It was a weekend of contrasting emotions across Europe’s top leagues, as Real Madrid suffered a shock defeat, Paris Saint-Germain secured yet another Ligue 1 title, and Bayern Munich’s Thomas Müller confirmed the end of a remarkable chapter.
At the Santiago Bernabéu, Real Madrid’s LaLiga title hopes took a serious dent after a dramatic 2-1 home loss to Valencia. Vinicius Junior missed an early penalty before equalizing in the second half, but it was substitute Hugo Duro who silenced the home crowd with a stoppage-time header to give Valencia their first away win of the season. Goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili was instrumental, saving Vinicius’s tame penalty and thwarting Madrid’s attacks. With Barcelona poised to take advantage later that day, the result leaves Madrid under pressure in the title race.
Meanwhile, over in France, Paris Saint-Germain celebrated their 13th Ligue 1 title — a record-extending feat — with a narrow 1-0 win over Angers. Clinching the championship with six games to spare, PSG continue to dominate domestically. Their unbeaten record this season — 23 wins and five draws from 28 games — keeps dreams of an invincible campaign alive. The win marks their fourth consecutive league title, further cementing their status as France’s footballing powerhouse.
Back in Germany, another era is drawing to a close as Bayern Munich legend Thomas Müller announced he will leave the club at the end of the season. The ultimate one-club man, Müller has been a mainstay at Bayern since his debut in 2008, amassing 152 UEFA Champions League appearances for the club — the most by any player for a single team in the competition’s history. He also boasts over 50 Champions League goals, with his first coming in a memorable 7-1 victory over Sporting CP. From his leadership on the pitch to his deep-rooted loyalty, Müller’s departure marks the end of a golden era in Munich.
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