RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons made a triumphant return from injury, scoring twice to lead his team to a 4-2 victory over Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga. The Dutch international, sidelined since October due to a ligament injury, showcased his sharpness with a 24th-minute opener and a stunning solo effort for his second goal. Despite Werder equalizing shortly after Simons’ first goal through Mitchell Weiser, Leipzig took control. Benjamin Sesko extended the lead early in the second half with a spectacular strike, while Christoph Baumgartner sealed the win in stoppage time. Werder managed a late consolation goal through Oliver Burke.
The win keeps Leipzig in fourth place with 30 points, level with Eintracht Frankfurt in third, while Bayern Munich remains at the top of the table with 39 points after their narrow victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach. Werder Bremen, who had been in strong form before the winter break, dropped to eighth place with 25 points.
The match drew extra attention as Jürgen Klopp, the newly appointed Head of Global Soccer for Red Bull, watched from the stands. Klopp, who recently concluded a successful nine-year tenure at Liverpool, began his new advisory role this month, overseeing Red Bull-owned clubs across Germany, the United States, Brazil, and Austria.
In La Liga, Atlético Madrid climbed to the top of the standings with a 1-0 victory over Osasuna. The decisive goal came in the 55th minute from Julian Alvarez, who capitalized on a well-executed play to score from close range. Despite dominating possession, Atlético struggled to find the back of the net in the first half, with chances from Antoine Griezmann and Alvarez going unconverted. The win marked Atlético’s 14th consecutive victory across all competitions, setting a new club record and moving them to 44 points.
Osasuna put up a resilient defensive effort but could not find an equalizer. The victory underscored Atlético’s strong form, as they now sit ahead of their rivals in the title race.
In Serie A, Inter Milan secured a hard-fought 1-0 win over Venezia, propelling them to second place in the league table. Matteo Darmian scored the game’s only goal in the 16th minute, pouncing on a rebound after a reflex save by Venezia goalkeeper Filip Stankovic. The result puts Inter on 43 points, one point ahead of Atalanta, who were held to a goalless draw by Udinese. Napoli remains at the top of the Serie A standings with 44 points, though they have played one game more than Inter.
Venezia’s struggles continued as they remain second from the bottom with 14 points. Inter’s victory highlighted their determination to keep pace in the title race, with Lautaro Martinez and Darmian playing pivotal roles in securing the three points.
