Boxing Day falling on a Friday may have robbed us of our God-given right as Englishmen to spend the day watching wall-to-wall top-flight football, but it’s still a pretty Big Christmas Weekend, we suppose.
The Premier League enters a pivotal festive period, headlined by a high-stakes clash between Chelsea and Aston Villa. While Chelsea’s title hopes have faded, Unai Emery’s side remains firmly in the hunt, currently leading the Blues by seven points.
Villa have been in sensational form, securing 11 wins in their last 12 matches. This fixture serves as a major test of their “stickability” as they compete with giants Arsenal and Manchester City.
Manchester City looks to maintain pressure on league leaders Arsenal as they travel to face Nottingham Forest. City enters the contest on a five-game winning streak, having scored 17 goals in that span, including three consecutive 3-0 victories.
Meanwhile, Forest has struggled for consistency, alternating between wins and losses. Pep Guardiola’s side remains the most clinical outfit in the pursuit, currently looking like the primary threat to the Gunners’ narrow lead.
Manchester United faces a significant hurdle on Boxing Day against Newcastle without the injured Bruno Fernandes. This creates a massive opportunity for Mason Mount to take a starring role in the midfield.
Mount has shown glimpses of his best form recently and must now prove he can lead the attack in Fernandes’ absence. For Newcastle, the match offers a chance to ignite a season that has largely failed to find consistent momentum.
Tottenham manager Thomas Frank finds himself under intense scrutiny as he leads his side to Crystal Palace. Following a chaotic defeat to Liverpool, Frank is now the favorite in the “Sack Race.”
He must navigate this London derby without key players Xavi Simons and Cristian Romero, both of whom are unavailable after a disappointing weekend. Failure to secure a result at Selhurst Park could make his departure from North London appear inevitable.
In the Football League, the Championship offers a full slate of Boxing Day fixtures, highlighted by a third-versus-sixth battle between Millwall and Ipswich.
This promotion six-pointer headlines a busy schedule that stands in contrast to the limited Premier League calendar.
Elsewhere, Stoke City looks to halt a recent slump against a resilient Preston North End side, which remains unbeaten in six matches despite a high number of recent draws.
Italy’s Serie A continues its thrilling title race over the Christmas weekend, with a mere four points separating the top five teams. Inter Milan currently leads the pack with 33 points, followed closely by AC Milan, Napoli, Roma, and Juventus.
Inter’s trip to Atalanta promises entertainment, as the league leaders have netted 34 goals in just 15 games. The Italian top flight remains the most competitive title scrap across Europe’s major leagues.