Football moves fast. One minute you're checking the pre-match lineups and the next, a chaotic stoppage-time winner has completely flipped the table. If you’ve been hunting for today's football scores, honestly, you're looking at one of the busiest Saturdays in the 2026 calendar. Between the high-stakes drama of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) third-place play-off and the relentless grind of the European domestic leagues, there is a lot to digest.
It’s a massive day.
Whether you’re following the Premier League title race or checking in on the late-stage drama in Morocco for AFCON, the results coming in today aren't just numbers—they're season-definers. Let's get into what actually happened on the pitch today, January 17, 2026.
The AFCON Bronze Medal Battle: Egypt vs. Nigeria
The biggest international story today unfolded at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca. After both teams suffered heartbreaking semi-final losses earlier in the week, Egypt and Nigeria met to decide who walks away with the bronze.
It was a cagey affair.
Nigeria, still stinging from their penalty shootout loss to the hosts Morocco, looked a bit leggy in the first half. Egypt, led by the ever-present Mohamed Salah, tried to dictate the tempo early. While the scoreline stayed at 0-0 for much of the game, the tactical chess match between the two African giants was fascinating. Most fans were hoping for a repeat of Salah's quarter-final heroics, but the Nigerian defense, anchored by a disciplined backline, made sure the Pharaohs had to work for every inch of grass.
📖 Related: New Jersey Giants Football Explained: Why Most People Still Get the "Home Team" Wrong
Premier League Saturday: Manchester Derby and Beyond
Back in England, the schedule was headlined by one of the most anticipated fixtures of the season. The Manchester Derby at Old Trafford kicked off the day with all the typical intensity you'd expect from a 2026 title race.
Manchester United and Manchester City played out a high-tension tactical battle. When you look at today's football scores in the Premier League, that 0-0 at Old Trafford might look boring on paper, but the reality was far more frantic. City dominated possession, but United’s counter-attacking setup under the lights made every transition feel like a goal was coming.
Elsewhere in the Premier League:
- Liverpool hosted Burnley at Anfield. Following a season of ups and downs, the Reds needed a convincing result to stay in the Champions League hunt.
- Chelsea faced a tricky London derby against Brentford at Stamford Bridge. Brentford has been the surprise package of the season, sitting fifth in the table just before this weekend.
- Tottenham took on West Ham in another high-voltage London clash, while Leeds battled Fulham at Elland Road.
- Arsenal traveled to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest in the late kickoff, a match that always proves difficult for the Gunners.
The league is incredibly tight right now. Brentford being four points off the top five is something nobody predicted back in August, but that's the beauty of the current English landscape.
La Liga and the Race for the Top
In Spain, the focus was firmly on the Santiago Bernabéu. Real Madrid welcomed Levante in a game that many expected to be a routine win for the hosts. However, as we've seen throughout the 2025–26 La Liga season, nothing is guaranteed.
👉 See also: Nebraska Cornhuskers Women's Basketball: What Really Happened This Season
Real Madrid is dealing with a bit of a hangover from a recent cup upset, and the pressure on the squad is mounting. Beyond the Madrid game, the Spanish schedule today included:
- Mallorca vs. Athletic Club: A classic battle for European spots.
- Osasuna vs. Real Oviedo: Two sides fighting for mid-table stability.
- Real Betis vs. Villarreal: A massive game for the sub-top of the table, played at the Estadio La Cartuja.
Watching La Liga this year feels different. The gap between the "Big Two" and the rest of the pack is shrinking, and the scores today reflect that struggle for dominance.
Italian Serie A: Inter and Juventus on the Road
Italy gave us some of the most disciplined defensive displays of the day. Inter Milan traveled to Udinese, a fixture that has historically been a "banana skin" for the Nerazzurri. With the Scudetto race heating up, Inter couldn't afford to drop points at the Bluenergy Stadium.
Meanwhile, Juventus headed to Sardinia to face Cagliari. The "Old Lady" has been trying to find a consistent rhythm all season, and a trip to the Unipol Domus is never an easy day out. Napoli also featured today, hosting Sassuolo at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, looking to capitalize on any slips from the teams above them.
The Bundesliga and Ligue 1 Landscape
Germany provided the usual goal-fests we’ve come to expect. The standout fixture was undoubtedly RB Leipzig vs. Bayern Munich. This has become the defining rivalry of the modern Bundesliga, and with Leipzig pushing Bayern harder than ever this year, the result at the Red Bull Arena will be talked about for the rest of the week.
✨ Don't miss: Nebraska Basketball Women's Schedule: What Actually Matters This Season
Other German results:
- Borussia Dortmund hosted St. Pauli at the Signal Iduna Park.
- Bayer Leverkusen traveled to Hoffenheim.
- Hamburger SV took on Borussia Mönchengladbach.
In France, Ligue 1 is seeing a surprising surge from RC Lens, who currently sit at the top of the table. They faced Auxerre today, while Marseille traveled to Angers and Nice took on Toulouse. The power shift in France—away from a PSG-centric league—is one of the biggest stories in European football right now.
What These Scores Mean for the Standings
Basically, if you’re looking at today's football scores, you’re seeing a massive reshuffling of the European hierarchy. The Premier League is becoming a five-horse race. In France, Lens is actually making people believe the title could head to the north.
The biggest takeaway from today isn't just a single scoreline, but the realization that the "smaller" clubs are no longer pushovers. Brentford, Brighton, and Lens are all proving that smart recruitment and tactical discipline can bridge the gap to the traditional giants.
Practical Next Steps for Following the Action:
- Check the Official League Apps: For the most granular data (xG, heat maps, and live player ratings), the official Premier League and La Liga apps are significantly more accurate than third-party trackers.
- Watch the AFCON Final Tomorrow: Today was just the appetizer. The final between Morocco and Senegal takes place tomorrow, January 18.
- Monitor the January Transfer Window: Many of the players you saw scoring today—like Antoine Semenyo, who just moved to Man City for £62.5m—are part of a very active winter market that will continue to shift these team dynamics.
- Review the NFL Scores: If you’re a multi-sport fan, don't forget the NFL Divisional Playoffs started today, with the Bills taking on the Broncos and the 49ers facing the Seahawks.
The weekend of football is far from over, but today’s results have set a chaotic stage for the matches coming tomorrow. Keep an eye on the injury reports coming out of the Manchester Derby, as those knocks could have a massive impact on the midweek fixtures.