing a 12th straight league title, were outplayed by Leverkusen, who went five points clear at the top after their win at BayArena.

While Leverkusen remain unbeaten in 31 matches across all competitions this season, Bayern have already suffered three defeats in the German top flight and failed to have more than one shot on target against Xabi Alonso’s side at the weekend.

Yamal scores twice as Barcelona are held to a 3-3 draw by lowly Granada

A double by Barcelona’s teenage winger Lamine Yamal helped his side salvage a 3-3 draw at home to relegation-threatened Granada on Sunday in a rollercoaster LaLiga match.

Xavi Hernandez’s side are third in the standings on 51 points, five behind second-placed Girona, who were thrashed on Saturday by Real Madrid, leaders with 61 points.

“We lost two points and a good opportunity to cut the deficit. Granada played an intelligent game, they pushed us hard,” Xavi told a press conference.

“The league was difficult and now it’s two points more difficult. It’s a big difference but we’re not going to give up.

“We had plenty of chances to seal the game. The team had faith, courage and desire, but it wasn’t enough. It makes it even more difficult for us.”

Yamal put the hosts ahead after 14 minutes with a tap-in into an empty net after Joao Cancelo’s cross found him at the far post. Granada equalised two minutes before halftime thanks to Ricard Sanchez’s powerful volley into the top corner.

The visitors grabbed the lead in the 60th minute with an easy finish by Facundo Pellistri before Robert Lewandowski made it 2-2 as he scored from Ilkay Gundogan’s pass three minutes later.

Ignasi Miquel restored Granada’s lead with a towering header in the 66th minute, but Yamal levelled again with a long-range strike for his second of the night ten minutes from time.

Hernandez strike earns Milan 1-0 win over Napoli

A first-half goal from Theo Hernandez was enough to seal a 1-0 victory for AC Milan over visiting champions Napoli on Sunday, helping Stefano Pioli’s side remain unbeaten in Serie A since the turn of the year.

The France defender controlled a brilliant pass from Rafael Leao on the edge of the box and sent it low past Napoli goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini to give Milan the lead in the 25th minute.

Milan, third in the standings on 52 points, extended their unbeaten league run to nine games, including seven wins.

They are eight points behind leaders Inter Milan and one adrift of Juventus in second, who both have a game in hand.

“We worked very well in the first half, then in the second we lost some distance, but we couldn’t imagine not conceding anything to Napoli, who have a lot of quality,” Pioli told a press conference.

Napoli have not scored a single goal in their last five away games in the league, their longest such streak since 1979 (a run of six).

They next host 12th-placed Genoa on Saturday.

Milan, who on Thursday host Stade Rennais in the Europa League, travel to Monza in the league on Feb. 18.

Earlier on Sunday, Fiorentina hammered Frosinone 5-1 at home for their first win in five Serie A games.

Fifth-placed Bologna beat Lecce 4-0 and Atalanta, in fourth, won 4-1 at Genoa in the day’s other matches.

PSG fight back to secure 3-1 win over Lille

Luis Enrique’s Paris St Germain moved 11 points clear at the top of the Ligue 1 standings with a 3-1, come-from-behind home win over Lille on Saturday.

PSG, who were without striker Kylian Mbappe before they host Real Sociedad in the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday, are on 50 points from 21 games and have extended their unbeaten run to 16 games.

It was only the third time Mbappe, who was forced off injured against Brest in the Coupe de France midweek, has stayed on the bench during an entire Ligue 1 game for PSG — and the first since April 2018.

“Mbappe is physically very good. It is clear that we did not want to take risks, there was no need, we are not playing in a final, it made no sense. He will be available for Wednesday match,” said Luis Enrique in a news conference.

Lille, who ended their unbeaten start to 2024 on Wednesday when they were knocked out of the French Cup last 16 by Olympique Lyonnais, remained fourth on 35 points.

They host Le Havre on Feb. 17, while PSG travel to 14th-placed Nantes later that day.

AS Monaco beat 10-man Nice 3-2 away on Sunday, with a brace from Denis Zakaria, to move into third place in the Ligue 1 standings on 38 points.

Nice are second on 39 points, 11 points behind leaders Paris St Germain, who beat Lille 3-1 on Saturday, while Monaco climbed above Brest, who drew 1-1 against Clermont Foot on Sunday.